“Dada…”
Iseul’s voice got both of us panicked and the next second, we found ourselves at each far end of the bed.
Insoo quickly stood up with both hands in his pant pocket.
While I…
Well I… had a hard time struggling to not break the bowl that I was still holding.
“Dada…” She called again and now her image started to appear in front of our eyes as she entered the room running.
Phew… Glad, she has a habit of calling people before actually seeing them.
I grew relieved at that.
But then realised,
Wait-
What am I relieved for? What were we doing? Were we- Were we really about to kiss?
Did he-
I couldn’t help but gently touch my lips with my thumb.
I did feel something against my lips for about 1/10 th of a second.
…
But-
I don’t know. I’m not sure. I still feel dizzy from drinking too much yesterday. And things happened really fast, so-
…
“Dada…” She called him again now standing right in front of him.
“What is it Iseul?” He asked her, acting like he always does – Casually and not giving a damn.
……..after getting me all flustered when I was just minding my own business.
Which further forced me to assume I was actually hallucinating things.
“I- I broke the- Uhm- The remote control broke. Dada.” She said with the usual face that she has after doing something wrong.
“What-” He let out surprised. “Again..?!” His voice raised only to fall again in a couple of seconds, “This is the third time, Iseul!” His eyes grew tired as he said those words.
Iseul pouted as she started speaking, “Sorry… Dada. I won’t do it again.” She said and started shedding fake tears making Insoo grab his head in disappointment.
“Iseul, stop. You can’t fool me with that.” He said, but she wasn’t giving up and kept on whimpering the apology words. He heaved a sigh at that and spoke,
“Okay… okay. Stop crying. I’ll fix them.” He said looking at her with an unamused expression on his face.
At that her fake tears dried up instantly as she looked up at him in a “Really?!” with excited eyes.
“You’ll fix it? You won’t scold me?”
That little brat who has always got mischievous ways to make Insoo let her off the hook and still be adored by him like anything, asked.
He snorted in disbelief. “Yeah, I won’t. Didn’t you cry for that already?” He asked.
And the girl let out squealing noises at that and didn’t forget to add her final line, as she rushed to hug him and scream a, “You’re the best Dada! I love you.” with a bright smile on her face.
He held her. “Mmmm... I guess, I’m spoiling you too much, young lady.” He said but Iseul didn’t take his words into consideration as she ran out of the room with Insoo screaming a “I told you not to run!”
But they didn’t seem to reach her ears either.
“This little-” He sighed again helplessly shaking his head and after a couple of seconds, his eyes grew wide as he quickly turned his head to look at the now-empty bed.
“Dayun!” He let out and immediately rushed out of the room and towards the kitchen to find her.
And there…
He found her taking the bowl to the sink and started to wash it. “Dayun…” He called her name as he approached her. But she was just washing the dishes unbothered, not giving him any attention.
“Dayun…”
He called her one more time and this time she hummed a ‘Hmm…' in response but didn’t turn to look at him.
“Dayun… Look. The thing I wanted to tell you. Let me tell that. I don’t think I can hold it inside any longer. It’s been driving me nuts... Really.” He spoke super quick and very rushed and out of breath even though he did no physical work.
At that, Dayun finally turned to look at him and after a moment, “That’s what you’ve been telling me all along and yet you actually haven’t said anything.” She said and then continued to wash the dishes.
“Hmm? Ye- Yeah, you’re right. I………” He let out and “Uhm- Actually.........” He started speaking, taking a quick breath, getting ready to finally tell her everything that he has been feeling for her inside.
But when he opened his mouth to speak, he couldn’t form any words.
It felt hard. It felt really hard for him to tell her how he feels. He never knew it would be this hard to vocalize a few words. But it was and he felt really anxious. He had already prepared for this, but now when he actually had to tell her, no words left his mouth.
As he stood there, near her… The courage he had been building up for hours turned to dust too. And Dayun turning to look at him squinting her eyes, focusing to try and get what he was trying to say, didn’t help him either.
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Finally, by closing his eyes for a split second, he built up his lost courage again.
He was not willing to give up after coming this far and decided to not hesitate and just let the words out really fastly,
“Dayun I really really really lo-”
*Rings*
Even though he had found the courage in him to finally speak, time wasn’t supporting him at all, as his phone that he had placed on the kitchen counter while he scrolled some anti-hangover recipes, interrupted him.
‘Aish, reaaaally-' he screamed internally and quickly grabbed his phone and would have already switched it off if he had not looked at the caller ID that read ‘Dad 1’. On top of that, there were already 10 missed calls from him too.
The sight got Insoo totally taken aback as panic started filling his eyes. “Dad?” He let out shocked and without delaying another second swiped the screen to attend the call.
“Hel-” He was about to greet but stopped and took his phone two feet away from his ears when he heard the man on the other side scream his lungs out.
“WHERE THE HELL DID YOU KEEP YOUR PHONE?! WHY DIDN’T YOU TAKE MY CALL?!”
His scream was so loud that even Dayun could hear him.
“I had kept my phone in the kitchen and was in the room, dad.” Insoo replied.
“Why own a phone when you aren’t even keeping it with you?” His dad asked not done with him yet.
Insoo sighed and ignored that question of his and “Dad, if it isn’t emergency, shall I call you back after sometime? I was in the middle of something actually.” He said carefully, looking at Dayun, who was resumed doing the dishes listening to Insoo’s side of conversation and bits and pieces of his father’s.
“Yeah, it’s the weekend but it doesn’t mean, I’d be sleeping, dad.”
“No, I don’t.”
“What?.................. Dad, please! If you have something to tell me, tell me already.” His voice sounded impatient,
“What? Really?”
But suddenly switched emotions as his eyes grew surprised.
“Sophia Lim? She’s here?” He spoke shocked and,
At the mention of a woman’s name, Dayun paused her work in the middle and turned to look at Insoo who was so into the conversation with his dad that he didn’t notice her eyes on him.
She tried to listen in on their conversation and could hear his father mention something about ‘Wedding’ ‘Arrangements’ and ‘Venue’ or something.
She couldn’t make out his words properly. All she could figure out was that they were talking about some wedding. And Insoo was nodding from time to time.
“Oh. Fine dad.”
“Yeah. That won’t be a problem. I’ll take care of it.”
“Okay. Okay. I’ll go to her right away. But why didn’t she call me directly? I didn’t even receive her message.”
“What? Couldn’t reach me?....... Oh. Whatever…… Yeah, yeah, I’ll go.”
“For the last time, I’m not on the couch, dad!................. Okay, fine… Yeah.”
And he cut the call.
And just after he cut the call, Dayun came up to him and asked, “Are you meeting someone?”
Insoo locked his phone and shoved it inside his pocket before looking up at her and replied, “Yeah. Her name is Sophia. We're meeting in the office. I gotta go.”
“In the office?” She asked him confused and he nodded.
“She’s used to meeting me there.” He replied.
“Used to? You meet her often? But- I don’t think I’ve seen her before?” She asked, wondering out loud.
“Hmmmm. Well, you wouldn’t have. Because she was outside the country for the past few years and even when she does come here and comes to visit me, she comes during the weekends and I used to be in the office on the weekends, so………. yeah… That’s how we often ended up meeting each other in the office mostly on Saturdays.” He didn’t intend to but ended up giving her a long ass explanation, for her simple question.
But only one thing he said caught her attention, “You spend the weekends in the office?” She asked him surprised.
He nodded again. “Before you and Iseul moved here, I did. I’d get bored in the weekends. So, I……… used to go to office on Saturdays. And... Sundays too………. It depends.” He said thinking.
“Ohh…” Dayun let out, taking in the information.
“I even used to spend my nights there………….. Sometimes.” He further added.
She looked at him amused. It wasn’t what she planned to ask him but got her explanations on why she found some of his clothes and other things in his office room. She could also see how he came too early sometimes.
Turns out, he never left in the first place.
-
What a workaholic-
She wondered.
But right now, it wasn’t her main concern.
Her main concern was the woman named Sophia who Insoo was about to meet.
“So, you’re going to meet her now?” She asked.
“Hmm… Yes. She is already at the office. I should be leaving.” He said.
And Dayun couldn’t help but ask him, “Well, May I ask who she is? I- I mean. Like……….. Is she your friend? Or.........”
He wondered why she’d suddenly ask him about her but still answered after thinking for a moment, “Uhm- We aren’t friends. We’re family…………….. or at least we’d be one soon.”
He looked excited as he spoke those words, which made Dayun’s face fall, as she started wondering who that woman was to Insoo, how she'd look like and such.
…
“Then...” Insoo took a step towards her and loosely held one of her hands that was still wet from doing the dishes, making Dayun get out of her world and gaining her attention, he gently spoke, “I’m leaving………… So..…. See you in the evening.” He said looking at her.
And Dayun just mumbled a ‘See you…' in return and nodded with a quick smile that wasn’t really genuine.
With that, Insoo turned his heel to leave as Dayun watched his back.
And her heart… would have been spared if he had left just like that, but he decided to stop, right after taking a few steps from her and turned back to look at her as she gave him a smile. He turned his head and hesitantly took another couple of steps only to stop again and rush back to quickly pull her close into his arms, placing one of his hands on the back of her head. And whispered a soft, “Take care.” in her ear before actually walking out of the room and leaving Dayun motionless as she watched his image disappear.
Dayun’s POV,
After Insoo left, I grabbed my favourite book and settled on the couch.
I was physically flipping through the pages of the book I was holding, but did not even read a single word.
All my mind could think about was Insoo and the woman he has left, to meet.
Hmph.
I closed the book and fell flat on the couch.
I won’t be able to read this book, when he’s out there to meet some woman.
I sighed.
The way his eyes lit up when he talked about her, and the affectionate tone his voice held while saying her name, bothers me a little too much.
I really want to know who actually is she and what her relationship is with him.
‘She’s family.’ He told me.
I replayed the things he said and thought about them for a while and ended up grabbing my hair in frustration.
Aargh………
I’m not going to get any peace until I know who that woman is. I guess, I should just go to the office and find out myself.
I thought and,
With that I got up.
Only to fall back the next moment.
…
He can meet whoever he wants. Who am I to be concerned about that?.................. What right do I even have to be jealous?
My face fell as I started to grow disappointed.
…
But then again-
I can go to my office whenever I want, can’t I? Also, I do have some files that I forgot to take home yesterday.
So…………
Me visiting the office doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with Insoo,……….. Right?
Right.
I told myself.
And not even a second later, I quickly made my way to the office.
I took Iseul along with me too as I can’t leave her alone at home. And since it was the weekend, not many employees were in the office except the security and the ones that were on the weekend shift.
I walked through the corridors and,
I would’ve started to make my way towards Insoo’s room but there was no need for that, since I spotted him down the hallway.
He was walking towards his room and didn’t notice me there. I was about to call his name but stopped when I saw a woman walking behind him.
That must be that Sophia Lim. I thought.
I focused my gaze on her and when I did, I grew speechless.
She was probably just our age and looked extra-ordinarily beautiful and charming. Just by taking a single glance at her, I could see how flawless she was. It seemed like she had just walked out of a red carpet………….. Classy and elegant.
And when I watched her walk alongside Insoo, I couldn’t help but feel a slight ping at my heart.
I must say, they looked really great together.
And Insoo was really enjoying her company. They were chatting and laughing all along the way and he gave her all his attention, that she deserved.
After a moment, their figures disappeared as they entered his room. And the next moment I found myself standing near the door, listening to their conversation.
I never thought I’d listen to someone’s conversation secretly like this, but right now, jealousy and curiosity got the best out of me. Watching him so close with another woman hurt my heart in ways like nothing would, even though, I hold no right to feel that way.
“I’m very happy about the wedding!” The woman named Sophia spoke excitedly and must I say how honey coated her voice was?
They were talking about a wedding. Probably the same thing Insoo’s father was talking about. And I couldn’t help but connect the dots.
-
It is not what I think it is………………. Right?
“Yeah, it makes me feel happy too.” Insoo said matching her excitement.
But-
Why does the reason to think that it is not what I think it is, keeps on decreasing?
I slowly started to feel my stomach in knots.
He further added, “Like I said, just focus on the wedding, I’d take care everything else, hmm? Stress could affect your beauty. You wouldn’t want that, would you?” He asked and at that,
She nodded enthusiastically and smiled, before playfully hitting his arm saying, “You read my mind…” making him laugh as he said, “Of course, I would, after all the years I’ve known you.”
And then, they started discussing about the wedding – the decorations, cake, food… Everything. She also, tried a ring on him as she mentioned, “It suits you perfectly.”
To which he said, “Hmmm… Yeah it does.”
My heart sank.
Is Insoo getting married? Is he engaged?
That can’t be the case right?
But-
But everything happening here would make sense only if it was true.
Then again,
Why the hell did I never heard of this before?
She is his………… Fiancé?
He has a… Fiancé?
I couldn’t believe my own thoughts.
But another conversation of the two employees that were passing by, left me with no option, but to believe it.
“Did you see our boss’s girlfriend today? I guess she’s back in the country again.”
“Yeah… I did. She has turned more beautiful, hasn’t she? I wish I could to afford her beauty products.” She spoke sighing and continued after a pause, “And don’t call her, his girlfriend. I heard that they are going to have their wedding soon.” She told the other girl whose eyes grew wide as she screamed,
“Really? Our boss is getting married?”
“Yeah…” She said and whispered the next part, “Apparently, he had booked the biggest wedding hall in the city for the wedding.”
“What?!............ Hmph… Rich people………….” The other one sighed.
And they were gone just like that leaving me even more heart-broken.
When I was about to be lost in thoughts, the conversation inside the room caught my attention again.
“Ahh… This! This is why I have you with me.” Sophia sprung her arms around Insoo and “Thank you!” She said kissing his cheeks.
The sight made me devastated. I- I just couldn’t take in the things I saw.
If I thought that it might just be a rumor, then, I don’t think it is one now.
Insoo has a fiancé and he’s getting married.
He has a freaking fiancé!
And I never knew about this. He never told me about this. I was staying with him all along but he never mentioned this to me?
Even the others have know it, but I, who was literally living with him for the past couple of months, have no freaking idea about this?
Wait-
Was I really living under the same roof with a man that was soon-to-be married?
And on top that…
I-
Love him.
…
I couldn’t feel more shameless.
“What are you doing? It's good manners to return the gesture.” She told him.
To be continued…