Lee Jae Ho. The man who can never be defeated.

Due to Da Jung’s strangely changed attitude, he had been agonizing all along and came running, unable to bear it any longer. He expected to be greeted nonchalantly as if they had just met yesterday, even though he came unexpectedly.

Lee Jae Ho, of all people.

A fire ignited inside. Kyung Jun rubbed his face roughly.

“I get it. I get it all, Yoon Da Jung.”

I should have done something earlier.

“You. Can you really break up?”

Da Jung smiled helplessly.

“Yes.”

“Then what’s with that expression?”

“Just.”

“If that’s how it is, why did you start?”

“Because I liked it.”

“If you like it. Then why are you breaking up?”

“He has his own world… It was just a brief flirtation out of curiosity, and now it’s over.”

Da Jung bit her lip slightly. It was obvious that there was some hidden circumstance she was concealing, but Kyung Jun was not in the state of mind to ask about that as well. He grabbed Da Jung’s shoulders.

“I’ll ask again. Can you really break up?”

His voice came out sharp.

Whatever feelings Yoon Da Jung and Lee Jae Ho had for each other, whatever resolve Da Jung had made to break up, none of that mattered. Kyung Jun only heard that one statement from Da Jung that she would break up.

Yes. Break up, Yoon Da Jung. Please. Please. I don’t care what your feelings are, just.

Break up.

“Yes. Of course. I’ll break up. That’s what I’ll do.”

Da Jung’s eyes trembled slightly, but Kyung Jun was just relieved.

“Good.”

For some reason, his mood recovered a little.

“You thought well.”

“…”

“Lee Jae Ho, of all people! Hey. What nonsense is this? Anyway, when you go to Seoul, you’ll both be too busy to meet. I heard it’s hard for ordinary people to date celebrities. There’s a reason celebrities marry other celebrities, you know? Their way of thinking is different from ours. In the end, you’ll only get hurt. So what I’m saying is you really thought well…”

“Kyung Jun.”

Da Jung lifted her heavy eyelids.

“I said I get it.”

“…”

“You can stop now.”

Kyung Jun looked at Da Jung for a long time. She was so pretty with her delicate features. Why are her eyes so big when everything else is small? That man must have looked at her with those eyes too. Eyes full of love and trust.

He let go of Da Jung’s shoulders and sighed like a beast’s cry.

“Da Jung. To Lee Jae Ho, not the celebrity…”

Please, anything but that.

“Did you give him everything? Your heart.”

Da Jung smiled faintly.

“No.”

A voice like the wind.

“I never gave it.”

“…”

“I clearly don’t remember giving it, but he just took it all away. So.”

“…”

“There’s nothing left. Things like my heart.”

“…”

“It all became his.”

“…”

“Funny, isn’t it.”

Da Jung pulled up the corners of her mouth and smiled. Kyung Jun couldn’t smile along.

**

The man leaning ostentatiously against the front door stared at the two who came out.

“Are you done talking? It took quite a while.”

It had only been about 30 minutes. Da Jung briefly thought that Jae Ho, who was always leisurely, seemed to be sensitive only about Kyung Jun’s matters.

“Yes. We’re done.”

“Mr. Lee Kyung Jun.”

The man opened his mouth.

“Take your car over there. Da Jung has another car.”

“I can’t take both because I came in another car.”

This was the first greeting between the two men. There was no introduction or exchange of pleasantries, but they both seemed to think that was enough.

“Then tell me your address. I’ll have it delivered to your house today.”

“Da Jung has a lot of luggage, so with my car…”

“No. Ms. Yoon Da Jung has a car.”

Jae Ho said, sounding slightly annoyed. As Kyung Jun was about to argue further, Da Jung gently grabbed his collar and shook her head.

The conversation from earlier came to mind.

‘Kyung Jun. Help me end things quietly with him.’

Kyung Jun took a step back.

“…Da Jung knows the address.”

“I’ll send the car. And Ms. Yoon Da Jung, let go of that hand. The hand holding that man’s clothes.”

Jae Ho frowned, pointing at the hand holding Kyung Jun’s clothes. With his other hand, he naturally took Da Jung’s hand and pulled her towards himself.

“Goodbye. Your friend.”

**

The luggage was neatly packed into three large suitcases. Having organized bit by bit over time, the last day was rather smooth.

Tomorrow was the day to leave this place.

The month seemed to have been very long, yet it also felt like a fleeting moment. And regardless of the length of time, it was a month that left a very big mark on Da Jung’s heart.

She had arrived at the beginning of autumn and now it had passed its peak. It was the first time she had lived fully experiencing the season day by day. She saw how slowly the autumn leaves turned red, and experienced how the sound of stepping on fallen leaves was different for each leaf.

Autumn. The season that dies beautifully. It was nice to meet you.

Winter will come soon.

She glanced at the fireplace. It would warm the whole house cozily, but in the end, she would leave without using it.

It was time to say goodbye to him.

Having endured well until the end, now all that was left was to say goodbye with a pretty smile.

Da Jung didn’t want to know the truth. She was the same before. She wasn’t curious at all about the truth her parents were shouting about. It’s not like her brother would come back alive even if she knew.

It was the same with Lee Jae Ho. His intentions. His past women. His friendship with Oh Chae Won. Would I really be happy if I heard all the truths?

Da Jung shook her head. Most of the truths Da Jung knew were painful.

She looked with a miserable gaze at the ocher envelope stuffed in a corner of the suitcase. This was a fact, anyway.

That’s when it happened.

– Knock knock.

The man knocked politely on the already open door as he entered the living room. Da Jung hurriedly closed the suitcase.

“I’ve packed everything.”

“Well done. Byung Hoon will load them. Shall we do it now? He’ll be here soon.”

“No.”

Da Jung quietly looked down at the three suitcases. These suitcases would never be loaded into Jae Ho’s car.

These suitcases were Da Jung’s reality. It was time to go back home now. She thought of her own small apartment with one room and one living room.

“…I have something to say. Jae Ho.”

“Go ahead.”

He came closer and brushed her lips with his thumb. Da Jung struggled to pull away, creating distance.

“It’s a serious talk.”

“Alright.”

“Let’s. Now. Stop.”

Goodbye, my actor. My favorite.

“…Let’s end it.”

Orange leaves scattered like flower petals through the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the sea. It was like watching a muted video. The wind blew and the leaves kept pouring down.

Endlessly. Endlessly.

It was the cruel color of autumn.

“Let’s go back to our own realities.”

“End what.”

The man broke the silence. After a short, derisive laugh, he spoke slowly.

“We should have started something to end it.”

He laughed, responding casually.

“Let’s stop here. I’ll take it as aegyo.”

Da Jung had to use all her strength to push him away again. She bit her inner lip until it bled to avoid showing tears.

“I’m saying this seriously. Let’s do as we promised. Us.”

Jae Ho stared intently into Da Jung’s eyes. Da Jung didn’t avoid his direct gaze and emphasized once more. Let’s do that. Us.

“Do what.”

“…”

“What do you want me to do with a promise you made alone?”

“…”

“Did I ever say I would do that?”

Jae Ho pulled Da Jung’s chin and gazed at her intently.

“Ms. Yoon Da Jung.”

“…”

“If you like me, why break up?”

It felt like talking to a wall. Da Jung pushed him away again.

“I want to stop now.”

**

“Is he really dead?”

Manager Jung’s expression twisted strangely as he checked his email. The clue to Ha Jae Woo remained elusive no matter how close it seemed.

Manager Jung gritted his teeth as he looked at the composite sketch drawn based on his face from 13 years ago to estimate his current appearance.

“He’s not using credit cards… Not getting employed…”

It was frustrating that his whereabouts were unknown despite spending an enormous amount of money searching the country thoroughly.

Manager Jung was also grinding his teeth at Ha Jae Woo, who had shattered Jae Ho’s life and taken his brother’s life. Why couldn’t he catch this person when he was more confident than anyone in finding people?

That’s when the phone rang.

[Manager. We received a report of someone similar to the composite sketch. Should we check it out?]

“Where?”

[Cheorwon.]

Would this be another wasted trip? How many times has it been?

Still, it needed to be checked.

“Go. See for yourself.”

– Knock knock.

As he hung up the phone, someone knocked. Looking up, it was Chief Choi, Lee Hun Tae’s assistant. Jae Ho stood up with a welcoming expression.

“Chief!”

He was always very grateful to the person who had personally recruited Manager Jung and placed him by Jae Ho’s side.

“Why are the lights on in Director Lee Jae Ho’s secretary’s office when the owner isn’t here?”

“You don’t seem to have left work yet either, Chief. Please, have a seat.”

Manager Jung hurriedly prepared coffee. Chief Choi’s face was full of a benevolent smile as he watched Manager Jung’s back.

“Well, my boss is the Chairman, so that’s why, but isn’t Manager Jung’s boss non-existent?”

“I’ll tell the Director.”

“Don’t even think about it. I got chased away when I went to Taean for nothing.”

“I heard.”

They faced each other and laughed helplessly.

“What are you doing that you haven’t left work yet?”

Manager Jung naturally picked up his coffee to buy time to think. It was a secret from Lee Hun Tae that Jae Ho was looking for Ha Jae Woo. Although he knew Chief Choi wasn’t the type to tattle to Lee Hun Tae, it was better to be careful.

Lee Hun Tae wanted Jae Ho to forget the past completely. If he knew that Jae Ho was secretly looking for the culprit like this, he would obviously be furious.

“I was investigating the death of Lee Jin Woo, as instructed by the Chairman.”

That wasn’t entirely a lie, as he had just started working on that matter.

“I heard Jae Ho is still having nightmares… I’m very worried about that.”

Chief Choi poured out his sincere concerns.

“He’s not the type to do anything rash, but my heart is heavy. As you know, when Jae Ho loses his mind, his madness… Anyway, I’m troubled. I thought everything would be fine by now.”

Manager Jung, realizing what day he was thinking of, tried to reassure him.

“Don’t worry. The Director is not a child anymore. He’s over thirty now.”

“Thirty is still a child… Please take good care of him so he can settle his mind. He’s like a son to me.”

**

It was an empty morning.

A quiet morning where even the seagulls didn’t cry.

Only after looking around Room 101, Room 102, and even the second floor that was difficult to climb, did he realize the cause and let out a short laugh. A sigh or an exclamation, the wind escaped from his mouth.

Yoon Da Jung had disappeared without a trace along with her three suitcases. Oh my, Yoon Da Jung. To do such an audacious thing.

Did she really think he wouldn’t find her?

“Making things troublesome…”

Jae Ho smiled desolately as he looked up at the sky that was painfully blue.

The make-believe game was over.