― Really sorry, but can you go up to my place instead? I urgently need you to do something.
“To your place? Suddenly?”
― A while ago, there was a problem with the refrigerator, so I applied for A/S, but we haven’t set a date. But now the repairman called and said he’s on his way.
Ah, I see.
If he called with such a purpose, then why did he say something like, “There must be something for me to call you…”?
Feeling somewhat disappointed, Eunsoo internally panicked. Trying not to show her confusion, she quickly asked.
“Just that? Will it take long?”
― No, it won’t.
“Okay. I’ll leave a message later, so don’t worry and do your work.”
As Eunsoo was about to end the call without lingering feelings, Juhan suddenly asked.
― Uh… Did you have a good day today?
“Suddenly?”
Thinking and uttering it almost happened simultaneously. Even though it could be a disappointing reaction, Juhan responded calmly.
“Just. I felt a bit awkward. It was strangely empty, and I found it odd. I’ve always done well alone all this time.”
Having read that Eunsoo also had a similar thought earlier, Eunsoo’s words were stuck. Juhan, who couldn’t understand the meaning of the silence, quickly continued.
“The front door passcode is 0511. I’d like to ask you a favor.”
As Eunsoo looked down at the disconnected phone, a short breath escaped from her mouth belatedly. It was a breath she didn’t even know she was holding.
“Why does that have to come up here again?”
Their special day, a number meaningful only to them, was the same as the passcode Eunsoo changed for him before.
Eunsoo pursed her lips and pushed the door open.
“Why bother making people worry?”
After locking the door of “Bida” at the end of the business hours and turning on the security system, Eunsoo went up to Juhan’s place through the external stairs, trying her best not to think about anything. She entered after entering the passcode.
Inside the house was as cold as it was neat. It seemed like it was meticulously organized in preparation for a business trip. Eunsoo put her bag down and quietly sat on the sofa.
As she fiddled with her phone, killing time, the doorbell rang. Eunsoo quickly opened the door.
“I apologize for suddenly visiting. Another customer canceled right at this time, and if you couldn’t receive it today, it seemed like it would be pushed back quite a bit.”
“It’s okay. Thank you.”
Eunsoo guided the repairman holding a large bag and a box of parts toward the kitchen.
“The refrigerator is over here…”
Eunsoo paused. A photo attached to the refrigerator caught her eye. The Polaroid taken by the old couple at the beach during their fake date.
“Oh, the refrigerator is too clean. You must have worked hard to organize it in a hurry. I’m sorry.”
“Oh, no. It’s okay.”
Although he intended to say it was emptied due to a business trip, he missed the timing. The repairman had already half-inserted himself into the refrigerator and was diligently fixing something. Eunsoo awkwardly stood aside and looked at the photo with a blank expression before averting her gaze.
“It’s done.”
“Oh, already?”
“Yes. The repair itself is simple, but it takes time to import parts from overseas.”
After packing up, the repairman stood up, signed the repair confirmation, and said goodbye.
“I’ll be going now. If you have any problems again, please contact us.”
“Yes. Thank you. Please be careful.”
After the repairman left, Eunsoo stood in front of the entrance for a while. Then, she went to the refrigerator and stood there.
As if in a staring contest, she reached out to the photo of Juhan. While taking off the photo attached with a small magnet, a piece of paper behind it fell to the floor.
“Uh…”
Reacting instinctively, Eunsoo bent down to pick it up and bit her lip.
“That’s a copy. The original is here.”
One day, Juhan, who spoke with a sly expression, came to mind.
“There’s no expiration date. It was worth not throwing away. I’ll use it now. Here.”
Did he really keep the original separately?
A lifeless smile appeared on Eunsoo’s lips.
Why does he still have this, and why did he put a talisman behind this particular photo, she wanted to ask.
At the same time, she didn’t want to ask. It felt like she had already heard everything, and so she kept feeling strange.
“You really have no fear. Do you think I know what to do, leaving only one line without any plan? To a person who will find a way, no matter how many conditions are given, to do what they want.”
The 22-year-old, the first love of the same age and lover celebrating their 100th day, said this with a breathless laugh and held the paper tightly in his hand. When Eunsoo, whose face turned red with embarrassment, reached out again and asked for a change, he grabbed her hand, pulling her into an embrace.
“I want to keep this without using it. Unless… unless, for the first time in forever, you really ask me to break up. I’ll never use it. I don’t think I can.”
“Ah, really…”
Eunsoo hastily wet her lips and blinked her eyes quickly.
What a fool.
Muttering to herself inwardly, she even remembered saying the same thing back then. Her eyes became even warmer.
Eventually, she hastily wiped the tears that flowed along the corners of her eyes, took a deep breath, put the photo back in place, and tucked the wish paper into her bag.
About to leave, the doorbell rang again. Wondering if the repairman had left something, Eunsoo immediately opened the door.
“……!”
A woman was standing in front of the door. A middle-aged woman with an elegant short hairstyle that suited her well.
Eunsoo, whose head turned as white as the two-piece color the woman was wearing, quickly remembered who she was.
“Oh, hello.”
A woman whose long eyes were as similar to Juhan’s as the color of the two-piece she was wearing, Juhan’s mother.
Seeing Eunsoo, who stood firm as if petrified and then slightly bowed her waist, Jakyung faintly furrowed her eyebrows.
“Who are you…?”
“I’m Seon Eunsoo. I work at ‘Bida.'”
“Ah.”
Jakyung made a face as if she just remembered.
“We’ve met before, right?”
“I remember.”
Eunsoo, who let out a forced laugh, straightened her posture, putting tension in her waist. It was her effort not to be overwhelmed by the difficult adult in front of her.
“But why are you here?”
An Indifferent Woman is the One Men Desire the Most
One-line summary: The female lead is actually cold-hearted and extremely rational. She has stage-by-stage relationships and won’t two-time, but there will always be someone who secretly likes her.
This novel has the following triggers, so if you’re sensitive to these, please don’t read:
1. The female lead has had many relationships, but she treated each one seriously and broke up properly.
It’s just that the men unilaterally pestered her incessantly. For the female lead, when she doesn’t like someone anymore, she simply doesn’t like them.
(This applies to her relationships with Male Lead 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well, but she’s loyal in each 1-on-1 relationship!)
2. In this novel, Male Lead 2 and the female lead kiss in a car, and Male Lead 1 sees it and beats up Male Lead 2.
The female lead calls the police and sends both Male Lead 1 and 2 to the police station! Male Lead 1 begs the female lead not to break up with him.
3. Male Lead 1 has a gentle appearance but an obsessive personality.
Male Lead 2 has a delicate and soft appearance, slightly green tea-like (two-faced).
Male Lead 3 is a youthful college student and a smart person who has secretly liked the female lead for a long time.
Male Lead 4 is the female lead’s father’s special assistant, a business elite with deep, hidden thoughts.
4. At the beginning of this novel, the female lead has already broken up with Male Lead 1 (Chapter 4) and gotten back together with Male Lead 2 (ex-boyfriend).
5. Enter with caution if you have triggers!!!
