The next day.
As soon as the sun rose, Ju Won called for a taxi.
The taxi driver, who readily accepted the call knowing he’d be driving from Seoul to Jecheon in Chungbuk, was waiting outside the entrance. Seeing Ju Won step out dressed simply without luggage, the driver greeted him.
“Hello? I thought you’d have a lot of luggage since you said you’re going to Jecheon. Doesn’t seem like a trip, does it?”
“Yes, I’m just going for a brief errand and will come right back.”
“If you’re planning to use a taxi for your return as well, I can wait for you, heh.”
“Then I’d appreciate that.”
The taxi driver, pleased with this unexpected turn of events, started a conversation, but stopped upon noticing Ju Won’s tired appearance.
Settling into the back seat, Ju Won closed his eyes.
‘I’m so tired I might die from exhaustion.’
He barely slept the previous night. After ending the call with Hye Ju, he had instantly fallen asleep, only to be haunted by nightmares.
This particular nightmare was more intense.
He awoke to a gentle touch, only to find Hyerim gazing at him with bloodshot eyes right next to him.
With tear-filled eyes, she affectionately smiled and reached out her hand. As her cold fingers touched Ju Won’s cheek, her lips moved.
[Dash]”Stay with me.”Frozen in place, he couldn’t move.
[Dash]”Stop it. Go away!” [Dash]”Stay with me, Ju Won…”Amidst the paralyzing fear, he experienced intense resignation. Though he knew it was a dream, it still scared him, and even though he knew it meant nothing upon waking, he was still afraid.
He couldn’t get used to these nightmares. With each passing day, Hyerim seemed to get closer in his dreams.
How much closer will she get tomorrow?
He once imagined her cold, blue hands strangling him.
What would happen to me then?
‘…Would I die?’
Initially, he thought his nightmares were a result of guilt. But now, they felt too real and were suffocating him.
As time passed, the symptoms didn’t improve. The nightmares became more vivid…
He felt helpless.
At the hospital, they diagnosed it as a form of anxiety and continuously prescribed him sedatives. Now, it seemed he had built a tolerance to the medication as it wasn’t as effective.
A year or two ago, after taking the medicine, even if he had a nightmare, he could easily fall back asleep. He could sleep peacefully once in every three days.
But now, it seemed he had reached his limit.
‘I can’t do this anymore.’
Ju Won stared out the window.
Soon, the taxi left Seoul and entered the highway. The quickly changing scenery outside seemed to weigh on Ju Won’s heart.
His destination today was [Wunwol Shrine].
It was a shrine run by a shaman known to receive frequent divine messages. Ironically, Doctor Choi, who had been treating Ju Won for many years, recommended this place.
He said after receiving prayers from the divine woman Haein, his son who used to get Fs in school went on to attend medical school.
If even the doctor, who had been treating him for nearly a decade without finding a solution, recommended this, he should give it a try, right?
At first, he thought it was ridiculous, but as his insomnia worsened to the point where daily life became almost impossible, he had no choice.
‘I really didn’t want to resort to this.’
Ju Won was an extremely logical and rational person. He didn’t believe in horoscopes, fortune-telling, superstitions, or anything supernatural.
The very idea of seeking a shaman because of nightmares was something he couldn’t accept, which was why he hadn’t told Hye Ju the truth.
When Doctor Choi first introduced the divine woman Haein to him, Ju Won had just brushed it off. But as the situation grew dire, he had no choice.
‘Hopefully, this endeavor isn’t in vain.’
Ju Won let out a low sigh, leaning his head against the seat.
His heavy eyelids began to droop.
[Star Icon]Lunchtime, the best hour for office workers.
Da Hee sat alone in the empty office, having her packed meal.
She had been eating lunch by herself for several weeks now, under the guise of dieting.
There wasn’t any particular reason for it. She used to eat with Hye Ju or Seung Won, but given the current situation, she found herself without lunch companions.
She had tried dining with other colleagues, but some, with ill intentions, would often ask about her love affairs, making meals uncomfortable.
Finding it more agreeable to eat alone, Da Hee began packing her own lunch from that day.
Today was no different. As she ate her simple lunch of sesame leaf salad, sausages, and stir-fried kimchi, Da Hee was engrossed in her phone.
She was just forcing herself to chew the cold, tasteless rice when an email notification popped up.
‘What’s this?’
She caught sight of the new email notification at the bottom of the screen and curiously clicked on it. Her eyes widened in astonishment.
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
_____
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