Soeun also raised her chin chubbyly and asked.

“Where else can I find someone like you besides Han Soeun?”

“That’s right.”

Isn’t it natural? Just as you are sure of me, I can be sure of you.

Taejun seemed to quickly agree with Soeun’s claim. The sharpness in Taejun’s eyes that had risen suddenly lowered.

“Come out. Let’s eat something delicious.”

Soeun glanced down at the hand he offered. While indulging in useless thoughts like marriage, a scene of a groom escorting a bride down the wedding aisle came to her mind. Soeun lowered her eyelids to dispel the daydream and hesitantly took his hand.

Taejun’s hand was so large that Soeun’s hand seemed to be engulfed by it. Holding hands tightly, the two descended the stairs.
Due to the complicated traffic, Soeun and Taejun set out to explore local restaurants in the neighborhood.

Soeun asked first, “What did Manager Jang Eunpyo talk to you about?”

“We didn’t discuss anything specific. I just thought I’d help you out since you might have trouble responding after hearing the confession,” Taejun replied.

“Ah, so you heard about that…”

“How did you feel about it?”

While Soeun mumbled and nodded her head, Taejun asked, “Yes?”

“Your impression of being confessed to by Manager Jang.”

The exposed tension in Soeun’s eyes was burdensome. “Just watch, if you answer incorrectly, I might get upset,” Taejun’s firm and penetrating gaze pricked Soeun’s resilient skin.

“…I felt quite embarrassed.”

“Now you see.”

Soeun offered a faint smile. Somehow, it seemed like she needed to provide the answer he wanted to hear. However, Taejun found that more hurtful.

“While watching my reactions, don’t act awkwardly around Manager Jang; just continue as before.”

“…”

“If you treat Manager Jang like nothing happened, she won’t be able to say anything. If she’s a person with a sense of awareness.”

So, I shouldn’t be aware, but Manager Jang Eunpyo should? Soeun wanted to point out the double standard, but she refrained, as Taejun seemed to be smiling irritably.

In the dark alley, the footsteps of the two were calmly recorded. Many things had happened, but the present, like the serene evening landscape, felt surprisingly organized.

“But Kim Malhee’s photos and all that disappeared completely? I was surprised that it was cleaned up faster than I thought. My post disappeared even faster.”

“I should have brought up this topic first.” Soeun regretted bringing up Manager Jang Eunpyo’s story without being able to contain her curiosity.

“Like a twinkling event, my post twinkled and was leaked to the outside world, only to disappear suddenly.”

Taejun would have taken responsibility and deleted her leaked post. Soeun was sure of it. The person who leaked her post to the outside world was briefly resented, but fortunately, it all passed without incident.

Taejun delved into the origin of the story.

“The person who first posted the article was Yang Heejin.”

“It seemed like that.”

“She bought the account from a former employee who had left the company and posted the article.”

“…”

“We sued the person who sold it from the company’s perspective.”

In that short period, he did everything he could, as if he had been prepared in advance. And now, he had the leisure to talk about these past events while smiling.

Is this what joy in revenge looks like? Soeun didn’t completely understand why he was laughing, despite having made someone suffer.

Though she didn’t witness anything, this man seemed capable of anything. Soeun found it both reassuring and worrisome.

After finishing their meal, Taejun returned home early with Soeun.
Despite the noisy events, everything was neatly organized as night fell. Tomorrow, busy tasks would likely overwhelm again, but for now, the satisfaction of completing the day was refreshing. After finishing exercise at night and returning, the steps toward the bathroom were light.

Duru duru duru.

Amidst the silence, Taejun turned his steps at the vibrating sound. Thinking it was Soeun’s contact, he found an international number on the screen. It seemed to be a Filipino counselor.

[Apologies for calling you so late, sir. I have something to discuss.]

“Yes, go ahead.”

Earlier, Taejun had been introduced to a Filipino counselor to find information about Han Soeun’s father. It seemed they had found Han Soeun’s father.

[We found Ms. Han Soeun’s father, Mr. Han Honggyu. He passed away in the Philippines in April of this year.]

Taejun had been contemplating how to inform Soeun once they found her father, and the counselor’s news weighed heavily on his chest.

“Can you tell me the cause of death?”

[It seems there was a dispute over money.]

“Were funeral arrangements made?”

[There was no separate funeral, and as there were no family members locally, close acquaintances arranged for the belongings.]

April of this year. At the same time Soeun underwent the liver donation surgery, her father left the world.

It was a tragic spring.

A bitter taste lingered in his mouth.

“Did he leave any will or anything?”

[There’s no information about a will, and the property left is estimated to be around 500,000 pesos.]

Should he inform her?

Over 500,000 pesos, is it worth it?

The person who had left Soeun alone all this time? The harsh father who never sought out the child left alone?

“Can you handle it on your own?”

[Excuse me?]

“As for matters in the Philippines, it would be preferable if they were settled there. Please prevent news from leaking into Korea.”

Taejun made the decision without much difficulty. Soeun only needed him. There was no need to bring the father who lived only in memories and dredge up events from 20 years ago.

[Yes. I’ll make sure to handle it well.]

Thank you. Taejun politely expressed gratitude and hung up the phone.