I hoped it was a dream.

I woke up before the alarm that rang every day, and the living room I came out to was full of traces of yesterday that I hadn’t cleaned up. My heart felt like it would tear at the breakup I confirmed again with my eyes, but I squeezed my eyes shut, turned away, and went to work.

Still, daily life went on.

Even if Ba Ha’s world had ended.

Even if Ba Ha was struggling.

Because the world doesn’t consider the circumstances of each and every person.

“Hah… I look absolutely terrible.”

How I finished getting ready for work, how I made it to the company.

Unable to escape from yesterday’s shock, Ba Ha was dazed as if she had lost her mind, and when she saw her haggard face reflected in the company elevator, realizing once again that yesterday’s events were not a dream, the feeling of wanting to cry kept rearing its head.

“Hello, Doo Na.”

“Hello… senior! Did something happen yesterday? Your eyes are completely swollen!”

Doo Na spoke softly in Ba Ha’s ear, seemingly worried after seeing her swollen eyes, and at Doo Na’s question, Ba Ha’s emotions that she thought she had settled immediately welled up again.

Like how it’s the rule that even when you think you’re okay, if someone asks “Did something happen? Did you cry?” tears well up more quickly and you end up crying.

“No. I just ate ramen last night while watching a really sad movie, and my eyes swelled up quickly. How embarrassing.”

“Oh… I see. You slept with your face all swollen. But I’m glad nothing happened.”

“Thank you, Doo Na.”

Hiding her welling emotions, Ba Ha turned on her computer and worked as soon as she finished greeting Doo Na.

She didn’t take her eyes off the monitor for even a moment.

She worked like crazy, not wanting to think about anything else.

She didn’t want to feel even a small moment of leisure.

It felt like his thoughts would creep up again through that small gap of leisure and swallow her whole.

“Senior, aren’t you eating lunch?”

“Huh? I’m fine. I don’t feel like it.”

“Senior! That’s terrible! Who eats with their mind! Come quickly!”

Worried that Ba Ha was sitting in front of her computer buried in documents, not even realizing it was lunchtime, Doo Na pulled her along and pushed her into the cafeteria.

And so Ba Ha received a lunch she hadn’t even thought about, sat down with her team members, and quietly began eating food that wouldn’t go down without saying a word.

“Did you see that, Min Seo?”

“What? Is there something interesting?”

“You haven’t seen it yet? Lee Han! He admitted he’s dating Cha Hi Ra!”

“Really? Cha Hi Ra is so lucky~ Dating a man like Lee Han~ I’m jealous! Jealous. Or is it? Is Lee Han the lucky one? Either way, they suit each other well…”

Celebrity gossip was indeed an essential topic during lunchtime. Ba Ha’s face instantly hardened at the mention of Lee Han, and she put down her spoon and immediately checked the news on her phone.

[ Love brought together by ‘Time Towards You’! Lee Han ♥ Cha Hi Ra admit to lightning-fast romance! Top stars’ proud love! ]

Her hands trembled, and her breath caught.

That article seemed to be telling her.

That it was really over now.

“…”

A proud love.

It was a love different from the start with someone. Unlike the love that had to hide desperately, it was a love that came out into the world from the beginning and received blessings.

She had to accept it, but she didn’t want to.

That it was the love he had chosen.

That her love with him had ended.

“Ba Ha, what’s wrong? Were you a fan of Lee Han too?”

“No. You know I’m not interested in celebrities. I’ll head back first. Enjoy your meal, everyone.”

Ba Ha gave a perfunctory answer to Deputy Jo’s question, then returned her half-eaten tray and left the cafeteria, heading for the rooftop.

“Hah…”

The cold wind that blew as soon as she opened the rooftop door slapped Ba Ha’s face.

Ba Ha headed to the most secluded spot on the rooftop, her own hideout where she would come and sit for a long time when feeling stuffy.

‘Oppa, why do you want to be an actor? You’re good at studying too.’

‘Because that’s the fastest way I can completely take you away from this wretched Taesan.’

‘Oppa…?’

‘I like you, Ba Ha.’

And so, in the spring at 21.

In the season when pink cherry blossom petals floated gently down, the love with him that she had dreamed of for so long began.

She loved him more than words could express, and thought their love would have no end.

She didn’t know then that it would end like this.

‘You’re the only leading lady in my life. I love you, Ba Ha.’

“Liar.”

Tears fell.

As memories with him flashed by like a kaleidoscope, Ba Ha found herself crying without realizing it. Her heart ached as if it was being torn apart. The fact that she was now just a supporting character in his life hurt Ba Ha.

Just a passing ex-girlfriend supporting role, Han Ba Ha.

Ba Ha cried and cried as she picked up her phone. Biting her lower lip, she called him.

− The customer is not answering. After the beep…

“How could you do this to me…! Oppa… Please pick up… Ah! I said pick up!”

She knew it was a call he wouldn’t answer.

As he didn’t answer, Ba Ha read the article over and over, calling him again. Every time she heard the electronic guidance instead of his voice on the other end, Ba Ha clutched her phone and cried for a long time.

She cried loudly like a child, hating Lee Han so much.

[This is the timeline separator]

This is Korea.

Tae Un returned to Korea after finishing his work at the U.S. branch. As soon as the immigration gate opened, Tae Un frowned at the embarrassing situation he saw and left the arrival hall. Seeing Tae Un, his secretary Woo Jun, who was vigorously waving a placard to welcome him from afar, shook his head.

“Vice Chairman! Over here. Here!”

Tae Un briefly, very briefly considered returning to the U.S. right after setting foot on Korean soil.

At Woo Jun’s fuss, which made it seem like Gyeon Woo and Jik Nyeo were meeting after a long time on the day of Chilseok, Tae Un avoided eye contact with Woo Jun and passed by pretending not to know him.

“Vice Chairman! Didn’t you see me? Or are you pretending not to see me?”

“Director Jang, didn’t we see each other just last week? Why are you making such a fuss?”

If Woo Jun’s plan was to embarrass Tae Un, it was successful. Perhaps because of Woo Jun’s fuss. Many people around the arrival hall were watching the two’s unusual reunion scene, and Tae Un thought the reason for all these gazes was naturally because of Woo Jun, but in fact, Tae Un also contributed to the reason for all these gazes.

Woo Tae Un.

Vice Chairman of Daehan Group and one of the hottest figures in their world, if you could call it that.

188cm tall, broad shoulders, assertive eyes, nose, and mouth. His external sexiness was famous enough to rival any actor, and his internal sexiness was also famous. He was known for having the perfect combination of brains, physique, and looks.

If there was any flaw to point out in him who seemed perfect in every way, it would be that while he doesn’t give his side to anyone, he doesn’t stop women who come nor hold onto those who leave? He was also famous for frequently appearing in tabloids because he preferred casual over serious relationships.

“So you were pretending not to see me? You’re coming back to Korea for good! That’s too much. I stayed up all night preparing that.”

Woo Jun pouted, his excitement completely deflated when Tae Un didn’t appreciate his effort, and Tae Un couldn’t help but laugh at the sight.

“Alright, stop grumbling. Director Jang, let’s go straight to the company.”

“What? You’re going straight to the company? Aren’t you tired?”

“I’m fine. I have somewhere to stop by. Let’s go now.”

[This is the timeline separator]

“Ah… This is it.”

As soon as he arrived at the company, Tae Un went straight to the rooftop without even stopping by his office. The cold wind that greeted him as he opened the door enveloped his body.

Even under the same sky, with the same wind, the wind here somehow felt different.

Tae Un closed his eyes and took a deep breath, feeling satisfied with the rush of wind smell. This cool yet cold wind seemed to wash away the stuffiness from his long flight.

“Pick… up… I said. Hic… sniff.”

What on earth is this sound?

Tae Un looked around at the sudden strange sound, then quietly moved towards the direction of the small, faint sound, listening carefully.

Where his steps stopped was a secluded corner of the rooftop where not a single person passed by, and there was a woman crying like a child, all curled up.

“What… Who is that? Why is she crying like that? She’s really crying sorrowfully.”

Tae Un muttered quietly, silently watching her.

He quietly watched her as she cried endlessly, not seeming to tire.

For some reason, he couldn’t take his eyes off her.

He couldn’t take his eyes off her as she cried, clutching her phone tightly, and when she finally raised her head to look at the sky after crying for a long time, Tae Un hesitated for a moment.

“Hic…”

Long straight hair and a pale white face, her nose and eyes reddened from crying so much, tears overflowing as she gently closed her eyes.

Tae Un didn’t know why he was watching so intently, but for no reason at all, he just couldn’t take his eyes off her.

He was just watching silently, without making a sound, without even realizing it himself.

“Hah… I’m full. A sigh when you’re full~ A sigh when you’re hungry~ Life, really.”

“Manager Kim, really…”

With not much time left in the lunch hour.

It seemed employees were coming out one by one to get some air, and at the sound of voices getting closer, Tae Un reflexively looked at her again and took one step, then another towards her.

Not realizing someone was approaching,

Not even feeling that someone was watching her

Just towards her who was only crying.

“Stop crying.”