“Let’s get a divorce.”
Han Seoyoon wasn’t surprised to hear it.
It was something he would say eventually.
She just hadn’t expected it to be today.
“Okay.”
Maybe her answer had come too quickly, because the man sitting across from her looked up.
Kang Taejun.
Seoyoon’s husband.
They had been married for three years.
Counting the years they’d been dating, they had been together for exactly seven years.
And from this moment on, he would be a stranger.
Taejun’s expression was no different from usual.
His hair was neatly combed back. His tie hung loose over his white shirt. He was a man who had never once allowed himself to look disheveled in public.
Today was no different.
Even as he informed his wife that he wanted a divorce, his voice was unnaturally calm.
“Aren’t you going to ask why?”
Seoyoon asked.
Taejun was silent for a moment.
At the brief silence, Seoyoon gave a hollow laugh.
“Forget it. Don’t ask.”
“Seoyoon.”
“The answer’s obvious anyway.”
Work was busy. They weren’t like they used to be. Living like this wasn’t good for either of them.
The things married couples whose marriages had fallen apart said were always similar.
Seoyoon took a sip of the water left in her glass.
Her hands weren’t shaking.
If anything, she was unnervingly calm.
Maybe it was because she had been waiting for this for too long.
Waiting for Taejun to be the one to say they should end things first.
“When are you leaving?”
“Me?”
“This is your house. It’s under your name.”
Taejun furrowed his brow.
“You’re saying you’ll leave?”
“Then do you want me to keep living here?”
“You can have the house.”
Seoyoon laughed as if she couldn’t believe him.
“I don’t need it.”
“Han Seoyoon.”
“I have money.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Then what did you mean?”
Only then did emotion finally appear on Taejun’s face.
Was it irritation? Frustration?
Seoyoon still couldn’t tell.
Even after three years of marriage, reading this man’s expressions was difficult.
He had been different when they were dating.
Taejun had been an expressive person.
He’d waited for two hours in front of her office to pick her up when she worked late. He’d stood in line from the early hours of the morning to buy the pastry she’d casually mentioned wanting. He’d tilted his only umbrella toward her on rainy days and smiled even when his own shoulder was soaked through.
That man had changed somewhere along the way.
She didn’t know exactly when.
Maybe it had been when he inherited the company after his father died.
Or when Taejun’s mother opposed their marriage until the very end.
Or perhaps…
when the two of them stopped being able to have a child.
Seoyoon stopped herself.
What good would it do to pick apart the reasons when they were getting divorced today?
“Have a lawyer handle the assets.”
“I’ll give you everything you want.”
“Don’t say things like that.”
“Like what?”
“Pretending to be a good person until the very end.”
Taejun’s eyes hardened.
Looking at him, Seoyoon felt not relief, but emptiness.
She had endured it for so long.
“When did I ever pretend to be a good person?”
“Always.”
Seoyoon answered.
“That’s what you always did.”
“You apologized when you were busy, apologized when you couldn’t call, apologized when you couldn’t come home.”
Seoyoon set down her glass.
“But you only ever said you were sorry. You never changed anything.”
Taejun couldn’t say a word.
“You didn’t come on my birthday, either.”
“That day, I had a meeting—”
“I know.”
“You went on a business trip for our wedding anniversary, too.”
“That schedule came up suddenly.”
“I know that, too.”
“Seoyoon.”
“I know everything.”
Seoyoon smiled.
“I know how busy you are, how important the company is to you, and that you didn’t do those things on purpose.”
That was why she hated it even more.
Because there was no one she could be angry at.
Their marriage had fallen apart even though neither of them was the bad person.
Seoyoon rose from her chair.
“Let’s stop.”
Taejun stood as well.
“Seoyoon.”
“What?”
“I’ll look into the divorce proceedings.”
“Okay.”
“And stay here for the time being.”
Seoyoon stared at him in disbelief.
“Why?”
“If you leave all of a sudden, your mother will notice.”
This time, she really did laugh.
Seoyoon slowly nodded.
“Ah.”
Of course.
It was exactly like Kang Taejun to think that way until the very end.
“You haven’t told your mother yet.”
“I was going to tell her once things were settled.”
“Are we going to schedule an announcement for our divorce, too?”
“Don’t be sarcastic.”
“Why? Did I say something untrue?”
Taejun pressed his lips together.
Seoyoon looked at the clock on the wall.
Eleven thirty at night.
What a perfect time.
For a seven-year love story to end.
“I’m leaving tonight.”
“Now?”
“Yeah.”
“Where are you going at this hour?”
“A hotel.”
“Are you crazy?”
“How is going to a hotel crazy?”
“Han Seoyoon.”
“Don’t worry.”
Seoyoon picked up the bag she’d left on the sofa.
“You don’t have to anymore.”
Taejun grabbed her wrist.
Seoyoon’s body stopped.
It was the first time they had touched in months.
The moment she realized that, absurdly, her heart reacted first.
Thump.
He had only grabbed her wrist.
But seven years was a long time.
Long enough for her body to remember first.
Seoyoon slowly looked down at Taejun’s hand.
“Let go.”
Taejun released her.
“Let’s talk tomorrow.”
“There’s nothing to say.”
“You’re emotional right now.”
“No.”
Seoyoon looked him straight in the eye.
“I’m perfectly fine right now.”
That was what made it sadder.
She didn’t cry.
She didn’t ask him to stop her.
She didn’t cling to him and ask why he wanted a divorce.
As if she were someone who had already been preparing for the end in her heart for a long time.
Seoyoon walked toward the entryway.
Taejun’s voice came from behind her.
“Seoyoon.”
She stopped.
“You’re really just going to leave?”
It was a strange question.
He was the one who had said they should get a divorce.
Seoyoon only turned her head.
“If you told me not to go, would I stay?”
Taejun’s face stiffened.
Exactly three seconds.
Seoyoon gave him three seconds.
One.
Two.
Three.
Taejun never said a thing.
Seoyoon smiled.
“Take care.”
The door closed.
It was raining outside.
Seoyoon got into her car but couldn’t start it for a long time.
She didn’t even turn on the wipers.
Rain streamed down the windshield in long trails.
Only then did her tears fall.
“You’re such an idiot.”
Seoyoon laughed out loud.
“Why are you crying?”
She had often thought that she wanted to be the one to end things first.
She had even considered saying they should get a divorce herself.
But once she heard those words from Taejun’s own mouth, something inside her collapsed.
Seoyoon wiped away her tears.
I’ll cry just today.
Just today.
Starting tomorrow, we’ll really be strangers.
The moment she turned on her phone to search for a hotel, a call came in.
It was Mom.
Seoyoon quickly wiped her tears and answered.
“Mom.”
* Are you asleep?
“No.”
* Is Taejun home?
Seoyoon was silent for a moment.
“Yeah.”
* Is he still really busy these days?
“Yeah.”
* Oh, honey. It’s been so long since I’ve seen my son-in-law’s face.
Her mother’s bright voice came through the phone.
Seoyoon bit her lip.
Her mother liked Taejun.
She had doted on him like he was her own son.
After Seoyoon’s father died young, her mother had lived alone with her. Taejun was practically the first son she’d ever had.
How heartbroken would she be when she heard they were getting divorced?
* Come over this weekend, both of you. I’ll make galbi.
“Mom.”
* Yeah?
Should she tell her?
Seoyoon hesitated for a long time.
Then, in the end, she smiled.
“Never mind. I’ll see you this weekend.”
After she hung up, she felt like she couldn’t breathe.
Seoyoon rested her forehead against the steering wheel.
“This is the worst.”
After sitting like that for a long while, she started the car.
For now, she’d go to a hotel tonight.
She’d think about tomorrow then.
The car slowly pulled out of the parking lot.
The rain was growing heavier.
The next morning at six ten, Seoyoon opened her eyes in a hotel bed.
Her phone was ringing like crazy.
At first, she thought it was her alarm.
But the moment she checked the screen, she was instantly wide awake.
Seventeen missed calls.
Most of them were from the same number.
Manager Park, Taejun’s secretary.
Her heart was beating strangely.
Seoyoon called back immediately.
The call connected after one ring.
“Hello?”
* Ma’am.
Manager Park’s voice was trembling.
He was known for always being calm.
“What happened?”
* The CEO…
A bad feeling came over her.
Seoyoon got out of bed.
“What happened to Taejun?”
* There’s been an accident.
For a moment, she couldn’t hear anything at all.
“…What did you say?”
* There was a car accident early this morning. He’s in the emergency room at Sejin Hospital.
Seoyoon was already moving.
She picked up the clothes scattered on the floor, threw them on, and grabbed her bag without even tying her hair properly.
“Is he badly hurt?”
* The hospital said they’ll explain everything in person—
“Is he conscious?”
There was no answer.
“Manager Park.”
* He’s unconscious.
The bag fell from Seoyoon’s hand.
She didn’t remember how she got to the hospital.
Seoyoon ran.
She couldn’t even wait for the elevator and rushed straight to the emergency room.
“I’m Kang Taejun’s guardian.”
A nurse immediately led her inside.
Manager Park was standing at the end of the hall.
His usually immaculate shirt was a mess.
“Ma’am.”
“What happened?”
“The CEO was driving himself early this morning.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know, either.”
Seoyoon swallowed hard.
Taejun never drove after drinking.
Where had he been trying to go alone in the middle of the night?
A doctor approached them.
“You’re Han Seoyoon, the patient’s guardian?”
“Yes.”
“The patient is not in any immediate danger.”
The strength left Seoyoon’s legs.
She braced herself against the wall.
“Fortunately, the bleeding isn’t severe. However, he suffered a blow to the head and hasn’t regained consciousness.”
“When will he wake up?”
“It’s too early to say.”
Seoyoon looked through the glass.
Taejun was lying there.
His head wrapped in bandages.
His eyes closed.
Like someone asleep.
She remembered the way he had looked the last time she saw him last night.
‘You’re really just going to leave?’
She hadn’t known those would be his final words.
Seoyoon collapsed into a chair.
“Why…”
Her voice trembled.
“Why did you drive?”
Manager Park hesitated.
“Ma’am.”
“Yes?”
“The place where the CEO’s car was found…”
He looked at Seoyoon.
“It was near the hotel where you stayed.”
Seoyoon slowly raised her head.
“What?”
“The accident happened about two kilometers from the hotel.”
Her mind went blank.
Why had Taejun been there?
No way.
Had he come looking for her?
No.
That couldn’t be it.
Taejun was the one who had said they should get a divorce.
Seoyoon shook her head.
“It was probably a coincidence.”
Manager Park said nothing.
Taejun opened his eyes two days later.
Seoyoon hadn’t been able to leave his side.
She was supposed to be preparing the divorce papers.
Legally, she was still his wife.
More than anything, though, she couldn’t leave an injured person behind.
“CEO.”
Manager Park rose from his seat.
Taejun’s fingers moved.
Seoyoon hurried to the bed as well.
“Taejun.”
His eyelids slowly lifted.
His unfocused eyes stared at the ceiling.
The doctor and nurses soon came in.
Several tests followed.
“Do you remember your name?”
Taejun furrowed his brow.
“Kang Taejun.”
“Do you know where you are?”
“A hospital.”
The doctor nodded.
“Do you know who the person beside you is?”
Seoyoon’s heart sank.
Taejun’s gaze shifted.
Their eyes met.
Seoyoon held her breath without realizing it.
Taejun stared at her for a long moment.
Then he said quietly,
“Seoyoon.”
The corners of Seoyoon’s eyes turned red.
He remembered.
Thank God.
“Taejun.”
Seoyoon stepped closer.
At that moment,
Taejun took her hand.
Firmly.
So naturally.
Startled, Seoyoon looked down at his hand.
Taejun acted even more strangely.
He gave Seoyoon a faint smile.
It was a face she hadn’t seen in years.
The one she used to see so often when they were dating.
The Kang Taejun from long ago.
“Why do you look so sad?”
Seoyoon’s heart stopped.
Taejun slowly brushed his thumb over the back of her hand.
Then he asked,
“How many months until our wedding?”
The room fell silent.
Seoyoon couldn’t say a word.
The doctor looked at Taejun first.
“Do you know what year it is?”
Taejun answered,
“2023.”
The color drained from Seoyoon’s face.
It was 2026.
Taejun’s memory had stopped
exactly three years earlier.
Right before the two of them got married.
And Taejun, who knew nothing, smiled and said,
“Seoyoon.”
His hand tightened around hers.
“Let’s get married soon.”
Last night,
the husband who had said he wanted a divorce
had returned to the time when he was in love with me.