ASDR 10

Chapter : 10

The snack bar was about a fifteen-minute walk from the arboretum.

After leaving the main road and turning into an alley, a shabby tteokbokki shop came into view—run-down overall, but with a surprisingly clean signboard.

It was still early, so there were no customers yet, but seeing a waiting list made from a sketchbook at the front of the shop, it looked like the place got quite crowded in the afternoons.

She carefully opened the door and stepped inside, and the rich smell of tteokbokki rushed over her.

“Sunbae!”

At the same time, a man sitting in the farthest corner by the window waved at her from afar.

His tall frame, dark brown hair, and face with delicate, handsome lines looked exactly the same as when they’d first met.

Even though he had finished his military service and was now thirty, his youthful looks made it easy to believe he was still a college student.

“Junhwi, it’s been a while. Have you been well?”

Junhwi worked at the arboretum, but spent more time directly tending to plants.

Because of that, he rarely ran into Juhye, who as the director had to move around constantly.

“Yeah. How about you, sunbae?”

“I’ve been doing well too.”

Kang Junhwi was Juhye’s junior from college, two years younger than her.

They weren’t in the same business administration department, but they had met through a general education class, grown close, and stayed in touch even after graduation.

He was also one of the few acquaintances whose attitude hadn’t changed even after Juhye later revealed that she was from a chaebol family.

“The tteokbokki here is good.”

“Better than the place we used to eat at?”

“No, how can you compare it to Grandma’s tteokbokki? She’s a master, I’m telling you. A true tteokbokki master.”

Juhye chuckled softly at Junhwi’s serious insistence.

A lot of time had passed, but talking with him always made her feel like she’d gone back to her college days.

Even back then, they had clicked in many ways, which was why their connection hadn’t faded even when they didn’t contact each other often.

“So what brings you here? You saying you wanted to talk to me?”

“Well, since the commemorative ceremony is coming up… I wondered if there might be some issue I didn’t know about. I called you as part of a staff check.”

Junhwi had briefly prepared for the civil service exam before joining the Jinju Arboretum at Juhye’s recommendation.

As a landscape architecture graduate, he learned quickly and carried out tasks accurately and efficiently.

“That’s such a stiff reason? I thought maybe you just missed seeing my face after so long.”

Junhwi joked with a gentle, smiling gaze.

Juhye laughed along awkwardly, scratching her cheek.

After getting married, she had naturally avoided contacting men, not wanting to upset Daehyeon in any way.

Looking back now, it felt like pointless, almost ridiculous self-defense.

“I woke up early and got hungry. I happened to get a text from you, so I reached out. I figured you’d be up since it was almost time for work.”

It felt like a chance handed to her by the heavens.

Junhwi chuckled and set the menu down in front of her.

“Guess living diligently with my miracle morning paid off—I get luck like this too.”

“Luck?”

“I kept getting turned down because you were busy, so it stung a bit. It’s nice to see you like this.”

His straightforward honesty made her feel guilty.

It was true that unless it was about the arboretum, she had deliberately avoided conversations with him. Personal meetings were out of the question.

If she were in his position, she would have felt hurt, yet he showed no resentment at all, which made her feel even more apologetic.

“I’m sorry…”

“If you’re sorry, then you’re buying today. I’m starving.”

As if telling her not to apologize anymore, Junhwi firmly pointed at the menu.

Only then did Juhye smile again and choose dishes with him.

“By the way, sunbae, you don’t look so good.”

After they had neatly ordered tteokbokki, sundae, and fish cake soup.

As he handed her a fork and spoon, Junhwi suddenly hit the mark.

Juhye tried hard not to let her startled expression show.

“…Is it that obvious?”

“I stare at trees all day, so my observation skills have improved. Did something happen?”

The food came out quickly.

Holding her fork, Juhye hesitated, while Junhwi scooped up some broth from the fish cake soup.

After pondering how to begin, Juhye cautiously opened her mouth.

“Well… actually… my father collapsed yesterday.”

“Cough!”

At that moment, Junhwi burst into a dry cough, sputtering the soup he hadn’t finished swallowing.

Juhye hurriedly handed him a cup, and he gulped down cold water, his face turning bright red.

“How can you say something like that as casually as today’s lunch menu? You scared me!”

Junhwi scolded her loudly, looking incredulous.

Seeing his reddened face and hoarse voice from coughing, it was clear he’d been badly startled.

Instead of apologizing again, Juhye pulled out some tissues and handed them to him.

“I thought you wouldn’t be surprised.”

“Why wouldn’t I be? Am I a robot?”

Watching Junhwi grumble like that, she felt both sorry and oddly relieved.

From long ago, Junhwi had always had a knack for lightening the mood no matter how serious the topic.

Because of that, she strangely felt brave enough to confide in him this time.

“I’m thinking of divorcing my husband.”

He wasn’t family like Juyoung, and Junhwi’s always objective demeanor felt reliable.

She trusted that instead of reacting emotionally, he would give a rational, sensible opinion.

“I couldn’t tell my father right away because he collapsed so suddenly, but once he recovers, I’m thinking about telling him.”

A long silence followed.

Whether fortunately or not, Junhwi just stared at her without saying anything.

Broth dripped from the spoon he was holding, but he didn’t seem to notice.

“So… if my husband accepts it, I’m thinking of starting with a separation…”

“Wait, sunbae! No—wait a second.”

Bang. Junhwi slammed his palm on the table, making it shake loudly.

She had expected an indifferent reaction like always, so this was unexpected.

As Juhye watched in surprise, he rubbed his face roughly with both hands.

“Hold on. Divorce… you’re getting divorced?”

Cold sweat formed on his forehead, revealing just how shocked he was.

Feeling apologetic, Juhye pulled out another tissue and handed it to him.

“Are you surprised?”

“Is that even a question—no, that’s not what I should be asking right now.”

Regaining his composure, Junhwi asked,

“What’s the reason for the divorce?”

This time, it was Juhye’s turn to fall silent.

After organizing his thoughts, Junhwi shot a question as sharp as an arrow.

“If you’re the one asking for it, does that mean the fault lies with your husband?”

She pressed her lips tightly together and fidgeted with her cup instead.

She could have said that Daehyeon had cheated, but the words simply wouldn’t come out.

Watching her stay silent, Junhwi quickly changed his line of questioning.

“If it’s complicated, you don’t have to explain it to me. Is this something you decided recently?”

“Yes. That’s why I haven’t even told my family.”

At her answer, Junhwi let out a small sigh.

Without knowing the reason, it was frustrating not being able to grasp her situation clearly.

But he didn’t want to interrogate her just to satisfy his curiosity.

“Does your husband know? That you’re thinking about divorcing him?”

“He does.”

“He does?”

“I told him I wanted a divorce. He refused, though.”

Junhwi slowly furrowed his brows.

The more he heard, the harder it was to make sense of the situation.

“So what are you planning to do now?”

“First, I’ll find a lawyer. The arboretum ceremony will go on as planned. Once my father recovers, I’ll tell him and then separate.”

It felt like the vague plans that had been drifting around like clouds were finally organized for the first time.

Listening calmly, Junhwi replied with a serious expression.

“If you ever need someone, call me.”

“What?”

“If you separate, do you have a place to stay? If you need to secretly find a place nearby, ask me. I’ll even look at houses on the weekends.”

Junhwi was unusually proactive in offering help.

While grateful for his kindness, Juhye shook her head, feeling embarrassed.

“I didn’t plan on relying on you that much. I just…”

She hadn’t wanted to burden him with unnecessary worry.

All she needed was understanding and empathy.

“I just… felt suffocated.”

“Sunbae.”

“I didn’t have anyone I could talk to about this. That was the hardest part.”

That was true. Because her family loved her so dearly, she couldn’t bring herself to tell them.

The thought of what it might have been like if her mother were still alive only deepened her loneliness.

“From now on, tell me. If things get hard, you can call me anytime. If you call, I’ll come running right away.”

“How can I call you anytime… after the ceremony, you’ll practically be living at the arboretum.”

“Ah, way to ruin the touching moment.”

Junhwi let out a small laugh as he looked at her. Despite his grumbling tone, his expression was warm.

With his gentle eyes and neatly styled hair, when he smiled, he reminded her of a big puppy.

“Thank you, Junhwi.”

“I didn’t do anything. What are you thanking me for?”

“You met me, listened to me, ate with me. I haven’t had much of an appetite lately, but eating with you helped.”

“Yeah. You should hang in there too, sunbae. Next time, feel free to contact me whenever—”

Their pleasant conversation was cut short by an unwelcome voice.

“Jin Juhye.”

The moment she heard it, her whole body stiffened.

Juhye didn’t turn around, but from the shadow reflected in the window, she understood the situation.

Behind her—

Seo Daehyeon was standing there.