Chapter 2 ….
“Hey, does it make sense for someone about to get married to turn off their phone? Even a popular professor isn’t that busy!”
For some reason, the voice of her friend Hajung seemed to ring vividly in Universe’s mind.
After seven long years of support, Universe had finally received a marriage proposal.
Some people fight while preparing for a wedding, but fortunately—or unfortunately—that wasn’t the case for her.
From start to finish, Universe was handling everything herself.
“Sorry, Universe. When we get married, I’ll make it up to you.”
Her boyfriend, a late-blooming medical student, was only now in his late thirties and doing his internship.
Even as a regular office worker, her days were hectic; working in a hospital must be even more intense.
She had considered that, but she couldn’t help feeling a little hurt.
Gazing quietly at the brown box in the passenger seat, Universe removed her glasses and pressed gently on the bridge of her nose.
The box contained the wedding invitations she had gone to pick up herself just before leaving the country.
Rrrrrr
Just then, her phone rang. Wondering if it was Kiuk, she checked the screen, only to be met with a wry smirk of disappointment.
It was her friend, Oh Hajung, who couldn’t be more unlike a tiger.
—Universe! How was your business trip?
“Yeah, thanks to you, I made it safely.”
Hajung, who had been her close friend since middle school, was an indispensable presence in Universe’s life.
She had also been the only one to warn Universe to be careful of Kiuk’s icy appearance while she supported him in every way.
—But why do you sound like that? Don’t tell me that guy turned off his phone again today?
“Just tired.”
—Our Universe is tired? Don’t worry, I’ll mix you a nice cold soju-and-beer later. Just hang in there until then.
“Huh? Later?”
As expected, Hajung clicked her tongue over the speaker.
—You forgot again, didn’t you? Today’s the day, the reunion!
Ah, the reunion.
It suddenly occurred to Universe that today was her high school reunion.
She had consistently avoided reunions because certain people would always come to mind from her school days. But two years ago, Hajung had finally worn her down, and she had started attending again.
—Why aren’t you answering? You have to come and hand out the invitations. Everyone’s waiting!
Universe’s resentful gaze once again landed on the passenger seat.
Hah. How many did she take?
“Yeah, I’ll hand them out. Of course.”
These were the invitations she had scrambled to pick up just to make the plane in time; naturally, she had to distribute them.
—But don’t be surprised later. There’s going to be some, um, su-su-super big news today.
Universe smiled softly as she pressed the accelerator, following the car ahead slowly moving forward.
“I don’t believe it. Last time, you hyped up some ‘surprise news,’ and it turned out all Baek Jiseung was doing was shaving his head. Remember?”
—No! This time it’s real!
“What on earth is it?”
At that moment, a plane descending above them shook the air with a roaring resonance.
Universe instinctively looked up at the sky.
—Ji Haebum has returned to Korea!
The thunderous noise faded into the distance, leaving Universe’s ears ringing.
jj0
—Ladies and gentlemen, our flight will be arriving shortly at Incheon International Airport.
The cabin lights illuminated as the plane prepared to land. Through the white clouds, the scenery of Seoul began to come closer.
A man calmly followed the glittering Han River, the towering buildings like glass castles, and the tiny ant-like cars moving in lines below.
Haebum had stayed awake for the entire 15-hour flight; his eyes were bloodshot.
It had been 12 long years since he last visited Korea.
Around here… the neighborhood where they had lived until he was nineteen.
The schools they had attended.
The house where they had spent unforgettable nights—and perhaps the one where someone he knew still lived.
“You know why I didn’t stop you from taking the director position, right?”
Haebum turned his gaze from the window to the refined voice beside him.
Looking back, his mother, Go Aeran, still wore a disapproving expression.
Considering her son had left a solid career at the main office to become a department head at KU Display, it was understandable she was upset. She had hoped he would stay rooted at the U.S. headquarters.
“You’re nagging even on the plane?”
But Haebum simply brushed his hair back nonchalantly.
The soft strands, untouched by any product, fell over his forehead, highlighting his sharp, harmonious features like a painting.
“You’re the problem, listening to my words as mere nagging. And you didn’t even tell Hailey that you’d be in Korea for a while, right? How could you? That girl reports everything to her mother when there’s an issue…”
“Why should I?”
“Why should I? Do you really not know? Hailey got this chance from the chairman!”
Seeing his son so indifferent, Aeran straightened her posture, her eyes narrowing sharply.
“I’ve told you countless times: we could live at KU’s main house because of heaven’s blessing. You must not waste this opportunity!”
“Mom…”
“Just watch. I’ll make sure you sit at the top of KU someday.”
Aeran’s voice trembled as she spoke, then she pursed her lips and continued in a quivering tone.
“People say that kid who died should have become the chairman’s successor, but I know your worth. Until the day the world recognizes you as the heir, I will never give up.”
Haebum pressed his forehead, troubled by the familiar parental monologue.
“If you live so seriously every day, you’ll develop a nervous breakdown, Mrs. Go.”
“Don’t forget the promise with your mother. You must prove why you left your rightful place to come here.”
“Grandfather allowed this.”
“Your grandfather trusted you and granted your request. Always remember, you are his heir.”
Haebum decided not to argue and remained silent.
He had chosen to come to Korea not just for the management of a new factory in Malaysia, but for other reasons as well.
“Don’t worry.”
A dimple appeared on Haebum’s cheek as he looked at Aeran.
“You’ll like it too, Mom.”
jj0
9:00 PM.
Slightly drunk from soju and beer, Universe staggered as she tore apart the seafood pancake in front of her with wobbly chopsticks.
“Stop messing with it! You’re destroying a perfectly good pancake!”
Shrimp and squid hidden in the batter flew across the table as if involved in a traffic accident.
But despite Hajung’s scolding, Universe remained stubborn.
Finally, Hajung grabbed the chopsticks from her, ending Universe’s chopstick rampage.
Then Universe suddenly collapsed onto the table, muttering to herself.
“Don’t ask for the invitation. I won’t give it… No one will…”
“Why is she acting like that today?”
Nearby classmates, including Jiseung, clicked their tongues at the sight.
“Let her be. Universe must be having a lot on her mind before getting married. She’s the first of us to marry.”
“Well, technically early thirties is the right age, but we’re still immature.”
Listening to her friends, Hajung let out a frustrated sigh.
She was upset that her precious friend was giving herself to a man she considered unworthy. But she couldn’t stop Universe, knowing the reason she was rushing to marry.
When Universe turned twenty, her family faced great tragedy.
Her father had a sudden traffic accident on his way to work.
Few classmates knew of the unexpected disaster because Universe didn’t want to show it. Until now, only Hajung and Jiseung knew.
Thanks to her father leaving a house and land, they avoided financial hardship, but her mother was greatly shocked by the loss of her husband.
Her mother could not live normally due to long-lasting trauma, so Universe, although legally an adult, had to care for her mother while continuing her studies.
After those tearful years, her mother’s heart slowly recovered—but that was when the constant talk of marriage began.
“My daughter can rest easy only if she finds a man who will protect her for life. Hajung, you need to convince Universe too.”
Even Hajung had persuaded Universe, who wanted to stay by her mother’s side unmarried, to marry.
‘Still… I should’ve stopped that guy.’
Universe’s boyfriend, who entered medical school at thirty-one, said he liked her because she was beautiful, and because she was an only child from a single-parent household.
Just hearing that, Hajung could tell he was a sly man. He had tamed innocent Universe, made her support him, and now he was unreachable.
Hajung clenched her teeth in anger.
“Ji Haebum is here!”
At the sound of the familiar name, Universe froze, still face down on the table.
“Haebum! Over here!”
Her classmates’ cheerful voices made Universe roll her eyes. Suddenly, she felt wide awake.
“Kyaa! It’s been so long! Welcome!”
Feeling the presence of someone approaching strongly, Universe slowly lifted her gaze, squinting to make out the blurred scene among her classmates’ excited cheers.
