Chapter 2
It was early dawn, still a bit too early for the sun to rise, but Ina quietly gathered her bag and left her room.
Careful not to wake Lee Hye and Chan, who were still sleeping, she moved cautiously—but a presence behind her startled her, and she turned around.
Chan was standing there, peeking through the slightly opened door, and their eyes met. Ina gave him a gentle smile.
“Did you wake up because of me, son?”
“Mm, no. I got up to see you leave.”
Rubbing his eyes, Chan walked toward her. Ina set her bag down and spread her arms wide.
Her son nestled into her embrace, burying his face against her chest, and Ina gently stroked his hair.
“Mom… have a good day today.”
“Yes. Today’s your first day at kindergarten, right? You can do well with your aunt even if I’m not there, can’t you?”
Ina let go of her son with a guilty expression. She had wanted to see him off on his first day herself, but her pre-scheduled performance made it impossible. So once again, she had entrusted Chan to Lee Hye’s care.
Chan shook his head, as if sensing his mother’s guilt and wanting to reassure her.
“It’s okay. I have my aunt. You should do what makes you happy, Mom.”
Ina’s heart tightened as she looked at her five-year-old son, already thinking of his mother before himself. She forced a smile and said,
“Alright, then. Have fun at kindergarten today.”
“Okay. And Mom, when you go to work, try to get along with everyone, even people you don’t like. And eat everything on your plate, even if you don’t want to. Got it?”
Hearing the same advice she always gave him, Ina chuckled softly.
As she tidied his messy hair and looked at his face, someone she had recently remembered came to mind, and she bit her lip.
“Okay. Even if I meet someone I don’t want to, I’ll act like it’s nothing.”
The anxious thought of having to face Do Hyun again lasted only for a moment. Once she entered the audition hall, Ina quickly regained her composure.
This was her first musical in Korea under her own name, so she resolved to set aside personal feelings and focus solely on the performance.
As she concentrated on the actors’ performances and singing, it was soon his turn.
Looking at the profile placed before her, Ina felt her heart begin to race for no reason.
“Hello, I’m Baek Do Hyun.”
Do Hyun entered, greeting the judges with a polite nod and a clear, bright smile.
For a moment, Ina and Do Hyun’s eyes met across the director’s table. Despite having told herself that time had passed and it wouldn’t matter, her heart plummeted at the sight of his face.
How long had it been since she last looked into those hypnotic light brown eyes?
At first, she had loved how he looked at her so directly. Over time, she had adored the gentle curve of his gaze. Seeing a face she thought she’d never see again, Ina lowered her eyes, forcing herself to avoid his.
Had Do Hyun recognized her? He paused briefly but then shifted his gaze to another judge and smiled.
“Baek Do Hyun, please begin.”
As soon as the judge spoke, Do Hyun launched into his prepared performance.
True to his rising-star status in the musical world, he delivered a flawless stage performance.
Not only was he handsome and tall, but his singing, dancing, and precise understanding of his character left Ina realizing just how much he had grown and worked hard in the six years since they parted.
Even during college, his talent had been obvious compared to others, but now he had fully discovered his own unique color.
“Wow, he’s really good.”
“Right?”
Did she mutter this aloud? Hwi, sitting next to her in the producer’s seat, laughed brightly, nodding in agreement.
Though she personally didn’t want to work with him, she had to acknowledge his talent. Ina quickly flipped through the papers, glancing at Do Hyun’s bright smile in the profile photo
After the last actor had performed and left the empty stage, Ina let out a long sigh and glanced at her wristwatch.
A little past five.
If the auditions had ended earlier, she might have been able to pick up Chan, but she reassured herself that if she hurried, they could at least have dinner together, and began tidying up.
“Director Seo!”
Hwi, who had been talking with staff on one side, called out to Ina as she was about to leave the audition hall.
Blinking in mild surprise, Ina looked at Hwi approaching after finishing his conversation.
“You’re free this evening, right?”
“Why?”
“Let’s have dinner together. I have something to discuss.”
“Um… is it something really important?”
“Why, do you have plans?”
“Ah, not really…”
Seeing Ina uncharacteristically hesitant, Hwi frowned slightly. Should I have said I have plans instead? Ina thought.
“Don’t you want to have dinner with me?”
“Oh, no. Actually, I was supposed to have dinner at home with my sister.”
“Then just say so. No need to ramble.”
“Let’s talk tomorrow morning, sunbae.”
“Alright. See you tomorrow.”
Ina awkwardly smiled and waved as Hwi walked away, then hurriedly exited the audition hall.
The corridor, once bustling with actors preparing for auditions, now echoed only with the sound of Ina’s heels.
As she waited for the elevator, she checked her watch once more.
“Leaving work now, I see?”
Startled by the familiar voice in the empty hallway, Ina looked up.
Do Hyun was walking toward her, his footsteps echoing softly. She swallowed hard. Had he been waiting for her even after the auditions?
He approached her and looked down at her. Their eyes met again—longer, more intense than the fleeting glance during the audition.
“It’s been a while. Six years, right?”
Ina shivered at the faint smile tugging at his lips. Even after all that time, his face remained as handsome as ever. She pressed her lips together.
“Do you have a moment?”
“…….”
“I want to talk.”
At his question, Ina averted her gaze and stared at the elevator’s closed doors.
The elevator, which should have come up long ago, was stuck on the first floor. Clenching her fists, she felt a wave of frustration.
A tense silence filled the air.
“Ina.”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t think that’s possible.”
Ina’s voice was firm and sharp, a little harsher than before. Do Hyun’s eyebrows twitched at her unusual firmness.
“Just a moment.”
“I’m busy, so I’ll go ahead. See you next time.”
Ina spoke politely but decisively, drawing a clear line as Do Hyun called out her name, as he always did. Determined to leave the confined space, she turned to take the stairs.
One step, two steps—but then his voice stopped her again.
“Running away again?”
Ina froze in place.
“You were cowardly then, and you’re cowardly now too, Seo Ina.”
She whipped her head around and glared at him.
The once neatly bowing man at the audition now tilted his head slightly, hands plunged deep into his pockets, staring at her.
Anger, betrayal, and resentment flashed in his steady eyes, causing Ina to furrow her brows.
“Don’t speak recklessly about things you don’t understand.”
