When The Phone Rings

Chapter 28

- "406."

"What?"

- "Have you been seeing Heeju with such thoughts all this time?" His voice was thick with suppressed anger.

- "What gives you the right to belittle her like that?"

"?"

-"This pathetic excuse of a relationship... Honestly, it's annoying..."

A muffled rustle signalled that he had moved the phone away, his words fading into an incomprehensible murmur.

"Um..."

- "You, who can't even see her strength, are unqualified even for blackmail. For someone who wishes my failure, 406, you're utterly disappointing."

His sharp, clipped words clashed with his ragged breathing.

- "I'm generally tolerant, even of the worst kind of sc*m."

"...!"

Wait... Did he just insult me? Again?

- "But how is it that the more I learn about you, 406, the less there is to like?"

It was obvious from his tone that Baek Sa-eon was defending her. Yet strangely, Heeju felt as if she was the one being scolded, leaving her with conflicting emotions.

A spark of rebellion stirred in her.

"That's because you don't know..."

- "Don't know?"

His vitriolic sneer interrupted her.

- "If I don't know her, who does?"

"...!"

- "Heeju isn't dark, she's just observant. She doesn't lack social skills, but most people approach her rudely at first. A 'narrow network' just means that she's serious about her work. And as for 'yielding to wealth'..."

Baek Sa-eon's voice was full of unshakable conviction.

- "She just loved her mother."

Heeju was about to cry.

It felt as if something bloated and festering inside her had burst and split apart with an audible crack. A deafening roar filled her ears as she hastily wiped away the tears streaming down her face.

- "Besides, if Heeju were to start smoking, it'd only make things easier. I'm quite a smoker myself; I could teach her how to do it."

He let out a rough laugh.

What... what is he saying? Smoking? Why is he talking about cigarettes?

At that moment, the cold wind brushed over her shoulders, reminding her that she had lost her fluffy scarf somewhere.

Heeju quickly covered her mouth with her hand and let out a hiccup.

"What makes you think you have the right... hic! To claim that you know something about her?"

Her words tumbled out incoherently, driven by a storm of raw emotion she could barely control.

"You weren't even here! You were overseas!"

She wasn't speaking as the blackmailer. These feelings were her own.

"What could you possibly know? You weren't there. You had nothing to do with it!"

Heeju's breaths were shallow and uneven. She rubbed her wet eyes with unnecessary force.

The other end of the call remained silent, except for the sound of accelerated footsteps. She realised he was walking briskly.

-"When I was younger, I had an eating disorder."

"What?"

-"Back then, Heeju..."

His voice trailed off at the critical moment, as if he had put the phone down again.

What had happened?

"H- Hello? Hello?"

Her heart raced with sudden fear, but there was no answer.

- "Where is she...?"

Instead, she faintly heard him speaking to someone else in a stiff, strained tone.

She brushed her dishevelled hair, feeling the warmth of the alcohol fade slightly.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed...!"

His sharp voice cut through the air like a blade.

"Hiccup..."

"Throwing your clothes all over the place and then climbing onto the railing - what were you thinking?"

"Hic!"

The thunderous rebuke triggered her hiccups again. Moments ago they had been talking as if nothing was wrong, but now her body froze under his stern gaze.

He ran a hand over his eyes and muttered, "I've been looking everywhere for you."

There was something tired in his expression that made her feel guilty.

In his hand was the scarf she had left in the toilet.

"Didn't they teach you at school not to go to dark, high places alone?" he grumbled, frowning as he gripped her cheeks tightly.

"Eek...!"

Her lips curled like a fish as his nose brushed lightly along her cheek.

"And Hong Heeju... drinking alcohol, no less."

"...!"

When she winced, his expression grew even colder.

"So how does it feel to climb up here after drinking?"

His tone was dripping with sarcasm, not genuine curiosity. And yet, as he spoke, he draped the fur-lined cloak over her shoulders with a detached air.

Heeju found herself caught in a strange impulse as she stared into his calm, emotionless eyes. She had the urge to shatter this calmness.

Why... why have you been so cold all this time?

Why did you do that?

Why did you tell me not to confuse this with marriage?

Her lips quivered, but her voice remained trapped in her throat like a tap that refused to turn.

She couldn't speak freely.

Perhaps noticing her blank stare, Baek Sa-eon tilted his head slightly, as if reading her thoughts.

"Were you on a call?"

"...!"

Heeju flinched, her eyes darting nervously, causing Sa-eon's gaze to harden.

"If you weren't talking, why was the phone pressed to your ear?"

The arm around her waist tightened and his penetrating gaze scanned her face as if searching for answers.

Heeju braced herself under his probing eyes and uttered a single word.

Mum.

He leaned down to meet her face to face, reading her lips carefully.

"Ah," he murmured quietly, though his furrowed brow suggested he wasn't entirely convinced.

Still, Baek Sa-eon didn't straighten up. Instead, he kept his focus on her lips, silently scrutinising them.

Oh...!

Suddenly she felt dizzy and swayed slightly.

At that moment, Baek Sa-eon lifted her up effortlessly, maintaining his grip around her waist.

"This is your punishment."

"...!"

His warm fingers pressed into her side with the weight of a brand.

The huge difference in their height made her feel like she was being lifted like an object. Heeju instinctively wrapped her arms around his shoulders to steady herself.

"It's so cold and yet... Forget it, never mind," he murmured.

That familiar "Forget it" or "Never mind" - she had heard it from him so many times.

Even now, he seemed to be deliberately holding back his words. Though his dissatisfaction was evident in the subtle pouting of his lips.

Her heart pounded so loudly that the chill was a distant memory.