When Your Pain Becomes Mine

Unwilling to talk with her anymore, Gyeonhui nodded in affirmation and quickly turned his gaze out of the window.

The driver slowly set out with the group.

As the car entered the narrow road, Chaekyeong started speaking again.

"Oh, I've heard that you've broken up with her."

'Madam Shin must've told her.'

Gyeonhui didn't even answer.

"Was it that day, three months ago? That day you answered the phone with exceptional kindness."

She looked at him as if she had already known what was going on with him on that day.

He remembered the cold rain in winter, and Sun's face wet by the rain. She seemed to burst into tears.

"... Don't say anything useless."

"When you are kind, it's because of her. You want to hurt her. You shouldn't do that."

After a moment's pause, she started speaking with a smile again.

"But it's actually good. You can use me again that way, you'll give me another chance."

She looked at him with a fresh smile.

"Why don't you just get out?"

"No."

Chaekyeong was calm and composed.

"She hasn't met anyone yet? She was pretty."

Gyeonhui scowled at Chaekyeong's words. The director of the veterinary hospital, who spoke on the phone with Gyeonhui in the afternoon, came to mind.

"Is she seeing someone? Then that would be something to celebrate for everyone, wouldn't it?"

After Chaekyeong saw his expression, she began to enthusiastically clap her hands together.

"Stop the car here for a second please."

"Yes, Sir."

The driver pulled the car off to the side of the road. Then, Chaekyeong feeling that he was going to force her to get out of the car, quickly fastened her seatbelt tightly.

"If you're going to force me to get out of the car, don't even think about it," she said with a cute smile as if she had already experienced it several times.

"I wasn't going to."

"Really?"

"Please take her to her destination."

"What? Hey! Gyeonhui!"

She was surprised by his unexpected behavior.

She tried to follow him out, but her seatbelt didn't unhook.

"Go ahead."

Meanwhile, the car departed, and eventually as she failed to get out, she pushed her face out of the window.

"Even if you push me away like this, you know that I'm still going to come back to you again? I'll see you tomorrow."

She smiled brightly and waved her hand.

"Argh. You're such a..."

As his car moved away, Gyeonhui hailed a taxi cab.

He got into the back seat of the taxi that stopped in front of him.

"Where would you like to go?"

When asked by the taxi driver, he took out his phone and showed his text to the driver.

"... Please go here."

It was the address that Ojae sent.

***

"Raise a puppy?"

Eunyoung was driving and seemed to be in doubt.

"Yes."

Sun, seated in the passenger seat, nodded and answered.

"All of a sudden getting a puppy? You've never raised one before."

Eunyoung asked again because she knew Sun wasn't interested in pets.

"...Well, it just happened anyway."

Sun considered for a moment to explain it, but she soon gave up.

"But why the veterinary hospital?"

"...He was injured slightly on his leg."

"The dog?"

"... Yes."

"Uhhh."

Eunyoung breathed a long sigh of concern.

"Are you lonely? Would you like me to introduce someone to you?"

"No. It's not that."

"If you get lonely, why don't you date a man instead getting a puppy."

"I said it's not like that."

"Don't you have anyone you are seeing these days?"

"It's only been a short while since we broke up."

"It has been three months and ten days."

"You know better than me?"

"I do. I know you better than you know yourself, so listen to what I say."

Eunyoung continued in a persuading tone.

Sun nodded silently, knowing Eunyoung was concerned about her more than anyone else.

Meanwhile, Eunyoung's car reached an alley near Sun's house.

"Hey, let me get out here."

"Here?"

"Yes, it's hard to turn your car around once you go down the narrow path."

"... Okay."

When Eunyoung reluctantly pulled her car over, Sun got out of the car.

"Hey, Sun."

Sun turned her head to Eunyoung.

"Yes?"

"... Start a new relationship with someone else and forget about him."

Sun smiled bitterly at the suggestion.

"Thank you for dropping me off."

"You're welcome. Go ahead. You said Bong…something is waiting for you."

"Yes, see you tomorrow."

Sun smiled and said goodbye to Eunyoung. As Eunyoung's car left, Sun sighed unknowingly.

'... How good would it be if it was as easy as it sounds?'

Sun shook her head as if she were trying to shake her depression. Then she took out her phone and checked the time.

"Oh, I'm too late."

Sun started walking quickly.

***

Eunwoo looked out the window with a slightly anxious face.

The office should have been closed, yet Sun still hadn't arrived.

"Hmm, something's going on with her?"

The call he received during the day continued to be of concern to him.

'Ring. Ring.'

When the doorbell rang, Eunwoo quickly raised his head and looked at the doorway. Unfortunately, it was a tall man, not Sun.

The man with dark black hair looked straight at Eunwoo and stepped inside.

"Welcome."

Even the friendliness of Eunwoo's welcome did not elicit a response from the man.

Dust free shoes, perfect suit without wrinkles, and an unflinching cold face.

He was a man tailor made to perfection.

The man looked inside the clinic and glanced at the puppies in the cages.

"I would like to buy a puppy."

"Oh, will you adopt one? What kind of puppy do you have in mind?"

"A small one that's easy to handle."

Eunwoo's face was instantly curious as he heard the man's tone.

"Oh, sure."

Eun-woo responded with a smile, Then Eunwoo slowly looked at the dogs in the cages and began to feel sorry for him.

"Well, I'm sorry. I don't think there's any dog that suits your interests here at our hospital."

The man scowled at Eunwoo's words.

"What are you talking about? What are these dogs then?"

"At our hospital, the dogs choose their owners,because they have been hurt in the past. But they're all scared of you. I think you've not been chosen by any of them."

"Huh!"

The man smiled indignantly and then stared at Eunwoo.

"Now, tell me what brought you here."

"What, what are you talking about?"

"We've seen each other. Oh, no. Actually, only your voice is familiar."

Eunwoo was able to recognize the man's voice from the telephone conversation they had earlier that day.

"You're quick-witted."

He smiled wryly. They looked at each other silently for a moment.

'Ring Ring.'

Then, with the door bells, the eyes of the two men headed to the doorway.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so late."

Sun said, breathing heavily as she barged in.

"No, it's fine. I've been busy with a customer anyway."

Eunwoo smiled and turned his attention to Gyeonhui. Sun also turned her head naturally, following Eunwoo's gaze.

"Gyeon, Gyeonhui?"

His unexpected appearance made her freeze immediately.

Eunwoo moved his gaze from Gyeonhui and looked at Sun.

Gyeonhui shifted his gaze from Sun and looked at Eunwoo.

Only the awkward air flowed quietly between all of their eyes.

20. When It's Too Late

"You two, do you know each other?"

Eunwoo pretended not to know anything and asked Sun.

"...Yes."

She answered uncontrollably, and she turned her attention to Gyeonhui. She needed a moment to pretend to be as casual as possible.

"... I forgot to say thank you. I appreciate that you took me to the hospital."

"That's it?"

Gyeonhui seemed to dislike her tone of voice.

"You went to the hospital and that's why I couldn't get ahold of you? Are you okay now?"

Eunwoo interrupted their conversation and cut off Gyeonhui. Gyeonhui stared at Eunwoo, frowning in disp.l.e.a.s.u.r.e.

"Oh, yeah, it was no big deal. It was just anemia."

"Well, I'd like to have a meal some other time. I think I'll have to help this guest."

"Sorry?"

Sun had no idea what it meant and stared at Eunwoo.

Eunwoo smiled and winked at her.

In the meantime, Gyeonhui, who heard the word 'Dinner', scowled.

"Can I take Labong now?"

Sun asked Eunwoo, trying to avoid Gyeonhui's eyes.

"Sure. Labong waited for you all day long."

"... Thank you very much."

Sun responded with a smile, carefully moving Labong to the dog crate and hanging it on her shoulder.

Gyeonhui could not find any signs of pain in her face. However, he could still feel the pain of her throbbing body, as if she had been beaten, and the pounding headache. It was her pain, not his.

'How can you pretend to be normal? You're in such terrible pain...'

He couldn't understand her. No. He was angry.

He saw her pretending to be fine in front of Eunwoo. Gyeonhui got mad.

"Sun, I need to talk with you."

At his call, she unwittingly stopped.

After realizing her own actions, she bit her lower lip.

"... I have nothing to talk about or discuss with you," Sun could not face his gaze, but she spoke courageously.

"I'll see you later."

Sun departed with Eunwoo and walked past Gyeonhui before exiting the hospital.

"You... Hey. Cheonsun!"

Gyeonhui hurried to follow her. Eunwoo then blocked Gyeonhui's way.

"What the hell are you doing?" Gyeonhui asked, seemingly outraged.

"You lied. You said she's your woman."

"... Get out of the way."

Gyeonhui spoke in a cold tone, but Eunwoo didn't move. Rather, Eunwoo looked at Gyeonhui with a relaxed smile.

"I think you're just stalking her."

"Stalking?"

"Yes, it is you alone stalking her."

Eunwoo smiled and nodded.

"That's not your business."

"I'm making it my business now."

Gyeonhui scowled on Eunwoo's firm eyes.

"It would be better for you not to care about it."

"It would also be better for you to learn how to speak politely."

After Eunwoo finished what he had to say, Eunwoo looked out of the door. Fortunately, Sun had already gone away and wasn't seen.

"Now, please leave. It's time to close the clinic."

Eunwoo said, without forgetting to smile. Gyeonhui walked out with a frown as he passed Eunwoo.

"Hold on. Gyeonhui? I think that's your name."

Eunwoo asked.

"I don't think it's necessary to introduce ourselves to each other."

"You have to remember because I don't know when I'm going to see you again. You know my name, don't you? I'm Eunwoo Park at Blue Rose Veterinary Hospital.

Watching him introducing himself, Gyeonhui looked at Eun-woo and calmly said,

"I'm Gyeonhui Woo, the CEO of Consencio."

There was a slight change on Eunwoo's face when Gyeonhui said he was the CEO of Consecio. It was obviously surprising to hear it because he was the CEO of such a large company that everyone knew.

'You're only a veterinary doctor.'

He looked at Eunwoo with a smirk and left through the hospital door.

"Huh"

Eunwoo sighed for a long time as Gyeonhui left.

"What an interesting relationship."

Eunwoo smiled curiously.

***

After she came home, she let a long sigh out.

"Why was he there?"

She couldn't understand how he ended up at the veterinary hospital.

'Kung! Kung! Kung'.

Then she heard knocking at her front door.

She didn't expect anyone at this time, so she became anxious.

"... Who is it?"

"Open the door."

There was only one person in the world who could say that to her.

'... How did he know I was here?'

She bit her lips anxiously.

"Wherever you go, you're still in my palm. Open the door."

"...No, I don't want to," Sun replied angrily.

"Open it."

"I said I don't want to."

"Open, before I knock down this door."

"... Please go back, please."

"Open. I'm going to just see your face and leave."

His calming voice was heard through the door.

Just your face, please, just your face.

His words reverberated in her ear steadily.

'Don't open it. Absolutely not...'

She repeated it several times in her head; Sun's hand was already on the door.

'...Okay, because he took me to the hospital today…'

Sun eventually persuaded herself to open the door.

'Tang. Tang. Tang.'

As soon as the door opened, he pushed her roughly and stepped inside. He pushed her shoulders all the way to the wall.

"What? You don't want to? Go back? When did you ever say that to me? Huh?"

He asked in an abusing voice.

"... Please don't do this."

"What? I haven't done anything yet. Or is there something you want from me?"

"... Nothing. That's it."

"Liar."

He looked at her, full of confidence.

She turned her head, but he turned her face again.

She tried to push him with her delicate hands, but she was blocked by his hands.

He held her two wrists with one hand and lifted them over her head.

He looked down at Sun's eyes and slowly approached.

Her eyes were shaking violently. Gyeonhui knew they were representing her mind.

"Stop it..."

Her voice was trembling.