Impossible Romance - Chapter 74

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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74.

“What are you talking about?”
“You forgot? You’re my collateral.”
Kwon Seok-ha spoke to Jun-hee, whose expression had turned incredulous, with a faint smile playing at his lips.
“I’ve severed ties with my family. So I’m no longer the Executive Director’s collateral.”
She turned away from his smiling face and answered coldly.
“Right, you did sever ties. So now you only need to think about yourself.”
Kwon Seok-ha nodded readily, accepting her words.
Watching him, Jun-hee felt only anxiety. Even if she had severed ties with her family, how could one truly break blood bonds? If her mother and brother learned she was with Kwon Seok-ha, the outcome was predictable.
They would find a way to reach him without her knowledge and extend their hands to him. The fact that Kwon Seok-ha knew she had severed ties with her family also meant her mother and brother had sought him out again.
Jun-hee was so thoroughly sick of imagining such scenarios. It pained her to burden Kwon Seok-ha with such weight.
“Yes. I’m the kind of person who would abandon even family for my own gain. So you must have heard about how I demanded money from the Director?”
Jun-hee steeled herself and spoke coldly again.

“Please tell the Executive Director that I left after receiving money from the Director. As if I were a vulgar person blinded by greed. In truth, I am vulgar. So he can forget about me and start fresh with someone else.”

The words she had asked Han Seon-young to convey when she left Kwon Seok-ha came back to her. Han Seon-young had said she didn’t know then, but for Kwon Seok-ha’s sake, she would have honored Jun-hee’s request. She must have wanted her son to forget about me and make a fresh start as soon as possible.
“I heard roughly.”
Kwon Seok-ha nodded readily again, as if he knew everything, as if it came as no shock.
“Roughly? I took the money and left.”
Jun-hee’s eyebrows twitched slightly as she furrowed her brow.
Roughly? Why did he wear such an unbothered expression?
“My mother must have given you too little money. That’s why you rented this place. If she’d given you more, would you be here? I’m actually grateful for that.”
Kwon Seok-ha spoke leisurely, glancing around the worn bookstore.
“Ha.”
Jun-hee exhaled a perplexed sigh.
Kwon Seok-ha watched her grimace while irritatingly sipping the iced Americano in front of him.
“But really, how did you find this place? How did you know I was here?”
“You’re a fairy tale author and you don’t even know that?”
He set down his coffee cup and rose from his seat. With his gaze suddenly elevated, Jun-hee tilted her head up sharply. In the profound way Kwon Seok-ha looked at her, a strange thrill ran through her entire body.
Kwon Seok-ha tilted his head toward Jun-hee. At a distance as if he were about to kiss her, Jun-hee could only blink. Her mind screamed that she should retreat, yet her body remained standing before him.
Kwon Seok-ha’s lips brushed past hers and touched her ear.
“That’s what they call fate.”
The scent of him that she had always longed for rushed into her chest.
“….”
She should have protested, told him not to joke, but the moment she opened her mouth, she felt tears threatening. The reunion that had existed only in her imagination was now becoming reality right beside her.
“Let’s meet again.”
Kwon Seok-ha slowly lifted his head, studying Jun-hee thoroughly, then withdrew with reluctance. Jun-hee did not watch his figure as he left the bookstore with long strides.
The doorbell’s cheerful chime, which had always rung with such brightness, sounded inexplicably sorrowful today.

***

In a dilapidated alley stood a building that appeared ready to crumble at any moment. Before the structure, with dust accumulating thickly on each staircase, hung multiple vacant storefronts marked with “For Lease” signs.
Ahn Jun-young, having climbed to the fourth floor, wiped the sweat trickling down the back of his neck and opened the door. Through the broken window hastily patched with tape, the words “Hope Errand Center” were visible.
Inside, a burly man sat on the Sofa eating black bean noodles. It was Park Dong-gil, Ahn Jun-young’s friend.
“What are you doing? Getting the noodles down your throat?”
Ahn Jun-young approached with a furrowed brow.
“Can’t you see it going down smoothly?”
Park Dong-gil, wearing a gold chain, swallowed the black bean noodles without blinking once. Dark tattoos marked his thick forearms.
“You’ve already pocketed my money, and you still haven’t found my sister. What are you going to do about that?”
Ahn Jun-young sat across from him and tapped the Dining Table repeatedly.
He had a business venture underway but his funds were dwindling, and with Jun-hee still out of reach, desperation gnawed at him. Though Kwon Seok-ha had refused to provide money, he knew that if he could bring Jun-hee before him, the situation would change entirely.
“I’ve searched everywhere and found nothing. What do you want me to do? Besides, I did this because you’re my friend. Normally that amount of money isn’t even enough. I didn’t even make back the gas money—basically volunteered. Damn it.”
Park Dong-gil finished his black bean noodles and poured himself soju from a bottle beside him.
“This is it. This is the last time. Bring her to me. Right in front of my eyes.”
Ahn Jun-young slapped a white envelope onto the Dining Table. It represented every last penny he could scrape together. Yet if he could just find Jun-hee, all of it would be recovered many times over.
Park Dong-gil’s hand shot toward the envelope, but Ahn Jun-young placed his own hand over it, preventing him from taking it.
“This is truly the last time. Bring Jun-hee to me.”
“Got it. But I can handle her roughly, right?”
Park Dong-gil brushed aside Ahn Jun-young’s hand and picked up the envelope. As he opened it and examined the money inside, he smiled with contempt.
“Don’t be too rough. Just scare her.”
Ahn Jun-young spoke with surprising gravity. If Jun-hee were injured, he might not receive the money properly from Kwon Seok-ha, so he had to be careful.
“Right. She’s my friend’s sister, after all. Hahaha.”
Park Dong-gil ran his tongue across the inside of his mouth and laughed loudly. The smell of black bean noodles permeated the Office.

***

Far in the distance, the sunset was descending. The sight of the sea dyed entirely in crimson never failed to fill me with wonder, drawing involuntary gasps of admiration. Yet today, I had no leisure to appreciate such beauty.
‘How did he know to come all the way here?’
Seok-ha called it fate, but I couldn’t believe it. Could such a cruel connection truly be destiny?
And yet, part of me wished it were real fate. But thinking of Seok-ha, such hope felt shamefully presumptuous. He was a man who could only find happiness by leaving me.
After closing the Bookstore, I headed toward Grandmother Kim’s Supermarket next door. My heart felt heavy, but I had a few ingredients to purchase.
However, my eyes widened the moment I stepped inside the Supermarket. Seok-ha was sitting at the counter with Grandmother Kim, and they appeared to be getting along well.
I blinked in disbelief, rubbing my eyes to look again. It was definitely Seok-ha. The affable Seok-ha seemed to have thoroughly charmed Grandmother Kim and was in the middle of an entertaining story.
“How is this possible?”
The shock made me blurt out the words before I could stop myself.
“Isn’t this young man handsome? He came to visit the Island and will be staying here for a few days. Now that you know, say hello.”
Grandmother Kim introduced Seok-ha to me.
“Yes? Oh, yes. Hello.”
Flustered, I bowed in greeting.
“Young man, was your name Kwon? The bookstore owner here is quite reserved. Get along well with her.”
“Yes, I understand, ma’am.”
Seok-ha looked at me with a cunning expression, a smile playing at his lips. His face clearly showed he found this situation hilarious and could barely contain himself.
Seeing that expression, I suddenly grasped something crucial.
“Grandmother, does that mean this man will be staying in the room in the Yard of the house attached to my store?”
The house that came with the store I rented had one spare room. During peak tourist season, I occasionally rented it out, but since it wasn’t common, I had been using the Yard as if it were my private space.
“That’s right. That’s why I introduced you two. My eyes don’t deceive me, you know? At first glance, this young man has an honest face.”
“Indeed. You’re quite perceptive, ma’am.”
Seok-ha played along with Grandmother, then stood and turned directly toward me.
“Would you mind showing me the room? Bookstore owner.”
“Well then, take this with you and share it. The seasoning is perfectly balanced and it’s delicious.”
Grandmother Kim handed me a container of side dishes along with the task. It was a directive and request I couldn’t refuse, something that had happened many times before.
I accepted the container, gripping it tightly as I clenched my teeth. I would now have to pay the price for being treated like family during my time on this Island.
“Follow me.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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