Chapter 20
"What are you talking about, Yuna?" Haemin asked, his brows furrowed. His tone was light, almost confused, as if he thought I was joking.
I placed my chopsticks down neatly on the table. "What do you mean by that?"
He blinked. "About… me not seeing Hyunjae after two months. What does that even mean?"
"It means exactly what I said," I replied evenly. "After you finish this semester, you'll leave university and work at my company."
His lips parted slightly, stunned. "Wait—you're serious?"
I tilted my head just a fraction. "Do I look like I'm playing around with my words?"
He leaned back slightly, disbelief in his eyes. "Yuna… I thought, at the hospital… when you said it, you were just… upset. You didn't really mean it, right?"
I stared at him, my face perfectly still. "I don't say things I don't mean, Haemin."
Haemin hesitated before speaking. "But… you agreed we'd talk about this again after I finished this semester—in two months."
"Yes, I agreed," I said calmly. "But that conversation was meant to be about preparing you to join the company. Staying in university is not your decision to make."
His shoulders tensed. "Yuna… I can't just drop out. I only started university this year. I want to graduate properly—"
"You don't need to," I interrupted. My voice stayed calm, but firm. "Everything they teach you there, I can provide better. Tutors. Business experience. A real future—"
"That's not the point!" he cut in, his tone more forceful now. "I want to finish what I started. I want to have a proper degree. I want a normal college life like everyone else!"
A faint flicker of irritation passed through me. He was still rejecting me.
"You don't need a 'normal' life," I said slowly. "You're already different. You're with me. That makes you far above everyone else."
He frowned deeply. "So you're just deciding my life for me?"
"Yes," I replied, my voice flat.
"Yuna… you can't just—"
"I can," I said, cutting him off. "And I will. Because I can't wait two years for you to graduate. Two months is already too long. I've spent enough time watching you live a life separate from me."
He stared at me, disbelief clear on his face. "I can still work for your company after I graduate—why can't you just wait?"
"Because I don't want to," I answered simply, my tone leaving no room for argument.
"But—"
"You don't understand," I said, my voice growing sharper. "Every day you're at that place with people I don't know is another day I can't watch over you. Another day you might… drift away from me."
He swallowed, his jaw tightening. "That's not fair to me. I should have the right to choose—"
I felt my patience thinning. My fingers twitched slightly as I picked up my chopsticks again.
"I've already made the decision," I said.
"But I—"
Before he could finish, the sharp crack of wood against the table echoed through the dining room.
I had slammed my chopsticks down.
Haemin froze.
Slowly, I lifted my gaze to his, letting the silence stretch, my eyes cold and unblinking.
"Who do you think you are," I said softly, "to reject my decision?"
He stayed quiet, shock flickering across his face.
"What I decide," I continued, my voice low but cutting, "you will follow. Obediently. Without question."
His lips parted slightly, but no sound came out.
I leaned forward just a little. "Do you want to test me, Haemin? Do you think I don't have ways to make you regret it?"
He swallowed hard.
"You're so close with that friend of yours, Hyunjae, aren't you?" I asked, my tone turning almost casual. "How about I make him drop out too? I could have his name blacklisted from every company in Korea. Would you like that?"
His eyes widened.
"If that happens, it will be your fault. Because you pushed me. Because you refused to listen when I gave you a simple instruction."
I tilted my head slightly, my voice turning even colder. "Don't test me. You know very well that if I want to ruin someone, I can. Easily."
The room was silent except for the faint clink of the chopsticks as I picked them up again.
"Finish this semester," I said softly, as if nothing had happened. "Two months. That's all you get."
I didn't look at him as I took another bite of my food.
Haemin finally looked up at me, his voice soft but desperate. "Yuna… can we just… talk about this again? Please?"
"There's nothing to talk about," I cut him off sharply. "It's already been decided."
His lips pressed together, his eyes dropping to the table. He didn't say another word.
We finished the rest of the meal in silence. Afterward, I picked up my empty bowl, placed it in the sink, and washed it without a word. Then I turned and headed straight to my private office, leaving him behind at the dining table.
There were still some documents I needed to review, so I sat at my desk and went through them quickly. By the time I finished, the clock on the wall read 11 p.m.
I leaned back in my chair briefly, closing my eyes for a second before standing up and walking back to our bedroom.
When I opened the door, I saw Haemin already lying on the bed, his body turned away from my side.
I stood there for a moment, just watching him. I could tell he wasn't asleep. His breathing wasn't steady, and the tension in his shoulders was obvious.
I sighed softly in my heart.
Of course, he was still upset. That was to be expected. He would get over it in a few days.
I walked to the bed, pulled the blanket slightly aside, and sat down before leaning back against the headboard.
His back was still facing me.
"There's no point in sulking," I said calmly. "My decision is final. Don't show me any rebellious attitude, Haemin."
He didn't respond. But I could see his body shift slightly, trembling just a little.
I felt irritation prickle in my chest.
"Face me," I said, my voice firm.
Still, no reaction.
I narrowed my eyes, reached out, and pulled his shoulder with a bit of force. His body finally rolled toward me.
His eyes stayed closed, but I could see the slight movement under his eyelids, like he was struggling not to look at me.
A small smile tugged at my lips. Cute.
I pulled him into my arms, burying his face against my chest and I held him there, my fingers threading lightly through his hair.
Then I lowered my head and pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead.
His body felt tense at first, but slowly, I felt that tension lessen just a little.
I tightened my arms around him, holding him securely against me, not letting go.
I leaned back, resting my upper body against the headboard, keeping him in my embrace.
His eyes stayed closed the whole time, but I didn't mind.
I stayed like that, watching him quietly, until eventually, my own eyes grew heavy.
Even then, I didn't let go.
Wrapping my arms tightly around him, I closed my eyes, holding him close until sleep finally took over.
________
The warm sunlight peeked through the curtains, landing directly on my face.
I blinked a few times before finally opening my eyes. The room was quiet.
I turned my head to the left.
Empty.
Yuna wasn't there.
I sat up slowly, rubbing my face with both hands. My eyes moved to the clock on the bedside table.
10 a.m.
"…Great," I muttered under my breath. I had class at 11 a.m.
For a moment, I just sat there in silence. Then a long sigh escaped my lips.
Yesterday's conversation played over in my head.
Two more months.
And then I would be leaving university for good.
I clenched my fists slightly on my lap.
It wasn't fair.
No matter how much I wanted to fight back and stand up for myself… I couldn't.
Because it was Yuna.
She always got what she wanted.
And the worst part?
I couldn't even stay angry at her for long.
My face heated up as I remembered last night, when she held me close and kissed my forehead…
I stopped the thought halfway, my face heating up even more.
"…Ugh."
I groaned softly and dragged myself out of bed.
After a quick shower and a change of clothes, I grabbed my bag and headed out.
By the time I reached the university, everyone had already gathered inside the classroom.
"Haemin!"
I looked up. Hyunjae was waving at me with that familiar wide grin.
"Yo! Where were you yesterday?" he asked as soon as I walked over.
I scratched the back of my neck. "Actually… the day before yesterday, after we got back from the visit, I got into a small car accident. I passed out and ended up in the hospital. They discharged me yesterday, so I couldn't come to class."
His eyes widened. "What?! Are you serious? Are you okay now?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," I said quickly, raising my hands. "It wasn't that bad."
Hyunjae let out a long sigh of relief. "Man, don't scare me like that."
Then he grinned. "But seriously… how short are you that a driver didn't even see you and hit you?"
I gave him a flat look. "Really?"
He laughed, patting my shoulder. "Come on, you know I'm joking. At least you're okay—that's what matters."
I chuckled lightly.
Then, as if nothing happened, his grin returned. "So, phone shopping later?"
"Yeah," I nodded.
His eyes lit up. "Finally! It's been forever since we hung out. You're always too busy being a married man now."
I rolled my eyes. "I can still go out sometimes, you know."
"Sure, sure," he teased, nudging my arm.
Before I could reply, the professor walked in, and everyone hurried to their seats.
I sat beside Hyunjae, staring at the whiteboard while the lecture started.
But my mind wasn't there.
All I could think about was how, in two months, I'd be gone from here.
Was it even worth it to study now, knowing I wouldn't finish?
I glanced sideways at Hyunjae. He was focused, scribbling notes, completely absorbed in the class.
And then Yuna's words from last night echoed in my head, her threat about making him drop out too and blacklisting his name just to punish me.
My chest tightened.
I looked forward again and let out another quiet sigh.
I didn't know what to think anymore.