10-2
by Han Yong-un
“So?”
Sun-young tried to act nonchalant, but her voice was slightly faster.
“Did Teacher Kim only talk about that? There was nothing else?”
What she really wanted to hear was something different.
Jeong-soon smiled knowingly, as if she understood Sun-young's feelings.
“The day before yesterday, he came here and was really sorry for how well you treated him.”
“……”
“And he praised you so much that he almost ran out of words.”
Jeong-soon exaggerated her words on purpose.
“Anyway, Teacher Kim is completely smitten with you. He seems to be head over heels.”
Then she laughed playfully.
“I wish I could experience such love at least once.”
“Oh my.”
Sun-young glanced at Jeong-soon while pretending to laugh.
“You should be the one getting more love from Teacher Seo.”
But she couldn't hide the smile at the corners of her mouth.
Jeong-soon looked at Sun-young's face for a while and then casually asked.
“But Teacher Kim said there’s one thing he doesn’t understand.”
Sun-young blinked.
“What?”
“Your true feelings.”
In an instant, Sun-young's expression hardened.
“My true feelings?”
“You said it before.”
Jeong-soon continued slowly.
“You wanted to repay the favor of saving your life. You said you would even be a servant.”
“That’s right.”
“But Teacher Kim wondered if you meant that sincerely or if it was just a polite remark.”
Sun-young immediately sat up straight.
“What does that mean?”
Her voice was much firmer than expected.
“Why would someone lie about something like that?”
“……”
“He’s the one who saved my life.”
Sun-young took a breath and spoke.
“Would you be able to lie to someone like that?”
Jeong-soon looked at her in silence.
Sun-young continued without a hint of wavering in her gaze.
“I’m serious.”
Her voice was low but clear.
“If he wants, I want to repay his kindness even if it means being a servant.”
The room fell silent for a moment.
Jeong-soon stared at Sun-young for a while before suddenly asking.
“So, tell me.”
“What?”
“If Teacher Kim asks you to marry him, would you?”
Sun-young momentarily gasped.
“What are you suddenly saying!”
Her face turned red in an instant, and she was unsure whether to laugh or hide her feelings, causing her gaze to waver.
Jeong-soon chuckled softly.
“Well, remember when I said I would be your bridesmaid when we went to Wolmido last time?”
“You still remember that?”
“I don’t say nonsense.”
Jeong-soon said with a playful expression.
“If you truly have feelings for him, I will be your bridesmaid.”
Sun-young laughed, but her heart raced wildly.
“Then… does that mean he really has such thoughts?”
Jeong-soon nodded.
“He hasn’t directly mentioned marriage.”
“……”
“But if you’re not careful, you might get sick because of him.”
Sun-young eventually burst into laughter.
“Oh, you really…”
“I’m serious, you know?”
Jeong-soon said with a giggle.
“Stop carrying around medicine and just hurry up and give your permission.”
Sun-young was laughing, but her eyes were already trembling.
There were countless things she wanted to say right now.
But when it came time to speak, it was not easy.
It was not simply a matter of the heart.
It was a question that involved her entire life as a woman.
Sun-young finally took a breath and spoke.
“I… if it’s what he wants, there’s nothing I can’t do.”
And she added very quietly.
“If he tells me to die, I can pretend to die.”
“……”
“But…”
She lowered her head.
“Would he really want to marry a woman like me?”
In those words, hope and fear were intertwined.
Jeong-soon looked at Sun-young and said.
“But there’s one thing that Teacher Kim seems to be hesitant about.”
In an instant, Sun-young's expression changed.
“What?”
Her heart sank.
“It’s not because of you.”
Jeong-soon waved her hand.
“It’s a matter of circumstances.”
“Circumstances?”
“Yeah.”
Jeong-soon said with a slightly serious face.
“It seems that Teacher Kim is going through a lot of difficulties right now.”
Sun-young looked at her silently.
“He wants to get married, but…”
Jeong-soon spoke slowly as if relaying Dae-cheol's words.
“He said, how can he take someone and make them suffer when he can’t even make a living.”
Sun-young's gaze wavered.
“Then…”
She swallowed her breath.
“So he really does have the intention to marry me?”
“Of course.”
Jeong-soon said firmly.
“Why would I say something like this if I didn’t even think that way?”
Then she leaned forward a little.
“Honestly, I didn’t believe it at first either.”
“……”
“So I asked him several times again, you know?”
Jeong-soon chuckled.
“But Teacher Kim seems sincere, and Teacher Seo said the same.”
She continued speaking slowly.
“Even if he doesn’t have money, he’s a decent person with potential.”
Sun-young was listening without even being able to breathe properly.
“And you know.”
Jeong-soon smiled meaningfully.
“Teacher Kim praised you, and it wasn’t just because of your looks.”
“……?”
“Most women would quickly forget someone who saved their life, but you are still determined to repay that kindness, and he thinks that’s amazing.”
Sun-young's gaze slowly wavered.
“He also said that it wouldn’t be right to make a woman suffer because of his own desires.”
Jeong-soon clicked her tongue.
“Hearing that made me admire him for no reason.”
And she added with a smile.
“You two really seem to have met in a wonderfully fateful way.”