Dry Monsoon

For a long time, I admired the picturesque scenery in front of me. I couldn’t believe I would see something like this in my lifetime, and that also with Kwon Lee-Hyun. I felt as if I was living in a fairy tale, I couldn’t take my eyes off the breathtaking sight. Damp air blew across my face and cooled off the sweat on my forehead. After getting accustomed to the darkness, I proceeded cautiously.

“There is a firefly colony nearby. Kwon Hae-in bought the entire mountain, saying he couldn’t bear to see it destroyed. It’s perhaps one of the largest habitats excluding the Muju area.”

“I’ve never seen so many fireflies.”

Lee-Hyun walked past me indicating I followed him. After passing through the firefly habitat a little further inside, a large caravan stood in the centre of a large open space.

The flags tied to the trees gently swayed in the damp breeze, and there were no hints of any human presence in the area where a few camping chairs were neatly laid out. Lee Hyun said as he opened the caravan door.

“This had been set up by Kwon Hae-in. It’s kind of an escape for him.”

He climbed inside the caravan with ease and started the engine. The externally installed auxiliary battery turned on and lights suddenly lit up. My vision turned white at the sudden bright flash of lights. After looking at me, who was still standing outside, he frowned and turned off all lights except for the indirect lights. Only then did I blink comfortably and climb inside the large vehicle.

“It’s clean even though it looks like it’s been left unattended for some time. I’ve instructed people to keep it under maintenance.”

“Ah…so that’s why? It’s really nice and cosy.”

Lee-Hyun sat on the couch looking around, then opened the fridge and took out two cans of soda. I raised the window curtains a little. Beyond the light from the caravan, I could still see the dreamy world of fireflies outside. With a faint smile, I placed my forehead against the window.

“It must be a meaningful place…?”

“It seems so. Yoon Jae-sun insisted on building here but wanted to preserve the firefly habitat. You appeared at the right time. The pine trees planted in Painter Kim’s indoor courtyard—they weren’t planted, they were already originally there. Yoon Jae-sun fell in love with the design, so we raised our hands and surrendered to her stubbornness.”

I sat beside Lee-Hyun and stared at his face, brushing my fingers along the surface of the soda can. It was easy to imagine Kwon Hae-in being here. Kwon Hae-in who had the same face as Kwon Lee-Hyun.

This was the place Hae-in loved. What did he think about while sitting here admiring the fireflies and the night sky? He was probably always here with the woman he loved? Then, has Kwon Lee-Hyun ever been here? Tons of questions ran across my mind at that moment.

I seemed to understand Yoon Jae-sun’s heart a little. If there were many fond memories here, it was normal for her to feel like she wouldn’t want to leave. Especially if they were memories with the person you loved.

But I felt strange. I kept feeling a little weird because I couldn’t believe that there had been a man who looked exactly like Kwon Lee-Hyun in this world.

Suddenly Lee-Hyun leaned over with his elbows on his knees and looked right at me.

“Let’s sign the contract right now. I’ve shown you the office you’ll be working at and handed over a list of employees to help you. Moreover, I’ve taken you to the site… you can’t put it off any longer. Two days from now, the moment you leave your old office, the contract will be in effect.”

“If I say no, I’ll probably get sued.”

“Isn’t that to be expected? It’s too late to turn back now.”

He gave me a bright smile and leaned back against the couch. I suddenly burst out laughing.

Ah, I couldn’t figure out this man. It was the first time I met a client that I couldn’t read. In addition, he was the heir to Korea’s leading construction company, and he was also a man who would become my husband if things went wrong.

As I silently recited the words that popped into my head, a suffocating fever rose. I withdrew my gaze from him, bewildered by the strange tingling sensation in my body. When I pulled open the can’s pull-tab, the carbon sizzled and lightly sprayed out, wetting the back of my hand.

I opened my mouth and looked hesitatingly at him who was smiling faintly.

“Then…I’ll sign the contract. By the way, can I sleep here tonight?”

As if my request had been unexpected, Lee-Hyun asked with a curious expression.

“Do you like caravans?”

“Ah, that’s not it. It’s quite late now. I’ve gotten a good look at how the area looks at night, but I still don’t know how it looks during the daytime. When the sun rises, the shadows it casts, what the air smells like. To understand the space, you have to be familiar with it. So, I want to see what it looks like for myself.”

His eyes wavered as he gazed at me. It might be an illusion, but it felt like I had provoked something I shouldn’t have touched. Has the silence ever been so nerve-wracking? Lee-Hyun, who was quietly staring at my face, stood up from the couch.

“Alright, let’s stay the night together then.”

“What!?”

He took off his jacket without hesitation and pulled out his cell phone.

“You don’t mean to tell me you’re going to stay alone at this hour?”

“I’m fine. I’ve gone camping in remote areas before with only a backpack. And the danger, no matter where I think it’s always the same…”

Snorting at my blunt words, he said.

“I don’t like it. I’ll be back after a short call, so make yourself at home. Fortunately for you, let’s finish what we talked about last time. There seems to be a misunderstanding.”

I stared after his back as he went out of the door. He was classy even when speaking so curtly. As I sat back and opened the curtains a little, I spotted the view of his back.

“Don’t you know you’re more dangerous? God, this is driving me crazy…” I said to myself.