Chapter 8

　　“Finally done!” The commute home was expected to be as exhausting as ever. Leaving the company building, Saebom walked briskly toward the bus stop, her body weighed down by fatigue. I’m starving. I just want to get home, eat, and collapse. As she willed her tired legs forward, her phone suddenly rang.

　　—“Hello?”

　　—“Where are you right now?”

　　A distinct urgency colored the voice on the other end. Mr. Ryu? Instantly recognizing Jihun, Saebom asked, bewildered.

　　—“I’m… in front of the office. Why?”

　　—“Stay right there. I’m on my way.”

　　He’s coming here? As Saebom glanced around, she saw a group of female colleagues from her department pouring out of the building. Oh no! Panicked, she ducked behind a tree. A chill ran down her spine at the thought of being seen talking to Jihun. Sensing disaster closing in, she hurriedly called him back. A short while later, after summoning him to an alley far from the office, she offered an awkward smile.

　　“Sorry about that. It’s just… It’s a little too public right in front of the office.”

　　“Public? Why?” Jihun asked.

　　“Because of all the prying eyes,” Saebom replied with a strained smile. She had learned from her colleagues earlier that day that Jihun was the undisputed office heartthrob, which only strengthened her resolve to avoid any entanglement. If word got out that they were friendly, her peaceful office life would be over.

　　“You’re a celebrity around here. Being seen with you would make things… difficult for me.” In fact, Saebom had a strict personal rule at the office: no dating. She despised the idea of becoming fodder for romantic gossip. She looked at him, her expression a clear question. “So, why were you looking for me?”

　　“I have something to tell you.”

　　“What is it? Is it urgent?”

　　“No. It’s important. Extremely important, for both of us.” His expression turned deliberately grave before he delivered the unexpected news.

　　“I found it. The reason the ring won’t come off.”

* * *

　　When the red moon rises, the mysterious power will finally disappear.

　　The short phrase was delicately engraved inside the ring box Jihun held out. Sitting across from him in a cafe, Saebom studied the inscription, her expression baffled. “This is the reason? The ring has some kind of mysterious power?”

　　“Yes. I think that’s what it means.” He turned on his phone and showed her the screen, which displayed a short article about the moon. Saebom’s eyes narrowed as she looked back and forth between the article and the ring box.

　　“I looked it up on a hunch,” Jihun explained. “Apparently, a red moon is expected to appear over Korea in three months. We call the phenomenon a total lunar eclipse.”

　　“A total lunar eclipse…?” The term sparked a vague memory from a high school science class—the moon being completely obscured by the Earth’s shadow.

　　“So, if we just hold out for three more months, we can finally take this ring off?”

　　“If what’s written here is true, then I suppose so.”

　　Saebom’s pupils dilated. Oh my god. Still reeling from the shock, she suddenly grabbed his hand from across the table. His words were a lifeline from heaven.

　　“This is incredible! I’m so, so happy! We can really take this off, right? That’s what this means?” A slight smile touched Jihun’s lips as he watched her practically buzz with joy while clutching his hand.

　　“If this inscription is true, yes.” “We’re saved! Mr. Ryu, we’re really saved!”

　　Saebom cried out in triumph, throwing both hands into the air.

　　“Are you that happy?”

　　“Of course! I was terrified I’d have to wear this ring for the rest of my life. I was so anxious I could barely sleep.” For the past few nights, an unsettling chill would wash over her as she lay in bed, wondering if she was truly stuck with the ring forever. Hearing his words today felt as if a massive weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

　　“That aside,” he said, his tone dry, “how long do you plan on holding my hand?” His pointed question made Saebom, who had been beaming, drop her gaze. Oh. Realizing her transgression, she snatched her hand back, startled.

　　“I’m so sorry. I was just so happy, I completely forgot myself.”

　　“Seemed intentional to me.” His accusation made Saebom pout. If anything, it felt like he was the one deliberately trying to make her seem strange.

　　“I’m not the kind of person who just goes around touching people, you know.”

　　“You slept in my arms yesterday. Have you forgotten already?” Jihun’s eyes crinkled as he shot her a sidelong glance. “You were hugging me so tightly I thought my ribs would break.”

　　“No, that was… I mean, I was asleep!”

　　“Do I need to show you the mark you left on my collarbone for you to finally admit it?” At his outrageous comment, a few women walking past glanced over with interest. Mortified, Saebom covered her face with one hand and cleared her throat, unable to meet his gaze. Seriously, why would you say it like that? Anyone would think I left a hickey on your collarbone! Saebom chewed on the end of her straw and glared at him.

　　“You’re doing this on purpose to embarrass me, aren’t you?” she whispered. Jihun’s lips curved into an amused smile.

　　“Only because you keep trying to deny it, Ms. Jeon.”

　　“I already apologized for last night. What more do you want?”

　　“There’s only one thing I want from you.” He waggled his eyebrows, giving her a suggestive look. She knew the answer without him even having to ask. Saebom made an ‘X’ with her hands and shook her head emphatically.

　　“No way. I’ll do anything else, but that.”

　　“You drive a hard bargain. Do you have any idea how much I suffered because of you last night?”

　　“Still, the answer is no! My conscience won’t allow it.”

　　“That damn conscience.”

　　Jihun set his coffee cup down with a displeased clatter. Saebom softened her voice, trying to reason with him. “Just meet a nice woman and get married. A man like you could easily find someone wonderful.”

　　“I don’t want to meet anyone new. I don’t believe in things like love anymore.”

　　Saebom didn’t know how to respond.

　　“I’m done wasting emotional energy. I’m sick and tired of it.” An indefinable sadness tinged his firm voice. Does he have some kind of painful memory? He was always so confident and self-assured; she had never imagined he could be carrying that kind of pain. As Saebom silently watched him, her phone suddenly rang. It was her grandmother.

　　“Yeah, I was actually planning to come down this week anyway,” Saebom answered cheerfully, then glanced at Jihun, who was listening with interest. “But what are you doing up so late? Did something happen?” Saebom, who had been idly stirring her iced Americano, suddenly shot up with a cry.

　　“What? A burglar?!”

* * *

　　Chapter 2

　　“Grandma!”

　　Early the next morning, Saebom rushed into the yard of the house in the countryside. Dried persimmons hung in clusters from the eaves, and red peppers were scattered across the ground to dry. At her shout, Yeongok, who was sitting on the wooden porch, poked her head out.

　　“What about work? Why are ya here?”

　　“I took a half-day! I was worried about you!”

　　Saebom stared at Yeongok, who was trimming chives on the porch. Despite her granddaughter’s dramatics, her grandmother didn’t even bat an eye, acting as if nothing had happened.

　　“So, the burglar? Did they catch him?”

　　“They’ll get him eventually. Don’t ya worry about it. Just some petty thief, nothin’ serious.”

　　Saebom couldn’t understand her grandmother’s nonchalance.

　　She set her bag on the porch and retorted, “What do you mean, ‘nothing serious’? A thief is a thief!”

　　Saebom sat beside the unruffled Yeongok and pressed on.

　　“This won’t do. Grandma, just pack your things. Come live with me in Seoul. Please?”

　　“This place suits me just fine. Seoul is too crowded and inconvenient.”

　　“But I’m worried! What if another thief breaks in? It makes me so anxious.”

　　Though she lived in the big city all alone herself, she was far more worried about her aging grandmother. Saebom glared at the stubborn woman. She had started living apart from her when she left for university in Seoul and had begged her to come, but Yeongok had insisted on remaining in the countryside.

　　“It’s fine. We have the neighborhood watch, and the town chief lives right next door.”

　　Still, Saebom’s mind wasn’t at ease. She watched Yeongok calmly trimming the chives, her disapproval growing. Worried about security, she had even bought men’s shoes, a jacket, and a hat from the market to display as a deterrent, but it clearly hadn’t worked. Saebom sighed and scratched her head.

　　“By the way,” Yeongok said, “I hear the town chief’s youngest daughter is gettin’ married soon.”

　　They were having an early lunch together.

　　Saebom, who was eating a pumpkin leaf wrap, perked up her ears and mumbled with her mouth full, “Really? That’s wonderful. Tell the chief I said congratulations.”

　　The chief’s daughter was two years younger than her, she recalled. She never thought the girl would get married first. Sucking the bean paste off her finger, Saebom felt the swift passage of time.

　　“So,” Yeongok began, her tone shifting as she ate in silence, “is there somethin’ ya want to tell me?”

　　“Something to tell you? No, I don’t think so,” Saebom said, shaking her head, her cheeks puffed with food.

　　But she noticed her grandmother’s gaze had fallen to her left hand. Her own eyes followed, and she startled at the sight of the brilliantly shining diamond ring. She knew exactly what that look meant. A moment later, Yeongok asked the very question she had been dreading.

　　“Got a man?”