"Is that all you have to say to me, Sagong Yuk?"

"What?"

"This isn’t a conversation we get to have often, so is that really all you want to say to me?"

"Even now, in this situation, you’re pulling this nonsense?"

Heeju’s face twisted with anger.

"This call means more to me than anything else," the voice on the line continued. "It’s the only time I can hear Sagong Yuk’s words, thoughts, and opinions without filters or interference."

"…"

"I will keep searching for Sagong Yuk until the very end."

"You’re a complete bastard…"

Heeju no longer wanted to continue the conversation.

Sagong Yuk. Sagong Yuk. She was sick of hearing that name.

She had created this connection herself, but as always, it could only go so far. It could never truly bridge the gap between them.

The weight of her inferiority, her complex, was unbearable. The glass tank she thought she had shattered was being rebuilt by her own desperate hands.

What if I cling to him and end up failing, like Dad?

What if, after knowing the truth, he decides I’m not worth it and walks away?

What if I tear down the final wall, only to be ignored in the end?

That would truly break her.

And once someone has shattered completely, how are they supposed to rebuild?

In Heeju’s world, her father, lost and aimlessly wandering, was the only answer to that question.

She couldn’t yet summon the courage to let go of Sagong Yuk, or the voice distortion, or the fragile connection she clung to.

This was the worst and final call—her personal last communication_mp3.

***

Rrrr, Rrrr―

The sharp ringtone pierced through the air like shards of broken glass.

Startled awake, Heeju blinked, her phone buzzing furiously with an incoming call from her mother.

Her eyes and throat were swollen from crying herself to sleep. The bed beside her was untouched, the blanket unwrinkled, and the cold air carried no trace of him ever being there.

The moment she answered, her mother’s furious voice erupted.

"What the hell is going on?"

The shrillness of her voice was closer to a scream than a question.

"What did you do to cause this? What kind of mess have you gotten us into?"

Her mother’s shouts were relentless, each one striking Heeju like a slap.

"And In-ah! What was she thinking, going to a rival paper and pulling a stunt like this? Are you all trying to destroy this family? Representative Hong is blowing up my phone—he says the house is in total chaos! Where is that ungrateful brat? I’ll deal with her myself—!"

The lingering grogginess was wiped away in an instant.

"And you? What were you doing while this was happening? Sitting at home doing nothing, letting things fall apart like this!"

A sense of foreboding crept over her.

Switching to speakerphone, Heeju opened her internet app and saw the trending headlines dominating the top search rankings.

"I knew something was off! Baek Saeon isn’t the kind of man to act like that! I knew it was suspicious, and now this—!"

Her hands trembled as she clicked on one of the headlines with a sensational title.

[Exclusive] The Double Life of the Blue House Spokesperson: A Scandalous Audio Recording!
By Hong In-ah, Reporter, Myungji Daily

A scandal has erupted involving Blue House Spokesperson Baek Saeon and allegations of an affair. The leaked audio recording, obtained exclusively, contains explicit and inappropriate exchanges with a woman presumed to be his mistress, sending shockwaves through the nation.

In the recording, Baek Saeon is heard saying:
"I like getting ****** too,"
"I don’t do it with my wife,"
and "Haven’t you tried doing it alone?"

The fact that Baek Saeon is a married man has intensified the public’s outrage.

His office announced that a press conference will be held this afternoon during the special screening of the late Representative Baek Jangho’s documentary to address the scandal.

“...!”

Heeju stared blankly at her phone’s screen, the weight of the words crushing her.

“The Blue House Spokesperson’s Shocking Affair Allegations!”
“Spokesperson Baek Saeon’s Vulgar Audio Recording Sparks Controversy!”
“Nation’s Beloved Elite Exposed: Scandalous Audio Files of Threats and Violence!”

Her mother’s enraged voice continued, but Heeju abruptly ended the call, pressing the button with trembling fingers.

Her head pounded.

"Ugh…"

The accusations and salacious headlines plastered across every major portal site’s front page felt like a dagger to her chest.

Is this really what I wanted?

Had she truly wanted to see Baek Saeon—once revered as the epitome of love and trust—fall from grace?

No. No, this wasn’t it.

She had wanted to use his weakness as leverage for a divorce, not drag him through the mud.

"I need to… find my sister," she muttered.

That’s not some mistress in the recordings—it’s me.

Gathering her strength, Heeju forced herself up and headed out of her room to change.

But as she opened the door, she froze.

Baek Saeon stood there, motionless.

“...!”

With one hand in his pocket and his jacket slung over his arm, he appeared unbothered by her sudden presence. He was surveying the room slowly, his gaze lingering on every detail.

The way he looked around, calm yet filled with a strange sense of yearning, left Heeju momentarily breathless.

When did he get here?

Sensing her presence, he turned to face her.

They stared at each other, unyielding, their silence stretching taut between them.

“Did you see the article?” he asked at last, his voice low and indifferent.

He didn’t take a single step toward her, maintaining a sharp and deliberate distance.

“I’m sorry, but it’s true.”

“...!”

The slight rise and fall of his eyebrows carried an air of indifference, as if her reaction didn’t matter.

The casualness of it all twisted Heeju’s face in anguish.

“Don’t worry about the reports. I’ll hold a press conference today, and it’ll blow over.”

Are you going to bury it with celebrity gossip again?

Is that how we’ll keep living? While you keep searching for Sagong Yuk?

Then what was it when we kissed, when we slept together? Just a mistake born of unstable emotions?

Her throat burned as the bitter truth bubbled up inside her. She reached for the tissue box on the table and hurled it at him.

Thud.

The box hit his chest and fell to the ground.

Baek Saeon didn’t flinch. He stood there, his expression unreadable.

But Heeju glared at him, her eyes demanding a response.

Say something. Say something before it’s too late, before you regret it later. Just say it.

Her mind flashed back to her father—his decaying will, his voice hollowed by failure.

“You said you wanted to talk,” she started, her voice shaking. “You said we needed to talk.”

“...”

“And this is what you call talking?”

Her eyes welled with tears, her frustration spilling over.

“...Talk…”

But the words lodged in her throat.

In all the years she’d known Baek Saeon, since their very first meeting, she had never once been able to speak her heart while looking him in the eye.

Her nerves took hold, paralyzing her, her fingers curling into cold fists. She bit her tongue, trying to force herself to speak.

Say it now, or you’re no different from Dad.

As she braced herself, Baek Saeon suddenly reached out and slipped a finger between her teeth, forcing her to stop biting down.

“Are you insane? Don’t bite yourself.”

“...!”

His voice, rough and irritated, held an edge of concern.

He pulled his hand away and straightened up, letting out a heavy sigh as if exhausted. His forehead creased, veins faintly visible beneath his skin.

“Stop forcing yourself. Don’t say anything.”

“...”

“There’s no need to push yourself.”

He stepped back, his movements deliberate.

“Don’t skip meals. Always be cautious of anyone who approaches you. Wherever you go, keep an emergency contact ready. Live where you want, whether it’s here or abroad.”

“...!”

She furrowed her brow, unable to make sense of his words.

“Check your account. You don’t have to smile through gritted teeth for your in-laws anymore. Don’t let anyone, not even family, take liberties with your money. You don’t owe your sister an explanation, either.”

“...”

“Think only of yourself.”

“...”

“And when you turn thirty, buy yourself a nice bag and shoes.”

His voice, hypnotic, carried an odd finality.

“When you turn forty, adopt a dog if you want.”

“...”

“When you turn fifty—”

Heeju grabbed his sleeve, stopping him. Her questioning gaze made him pause briefly before he resumed speaking.

“When you turn fifty, sing sometimes. You’re better at it than you think.”

She couldn’t interrupt him. She felt like she had to let him finish.

“When you turn sixty, don’t feel sad. Leave behind a portrait.”

“...”

“When you turn seventy, always eat with someone.”

“...”

“And when you turn eighty, take care not to fall ill.”

“...”

“When you turn ninety—”

He stopped, gently covering her eyes with his hand.

Just like he used to when they were younger.

Deprived of her sight, his voice became sharper, carving its way into her heart.

“Live freely your whole life, and when the time comes, think of me. Just a little.”

When his hand fell away, she blinked rapidly, her lashes quivering as she stared at his retreating figure.

His expression remained cold, distant.

The sound of his footsteps across the living room echoed faintly, ending with the soft click of the front door closing behind him.

Heeju stood frozen in place, like a statue.

She didn’t realize that was his goodbye.