Chapter 29
Laurel pov
The apartment felt different in the morning light.
Like even the walls knew something was ending.
I stood in the kitchen longer than necessary, staring at nothing in particular, my hands wrapped around a cup of tea that had already gone cold.
Eric came out, fully dressed.
"Oh, good morning. I was about to check if you were done," he said.
"I'm done. Just waiting for you."
"Okay, let me get the luggage," he said, already moving them to the car.
After a while, he came back inside.
"Let's go, Laurel."
I followed him.
As I was about to step out, I paused at the doorway just standing there, looking at the house I had called home for years.
Eric placed a hand on my shoulder.
I smiled faintly, then stepped out, locked the door, and drove to the airport.
It was awfully quiet at first.
Then Eric spoke.
"Noona… is the Korean airport usually crowded like the one they show on TV?"
"I don't know," I answered.
"But you've been to Korea before," he said.
"True. But when I was at the airport, I wasn't thinking about anything. I wasn't observing anything," I replied.
We got to the airport and had help with our luggage.
As we were about to enter the plane, I took out my phone and texted Seo Hee.
Incheon Airport, 10:30 AM.
Do not delay me.
I knew she was in a meeting, and her phone would most likely be with her secretary. Which meant she would only see the message later.
When the plane was about to take off, I noticed Eric clutching his fingers tightly.
"What happened?" I asked.
"Well… this is my first time in an airplane," he admitted.
I smiled slightly and placed my hand over his.
"It's fine."
Hours later, we landed.
As we walked toward the waiting area, a man suddenly ran into me.
Face mask. Cap pulled low.
He hit my shoulder and my bag fell.
"Sorry… am sorry," he said quickly before running off.
"Is he a celebrity?" Eric asked.
" I mean celebrity usually dress like that in places like this," he added.
"Celebrity or not, I don't care. He should watch where he's going," I said coldly.
"LAUREL! LAUREL!"
I froze.
I knew that voice.
And there she was.
Waving like her life depended on it.
Smiling. Too bright. So naive.
"Oh no… why is she running toward me too?" I muttered.
She crashed into me immediately, hugging me so tightly I couldn't even breathe.
"I missed you so much, Laurel! Why did you stay this long? Why didn't you tell me you were coming today? Wait did you tell anyone else?"
"Must you ask thirty questions at once?" I said flatly.
"Noona!" Eric said.
"Eric don't tell me you learned Korean. This is huge! When did you grow this much?" she said, now hugging him too.
He just smiled.
"Where did you park your car?" I asked, already walking forward.
We got into the car.
Eric spoke again, almost impressed.
"Korean is really beautiful… and fashionable," he said.
"True," Seo Hee replied. "There are places we'll go today. You're going to love it."
"Before you go roaming on the street, drop me at home," I said.
"I thought you would stay with me," she said instantly.
"Why?"
"I already asked Eun Woo to get another house for me."
"Okay," she pouted. "But is it close to mine?"
"What do you expect?" I said, smiling slightly. "Of course it's very, very far away from you."
I turned my face away.
She immediately turned to Eric.
"Don't be like your sister. You must visit my house today," she said.
Eric nodded obediently.
We reached my house.
It was exactly what I expected.
My taste.
"I like this," I said, dragging my luggage inside.
We stepped in and I began checking everything.
"We're going out, Seo Hee," she said suddenly, holding Eric's hand.
"What are you going to eat?" she asked.
"I'll ordered," she replied. "But bring tteokbokki on your way back."
She nodded.
"Also nobody must know I'm back. Do you hear me?"
"Yes, ma," she said dramatically, bowing like a princess.
I started arranging my things in my room, office, everything.
Later, I helped Eric arrange his room.
At some point… I fell asleep there.
Voices woke me up.
"They're back," I muttered, standing quickly.
"TADAAAAA!" Seo Hee shouted, holding up food.
"Did you order food again?" Eric asked, seeing I had already arranged everything.
"No," I said. "I fell asleep."
I took the food and placed it in the microwave.
Eric stood up.
"Noona, I'll go to my room. I'm tired," he said, carrying Seo Hee's gift bags.
I nodded.
"Good night," Seo Hee said as she came closer to me.
"If you're about to ask for food, you can't have any," I said.
"So cruel," she complained.
Her phone suddenly beeped.
She checked it…
And smiled.
A slow, satisfied smile.
One I didn't like.
"It's Kang Dae," she said softly.
I didn't react.
"I regret not accepting him sooner. He is so sweet, Laurel."
I just nodded and continued eating.
She kept talking anyway dreaming out loud.
"He is so handsome… so caring… he even spoils me."
"You also spoil yourself," I said.
She ignored me.
Then leaned in, excited.
"I know all his passwords now. I'm even on his wallpaper."
I stared at her.
"…you are beyond saving," I muttered.
"And at this point," I said, "he should just take you home."
"Isn't it too early?" she asked. "We've only been dating four months."
"What is wrong with you?" I asked.
Then her expression shifted slightly.
"He never talks about his siblings," she said suddenly.
"That's because he is an only child," I answered.
"What about his parents?" she continued. "I've never seen their pictures."
I paused slightly.
Then she added,
" I even asked my brother why he doesn't attend his friends' parents' events so I find out."
I looked at her.
"What did he say?" I asked.
She froze.
"When does what I do or don't do concern you?" she suddenly said, defensive.
I smirked.
Then she grabbed my hand again.
"You've known him for a long time. You must know his parents. What are they like? Are they nice? Do you think they'll like me?"
"Why are you worried about a future that already belongs to you?" I said, standing up.
I carried my plate to the sink.
She followed me.
"Don't you have a house help? This house is too big," she said.
"I don't need one," I replied.
Then I walked away.
That night… she followed me into my room.
"I'm sleeping here," she said.
"…what?"
"It's been long since I saw you. I have a meeting tomorrow. I want to stay close do I can make for the time I wasn't with you."
"You've got to be kidding me," I muttered under my breath.
Later, we lay in bed.
She turned to me.
"Can I ask you something?"
"If it's about your relationship, postpone it," I said. "If it's work, talk."
She ignored me.
"Why do I feel like everyone around me is hiding something?"
Silence.
Then she continued anyway.
"My dad doesn't pick calls in front of me… my brother has two phones… we always have bodyguards… I'm not allowed in certain meetings…"
Her voice lowered.
"Kang Dae even has two secret rooms."
I turned slightly.
"Then ask them yourself," I said calmly.
She went quiet.
Then whispered:
"…Am I adopted too?"
I exhaled.
"How would I know, Seo Hee."
"Ask your parents. Or your brother. Sleep."
She turned away slowly.
"Goodnight."
I stared at the ceiling long after she slept.
Because the truth she was searching for…
was not something she was ready to carry.
And neither was I.
I whispered to myself:
"If you knew the truth… you would wish you never asked."