When I Loved You

Yiyoung had forgotten that Muyeol had married for a specific reason: to become the director of the stockholding company. He’d mentioned it was a way for him to relieve his anger, and Yiyoung couldn’t imagine the amount of rage stored inside him.

Despite only having seen him work for three days as she spent time with him, Yiyoung realized Muyeol was not becoming a director of the stockholding company just to release his anger. He seemed to genuinely love his job.

“Okay. Then I’ll just wait calmly until the stockholders’ meeting is over.”

“Would you even be with me then?” Muyeol muttered to himself

“Huh?” Yiyoung asked.

Muyeol had accidentally spoken his thoughts out loud. “Nothing. Nevermind.”

Yiyoung urged him a few more times to find out what he meant to say, but Muyeol didn’t respond. Left with no other choice, Yiyoung changed the subject, “Did you enjoy this trip because you were with me?”

“Huh?” Muyeol wondered whether she was randomly trying to confess her feelings like yesterday.

‘I love you.’

Ever since she had whispered it to him early in the morning, Muyeol couldn’t forget her voice. He couldn’t help but remember every syllable of the word, and it set his heart aflutter. Yet, at the same, there was a sadness rooted deep in his heart. ‘It can’t be real. She just needed someone to be with her while she was feeling weak.’

But Muyeol didn’t want to mention his feelings; he didn’t want to waste time on talking about them.

Yiyoung noticed the way Muyeol’s jaw clenched and asked again, “How was it? Did it feel different from our usual days?”

Once again, Muyeol didn’t respond, despite there now being something significantly different between them; it was different because they’d passionately made love until the bed was almost broken.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?” she questioned.

“I just don’t know what to say,” Muyeol finally answered.

The two had originally planned on going to the lounge area, but they’d somehow ended up walking without a pause. Yiyoung didn’t mind it. In fact, she quite liked it because it felt like she was walking with him in a world of their own. However, Yiyoung was sad for Muyeol because he didn’t seem to be happy, yet she was.

“I wish you could feel your emotions, whether it be happiness or sadness. I wish you could polish your dull emotions and see the world with a different perspective, just like I can right now,” said Yiyoung.

Muyeol quickly faced Yiyoung as she continued, “I know I’m not competent enough to give advice like this. If I hadn’t gotten injured, then I probably would have collapsed at the ER after overworking. But now I know what I missed in life during the time I was busy working everyday.”

“It’s a good thing you know exactly what the turning point in your life is,” said Muyeol.

Like a newborn breaking out of its shell and recognizing the first creature it sees as its mother figure, Yiyoung had fallen in love with Muyeol as soon as she opened her eyes after that deadly battle.

“Your words are direct. And I agree with you because it’s true. If I didn’t go through that, how would I be here today? How would I have had a chance to learn what love is?”

Yiyoung’s random confession stirred Muyeol’s heart. He was reminded of the exact moment when he thought he had almost lost her, and the anxiousness and despair was something he never wanted to face again.

Muyeol reached out with his hand and mischievously messed up Yiyoung’s hair. “After some time, things will be even better than now.”

‘Oh no! My hair! I spent so much time doing my hair!’ Yiyoung thought, but she was still happy. Whenever he touched her hair, she could feel his gentleness through his hand.

“Of course, they will be. I’m definitely going to be a better doctor.” Yiyoung smiled like a little girl.

Muyeol hadn’t responded to her confession, but she was fine, relieved even, since she had told him about her feelings.

‘I’m Yoon Yiyoung,’ she thought confidently.