A few days later, Ga-young stepped out of the bank, the afternoon sunlight spilling over her like a blessing. In one hand, she held a paper shopping bag, inside was Min-jae's coat, freshly dry-cleaned. She had planned to sell it, a small symbolic act of closure.
For the first time in years, her smile wasn't forced. It glowed, brighter than the October sun above her.
She stopped right in the middle of the street, her heart pounding with a dizzy kind of freedom.
"I did it," she whispered. Then louder, "I did it!"
A squeak escaped her throat before she could stop it, and heads turned her way. She didn't care.
Every debt was gone. Every sleepless night, every humiliating bow, every forced silence —over.
She was free.
Grinning like a child, she fished out her phone and dialed Ji-hye.
"Hello, Ms. Choi," Ji-hye teased as she picked up.
Ga-young couldn't hold it in, she squealed, so loud a few pigeons flew off nearby.
"What?! Why are you so happy?" Ji-hye asked, startled and laughing.
"I did it!" Ga-young shouted into the phone.
"Did it?" Ji-hye paused, then gasped. "Wait! you mean you've done it?"
"Yes! Your first love is now debt-free!"
"Wow!!" Ji-hye shrieked. "I can't even contain my joy!"
"Neither can I," Ga-young laughed, her voice trembling with relief. "Are you free today? I'm treating you!"
"Oh, I wish! But I'm out of town with Hyun-woo and Ha-eun for a family trip," Ji-hye groaned.
Ga-young's smile faltered, but her tone stayed bright. "Ah, that's fine. I'll call Ye-seul then."
"I'm really sorry, Ga-young. I'd give you the biggest hug if I could."
"You can do that when you're back. Enjoy your trip, and tell Ha-eun I miss her already."
"I will," Ji-hye said warmly.
"Alright, hanging up now."
"Dinner's on me next time! Somewhere nice!"
"I'll hold you to that," Ga-young said with a chuckle and ended the call.
She stood there for a while, the street alive with motion and noise, but she felt suddenly still.
Her victory felt quieter now.
With a small sigh, she dialed Ye-seul next. It took four rings before the line connected.
"Ms. Choi!" came Ye-seul's chirpy voice.
"Hi, Ye-seul," Ga-young said gently. "How are you doing?"
"I'm not okay…"
"What happened?"
"There's this ridiculous family event," Ye-seul groaned, "All the women from the Park family, the Hwans, the Juns, the Sans — all gathered together. Mom's forcing me to go. I'm dying inside."
Ga-young chuckled. "Sounds like a royal affair."
"It's a nightmare! Nosy aunts, prissy cousins and they've stuffed me into this ginormous hanbok. I can't breathe! It's like a hundred degrees in it..."
Before Ga-young could reply, she heard Mrs. Hwan's voice calling in the background.
"Ye-seul! Hurry up, we're late!"
Ye-seul groaned. "See? This is my life. Bye, Ms. Choi!"
"Just survive it," Ga-young teased. "Make fun out of it. If you can't have fun, make fun of the aunties you hate."
Ye-seul laughed. "Ms. Choi!"
"Secret survival tip," Ga-young whispered.
"But why did you call? Something wrong?"
Ga-young hesitated. "No… I just wanted to check up on you."
"Aww, you're going to make me blush," Ye-seul giggled.
"Go on then, don't keep your mom waiting."
"Yes, ma'am. Byeee!"
The line went dead.
Ga-young lowered her phone slowly, her hand limp at her side.
So much for the loud celebration she had imagined, laughter, dinner, friends.
Instead, she was left with the silence of a street that didn't care she was finally free.
"The universe just hates me," she muttered. Then smiled. "But it can't stop my fun."
And she flagged down a taxi.
---
Hours later, the bar was dim, its lights low and golden. In front of Ga-young sat five empty soju bottles, lined up like soldiers defeated in battle.
She was slumped over the counter, cheeks flushed, eyes hazy, but one last glass remained. The final challenger.
She squinted at it, giggling. "You think I can't drink you? That's a challenge!"
Her hand wobbled as she lifted the glass, blinking to steady her sight.
Then she downed it in one gulp.
"I did it!" she yelled, slamming the glass down. "No one challenges Choi Ga-young and wins! Not even you, you… you bastard!"
Her laughter dissolved into silence. The energy bled out of her face, leaving a fragile sadness.
"What did I do so wrong?" she whispered. "I was just worried… I didn't want to hurt him again."
Her voice cracked. "I was just scared…"
Tears welled up and spilled as she fumbled with her phone, searching for his name.
Her thumb hovered over the contact, Min-jae.
She hesitated, then pressed it.
He picked up on the third ring.
"Yes, Ms. Choi," he said, his tone calm, formal.
She froze. His voice felt both close and painfully far.
"Ms. Choi? Are you there?" he asked.
She didn't answer.
"Maybe this was a misdial," he murmured.
"I miss you," she breathed, the words breaking through her sobs.
Silence. His breath caught on the other end.
Then the phone slipped from her hand, clattering to the floor. She bent to pick it up and everything went black.
"Ma'am!" a waiter shouted, rushing to her.
"Ms. Choi!" Min-jae's voice came through faintly from the phone. "Ms. Choi!"
The line went dead.
He didn't even stop to think. He just grabbed his keys and ran.
By the time Min-jae reached the bar, his chest was heaving.
"She was here," the waitress said, "brownish-wine hair, right? She woke up and left. Probably not too far."
He thanked her and ran back out, scanning the street and then he saw her.
Hunched over on a bench, clutching the coat she had once planned to sell — his coat.
She was wearing it now.
He exhaled, dragging a hand through his hair before walking over.
"Ms. Choi," he said softly.
No reply.
He crouched beside her, his eyes meeting hers. "How much did you drink?"
She smiled faintly. "Am I seeing things? You look so real…"
"Let's get you home," he said, trying to help her up.
She shook her head and gripped his hand. "No. If I go… I might not see you again."
He froze. Even drunk, her words hit deep.
Then she reached for him, her fingers brushed against his cheek, tracing the small mole under his eye.
Her touch trembled. So did his breath.
And then she started crying again.
"Why do you keep ignoring me?" she said between sobs. "Do you know how much that hurts? I know I said we should just be boss and secretary, but why did you agree? You should've fought me on it!"
"Ms. Choi…"
"No!" she shook her head violently. "I was scared, Min-jae. Scared of hurting you again. But I can't keep pretending. I keep missing you. Thinking about you. I know I'm not good enough, and maybe I'll hurt you again, but don't treat me like I'm nobody. I can't— I can't live like that."
She looked up at him, tears trembling in her lashes.
"I can't fix the past… but I can make up for the future. Because… Because I like you. No I love you. I really lo—"
Her words were cut short by his lips on hers.
It wasn't rushed or drunken — it was quiet and certain.
Her heart stilled, her breath caught, and the world around them seemed to pause.
The wind softened. The street grew still. Even the stars seemed to lean in closer.
For the first time in a long while, Choi Ga-young felt alive.