chapter 5

Yeon Hwa was wearing a black dress and stood in front of the full-length mirror. As she turned around, the flared skirt fluttered above her knees.

“Is it too fancy?”

It looked like she was going to a formal event. Yeon Hwa looked around the closet but half the clothes she had already worn. Suddenly She turned her head to the clock on the wall, and it was pointing at 6:10 pm.

Geon Woo said he would come by in 15 minutes, so She had to get ready now and leave. Yeon Hwa grabbed the clutch and came out of the dressing room. At the sound of the door opening, Anseong, who was cleaning the living room table, lifted her head.

“Madam, you are so pretty today.”

“Thank you.”

Yeon Hwa gained confidence thanks to Ahn Sung’s praise and went to the front door.

“Please leave early today, because we eat dinner outside.”

“Please have a good date.”

“It’s just a regular dinner.”

While saying that, Yeon Hwa shyly touched her hot cheeks with her palms. Ahn Sung-daek put out a smile.

“Go ahead.”

Yeon Hwa nodded as she walked out to the hallway, put on her shoes at the entrance, and opened the front door. Suddenly the footsteps slightly receded at the front door, and a new black mass struck Yeon Hwa’s eyes. Startled, she realized the identity of the man. She burst out a sound.

“Ah…..”

The person standing in front of the front door was Geon Woo’s personal secretary. Yeon Hwa reflexively spoke out, “Ki……,” but she held her tongue. The words,’ Secretary Kim,’ almost popped out.

The first time she saw Secretary Kim was at a wedding hall three years ago. She shouldn’t review that she was pretending to have lost her memory to Secretary Kim, a close friend of Geon Woo. Yeon Hwa, who had been holding her hand on her fluttering heart, lowered her hand.

“What are you doing here at this time?”

“The president told me to pick up his wife.”

Fully aware of the situation,

Yeon Hwa took a step back.

“I’ve never heard such a thing from my husband.”

Secretary Kim, rummaging through his pocket, handed out an employee ID with his picture on it, but Yeon Hwa pretended not to resolve her doubts.

“How do I know if this is real or fake?”

Unlike his rigid body,

Secretary Kim was a timid person, got embarrassed, and scratched his head. At that time, Anseong popped out from behind Yeon Hwa to see what was going on.

“Madam, what is going on?”

Secretary Kim was relieved when he saw Ahnseong.

“Madam doesn’t know who I am . Even if I show my employee ID, she doesn’t believe it.”

Only then, Ahnseong understood the situation and spoke :

“Madam, this is Secretary Kim.”

Ahnseong knew Secretary Kim well because he often came to the house on weekends to do some work.

When Secretary Kim opened his small eyes to look at Yeon Hwa, she apologized to him.

“I lost my memory so I couldn’t figure out who you are. I am sorry.”

“No. You don’t have to worry about it.”

Secretary Kim raised his hand and pointed at the car he had left in front of the house.

“Madam, can we go?”

Yeon Hwa nodded and followed after Secretary Kim.

****

The restaurant with the garden was decorated in European style and exuded an antique feel. As she walked along the way with the manager’s guidance, art works reminiscent of a gallery were hung on the wall. Geon Woo had already arrived at the restaurant and was sitting at the table by the glass wall’s side.

When Geon Woo turned his head, Yeon Hwa stopped without knowing. In the short moment when their eyes met in the air, the heat started from the nape of her neck covering her face. The fact that her husband was looking at her made her heart overflow.

When the manager pulled out the chair on the other side of Geon Woo, he stepped aside as Yeon Hwa sat down at her seat. Orange indirect lighting from the ceiling lit up the table. It was a perfect place for a date. Yeon Hwa asked Geon Woo, who was reading the menu board.

“Why didn’t you tell me that Secretary Kim was coming?”

The man’s gaze on the menu board was transferred to her.

Yeon Hwa added while holding the menu board in her hands.

“I almost called the police on the man. I didn’t know a stranger was standing in front of the house.”

“I didn’t think I could pick you up at the time I promised, so I sent Secretary Kim. I’m sorry if I surprised you.”

“Please be careful next time .”

Yeon Hwa gave soft attention and ordered the approaching manager.

“I will have an A course meal.”

The manager lowered his head slightly and turned to Geon Woo. He closed the menu board and handed it to the manager.

“Please prepare the B course as well.”

At his words, Yeon Hwa once again checked the menu board in her hands. Obviously, it was written ‘Peanut butter & Jelly’ on the dessert of the Dinner B course. The ingredients inside were listed under the large letters, but of course, peanuts were inside. Yeon Hwa covered the menu as if awakening from the thought when the manager asked:

“Do you have more order, Madam?”

“No, I don’t.”

Yeon Hwa’s mind was filled with different thoughts. She knew Geon Woo had a peanut allergy, but why did he order the B course. What was he thinking?.

“Or maybe he just overlooked it?”

A pre-dinner soup was placed in front of Yeon Hwa, which calmed her confusion. Yeon Hwa spared her words and raised a spoon with her left hand. When the soup was finished, the appetizer was ready, and two steak plates were soon served. With only one single hand, Yeon Hwa was scrambling the steak with a knife, but the plate in front of her suddenly disappeared. When she lifted her head, Geon Woo was cutting the steak and put it in her bowl.

The steak got stabbed here and there with a knife was embarrassing, so Yeon Hwa reached out her left hand.

“I can do it.”

“Your hand hurts.”

After cutting the steak into bite-sized pieces, Geon Woo returned the plate to Yeon Hwa. The dish was filled with Geon Woo’s consideration. The tip of Yeon Hwa’s lips curled up. With a smile, she put a piece of steak in her mouth.

The first meat she tried after the accident was very sweet.

“It’s delicious,”

The words came out of her mouth happily. She even liked the song that flowed so calmly that it wouldn’t interfere with the conversation. Yeon Hwa was convinced right now that this man wanted to improve their broken relationship. Otherwise, this could not be explained at all. The man’s behavior suddenly had changed, the glances of his eyes, the first date, and all. It was the same with Yeon Hwa that she also wanted to reverse their relationship.

She did not want to end her marriage to this man. She liked it now. The sweetness overflowed, but his attitude was still careless.

“Perhaps…..when the accident happened, Yoo Geon Woo also got injured?”

“What do you mean?”

“No, it’s nothing. “

She lowered her head and turned her gaze to the plate. She couldn’t finish the steak, leaving two pieces.

Suddenly, the manager came to clear the dishes and put the dessert plates on the table. Yeon Hwa alternated her gaze between the round tiramisu cake placed in front of her and Geon Woo’s plate. At a glance, Geon Woo’s round plate had a thick peanut.

“Do you have anything to say?”

Yeon Hwa shook her head when Geon Woo asked…

“…….No.”‘

“Is he really thinking of eating it?’ She whispered.

When the manager put down the plate, he clearly said the name of the dish. Therefore, Geon Woo knew what was in front of him. Yeon Hwa didn’t know if the cake went in her mouth or nose as all her nerves were directed only to his dessert plate. Yeon Hwa swallowed her saliva as the green butter topped with peanut powder placed on the spoon.

“Can peanut allergies go away? She thought.

He did even put the peanut in his mouth. He really ate it. The spoon that came out of his mouth was empty. Then Geon Woo continued adding a spoonful of peanut one after another.

“Shall we switch it?”

Yeon Hwa naturally pushed her plate to Geon Woo.

“I want to eat it too,”

“…….”

While Geon Woon was speechless, she added.

“Do you not like cakes?”

“I like it.”

Yeon Hwa was waiting for his answer as she pulled Geon Woo’s plate to her side.

Didn’t want the man to change his words, Yeon Hwa placed the butter on top of the spoon, and she neatly put it into her mouth. After eating all the peanuts butter, she was relieved. After eating, they left the restaurant and walked to Geon Woo’s car in the parking lot. Yeon Hwa opened the passenger door, and Geon Woo said he took out his cell phone from his pocket.

“I have a call to make. Wait a minute.”

Yeon Hwa nodded and closed the passenger door, and Geon Woo pressed the call button. Secretary Kim, the most recent caller, appeared on the screen. As soon as he placed the cell phone to his ear, Secretary Kim answered.

“Yes, Mr. President.”

“I’m sorry, Secretary Kim, can I ask you a favor?”

****

Arrived at the house,

Yeon Hwa entered the living room and passed Geon Woo, then said

“…… Yoo Geon Woo.”

There was something that bothers her since this morning, but She kept missing the timing to say it. Geon Woo, who stopped stepping, turned around. Yeon Hwa rubbed her right forearm awkwardly with her left hand.

“Oh I wonder if I should or shouldn’t say…”

The man’s expression got serious as if he was worried.

“I was worried a lot and I have to say something.”

She rolled her lips and didn’t know where to put her eyes.

“If we keep sleeping together, I want you to promise this.”

As Yeon Hwa lifted her eyes, one eyebrow of Geon Woo flinched. Yeon Hwa, with a long sigh, poured out words like rapid fire.

“Please wear pajamas instead of a gown. You said that you sleep like that every night but still, sleeping together is uncomfortable.”

“On my side?”

As Geon Woo slowly picked up the words, Yeon Hwa nodded quickly.

“When I woke up in the morning, the knot of your gown was almost loosened and your chest was visible.”

It was nice to see the man’s straight, smooth hair got messy in the morning and a relaxed expression that didn’t feel stern at all. Besides, the two split breasts were exposed outside of the half-open gown made Yeon Hwa’s heart protrude outward.

“No matter how long the couple is married, it’s embarrassing to see the flesh as soon as they open their eyes.”

“…….”

“I was embarrassed okay.”

She couldn’t be honest to say that she wanted to touch something that seemed hard.

Geon Woo pressed the center of his forehead, tried to refuse.

“That’s…..”

‘Song Yeon Hwa, it was you that touched my body.’ Geon Woo forcibly swallowed the words that were about to come out, uttered another word instead of what he was trying to say.

“I’ll be careful.”

He thought it would be better if she doesn’t know anything. He could have offered to move to another room if he knew that she was rubbing him all night.

“Thank you for understanding.”

Yeon Hwa seemed to have lost the worries that had been stuck in her head all day. Yeon Hwa was passing by Geon Woo gently and turned to the sound of the doorbell.

“Who is it?”

“I called Secretary Kim for work.”

Yeon Hwa tried to go opening the door, but Geon Woo stopped her.

“You go in and wash first.”

The man was passing through the corridor as Yeon Hwa went into the room.

Geon Woo put on his shoes, opened the front door, and went outside.

Secretary Kim was standing outside the front door, holding a black plastic bag in his hand and bowed to Geon Woo.

“I bought what you asked.”

“I’m sorry, I’ve bothered you to run errands late.”

Secretary Kim smiled while rubbing the back of his neck.

“I know the President will pay more allowance.”

When he did additional work after work, Geon Woo would include the overtime allowance in his salary, even if Secretary Kim didn’t ask him. Even employees knew that Geon Woo takes care of his subordinates, even if he doesn’t seem to be showing off. Therefore, Secretary Kim has worked under Geon Woo for a long time.

“Would you like to use it now?”

Geon Woo nodded, and secretary Kim quickly pulled out a pill from the bag. He also bought up to 500ml of water, opened the lid. Geon Woo put the white pill in his mouth and swallowed it down with water. Secretary Kim was watching it and said with a face full of impatience.

“Did you have peanuts for dinner? Are you okay?”

“It will be okay if I take the medicine. If it gets worse, I can go to the hospital.”

“If you feel sick, call me even at dawn. I will take you to the emergency room.”

“I will be fine.”

Geon Woo tapped Kim’s shoulder twice as if telling him not to worry. As Geon Woo turned to the front door, Secretary Kim made a voice as if he had remembered something.

“By the way, didn’t you say your wife lost her memories?”

Geon Woo’s body, which had been turned halfway, returned to Secretary Kim.

“What happened?”

“When I arrived at the front door today, your wife came out from the inside. But she was surprised and instinctively tried to call my name.”

He could have mistaken the shape of her mouth, but Secretary Kim thought it was not a coincidence.

Even with Secretary Kim’s seriousness, Geon Woo showed little reaction.

“My wife can’t remember me so she can’t possibly remember Secretary Kim.”

“Still…”

“Secretary Kim!”

A low subdued voice blocked Secretary Kim. Now, Secretary Kim’s mouth that had opened up was immediately shut.

“She is my wife.”

“……….”

“I know her well.”

“……. I’m sorry.”

When Secretary Kim bowed down then lifted his head, Woo told him :

“Don’t say anything to my wife. What happened today or what you said to me “.

Yeon Hwa thought that she was the only person who controlled the stage of the play. However, a person was watching Yeon Hwa unfolding a play behind a curtain without her knowing. This increased the number of people lying from one to two.