TDIMEH Chapter 07

  

7. The Uninvited Guest

Every step toward the front door made the golf club, which didn’t match the old house’s ambiance, glint under the fluorescent light.

It was left behind by a female guest who came on a golf trip last year. She had abandoned it on the cruise, saying that international shipping costs were too high and that they could dispose of it as they pleased. Seizing the opportunity, she brought it home.

Before her house fell into ruin, Se-ah's hobby had been golf. While her current situation made it impossible to dream of playing on a course, she would occasionally practice her swing in the cramped space of the house.

The golf club, always propped up next to her bed, seemed suitable as a weapon in case of an intruder or a robber. And, as expected, it had now proven useful in this very moment.

Despite her slender frame, Se-ah’s average drive distance with a driver was 200 yards, and she was frequently encouraged to turn professional. If she swung it properly, it could easily become a lethal weapon.

"Who is it?"

Gripping the hefty golf club, she approached the small peephole in the door and peered through, asking the question. In an old house without an intercom, this was the only way to check on a visitor.

"It's me."

This voice... could it be?

"Boss?"

"Yeah, open the door."

Although the view through the peephole was blurred with dust, the short, stocky figure beyond it was definitely Boss Nam.

He was the one who constantly nagged her to move to a safer neighborhood, so why would he come to her house at such a late hour? Doubt creeping into her mind, Se-ah decided not to open the door and maintained her vigilance.

"Why are you here?"

"Why else? I brought the phone you left in the car."

"Really?"

He came all the way here just for that?

“Yeah. Why else would I have come all the way here?”

There were stories about unscrupulous bosses targeting employees who lived alone. But Boss Nam was more of a money-first person than someone who would do such things.

It was also known that he had lived apart from his family in Korea for several years, and during that time, there had never been any issues related to women.

Still, you never know with people. Not letting down her guard, Se-ah replied firmly.

“Then show me first.”

“Show you what?”

“My phone.”

“Haha, seriously? Do we look like we’re bartering at a second-hand marketplace? I didn’t think you were the type, but you sure are suspicious.”

“It’s not suspicion. It’s called verification. And actually, I am that type of person.”

Grumbling, the boss held the phone right up to the center of the lens so she could see it clearly.

The matte black cover and the older model confirmed that it was indeed her phone.

“Thank you, boss.”

Only then did Se-ah feel at ease and reached out to the door handle.

“Puhahaha!”

A loud burst of laughter echoed from the other side of the door.

“She admits it herself that she’s that kind of person. Classic. Hehe.”

This voice… it was unmistakably the same man she had heard earlier — either its Jo Jisang or Jo Jinsang.

“Is there someone else with you?”

Surprised by the unexpected situation, Se-ah stopped trying to open the door and asked in disbelief.

“It’s the customers from earlier. I was giving them a ride, so I stopped by here to drop it off.”

“What?”

Se-ah’s pupils quivered with intensity.

Sure, she was grateful that he had brought her phone all the way here, but now she felt a whirlwind of unwelcome emotions. Why did he have to bring them with him?

“You could’ve just come alone…”

“If I came alone, wouldn’t that have been even more suspicious?”

Well, maybe that was true for other people, but those specific people were definitely an exception.

“Hurry up and open the door. I’ll just give you the phone and leave.”

“Are there only two of you in front of the door?”

“No. There’s a woman here too, and some other guests. Did you think it was just two guys visiting a woman’s house alone? Hey, come over here.”

With a self-satisfied smile, the boss gathered everyone in front of the lens.

Four faces filled the small glass circle.

Se-ah was dumbfounded at the sight.

“See? You can see them clearly, right? So now, open the door.”

“Just... leave it at the door and go.”

Not wanting to show her bare face to Junhyuk, Se-ah turned away coldly. She would rather abandon the phone than open that door.

“What’s this? Do you have some kind of treasure hidden inside? Or are you just in pajamas and too shy to show yourself? Why are you being so difficult?”

The boss's words gave Se-ah an idea, and she quickly replied.

“Actually, I just got out of the shower, so I’m not wearing any clothes. That’s why.”

“Gah... T-Then, there’s nothing we can do about it. Okay, I’ll just leave it by the door.”

Seeing them turn their backs, she finally felt at ease. But suddenly, Moon Sohee turned back toward the front entrance and urgently knocked on the door.

“W-Wait a second. Open the door, please.”

“What’s the matter?”

“Well, it’s a bit hard to explain, but just open it for a moment.”

“You’ll have to give me a reason if you want me to open it.”

“It’s… it’s urgent.”

The way she held her lower belly with one hand made it seem like she had a stomachache.

“I… I need to use the bathroom.”

Her voice was low, as if she didn’t want others to hear, but the old door had no soundproofing, so Se-ah heard her clearly.

After a brief hesitation, Se-ah decided that, unlike other situations, this was one where she had no choice. Telling her to wait for a moment, she put on a mask that was hanging near the entrance.

She was tempted to put on sunglasses like earlier in the day, but doing that would have made her look too suspicious. In the end, she threw on a lightweight hoodie over the sleeveless top she was wearing.

Pulling the hood down far enough to cover her forehead, only her eyes remained visible.

Since the house didn’t have air conditioning, her head began to heat up almost immediately.

“Come in.”

Opening the door just wide enough for one person to slip through, Moon Sohee darted in like a gust of wind, handed over the phone, and went straight to the bathroom that Se-ah had pointed to.

Luckily, since she was planning to leave for a long trip the next day, Se-ah had cleaned the bathroom earlier after showering. Although the old state of the bathroom made it look less than spotless, at least she had done her part. She reassured herself that letting someone use it was nothing to feel ashamed about.

“Can I come in too? I’m thirsty.”

Jisang's voice came from outside the door.

“No, you can’t.”

Now that she had her phone back, there was absolutely no reason to open the door again.

“Don’t be like that.”

“I will be like that.”

“Come on, we went out of our way to bring your phone. At least give me some water.”

Even the boss chimed in, and while he had a point, this was not the time to entertain such requests.

“Buy it yourself.”

She gave a reply as firm as a pumpkin, and as soon as Moon Sohee came out of the bathroom, Se-ah ushered her outside.

“Goodbye.”

And I hope we never meet again, she thought to herself, sending them off with this silent sentiment.

“Wait.”

As she tried to close the door, leaving a narrow gap for a final farewell, a long, slender finger reached through the opening. Someone on the other side was pushing against the closing door.

The smooth hand, accompanied by a low voice, belonged to none other than Do Junhyuk.

She had seen this perfect hand before — when they exchanged wedding rings.

“W-What’s the matter?”

Se-ah clutched the door tightly, her heart racing. She swallowed hard, feeling as though a thorn had lodged in her throat.

“No matter how I think about it…”

Think about it?

“Your voice sounds awfully similar to someone I know. Mind if I check for a moment?”

Junhyuk's sharp observation sent chills down her spine, rushing straight to the top of her head. Cold sweat trickled down her face, soaking into the hoodie.

She should have disguised her voice with a nasal tone.

The visit had been so sudden that there was no time to think through every little detail.

“W-Why do you need to check? T-There are lots of people with similar voices. That’s why voice impressions exist, right? I can do a bunch of them too.”

“Is that so?”

Despite her answer, Junhyuk didn’t seem satisfied.

“H-Haha, want to hear one? 'That… memory…'”

“That’s enough.”

Thankfully, Junhyuk firmly cut her off before she could make an even bigger fool of herself by attempting to sing. But what he said next was even more absurd.

“Then how about you show me your face instead?”

“T-That’s even more impossible. Why should I do that?”

“You seem to have a lot to hide. I’m curious as to what has you so on edge.”

His tone was polite, but his words were full of suspicion. Even without seeing his face, Se-ah could easily imagine his sharp eyes narrowing on her from the other side of the door.

“It’s not that… It’s just that I’m not feeling well.”

“If that’s true, I’ll be able to tell right away. What are you stalling for? It’s just a door — you can open it. Moon Sohee went in and out, so clearly, you’re dressed.”

With a mischievous tone, Jisang’s voice echoed in her ears, and the next moment, the door flew open. Se-ah, who had been holding on to the doorknob, was pulled outside along with it.

It happened so quickly that she didn’t even have time to stop it. Seeing Jisang grinning on the other side, she wanted nothing more than to slam her head into his face.

Like a set of dominoes, Se-ah was dragged toward Ji-

sang along with the door. But before she could collide with him, a strong arm reached out and wrapped around her waist — Junhyuk's solid arm.

The momentum pulled her hood back, and her nearly dry hair swayed against her neck.

She was pulled tightly against Junhyuk's firm chest, and the familiar scent she remembered from their first meeting, now much stronger, seeped through her thin mask and into her nose.

Her eyes widened as she looked up, and Junhyuk's piercing gaze locked onto her face. His head tilted slightly, his eyes filled with questions.

“Could it be…?”

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