TDIMEH Chapter 40

 40. The Swamp

"Alright, have a safe trip."  

Se-ah waved her hand at Boss Nam, who was leaving to pick up Moon Sohee. Originally, she had planned to go with him, but Junhyuk had vehemently opposed it, saying someone needed to stay and guard the place.  

"I’d love to stay longer, but knowing her personality, she’s probably starving herself. I can’t just stand by and watch. I’ll bring her back soon. See you tomorrow evening, including President Do."  

Boss Nam, with a backpack full of food like a bundle, had gained a bit of weight on his face in just a day.  

His expression looked brighter, as if staying with Junhyuk had lifted his anxiety about the future. If he were to learn that Junhyuk had lost his memory, the dark clouds might return, though.  

“He doesn’t seem like a bad person. He’s willingly going to pick up his colleague.”  

Watching Boss Nam’s retreating figure, Junhyuk muttered, and Se-ah nodded in agreement.  

“Yes. He’s considerate of his employees’ situations and doesn’t interfere in their private lives. It’s rare to find someone like that here.”  

Se-ah didn’t reveal the small compensation Boss Nam would receive for taking care of Moon Sohee. She figured one would go to great lengths to put someone to work.  

Fearing that Se-ah might misunderstand their relationship, Boss Nam had confessed last night that Moon Sohee had bribed him with money to stop him from escaping when they were stranded alone.  

It was certain that Boss Nam was an unusual character.  

Though he had a few yachts, implying he wasn’t short on money, he still couldn’t resist doing such favors.  

"Since our numbers have increased, we need to secure more food. I’ll make more fish traps too."  

Junhyuk, looking at the fish and meat he had hung to dry, muttered seriously.  

On the outside, he looked like someone who could live alone in the world, but his concern for others gave him the air of a village headman.  

Even though the people here were strangers to him, as soon as they became a group, he seemed to take on the responsibility of ensuring they were fed.  

Se-ah secretly stole glances at her ex-husband, who seemed to grow more attractive both inside and out.  

Even in a short-sleeved t-shirt and comfortable pants, his long legs made his outfit stand out.  

The muscles visible under his rolled-up sleeves seemed to have tightened over the past few days.  

Junhyuk, with his neutral appeal that wasn’t bound by specific tastes, somehow caught her attention more today.  

Perhaps the fact that Moon Sohee, who clearly had feelings for him, was coming here had something to do with it.  

Unlike herself, Moon Sohee might still look beautiful, and Junhyuk, who had returned to his twenties, might see her differently.  

Even in the real world, Moon Sohee didn’t look out of place by Junhyuk’s side, unlike herself.  

Wasn’t she the second daughter of the vice chairman of A Group, a major name in domestic distribution?  

Although they were only two years apart, Se-ah had never run into her. Se-ah had spent more time with her ordinary friends and rarely participated in gatherings of third-generation chaebols.  

After her mother passed away when she was twenty, Se-ah only occasionally appeared at public events with her father.    

It might only be a matter of time to investigate and find out what kind of person Moon Sohee is, but Se-ah neither had the need nor the desire to make such an effort.  

Simply imagining the possibility that Junhyuk, who had lost his memory, might take a liking to Moon Sohee made her heart ache.  

For the first time, she resented her powerless self, sinking to the bottom in this reality where she could do nothing.  

Se-ah hoped Junhyuk would regain his memory soon, yet at the same time, she didn’t want to lose the version of him as he was now.  

“What are you thinking about?”  

“...What?”  

“You didn’t hear me calling you.”  

“Oh, I didn’t notice.”  

“Is something bothering you?”  

His deep black eyes, full of warmth, looked down at her.  

“Oh, no. Nothing to worry about. I’ve adapted well to life on this island.”  

Se-ah quickly pushed away the cluttered thoughts filling her head.  

“Are you going deeper into the forest today?”  

“Yes, but first, I need to set up more fish traps.”  

He grabbed the fish traps he had prepared in advance. Somehow, there were two more than the day before.  

“Junhyuk, what do you think is beyond the other side of the island? What if it’s just more cliffs?”  

The mountain visible beyond him had a steep slope that made it impossible to imagine what lay beyond. Clouds frequently gathered near the summit, indicating considerable height.  

If they climbed all the way to the top only to find more cliffs on the other side, it would be demoralizing.  

“That’s possible, but judging by the terrain, the land beyond should be wider than here. There could be something, or maybe even people living there.”  

The possibility that the island might not be deserted made her eyes sparkle with hope.  

“We could build a raft and try to cross the sea.”  

“The current flows toward this direction. Without a proper motor, it’s impossible to go against it.”  

“What about skirting along the coastal cliffs?”  

“The currents are just as strong there. A single mistake could lead to drowning.”  

“So, crossing the mountain is the only way?”  

“For now, yes.”  

Nodding at his explanation, Se-ah packed up her belongings and stood up.   

“Let’s quickly set up the fish traps and then head into the forest.”  

“You shouldn’t get your wound wet, so stay nearby and wait.”  

“It’s fine now.”  

“No, it’s not.”  

Although the wound wasn’t severe and had mostly healed overnight, Junhyuk’s concern remained the same.  

He repeatedly examined Se-ah’s hand, flipping it over and back, his expression displeased as he spotted the small scar still lingering. Watching him, Se-ah couldn’t help but fleetingly think it might have been better if she had been hurt a bit more.  

Even as she understood her situation, her heart was unsettled by the greed that occasionally arose.  

Junhyuk, noticing her unease, pulled her hand gently and looked her directly in the eyes.  

“I don’t know what’s bothering you, but I’m here, so stop worrying about useless things.”  

His hand lightly ruffled her hair with a cautious touch.  

Whether it was because of the rising sun or her own fluttering emotions, Se-ah’s face suddenly turned red. The fire she had worked so hard to extinguish kept threatening to reignite.  

Setting up the fish traps didn’t take long. Familiar with the path to the cornfield, they moved quickly and were able to gather several types of fruit growing nearby.  

The bag they brought was already half full. Since they planned to pick more corn on their way back, Se-ah glanced at the remaining fruits with a bit of regret before turning away.  

“Today, we could probably make it to that low hill over there.”  

She pointed toward a low rise visible through the trees.  

With the sun still not yet at its peak, she felt hopeful about traveling quite far. They also still had plenty of plastic lids left to mark their trail.  

“Don’t overdo it. Let’s just go as far as that white rock over there.”  

Junhyuk pointed to a spot about halfway to where Se-ah had indicated.  

“We still have plenty of time. Can’t we go a bit further?”  

“It might look close, but the path is narrow and rough, so it’ll be hard. Let’s rest at that rock and then head back.”  

Wiping sweat from his forehead with a towel, Junhyuk spoke firmly. Se-ah nodded without hesitation—she trusted anything he said.  

The longer they spent on the island, the more her trust in him grew, to the point where it rivaled the faith she had in her own family.  

Following the path he pointed out, they passed through the cornfield and ventured further inside, where the ground became noticeably more muddy.  

Perhaps because it was shaded, the vegetation seemed to have a darker hue.  

With each step, her open-toed sandals made squelching sounds as her feet sank into the ground, the tips of her toes dampened by the moisture.  

“The plants here look a bit different.”  

“It’s because this is a wetland. Be careful not to slip since the ground is wet.”  

“Got it.”  

Junhyuk handed her a long branch he had just cut.  

“Use this like a cane. It’ll help you avoid slipping.”  

“Thank you.”  

Watching Junhyuk’s careful attention, Se-ah resolved not to be a burden.  

But as Junhyuk began cutting some of the grass, Se-ah moved to a spot he had directed her to, inadvertently stepping onto a sloped area covered by grass she hadn’t noticed.  

Losing her balance, she slipped down the incline.  

“Ah!”  

She barely managed to plant the stick into the ground and hold on, but her lower body was already sinking into the sticky mud.  

She struggled to climb out, but it was like being trapped in quicksand—her legs wouldn’t budge.  

Hanging onto the stick, she turned her pale face to look behind her. The area was nothing but a dark, murky swamp.  

From above, she could hear Junhyuk running toward her.  

“Are you okay?”  

“Junhyuk! Don’t come down! It’s a swamp!”  

Se-ah shouted loudly to stop him, but even as she did, her body continued sinking further into the mud.  

🌼; Chaebol is a large, family-owned conglomerate in South Korea, typically made up of numerous subsidiaries across various industries. Examples include companies like Samsung, Hyundai, and LG. These groups play a significant role in the South Korean economy and are often associated with wealth, power, and influence.

Prev _ Next