TDIMEH Chapter 44

44. What Is This?

Se-ah's eyes widened as if they were about to pop out.

Seeing Moon Sohee clinging to Junhyuk, she felt her heart sink as if a pot of cold water had been poured directly onto it.

Boss Nam, who was organizing the luggage, also stopped and stared at the two with a similar expression.

"I missed you. I’m so glad you’re safe."

Tears streamed down Moon Sohee’s face as she looked up at him. Anyone could mistake her for a pitiful heroine from a drama.

It was as if she had finally reunited with her lover after much hardship.

But then...

"What is this?"

With a sloshing sound, Junhyuk placed the water container on the ground and immediately pushed Moon Sohee away. Although he refrained from outright shoving her, his step back showed no hesitation.

His eyebrows, which had recently softened, now arched sharply upwards. His expression was unmistakably annoyed.

"I-I was just so happy to see you…"

Moon Sohee's face, marred with scars, didn’t elicit even a sliver of sympathy from Se-ah. The action seemed overly dramatic, even for someone excited to meet an acquaintance.

"Don’t ever come close to me without permission again."

Junhyuk glared at Moon Sohee with a frosty warning before turning and walking toward Se-ah.

Once he reached her, he bent down and whispered in her ear.

"That upset you, didn’t it?"

Se-ah, caught off guard, nodded. She hadn’t been entirely sure of her feelings until he asked, but his words clarified that she was indeed upset.

She was grateful to him for noticing.

"I would’ve felt the same way. No matter how familiar someone might be, such actions would still be upsetting. I’m sorry. I was distracted by the water container."

His large hand ruffled her hair gently, as if to console her. The sharp edge of her irritation softened instantly.

"Even if she’s someone I supposedly know in the future, I have no intention of getting close to her. So don’t worry."

"I… I’m not worried."

"Your face says otherwise. But is she really someone I know?"

Junhyuk pointed at Moon Sohee, who stood frozen with a hurt expression, as if shocked by the affection displayed between the two.

"Yes. She came to the Philippines with a friend named Jisang."

"Okay. Well, I guess those two must’ve been close. But not me."

"I wouldn’t know about that."

Se-ah trailed off, unsure of their exact relationship, though it was clear Moon Sohee had a one-sided affection for him.

"Even though I don’t remember much, one thing is certain—she’s not someone important to me. So there’s no need for you to worry."

Junhyuk smiled warmly as he looked down at her.

"Are you really 20 years old?"

"What about it?"

"Why are you so good with words?"

"I was always pretty good at essays."

Hearing his boastful tone, Se-ah recalled the profile of him that Min Jihee had shared during their arranged meeting.

He was reportedly top of his class in one of the most prestigious school districts, had entered Korea University as the top student, and had graduated early even in the U.S.

She already knew he was a man without flaws, but seeing no difference even now that he was 20, she couldn’t help but think he was a perfectly crafted person from birth.

Jin Se-ah, you really did marry well.

She was certain that if their marriage had lasted longer, she would have fallen deeply for Junhyuk.

"Oh no, I’m starving. We need to build a shelter, but I’m so drained that I don’t know if I can do it."

Boss Nam, seemingly aware of the awkward tension between the three of them, exaggeratedly cried out while clutching his stomach.

Knowing Moon Sohee didn’t particularly like him, it seemed he was trying to smooth over the conflict.

Feeling better after her conversation with Junhyuk, Se-ah glanced at Boss Nam and picked up a water container beside her. Inside were two fish as thick as her arm and several palm-sized crabs.

There was also corn and fruit they had gathered earlier, more than enough for the four of them.

"I’ll cook it up quickly. Meanwhile, why don’t you start building the shelter?"

During the day, Junhyuk had gathered a decent amount of palm leaves and wood. Though smaller than where the two of them had been staying, the frame he built was sturdy and only needed some finishing touches to make it livable.

"Thank you so much… It was so damp and full of bugs in the cave, but now we even have a proper shelter."

Boss Nam, who had been adding palm leaves to the roof, expressed his gratitude to Junhyuk. Then he turned to Moon Sohee, who was standing awkwardly.

"Ms. Moon Sohee, why don’t you help out too? Unless you want to sleep in a house full of holes."

"I don’t mind if it’s a bit cramped. Can’t I stay in that house instead?"

Moon Sohee pointed toward the wooden shelter shared by Junhyuk and Se-ah with her long fingers.

"Not a chance. If you don’t want to be thrown out, don’t even think about it."

Boss Nam, recalling the look in Junhyuk’s eyes when a similar suggestion was made, shook his head firmly. Junhyuk, never one for warm interactions, seemed even more distant since they’d reunited. He had no doubt that trying to encroach on their space would get him kicked out in no time.

Even so, seeing Junhyuk provide food and build a shelter made him resolve to stay close to him, recognizing his unchanging sense of responsibility.

From the beginning, it was Junhyuk who agreed to the deal.

Thus, he vowed not to stand idly by while Moon Sohee's mischief went unchecked.

"So, are the two of you planning to keep living together? I mean, even though you’re a man and a woman alone…?"

Moon Sohee mumbled, clearly displeased.

"Isn't it obvious? If nothing's been wrong so far, nothing will be wrong in the future either. This isn’t something we need to meddle in. What do you think our President Do and Coco are, anyway?"

Boss Nam firmly cut her off, warning her not to say such things.

"Right, Coco?"

Se-ah couldn’t bring herself to admit to Boss Nam, who was openly defending her, that she harbored personal feelings for Junhyuk.

Instead, she nodded awkwardly. As she did, Junhyuk, who was about to light a fire, turned to look at her sharply.

Se-ah placed her finger on her lips, signaling for him to stay quiet for the time being. It wasn’t out of embarrassment but because she disliked being misunderstood and judged negatively.

Junhyuk, his expression oddly pouty despite his broad frame, reluctantly resumed what he was doing.

Soon, the fire was lit, and smoke rose into the air. Se-ah skewered the fish onto long sticks and placed them on the stand Junhyuk had made.

The crabs, stunned in fresh water, were placed in a stainless steel dish and steamed near the fire. Before long, a delicious aroma began to fill the air.

She was getting quite accustomed to making rustic meals.

Ever since she began living alone in the Philippines, she had tried cooking for herself but quickly realized she had no talent for it. She’d mostly relied on cheap local food instead.

Ironically, being stranded on the island seemed to have improved her cooking skills.

"Wow! What is this smell? Even the President would come back from the office for this!"

Boss Nam sniffed the air, his mouth watering.

Moon Sohee also stopped what she was doing, staring blankly at the food over the fire.

Se-ah suddenly remembered that she hadn’t even properly greeted her yet.

Although Moon Sohee had initially ignored her, Se-ah had no intention of taking the first step either.

The anger she once felt about confronting her had faded, replaced by a stronger desire to avoid conflict altogether.

Still, seeing Moon Sohee's gaunt face, Se-ah extended a well-cooked crab toward her.

Naturally, Se-ah didn’t add a polite "enjoy your meal" as she extended the crab.

Moon Sohee stared blankly at the crab Se-ah had offered.

"Are you sure it’s okay for me to eat this?"

Perhaps she spoke without thinking, for her cheek twitched the moment she finished speaking.

"I-I didn’t mean to sound suspicious or anything."

Even as she tried to explain herself, she didn’t immediately accept the crab. It was known that she had been subsisting on emergency energy bars.

Unlike Se-ah, who had adapted to the wilderness, Moon Sohee still seemed reluctant about eating such food.

"If you don’t want it, forget it."

Se-ah pulled her hand back and peeled off the shell of the well-cooked crab. She blew on the steaming crab meat and took a bite, savoring the tender, white flesh that melted in her mouth like snow.

"Can I have just one?"

Before she knew it, Boss Nam had approached closely and reached out his hand.

Se-ah saved the largest crab for Junhyuk and handed over the second-largest crab, wrapped in corn leaves, to Boss Nam.

When he cracked the shell and ate the meat, he let out a choked sound, almost sobbing.

"I-it’s so delicious!"

Tears welled up in his eyes as he chewed and swallowed.

"Is it really that good?"

He nodded vigorously.

He soon devoured the entire crab, marveling between bites.

Se-ah promised him fish once they were ready and handed him a coconut to quench his thirst.

"Thanks, Coco. When we get back, I’ll take you to the fanciest and most delicious restaurant in the Philippines. I’ll even give you a raise."

Boss Nam, who was notoriously stingy, made this promise with an emotional voice.