Transit Love After Revenge Chapter 1

“Seo Haeyoung, please come in now.”

 

The assistant director, wearing a headset, gave the signal. Haeyoung stepped forward slowly.

 

Three large cameras, capturing her from a distance, began to move in sync with her pace. It would’ve been natural to feel nervous on set for the first time, but Haeyoung’s steps were steady.

 

The assistant director gestured toward an extravagant house. The yard was decorated with pretty lights and garland decorations, the lawn was so perfectly trimmed it looked artificial, and at the center stood a picturesque red-brick house.

 

So this is the place.

 

A stage for Haeyoung, a place where she would live a life different from her past.

 

Without hesitation, Haeyoung opened the door. The first thing that hit her was the scent of a strong diffuser, followed by the sight of a partition wall positioned at the side.

 

It looked like a mirror in the middle, but in truth, there were probably dozens of cameras rolling behind it.

 

Every gesture, every twitch of her lips, they’d capture it all and spin a story to broadcast to the world.

 

‘Go on, watch closely. Everything I do from here on out.’

 

She walked past the foyer and began to ascend the stairs slowly. Several people were already seated upstairs.

 

“Hello.”

 

“Hello.”

 

Haeyoung smiled brightly and answered the awkward greeting.

 

“Can I sit in the empty seat?”

 

“Y-Yes, over here…”

 

Haeyoung headed toward an empty seat, specifically, the one between Minji, who stared at her with wide, shocked eyes, and Seongjun, who was seated beside her, looking utterly repulsed by the situation.

 

“I’m Seo Haeyoung. Nice to meet you.”

 

Haeyoung turned her head to look at Seongjun. He was frozen in disbelief, staring at her like he couldn’t comprehend what he was seeing.

 

Haeyoung tilted her head with the sweetest smile she could manage.

 

“Oh? Haven’t we met somewhere before?”

 

Her lips curled up with the kindest expression she could muster. Seongjun blinked, unable to confirm or deny.

 

“Oh dear, maybe not? I wasn’t trying to startle you. Sorry if I did.”

 

“N-No, it’s fine…”

 

Leaving a thoroughly confused Seongjun behind, Haeyoung turned to Minji. She also was staring at her like she had seen a ghost.

 

‘What are you going to do being that flustered already? I’ve only just begun. Relax your face, will you?’

 

* * *

 

Click. 

 

The subway doors closed with a hiss and the train pulled away, the sound of metal on rails humming through the car. Seated, Haeyoung nervously fidgeted with her phone, unable to hide the worry on her face.

 

[Haeyoung, is Seongjun supposed to come at 11? He’s still not here… I think he’s running late.]

 

She reread the message that had arrived moments ago.

 

[Mom, wait a little longer. He’s probably driving. I’ll try calling him again.]

 

She replied and tried to call Seongjun again. It was already her 14th call.

 

Click. Finally, the dial tone stopped.

 

―”What?”

 

“Seongjun, why haven’t you answered? Don’t tell me you’re still asleep?”

 

―”….”

 

“Seongjun? Seongjun?”

 

―”Yeah.”

 

The voice was deep. She didn’t have to see Seongjun to know he probably had his face buried in a pillow. Haeyoung bit her lower lip.

 

“You can’t be sleeping now. Don’t you remember? You promised to drive my mom to her hospital appointment today.”

 

―”Why are you snapping at me the second I pick up the phone?”

 

“Because you’re still asleep even though it’s past the time we agreed to meet.”

 

Someone glanced at her from across the seat. Haeyoung picked up her bag and quietly moved to a corner.

 

―”Who said I was sleeping? I’m not.”

 

Anyone could hear he was half-asleep, but Haeyoung chose to let it go. Seongjun had always been sensitive and cranky when it came to sleep.

 

It wasn’t worth arguing over. More importantly, her mother waiting too long was the bigger concern.

 

“Okay. Sorry for getting annoyed. Mom is still waiting. Even if you leave right now, you’ll just barely make the appointment. You know how long the wait gets if we miss it.”

 

―”Haa…”

 

Silence again. Did he fall asleep? Should she hurry him? But what if he got annoyed and said he wasn’t going at all?

 

That would be worse.

 

Just as she was about to speak again, his voice returned through the phone.

 

―”Do I have to go?”

 

“What?”

 

―”She’s not even my mom. Why am I the one doing your filial duties?”

 

“But–”

 

Her mom adored Seongjun.

 

They had been together for six years now. Over the years, Seongran had grown fond of him, always caring for him as if he were her own son.

 

‘Seongjun, I know things are tough right now, but don’t skip meals, okay? If you need anything, just let me know. And Haeyoung, keep taking good care of him, will you?’

 

Even with her own health failing, she never forgot to pack food for him. Seongjun, in turn, would smile and ask for dishes like braised short ribs.

 

How could he be saying that now?

 

Even if he hadn’t considered all that, he should have said no from the start if he was going to bail.

 

He shouldn’t have smiled and accepted the 200,000 won Haeyoung gave him for gas money.

 

“That’s why I asked you ahead of time. I told you I couldn’t go because I had an important meeting today–”

 

―“That’s your problem.”

 

“…Fine. I’ll handle it myself next time. But just this once, please. I have no one else I can ask.”

 

―“It’s not that. It’s just that I’m easy to use. You think I’m some unemployed loser, right?”

 

“What are you even talking about? Of course not.”

 

―”Yeah, right. That’s why you always make me run your errands.”

 

“I don’t look down on you. I know how hard you’re working on your acting. You’re constantly rehearsing. If you nail this audition, you’ll debut on the big screen. You’re amazing–”

 

―“Are you mocking me now?”

 

“What?”

 

No matter what she said, everything seemed to rub him the wrong way these days.

 

When did it start? Probably around the time Haeyoung began making her own money. He must’ve started comparing himself, feeling inadequate.

 

But it’s not like Seongjun was making an effort either. He left his theater troupe four years ago, barely went to auditions, and snapped at her whenever she suggested a part-time job.

 

Haeyoung was even paying his rent. She didn’t care about the money, but she did care about the time he was throwing away.

 

“So you’re not going?”

 

―”Well, Minji asked me to change the light bulb today.”

 

That name instantly turned her heart cold.

 

That damn Minji. 

 

The so-called childhood friend of ten years, who was far too cute and pretty for anyone’s comfort, had always been a source of friction in their relationship.

 

“You’re skipping out on a promise to me because of Minji?”

 

―”Who said that? I’m going, okay?”

 

“…Thank you. Hang up and leave now, okay? Or you’ll be late. Call my mom when you’re on your way—”

 

“God, I said I got it. Just hang up.”

 

Click.

 

The call ended abruptly. Haeyoung stared blankly at her phone.

 

When did things between them become like this? When did she start groveling and he started snapping?

 

It wasn’t like this from the beginning.

 

Her mouth tasted bitter. Still, she pushed those feelings away.

 

He was probably just stressed from struggling to make it as an actor. Once things turned around, he would go back to being the sweet, kind Seongjun she knew.

 

They had been together for years. Now more than ever, she had to stay by his side. He said they would get married once he got his big break.

 

[Thank you, Seongjun. I’m sorry I got angry when I was asking for favors.]

 

She sent the message and immediately felt drained.

 

‘He’ll make it in time, right? I just need to trust him.’

 

The moment she thought that, the name of her stop appeared on the subway’s display. Holding onto that fragile trust, Haeyoung stepped off.

 

* * *

 

The morning passed in a blur. After wrapping up a successful meeting, Haeyoung was just stepping out of the conference room when her phone vibrated.

 

[Mom]

 

The two characters on her screen felt ominous for some reason.

 

—“Is this Seo Haeyoung?”

 

A slow, low voice came through.

 

—“Your mother collapsed on the street. We brought her to the ER, but we’ll need your consent to proceed with additional tests. Please come to S Hospital right away.”

 

Collapsed? Found unconscious?

 

The words that followed didn’t even register.

 

She rushed outside, hailed a cab, and ran all the way to the hospital, lungs burning. None of it made sense.

 

By her mother’s bed stood a man in a suit. A stranger. He stood when he saw her, but there was no time for pleasantries.

 

All Haeyoung could see was her mother, pale, unconscious, hooked up to a ventilator.

 

“Is—is my mother going to be okay?”

 

“She must’ve fallen down a hill. We brought her here right away, but the brain hemorrhage is quite severe. We’ll have to monitor her closely.”

 

The man added more explanations, but all of them sounded like the end of the world.

 

Seongran was wheeled off for tests. Her limp body looked more like a corpse.

 

The exams took forever. Afterward, she was moved to the ICU. The doctor warned of the worst possible outcome, and Haeyoung’s mind went blank.

 

She collapsed in the hallway, the stench of disinfectant and sickness thick in the air. Passersby glanced at her but quickly moved on.

 

Haeyoung picked up her phone. The ringing felt endless. Beep, beep, beep. It got harder to breathe with each passing tone.

 

When the automated message finally played, she lowered the phone. A new message arrived. It was Seongjun

 

[I can’t answer the phone right now.]

 

[Where are you.]

 

Her hands shook, typing clumsy from the cold and shock. The message took ages to send.

 

In hindsight, it was better he hadn’t picked up. She wouldn’t have been able to say a word.

 

[Home, obviously.]

 

[What about the hospital?]

 

[I called. Your mom said she would go alone. Let her do it. She needs to learn to handle things herself. You’re overreacting.]

 

Overreacting?

 

If she hadn’t been ‘overreacting’, her mother wouldn’t have waited so long.

 

She waited, then tried to catch a cab alone, and fell down a hill. She could barely climb stairs lately.

 

‘You knew that. And you left her to go to the hospital alone?’

 

Now she’s in the ICU.

 

Her hands and feet were ice. So cold, they didn’t even feel like her own. Like mannequin limbs had been attached to her body.