AOA 86

“…I’m not going to. And I don’t want to go abroad either. You’re the one who should leave.”

The backlash surged in response to being cornered unilaterally. Fleeing the country or having sex. Those were the only two options? It was absurd.

But at the same time, a sliver of desire for sex pushed its way to the surface. It wasn’t because I didn’t want to leave Korea. It was pure attraction to the pheromones that Baek Mugyeong was emitting.

Admitting that, however, bruised my pride. I didn’t like the idea of having to obey Baek Mugyeong’s orders either.

If you don’t like the temple, the monk should leave. If he didn’t like that I was turned on by him, then Baek Mugyeong should be the one to leave Korea.

I knew it was childish, but I couldn’t think of a better solution.

I fixed my gaze on Baek Mugyeong. If he released pheromones again, I’d respond in kind.

“Run away.”

“…What?”

“When you still have the chance, run far away.”

His voice was low and terrifying. I couldn’t feel his pheromones anymore, but a chill ran down my spine and raised goosebumps all over. Instinct warned me that something could happen if I stayed any longer.

I backed away like I was escaping a wild beast, then turned and bolted. My scalp tingled like someone was pulling on my hair, and my legs and heart trembled.

Choi Jaeha, who had been watching us from a distance, hurried over.

“What’s wrong? What happened? Did Mugyeong-hyung say some bullshit? Your face is white.”

“Let’s go somewhere else.”

“Huh? …Okay. Let’s go. Day drinking’s the answer for this kind of thing.”

Quick to read the mood, Choi Jaeha didn’t press me. He grabbed my hand instead, saying my hands were freezing, that we needed to drink to warm up, and that today he’d finally find out what kind of drunk I was.

I felt like Baek Mugyeong was still watching me, but I never looked back.

*

“You reek of alcohol, hyung.”

I was unfolding the menu when I looked up at my younger brother sitting across from me.

It was the day of our monthly lunch. Today’s choice was pizza. I had arrived first and waited for him. He’d apologized for being late as he sat down, but scrunched his nose and fanned the air in front of him.

“Is it strong?”

“Yeah. How much did you drink?”

“Just a little?”

“Doesn’t smell like ‘a little.’”

My brother narrowed his eyes. He was waiting for a real answer.

Yesterday, I’d been dragged out drinking by Choi Jaeha in the afternoon. I was never a heavy drinker, and ever since regressing, I only sipped in formal settings.

But yesterday, I had no choice. We popped a bottle of wine in a hotel room in broad daylight. By sunset, wine and whiskey bottles were rolling on the floor.

I got drunk, but not to the point of blacking out. I still remember it all. How Jaeha collapsed while repeating himself over and over, and how I tucked him into bed before heading home. I didn’t want weird rumors spreading again like before my regression.

Because we drank early, I made it home before midnight. After a quick shower, I passed out and woke up with a splitting headache. The smell of alcohol lingered on my breath.

I didn’t want to get out of bed, but it was the day I saw my brother. I made an effort to shower thoroughly and gargle.

Even so, the smell still lingered.

“I drank a bit. Sorry. I’ll sit next to you instead.”

I laughed and moved to the chair beside him. Sitting diagonally might help a bit.

“You’re not usually like this.”

“I was drinking with a friend. Just wanted to blow off some steam.”

“A friend? Who?”

“I told you before, Choi Jaeha. We had lunch at his grandma’s and drank together afterward.”

I couldn’t tell him the truth, that I drank myself into a stupor because of Baek Mugyeong. So I stuck to the facts, leaving out the core. My brother’s interrogative eyes softened a bit.

But he still nagged. Too much alcohol is bad for your liver, don’t let your youth make you careless, you didn’t drive here, did you? Driving with a hangover still counts as DUI.

Unlike clumsy me, my little brother was meticulous. Even though we were six years apart, he often acted more like the older sibling.

I assured him I took a taxi and quickly changed the subject.

“Is pizza okay? Or do you want hangover soup instead?”

“No, I’m good. I had some earlier.”

My stomach had settled thanks to some spicy broth in the morning.

We had the same taste in pizza, bulgogi pizza with extra cheese. Even with a hangover, pizza was good. We devoured a family-size pizza with cola and salad.

“Do you want to study abroad?”

I asked casually when two slices were left. My brother, who’d been sipping cola, blinked in surprise.

“Study abroad?”

“Yeah.”

“Why all of a sudden?”

“I think I can send you. Your treatments are almost done, right? After your summer surgery, maybe you could leave in winter or next spring.”

His treatment wasn’t quite over. He’d had a second surgery before the semester started, and he’d have his third and final one this summer. After that, treatment would continue for a while, but it would be manageable before going abroad.

“With what money?”

“I have my ways.”

“How?”

“I’ll tell you later. What do you think?”

Of course, his first concern was money. It was only natural. The debt was gone, but there was no obvious fund for studying abroad.

But I’d made money from stocks. Sending him overseas wouldn’t be hard. And after summer, I’d get another big chance to cash in.

There were other options too. It seemed like Baek Mugyeong was going to try to force me abroad no matter what. Resistance was likely futile.

If I left the country, my biological father might vent his frustration on my brother and aunt. So I planned to ask Baek Mugyeong to use those resources to send my brother abroad instead, along with my aunt as his guardian.

But before all that, my brother’s opinion mattered most. If he didn’t want to go, I couldn’t force him.

“I don’t want to.”

“Why? It’s a good opportunity.”

“I’d have to go alone. I don’t have any friends there, and I’m not confident studying in English. But if I really have to, I’ll go.”

“No, nothing like that. It just seemed like a good chance. You don’t have to go if you don’t want to. It’s okay. Really. Here, eat this. Let’s go get some bingsu after.”

Worried he might feel pressured, I quickly waved it off. Forcing him to do something he didn’t want would only hurt him. Stress was the root of all illness.

I didn’t mention that our aunt would go with him. Studying in English sounded awful even to me. Going somewhere unfamiliar without any friends would take enormous courage.

I gave him one of the last slices of pizza, and only then did his serious expression ease up. I took the final slice for myself.

“I really don’t have to go?”

“Of course not. You’re fine. Just eat.”

I had ways to deal with my biological father. Or I could make Baek Mugyeong find a way to protect my brother.

As I naturally thought of him again, I did my best not to frown in front of my brother. I was irritated by the tyranny of a man with power and money, and frustrated that I couldn’t punch him for it.

But I couldn’t just be angry. Most of all, my brother and aunt came first. If they weren’t safe, I wouldn’t even consider going abroad.

*

After my regression, I tried to change the future for the better as much as possible. Avoiding medication side effects and investing in stocks destined to boom were just the basics. I preemptively stopped false rumors and saved Baek Sujin from getting hurt.

Some events only came back to me in the moment, but for most things, I could recall and prepare in advance.

Today was one of those days.

The Cheongam Art Museum, run by the Daesong Group Foundation, was holding a scheduled exhibition. It was one of Korea’s biggest shows, showcasing both famous and up-and-coming artists.

Right after my regression, I didn’t even remember it. But while working as an intern at my stepmother’s museum, I recalled what happened today.

Since then, I’d been waiting for this day. It was the perfect opportunity to give my stepmother a taste of her own medicine.

If things had gone according to plan, I would’ve come here with a fluttering heart.

But I was pretty tense. Baek Mugyeong had texted that he’d arrived at the museum first and was waiting for me.

On a Saturday afternoon, the museum lobby was crowded. Even so, I immediately spotted Baek Mugyeong standing in front of a large painting on the wall.

It had been a week since we last saw each other, after that huge fight. Seeing him again in a similar setting felt strange.

I was nervous and suffocating inside, yet it was clear that Baek Mugyeong standing before the painting was drawing everyone’s attention.

Well, he does have an unusually striking face.

Suppressing a bitter laugh, I approached him, feeling eyes turn toward me too. I ignored them and spoke to him.

“You got here early.”

“You’re here.”

Baek Mugyeong turned his head and greeted me lightly. He didn’t look particularly happy to see me, but he also didn’t act like we’d just had a big fight.