Just Because

"Da-yeon, do you have a moment?"

"Here?"

"Let's talk just between us—without Madam."

The middle-aged woman smiled with her eyes and shot Da-yeon a meaningful look. Da-yeon ushered Director Jeong into the room. Seated before Da-yeon's vanity, the matchmaker lowered her voice and began.

"So, Da-yeon, what do you think? CEO Shin is quite something, isn't he?"

"…Yes."

"I didn't pass this along to Madam, but the truth is, CEO Shin… well, looks go without saying. And he was brilliant in school. Graduated from Korea University's medical school, and that voice of his—have you heard it? Honestly, I almost fell for him myself."

"…He seems like someone who wouldn't even need a matchmaking meeting. I can't help wondering why he's doing this."

Director Jeong clapped her hands as if deeply agreeing.

"Exactly what I said. Do you think I would have asked otherwise? I make my living on trust, after all. I told him, if you want a show-window marriage I can arrange that, so just tell me in advance if there's a secret kid somewhere, or if he's gay, or sterile, or if things just don't… rise to the occasion. Please, just give me a heads-up…"

"…Is that what it is…?"

"No, no, he swore it wasn't anything like that. Aigoo, it's not as if I can check myself, really…. You'll just have to confirm that later, Da-yeon. If it doesn't stand up, tell me then."

"Ah—no, that's not what I…"

Having thoroughly flustered her, Director Jeong soothed Da-yeon by linking arms with her.

"Don't worry so much. He just said he likes you. 'Just.'"

Just…? That made even less sense.

"I've seen a lot of people in this line of work. CEO Shin doesn't strike me as the type to fool around or mess about. He asked me to hide so many things that I did some quiet digging of my own, and people say he isn't the sort who chases after anyone. If anything, he comes off a bit too cold."

"What did he ask you to hide?"

"His face, his name, the company name… more or less asked me to make something up…. But he only wanted it hidden from Madam. You know how she is—her taste in sons-in-law is… peculiar. If she looked him up and found out how impressive he is, who knows what she'd do."

"If Mother finds out…"

"Oh, come now. Introducing a handsome rich man isn't a crime. I feel sorry for you, Da-yeon. If I kept picking men to suit Madam's tastes, honestly…. My conscience couldn't take it. I could never do that if you were my own daughter."

It was true that Shin Seok-hyeon had acted suspiciously, yet nothing about her stepmother's usual behavior was wrong either. Director Jeong kept championing him.

"If you have to find a flaw, it's that his parents are gone…. No, that isn't even a flaw. No in-laws to put up with. Better, really. Just the two of you living sweetly together. As for money, CEO Shin earns plenty on his own."

"…But are you certain I'm the right match? You didn't mix me up with my sister?"

"He pointed you out specifically. Not Miss Na-bin—Miss Da-yeon. So do your best. How wonderful would it be if a fine man and a fine woman made a match? I'm already looking forward to it."

Whether she was looking forward to the marriage itself or to the designer bags and more that would follow, Da-yeon couldn't tell—but Director Jeong's face was bright with anticipation. After enthusiastically selling Seok-hyeon, she swept out of the room.

Da-yeon sighed and glanced at the phone she had left on the nightstand.

It was a message from Seok-hyeon. Da-yeon scrolled back through every text he had sent her so far.

Shin Seok-hyeon.

…Shin Seok-hyeon.

…Seok-hyeon oppa.

Oppa?

She retraced the current of her thoughts. Why had that word come so naturally? He was two years older, so "oppa" was technically correct—yet attaching the endearment to a man she had met only once left her flushed with embarrassment. Had her heart already raced so far ahead?

Director Jeong's claim that Seok-hyeon had specifically requested an introduction to her kept circling in her mind. His forwardness was a little strange, yet the fact that someone had wanted her that badly felt better than she expected.

Gathering her courage, Da-yeon answered his message.

With a faintly fluttering heart, she began waiting for the weekend when she would see Seok-hyeon again.

Her second meeting with Seok-hyeon took place at an art museum. He was already waiting out front; when the taxi pulled up he stepped forward and opened the door for her. A voice as handsome as his face reached her.

"Have you been well?"

"Yes. And you, Seok-hyeon?"

"I've been well too."

The man she met again was unchanged. The neat coat that suited his glasses, the easy manner, the gentle eyes, even the way he matched his stride to her slower pace—there was nothing to fault.

Following where he led, Da-yeon confessed what she truly felt.

"I never expected we would meet again."

"Why not?"

"…Because I suddenly started crying that day. I thought I must have made things awkward for you…."

She was circling around the real fear: that he wouldn't ask for a second meeting. Seok-hyeon smiled faintly.

"I'm weak to a woman's tears."

The light way he let it pass eased something in her chest. Embarrassment flooded in right after. I won't cry this time, she vowed silently.

"Do you like going to exhibitions?"

"Yes. I haven't gone often, but…."

Da-yeon thought back to the distant past. In her student days she had visited exhibitions now and then. There had been a time when she even bought the catalogues and studied them over and over; the memory surfaced unbidden.

"Apparently the paintings here take folk art as their motif."

"Do you enjoy art, Seok-hyeon?"

"I don't exactly lose myself in it, but…."

He murmured as though sifting through old memories.

"They say that when you immerse yourself in art, you can escape reality for a while."

The moment she heard it, she looked at him. It was exactly what she herself had once believed.

When she was younger, if a painting pleased her she would look at it again and again. She would imagine the artist's inner world—whether it resembled her own. Pictures that seemed stifled or, conversely, about to explode with feeling held her spellbound. In those adolescent years of living crushed beneath her parents, that had been the full extent of her rebellion.

Seok-hyeon smiled bitterly and changed the subject.

"…Something I heard long ago. I've thought about concerts or recitals as well, but I worried we wouldn't be able to talk."

These days Da-yeon tired easily from long walks, so a seated performance would have been more comfortable—yet talking with Seok-hyeon made the museum feel like the better choice.

The gallery he led her into was modest in size. A larger space would have made walking a burden; for her, this was fortunate.

It was not a famous show, so there were almost no other visitors. A person who looked like a docent was present, but he only pointed them in the right direction and did not trail after them. Thanks to that, they could view the paintings at their own pace without being jostled by crowds.

The beige-toned rooms felt warm. The art was approachable enough that Da-yeon found herself offering quiet impressions, and Seok-hyeon listened well. Having something shared to focus on—rather than simply studying each other—made being with him feel far more at ease.

As they walked and looked, a common thread emerged. The thought left her lips at once.

"There are a lot of paintings with lotuses."

"Yes. The main theme is the lotus."

Just as a small, pleased feeling stirred in her, Seok-hyeon added,

"It made me think of you, Da-yeon."

"Of me?"

"Doesn't your name use the character for 'lotus'?"

She nodded immediately.

"That's right. How did you know? It's not a character people often choose for names. My father insisted on it…."

"…I see. Lucky coincidence, then."

"What would you have done if it hadn't been the lotus character?"

"I would have said that everything I looked at made me think of you anyway."

Her face heated for no good reason. Pretending not to have heard, Da-yeon steered the conversation elsewhere.

"Is there any painting so far that you especially like?"

As though he already had one in mind, Seok-hyeon pointed to the largest canvas in the center of the gallery.

"That one caught my eye."

"Why?"

"They say it's a painting that prays for marital harmony."

"Ah… yes."

"Shall we hang it in our newlywed home?"

The sudden proposal hit her so hard she almost stepped back against the wall.

"…Aren't you a little too obsessed with marriage? We've only met twice…."

"Caught me. I can't think of anything except marrying you, Da-yeon."

"…Hearing you say that so suddenly is a bit overwhelming."

"Yes. You should feel very overwhelmed. Because I mean it."

This new side of him left her flustered. He looked like a polished model student, yet he teased her with the shameless ease of a neighborhood older brother, so she couldn't tell sincerity from joke. Noticing her incredulous expression, Seok-hyeon gave a small laugh. She had thought his handsome features carried a somewhat cold impression, but seeing him smile made the iron wall inside her heart lower just a fraction.

"Have you never thought about wanting to get married?"

This time Seok-hyeon asked.

"About wanting to leave home. Have you never thought that?"

Was he speaking from knowledge or ignorance? His words lodged in her heart like a thorn. It was exactly what she had always longed for. I want to leave this house. I want to escape Father's and Mother's cold stares. Yet it had remained only a wish; she had never turned it into reality. The small swell of feeling that had risen in her chest deflated.

"…I've never thought about escaping from something."