Like a Painting on the Wall
Even if she had wanted to escape, her body would not obey. She had poured everything into rehabilitation simply to make her paralyzed legs walk again, and by the time she recovered enough that the damage showed only if you looked closely, a great deal of time had already passed. Her parents’ gazes had grown cold, yet she had no luxury of thinking about independence.
As if sensing something in Da-yeon’s answer, Seok-hyeon fell silent for a moment.
“I can understand that.”
His composed reply softened something inside her. Da-yeon gazed along the paintings—pieces hung on the walls waiting for someone’s eye, or, in a way, waiting for someone who would buy them.
“I tried to live like a painting.”
Unmoving. Causing no harm to anyone.
“A pretty, obedient ornament hanging quietly on the wall.”
Looking at the canvases, she finally gave voice to the feelings she had been holding back.
“I don’t know whether I should be glad that you think well of my appearance, Seok-hyeon.”
“……”
“…My inside isn’t that healthy. People say I look a little depressed, a little weak…”
Those had been the words of the previous matchmaking partners. From the start her stepmother had never introduced proper men, and Da-yeon had never possessed the energy to engage. She had simply gone when ordered, like a criminal. Through the string of failures her heart had been whittled thinner and thinner.
She had expected this time to be the same, yet Seok-hyeon had drawn closer than she anticipated, and fear rose. If this man, too, saw her true nature, grew disappointed, and left… With anyone else it would have been fine, but somehow the thought of Seok-hyeon doing so felt unbearable.
Even at her sudden confession Seok-hyeon only watched her quietly. Then he carefully gathered her fingers and held them.
The contact was abrupt, yet she did not dislike it. His touch was warm, and so was his gaze.
“So you believe I only like you for your looks.”
He spoke as though consoling her.
“I would have liked you no matter what you looked like. And wanting you to live like a painting is the very last thing I would wish.”
“……”
“I simply came because I thought you might enjoy paintings.”
Had she ever told him she liked paintings? She did, in truth, yet the remark made her wonder whether he had confused her with another woman, and her heart sank again. Even though she herself had been on matchmakings, the idea that Seok-hyeon might have met other people left a sour taste.
She kept insisting the attention was burdensome, yet already she was jealous as if Shin Seok-hyeon belonged to her; the shame of it made everything harder to bear. Once more she tried to retreat. She pulled her hand free.
“I’m sorry. I’m a little tired.”
Even at the clear signal to end the date, he remained patient.
“Since you’re tired, may I take you home?”
“……”
“Next time let’s meet somewhere that won’t tire you.”
No matter how unsightly her inferiority complex ruined every occasion, the man still promised a next time. She thought she could gauge neither her own feelings nor the depth of his patience.
They left the museum under an awkward silence. Seok-hyeon glanced once at her legs.
“I’ll bring the car. Wait just a moment.”
“It’s fine. Let’s go together.”
Even after cutting the date short, the thought of parting from him left a stubborn ache. She followed after him.
On the way to the parking lot he still walked slowly, matching her pace. As she felt the presence of the man beside her, the heel of her shoe caught in the gravel between the stone path. Her ankle twisted.
Seok-hyeon caught her arm at once. Through the sleeve she felt heat and a strong grip. Suddenly conscious of him, she froze.
When her balance still wavered, his other hand came up to steady her as well. By the time she collected herself she was half in his arms.
The suddenly narrowed distance, the sharp awareness of him as a man, made her face burn. She looked at him awkwardly. Reading her expression, his hands withdrew cleanly.
“Pretty quick reflexes, right?”
She knew the light words were meant to ease the awkwardness. Da-yeon nodded and carefully took a step. Her ankle gave a faint throb.
Noticing her discomfort, he offered his arm. She took hold of his forearm and used it as a cane without thinking. In those small considerations she found the quiet traces of courtship.
“Have you dated a lot, Seok-hyeon?”
He tilted his head and turned the question back.
“What do you think?”
“Well… not a great many, but maybe one or two people for a long time?”
He smiled softly.
“Yes. I have. But I never managed to give them my best.”
“Why?”
Even knowing it was rude to pry into past relationships, she could not smother her curiosity. He paused.
“…I used to think romantic feelings were a luxury.”
“……”
“…Ridiculous, isn’t it? I regret it too.”
If he had claimed never to have dated she would not have believed him either, yet hearing that he had left her unsettled.
What kind of person had his ex been? Why was Shin Seok-hyeon—who once thought love a luxury—now spending time and speaking of marriage with the woman in the photograph he claimed to have fallen for at first sight?
Riding home she turned the questions over and over. Then, realizing she was even probing into his past, she felt pathetic and forced the thoughts down.
The date itself had not lasted long, yet contact continued for quite a while afterward. Seok-hyeon made time to send gentle messages just often enough that she never fretted. With that unpressured, measured attention she found herself liking him more. The feeling that things might actually work between them left her both fluttering and a little giddy.
“You’re up now?”
Coming out of the dining room she ran into her stepmother. She had assumed Yoon Ju-ha, with her endless social rounds, would of course be out again today. Da-yeon rarely ate breakfast; her appetite was small, and facing the family at the table felt burdensome. She had only meant to take tea when her stepmother caught her, and unease settled in at once.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Sit down.”
She sat obediently at the nearest table. Not knowing what was coming, she tensed. Ju-ha took the seat opposite and fixed her with a hard stare.
“Is it going well?”
She meant the matchmaking. Since Da-yeon had been exchanging messages with Seok-hyeon and had already set the next meeting, it could be called a green light. She simply nodded.
“Met three times?”
“…Twice.”
“Meeting again?”
“Yes, probably.”
“Shouldn’t marriage talk come up after three meetings? This isn’t some casual blind date. It’s a formal match.”
Da-yeon’s mouth closed tight. She could not answer. Seok-hyeon had mentioned marriage, yet she still could not be certain how much of it was sincere, and she herself wanted to know him a little more slowly.
When her reply lagged, Ju-ha seemed to take it as a negative. She fiddled with her phone and then slid it across.
A photo of an unfamiliar man filled the screen. He looked roughly the same age as her father, Kim Jung-mo—old enough that the question of a first marriage would never even arise.
“This is President Park. Plenty of land. Kids are all in America. Says no need for children. Just stay home quietly and take care of him, apparently.”
She recited the conditions in a smooth stream. Da-yeon answered dryly.
“I’m going to keep seeing CEO Shin.”
“See both. If both work out, pick the better one.”
“……”
“I think this one would have fewer complications. You don’t have to have kids. I’m half afraid a girl with a bad leg might end up a cripple from childbirth.”
The blunt cruelty stole her breath. Da-yeon spoke slowly, deliberately.
“I want CEO Shin…”
“Is CEO Shin marrying you this year?”
“……”
“President Park says he can.”
Only three months remained until the year ended. At words that weighed her feelings not at all, Da-yeon lifted her head and pressed back.
“It’s too rushed.”
“I told you President Park said it’s fine.”
“I don’t wan—”
“What’s there to like or not like? How long do you plan to sponge off this house just eating and sleeping?”
“I’ll just leave the house myself.”
“Don’t talk nonsense. Going out empty-handed? Don’t even dream I’ll get you a place. What is a girl who’s not even whole in body supposed to do to live?”
“……”
“Your surgery costs, rehab costs, bridal classes—how much has been poured into you, and you want to walk out without paying any of it back? You need to earn your face value before you go.”
Ju-ha jabbed a finger at Da-yeon’s face.
“Whether it’s some old decrepit bastard or a guy with a wrecked mug, just being allowed to live comfortably like this is something to be grateful for, so shape up and behave.”
“……”
“Get married while you’re still even one year younger. Na-bin has to go next year. Grandfather insists the order be kept, so you finish this year.”