# Chapter 18
‘It’s really fortunate that we don’t live in the same house.’
It’s been three weeks since I arrived in America. I’m 200% satisfied with my current life. Even though Han Woojin lives right next door, with just a little effort, I rarely have to see his face.
Before going out each time, I take a quick glance out the window, and if I see Han Woojin, I wait about five minutes before leaving. It’s nothing special, but this simple action has allowed me to enjoy a pleasant study abroad experience without running into Han Woojin. If we had to live in the same house, I would have to endure the uncomfortable situation of seeing him inside the house every day.
From the first week, I’ve been busily preparing for enrollment on my own. I visited the school I would be attending in advance, checked my schedule, and prepared all the textbooks and class materials. I felt like a fresh green freshman again, as if I could feel the gentle spring breeze blowing. What would American college life be like? I couldn’t wait until classes started.
After arriving in America, I was too lazy to cook for myself, so I went to a nearby market and bought simple ready-made food. I figured I’d just make do at home since I’d be buying meals every day once school started anyway.
Week two. It was a time when dreams became reality. Classes in small groups with students from all over the world, quite different from college classes in Korea. From the comfortable cafeteria to the classic central library, there wasn’t a single thing I didn’t like.
During the first week of the semester, the academic passion I had buried in a corner of my heart began to burn. The thought that I could grow significantly if I just worked hard here made me feel full even without eating.
Week three. The enjoyable life continued. Before I knew it, I had made foreign friends who spoke freely with me, and studying alone in the spacious library in the afternoon was also quite fun. However, there was one small problem with my Friday class.
It was a small business administration class. On the first day of class, I sat next to a foreign friend I had become close with and prepared for the lesson. But I soon realized a small mistake. I had forgotten to bring my textbook.
‘Oh no, making such a mistake already.’
But I wasn’t too concerned about the mistake. I could just share the book with my friend sitting next to me.
“David, I forgot to bring my book today. Can we share yours?”
“Sure, no problem. But if I were you, I’d just go home.”
I was momentarily taken aback. What did that mean? Was it a euphemism saying he didn’t want to share the book? Or was he saying it was okay but I should go home and get the book?
“You must not know since you haven’t been at the school long. This class’s professor is known campus-wide as a mad dog with quite a temper.”
“Huh?”
“The story of how he yelled at a student who accidentally didn’t bring a book last semester, screaming that they dared to come to his class without a book and didn’t even deserve to take his class, then kicked them out, is already famous throughout the school.”
When I looked puzzled, not understanding his answer, David unexpectedly revealed this information. How kind of him to share such valuable information! If I had innocently shared the book without knowing, I probably would have become the second student to be kicked out of class.
Regardless, I thought it was too extreme that a college professor would publicly humiliate and even expel a student from class just because they forgot to bring a book once—college students can forget things too.
“David, thanks for the good info. But does the school just let a professor with such a good personality get away with it?”
“Well, regardless of his personality, his expertise is beyond comparison. Anyway, of course we can share the book, but if I were you, I’d just skip class today. I’ll tell the professor you’re sick. Just don’t forget to bring a doctor’s note next time.”
“Thank you so much! I’ll buy you a nice meal next time!”
“It’s nothing! See you in the next class.”
I didn’t want to be absent on the second day of class, but there was no choice in this situation. On a Friday morning with perfect weather, I figured I might as well go home early and watch a movie on the large TV.
* * *
The distance from school to home was about 20 minutes by car. The weather was particularly nice that day, so I was able to drive comfortably along the open, quiet beachside road to reach home. The vast blue sky without a trace of fine dust and the refreshing breeze made me hum spontaneously.
Ring-ring-
As I was entering the password at the front door, I received a call from David. He’s such a kind friend.
“Derek, I’ve explained to the professor. Fortunately, it seems there won’t be any issues. Make sure to bring your book next time! When this professor gets angry, there’s really no dealing with him.”
“Thanks again. I’ll see you in the next class.”
After a short chat with David about trivial things, I hung up and went to the closet. I thought I’d change into comfortable clothes first and then lie on the sofa to watch TV to my heart’s content.
Being able to enjoy expensive snacks while watching TV on a premium television alone—I felt good. Like my refreshed mood, I threw open the closet door at once, only to be met with an unbelievable scene.
Han Woojin was crouched inside my closet, wearing some strange thimble-like hat, and even had weird shoes and gloves on. He looked exactly like a petty thief. It’s good that it’s broad daylight; if I’d seen this scene at night, I might have had a heart attack.
“Secretary Han? What is this about?”
Han Woojin froze completely upon seeing me open the door suddenly. But I was just as shocked.
From his appearance, it was clear he had sneaked into my house when I wasn’t around. How should I react to this absurd situation? Along with bewilderment, I started to feel a bit angry.
‘I’ve been avoiding going out when he’s visible, just to avoid getting entangled with this guy. I never thought he would pull something so strange first.’
“Young Master, I’m truly sorry.”
Feeling the gravity of the situation from my reaction, Han Woojin immediately emerged from the closet and knelt before me.
“Secretary Han, what’s going on here? Would you explain first?”
I’m really curious. Why he had to do such a strange thing. Suspicion began to sprout in my mind. What reason could there be to search someone’s house when they’re not home?
“Young Master, I am truly ashamed to face you. Chairman Cha Taesan asked me to relay news about you, but since you haven’t contacted anyone for three weeks, I committed this unacceptable act. I don’t dare ask for forgiveness. I’ll accept any punishment you deem appropriate if it can appease your mind.”
Was Han Woojin always this talkative? His unfamiliar appearance was strange. I always thought he was a robot because he only ever said, “Yes, Young Master” or “I understand,” but seeing him talk at length like this, he must be quite taken aback too.
‘…!’
For a moment, it occurred to me that if I replaced Cha Taesan with Cha Taehan, everything would make perfect sense. The Chairman who treats his discarded son, Cha Jaehyun, like an invisible person, inquiring about him first? Unimaginable.
And if the Chairman was truly curious about Cha Jaehyun’s news, he would have contacted me directly. Even if he had contacted me through Han Woojin, couldn’t Han Woojin simply have told me that the Chairman was asking about my well-being?
The reason for secretly investigating me behind my back—it had to be Cha Taehan. Damn, to think Han Woojin had Cha Taehan behind him. I had wondered why a perfect SAT scorer would be working as a secretary beside this pathetic guy. Now all the puzzle pieces fit together.
What’s the best way to deal with Han Woojin, who is now kneeling in front of me? Option 1: Become the original Cha Jaehyun and beat Han Woojin to dust. Option 2: “Where do you get off pulling this on me? Don’t lie. If you tell the truth, I might let you live.”
‘Either way, it’s going to be a disaster.’
Even if I simply beat him up, he’s already figured out my password and sneaked into my house. Even if I harshly chase Han Woojin away after this incident, as long as we’re in America together, I would clearly be under constant surveillance by someone else without my knowledge.
If I had brought my textbook properly today, I would never have noticed Han Woojin’s perfect crime. Now I notice his shoes with the soles torn out. I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. What a frighteningly methodical bastard. Acting like a robot on the outside while making such meticulous plans.
I wanted to protect my peaceful study abroad life at all costs. My only goal was to spend time here quietly and then return to my own world. If I treat Han Woojin harshly here, not only will our relationship worsen, but he’ll continue doing these sneaky things behind my back—as long as Cha Taehan is backing him up.
‘I thought he was just a competent secretary, but he came with a tiger cub.’
It all seemed hopeless. I felt that the only thing I could do now was to appease him. But I still felt indignant, so I questioned Han Woojin.
“Secretary Han, if the Chairman was truly curious about my news, couldn’t he have simply asked me via text? From my perspective, entering someone’s house without the owner’s knowledge just to check on them is completely incomprehensible.”
“…Young Master, I have no words even though I have a mouth. I thought I should ask the Chairman’s questions in person, so I waited to see you, but you seemed so busy that I committed this unacceptable act. I’m truly sorry. I’ll accept whatever punishment you decide to give me.”
“Secretary Han, I thought you were completely smart, but I see you have immature aspects too. This is unacceptable no matter what. Well, I understand your difficult position. You have to follow the Chairman’s instructions, but doing so would upset me, so you decided to carry out this ridiculous act alone. But this is completely out of line, isn’t it? Don’t ever do this again. This is a warning.”
My head hurts. To think he would go this far. I made a big decision in that moment. I should just live with this guy. If I show him first that there’s nothing to find by snooping on me, wouldn’t Han Woojin get tired and back off? Paradoxically, to distance myself from Han Woojin as much as possible, I need to live with him and share everything with him.
“Secretary Han, your knees must hurt, so why don’t you get up? Come to think of it, it’s been three weeks since I arrived here, and I was wrong not to send my regards to the Chairman. There will probably be similar situations in the future—will you secretly enter my house each time?”
“Young Master, I must have been temporarily insane. It won’t happen again. I’m truly sorry.”
“Thinking about how Secretary Han will suffer each time, unable to even speak to me, already makes my heart ache. Secretary Han, why don’t you just live with me? Just move in now. Then you can always see me, making it much easier to relay my well-being to the Chairman.”
I smiled gently as I suggested living together to Secretary Han first. To think I would be the one to propose living together to Han Woojin. Until just yesterday, this was something I couldn’t even imagine.
“Pardon?”
Han Woojin questioned with surprise at my reaction. I would be shocked too. Having been caught doing such an outrageous thing by Cha Jaehyun with his bizarre personality, he probably thought he was a dead man today.
“What are you doing? You’re not acting like yourself, being so slow. Quickly pack your things and move in.”
“Yes, Young Master, I’m truly sorry. Thank you for understanding my position with your great generosity. I’ll move in right away.”
Han Woojin seemed to have regained his composure, running straight to his house as soon as he heard the order.
From now on, it’s sleeping with the enemy. But this was the best I could do. One step back for two steps forward. Since the house is very spacious anyway, if I live in a room as far away from him as possible, I probably won’t run into him much.
During the two weeks at Chairman Cha Taesan’s house, contrary to my worries, nothing major happened. This time will be the same.
‘It’s okay. I can do this.’
I tried not to be surprised by this unexpected situation and encouraged myself.
