YEARS APART

The Bad You Do

"Welcome Sir, please write down your name in the attendance sheet,"

"Now please follow me. I'll guide you to the conference hall,"

The room buzzed with chatter and noise. People convened to document the day's event, while others sat poised with pens and notebooks, capturing the day's highlights. Before them stood a large table, modestly adorned with fine fabric and white roses. The reporters' faces were alight with excitement as they waited impatiently to witness the grand event; the new collaboration between the Hwang group and the W&J group. The anticipation was brief before both parties' representatives entered the room to declare their anticipated new partnership and the dawn of a novel contribution to the world.

"Sir," Mark announced as he entered the room where Hyunjin was staying. "It's time," he continued. Hyunjin, who had been standing and looking into the mirror, slowly adjusted his suit and then turned to face Mark.

"Hyorine," called Zack as he entered her office. "It's time," he stated, and she acknowledged with a nod. "Let's go," she responded, exiting her office and making her way to the conference hall. Hyorine proceeded with Zack, while Hyunjin followed with Mark. Just before they reached the hall, their paths intersected. Hyorine paused and exchanged a look with Hyunjin, who mirrored her action.

"Good morning, Mr. Hwang, and good luck for today," she said calmly. Hyunjin looked at her but did not respond. He simply continued walking, catching Mark off guard. "Rude," Zack commented, watching Hyunjin, as Hyorine remained silent. "I apologize on his behalf," he stammered, bowing to Hyorine before hurrying after Hyunjin.

"Should we reconsider the collaboration?" Zack suggested to Hyorine. "I can't stand arrogant people," he added, and Hyorine scoffed in response. "Let it be; it's nothing new. He can be worse," she declared as she proceeded to the hall. Hyorine didn't dwell on it much, attributing it to the stress and pressure that Hyunjin was likely experiencing. Yet, her confusion about his actions persisted. For some reason, she perceived his look as accusatory, perhaps even angry.

"Now is not the time for this," she muttered to herself before approaching the door. Hyunjin stood silently to her right. A glance at him revealed a flawless demeanor, but she couldn't dismiss the nagging sense that something was amiss. Was it intuition, or merely a transient feeling? So absorbed in her thoughts was Hyorine that she failed to notice the door had opened moments earlier. "Hyorine!" The sound of Zack's whisper jolted her back to reality. Looking up, she saw Hyunjin already halfway to the table. "What's with him? Couldn't he have nudged me or given me a heads-up?" she wondered, heading towards the table.

As they took their seats, the announcement ceremony commenced. Before the representatives could sign the partnership documents, video clips featuring both chairpersons were projected. Hyorine scanned the room, recognizing a few faces. Her gaze halted when she caught sight of Minho seated among the audience. She offered him a smile, and he returned it with a covert thumbs-up. Hyorine averted her eyes, holding back a chuckle. Minho's smile lingered for a moment before he too diverted his attention. On the other side, Hyunjin sat silently as if he wasn't even there; Hyunjin was lost in deep contemplation.

"Good morning, Mr. Hwang, and best of luck for today,"

"My father acted as he did because he believed you had an interest in her,"

"You know, Wang Hyorine,"

The earlier encounter with Hyorine, who greeted him with calmness, only fueled his anger. The contrast between Chaewon's bandaged body and Hyorine's unscathed one filled him with revulsion. Why should one suffer while the other remains untroubled and well? Why is Chaewon, who is not at fault, lying in her bed injured and troubled, while the one who caused the misunderstanding sits here untroubled?