NOGEUROPTTA

XIV

The beach was quiet, the sound of waves crashing against the shore the only interruption to the silence. Hyo-Joo, lost in her thoughts as she walked towards her car, was suddenly grabbed from behind. In-Sung's grip was firm as he led her away from the road and towards the sandy beach.

In-Sung forced Hyo-Joo to lean against a nearby wall, his grip tightening as he confronted her. "What are you trying to do?" he demanded, his voice tinged with anger. "You want to separate me and Jungha?"

Hyo-Joo pushed against him, breaking free from his grasp. "Why does it pain you so much?" she retorted, her voice laced with frustration. "The pain of separation from your family... Think about the time when you killed her father."

In-Sung's eyes blazed with fury at the accusation. "I didn't kill her father!" he protested vehemently.

Hyo-Joo grabbed him by the collar, her voice rising in intensity. "You're lying!"

In-Sung, his own anger boiling over, grabbed her face and forced her to look at him. "It's true," he insisted, his voice raw with emotion. "I swear to my brother, I didn't kill her father."

Slowly, In-Sung began to ease Hyo-Joo's arms from her shoulders, his eyes never leaving hers. "Look at me," he urged, his voice softer now, filled with sincerity. "This is the truth."

Their foreheads pressed together, In-Sung continued, his tone filled with pain. "We were the ones who got betrayed... by them."

Releasing her, In-Sung reached for his gun, his desperation evident. "If you still don't believe me, then shoot me," he challenged, placing the gun in Hyo-Joo's hand and pressing it against his own forehead. "End this now."

As Hyo-Joo hesitated, unable to act, In-Sung urged her on. "Shoot me," he repeated, his voice choked with tears. "I won't survive this, not at this close range. Shoot!"

Slowly, Hyo-Joo lowered the gun, her hand trembling. She looked at In-Sung, her heart heavy with the weight of their shared pain. In-Sung turned away, his tears mingling with the saltwater on his cheeks as he walked away, leaving Hyo-Joo alone with her despair.

Jungha's turmoil spilled over into his work at the restaurant, his hands trembling as he handled the utensils. Accidents seemed to follow him, causing chaos and frustration among the customers. Despite their anger, Sungkyun, Seungryeong, Do-hoon, and especially In-Sung rushed to his aid, helping to clean up the mess and reassure him. Jungha could only offer apologies, his heart heavy with the weight of his emotions.

Meanwhile, Younjung found herself struggling to focus during board meetings, her mind consumed by thoughts of Jungha and the recent turmoil in their lives. Even when Hyo-Joo approached her, offering support and comfort, Younjung remained distant, unable to find solace in her sister's presence.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Younjung spotted Jungha sitting alone by the seaside. With a heavy heart, she approached him, hoping to offer some semblance of comfort. But as she sat beside him, Jungha abruptly stood up and began to walk away, leaving Younjung behind.

Tears welled up in Younjung's eyes as she watched him go, feeling the weight of their shared pain and the growing distance between them.

As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the beach, In-Sung found himself wandering aimlessly along the shoreline. The crashing waves provided a rhythmic soundtrack to his thoughts, as he grappled with the events that had unfolded.