HEART LIES

UNDERDOG

In-Sung banged, "Sa-rang, open the door. Before I break it down."

Sa-rang, who slept, woke up and wiggled out of Ji-Seong's arms. The action woke the man, who got up instantly.

"There's someone at the door," Sa-rang whispered.

Ji-Seong grabbed his phone on the nightstand; it was 3 PM.

Sa-rang went to fetch her robe while Ji-Seong grabbed a tee-shirt.

They both approached the door, recognizing the voice Sa-rang gave Ji-Seong a signal to go back to the room as she opened it.

In-Sung burst into her apartment, "otoké, otoké Sa-rang, how dare you. How could you do this to me? What have I ever done to you? Tell me, what evil deed did I do for you to do this to me?"

"In-sung, calm down."

"Calm down, calm down; you say I just found out that the woman I live with, the future mother of my child, was paid to seduce me, and you want me to calm down.

The news came as a shock even to Ji-Seong. From what he had heard, the man had left Sa-rang for a younger woman. It was nothing, something rare; though people gossiped about it, there was nothing extraordinary, but this was something else.

"You paid In-Soo, YOU PAID INSOO, WHAT KIND OF IGNOBLE BEING ARE YOU? In-Sung yelled the words, but they sounded like denial.

The man refused to accept the fact that Sa-rang went as far as hiring In-Soo because if he did, the man was sure to let rage devour him until the point he could kill her before her time expired.

Sa-rang did not flinch. Instead, she approached to stand in front of In-Sung, "kuré, I did that I wanted to get on with my life."

The tone and the voice, In-Sung knew it well; this is how Sa-rang spoke when she looked down on him as though he were an underdog.

"Why wasn't I enough for you? Wasn't we enough for you? Did I ever block your ambitions? What did I do for you to sell me off like a dog? You gave me on a leash to In-Soo; is that how much you valued Sonmi and me? Malhaé, MALHAE." [answer]

"You are right, In-Sung, I didn't want you anymore, but I pitied you, and so I gave you a gift. I married a man who boiled with ambition, a top-notch lawyer, and you decided to become a housewife. Do you think you made me happy or proud?"

"I did that because someone had to raise our daughter since you resigned from your motherly duties."

Sa rang put her hands on her hips, "I didn't want that. I didn't marry lukewarm water."

"Oh God help me," the man said, looking at the ceiling, "everything I did all these years was for you." The man pointed at Sa rang, "to support you. I was dedicated to our family. Sa-rang, have you ever loved me? What was I for you?"

From the corridor, Ji-Seong understood Kyeong In-Sung was not a man for Sa rang. Not that the lover saw himself as a perfect match, Ji-Seong knew that loving Sa rang was a jump at his own risk.

In-Sung was too pure, too honest, and it was apparent he had not totally got over his ex-wife. His breaking voice and constant questions about what he represented to her betrayed him. In-Sung wanted to be reassured and hear she loved him even a little.

Even that answer was visible for Ji-Seong, who listened and saw the situation in its integrity. Sa-rang loved In-Sung pushing away those she loved was her way of protecting them. Ji-Seong understood it and was aware that he, too, could be a victim of the method.

Ji-Seong already suffered from the woman's attempts to get rid of him. Offended, a part of him felt empathy for In- Sung. Ji-Seong suspected Sa rang of having excluded the man, thinking he would not be able to cope with the loss and that In-Sung's shoulders weren't broad enough to carry the burden.