when the phone rings novel

"Our employees are starving, while those who handle state affairs stand here spewing nonsense. Damn it!"

A man suddenly rushed onto the stage, a knife glinting in the sunlight. In an instant, Hee-joo recognized him—he was one of the protesters she saw at the entrance.

'Ah...?'

As Hee-joo sluggishly lifted her arms, the knife-wielding man suddenly fell. It happened just as her small nose collided with Baek Sa-eon's chest. He grabbed Hee-joo and, without hesitation, kicked the man to the ground.

"In order to achieve a green recovery and transition to a low-carbon economy, we must actively develop the required scientific and technological capabilities—"

Baek Sa-eon's kicks were precise and fierce, and eventually, security managed to subdue the man who had rolled across the ground. Even as he was dragged away, the man continued shouting loudly, but Baek Sa-eon remained unfazed. He truly hadn't lost his composure. From the beginning, his pace never faltered; even while kicking, he continued the briefing.

Thus, Hee-joo's hands moved naturally. Her well-trained sign language skills kicked in almost instantaneously. Despite her ears ringing and her legs going weak, Baek Sa-eon's steady voice acted like a guiding thread for her.

"—It is our mission to share these technologies with developing countries."

Yet he never let go of the arm wrapped around her shoulders, his eyes fixed solely on Hee-joo—not on the reporters—as he continued his briefing. His breath was slightly uneven, and his tone sharp, even as his gaze roamed angrily over her face.

Without realizing it, they were no longer standing side by side but were now facing each other during the briefing—an unusual position.

"To achieve these sustainable development goals, it's difficult to do it alone, and that's why partnerships are crucial."

This abnormality didn't escape notice—both the reporters and the onlooking citizens were left stunned, murmuring among themselves.

After the briefing ended, applause rang out with various meanings. Hee-joo nodded a little absentmindedly, only for her face to be held roughly.

"Are you scared? Are you hurt anywhere?"

Only then did she let out a sigh of relief. Her breathing was rapid, her vision spinning. Baek Sa-eon checked her pulse near her ear and then muttered under his breath, "That lunatic..."

"Take a breath. You did well in the briefing."

Just those few words of recognition made warmth surge through Hee-joo. Baek Sa-eon led her off the stage, taking her to the rest area and locking the door. Then he tightly hugged her, comforting her as her emotions ran high from the shock.

"Since I met you, there hasn't been a single place in this world that isn't dangerous. Even if I left you at an amusement park, I'd worry myself sick."

He rested his chin on the top of her head, hugging her tightly. Immersed in Baek Sa-eon's embrace, his familiar scent enveloped her.

"Maybe it'll always be like this."

He let out a gentle sigh, a strange sweetness in his voice. His smooth cheek slowly rubbed against Hee-joo's head. The sound resonating from his chest was as deep as a heartbeat, giving her a sense of connection to the vast world.

'Ah...'

Suddenly, a wave of emotion surged within her. Even in complete darkness, she was instinctively drawn to that sound. It was a beam of light guiding her forward.

A realization hit her, unexpectedly.

'I... toward you...'

Stripping away her stubborn exterior, her inner self became transparent. Eventually, it was 406 who had glimpsed into his heart, slowly, bit by bit, unraveling the wounds that had hardened like stubborn scars.

The more Hee-joo tried to hide or approach him, the more exposed the man became.

Do we have... another path?

She remembered his rough confession spoken in the heat of passion. Though the subject was unclear, from beginning to end, his gaze never left one person.

The person trembling beneath him.

'If there's still a place for me—'

Could we become different?

'If I reveal that I am 406... will you accept it?'

Just then.

Hee-joo suddenly paled and grabbed his arm tightly.

"...!"

The thick suit sleeve had been slashed by the knife. Seeing the thin red line on his skin, her heart sank.

"It's nothing, just a scratch, really."

He casually turned his arm away, his expression indifferent. Then, seemingly dissatisfied with the space between them, he pulled her back roughly.

"Where are you going?"

Hee-joo obediently snuggled into his embrace.

As Hee-joo stepped outside to head home, several pairs of eyes were on her. She tried hard to ignore those stares, their gaze falling on her flushed face, and quickened her pace. The strange redness on her face refused to fade away.

Rrrr, Rrrr—

The sharp ringing startled her, and Hee-joo frantically rummaged through her pocket. The caller ID displayed a restricted number. The moment she saw the screen, her heart raced wildly.

'Of all times... now?!'

While Hee-joo hesitated, her face turning pale, someone grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the emergency staircase. The grip was strong enough to make her bones ache faintly. Thrown into the corner, Hee-joo hurriedly rubbed her sore wrist.

"Hong Hee-joo, you...!"

Facing her sister's cold expression, she felt as though her thoughts had been completely laid bare, her very blood draining from her body.

"Is this real?"

Her sister pressed her with an unclear question.

"You... you can't possibly be what I think, right?"

But Hee-joo couldn't say a word. There were too many things she couldn't say, especially the things she had just come to understand.

"That look on your face on the stage..."

Recalling something, Hong In A let out a bitter laugh.

"Could it be that you've really fallen for Baek Sa-eon?"

"......"

Hong In A ran her hand through her hair, biting her lip.

I'm not ready to have this conversation with her...

Hee-joo silently lowered her head, and Hong In A quickly changed her question.

"When did it start?"

There was no escape. Hee-joo slowly moved her hands.

'...It's been some time.'

Hearing this, Hong In A looked up at the ceiling, laughing, then kicked the wall with force before sitting down, her hands covering her face. The intensity of her demeanor left Hee-joo shrinking into herself. Should I apologize for falling in love with my sister's fiancé?

For shamelessly taking something that belonged to her... should I apologize for that too...?

Hee-joo bowed her head low, struggling to organize the chaotic thoughts swirling in her mind.

Suddenly, her sister stood up abruptly, her eyes blazing.

"If the Little Mermaid... hadn't saved the drowning prince but instead saw something terrible on his ship, would she still love him?"

Emotions surged through her like a torrent, yet she couldn't identify what they were. It was all too fast, too intense. Only Hong In A's anger and fear emerged with clarity.

"Hee-joo, I disappeared before the wedding because—"

"......"

"I ran away."

"......!"

"Because neither Dad nor anyone else believed me. There wasn't a single person I could trust, so I left everything behind and ran away...!"

She seemed to have retained her habit of using sign language, gesturing angrily in the air, her voice laced with rage. Then, Hong In A nervously grabbed Hee-joo's shoulders.

The sister Hee-joo remembered had always been a calm person, so seeing her this agitated felt incredibly foreign. Faced with this unusual scene, Hee-joo clenched her fists.

"I pretended not to know the reason for your mutism because—" In A hesitated for a moment, her mouth opening and closing.

"Not only because of my selfishness but also because staying silent seemed better."

"......"

"It was... safer that way."

The statement was hard to comprehend. Hong In A looked around, her gaze trembling, before lowering her head. As her face drew closer, Hee-joo saw her sister's bloodshot eyes. In A spoke softly.

"When I was little... I said something I shouldn't have."

Her pupils still trembled slightly, conveying deep fear.

"That brother wasn't Baek Sa-eon."

"...!"

"His face was different, Grandpa."

Hee-joo's eyes widened at the unexpected name. Hong In A's face was pale as a ghost, and she mimicked a child's tone.

"I said that to Representative Baek Jang-ho. I told him that the face in front of me wasn't the same as the one I'd seen before—"

She anxiously licked her lips.

"At that moment, the look on Representative Baek Jang-ho's face..."

Recalling that moment, Hong In A's shoulders trembled involuntarily.

Everything happened in that meticulously groomed garden, in the instant she introduced her fiancé. When In A had proudly pointed her finger at Baek Sa-eon—the once light-hearted air instantly sharpened like a blade, aimed directly at the little girl.

The kind grandfather had approached her, smiling, and pinched her face tightly. The wrinkled texture of his hand on her tender cheek had been deeply unsettling. With a ghostly grin, his face twisted, his mouth curving upwards.

Later, Hong In A realized that the words of blessing spoken as he touched her cheek were actually a warning. It all began from that moment, because of her careless words. A childish heart wanted to boast, indifferent to the story about all her education being completed through homeschooling.

So, she recalled the face she had once glimpsed, pointing out that the boy standing before her was completely different from the Baek Sa-eon she had once seen.

"Our employees are starving, while those who handle state affairs stand here spewing nonsense. Damn it!"

A man suddenly rushed onto the stage, a knife glinting in the sunlight. In an instant, Hee-joo recognized him—he was one of the protesters she saw at the entrance.

'Ah...?'

As Hee-joo sluggishly lifted her arms, the knife-wielding man suddenly fell. It happened just as her small nose collided with Baek Sa-eon's chest. He grabbed Hee-joo and, without hesitation, kicked the man to the ground.

"In order to achieve a green recovery and transition to a low-carbon economy, we must actively develop the required scientific and technological capabilities—"

Baek Sa-eon's kicks were precise and fierce, and eventually, security managed to subdue the man who had rolled across the ground. Even as he was dragged away, the man continued shouting loudly, but Baek Sa-eon remained unfazed. He truly hadn't lost his composure. From the beginning, his pace never faltered; even while kicking, he continued the briefing.

Thus, Hee-joo's hands moved naturally. Her well-trained sign language skills kicked in almost instantaneously. Despite her ears ringing and her legs going weak, Baek Sa-eon's steady voice acted like a guiding thread for her.

"—It is our mission to share these technologies with developing countries."

Yet he never let go of the arm wrapped around her shoulders, his eyes fixed solely on Hee-joo—not on the reporters—as he continued his briefing. His breath was slightly uneven, and his tone sharp, even as his gaze roamed angrily over her face.

Without realizing it, they were no longer standing side by side but were now facing each other during the briefing—an unusual position.

"To achieve these sustainable development goals, it's difficult to do it alone, and that's why partnerships are crucial."

This abnormality didn't escape notice—both the reporters and the onlooking citizens were left stunned, murmuring among themselves.

After the briefing ended, applause rang out with various meanings. Hee-joo nodded a little absentmindedly, only for her face to be held roughly.

"Are you scared? Are you hurt anywhere?"

Only then did she let out a sigh of relief. Her breathing was rapid, her vision spinning. Baek Sa-eon checked her pulse near her ear and then muttered under his breath, "That lunatic..."

"Take a breath. You did well in the briefing."

Just those few words of recognition made warmth surge through Hee-joo. Baek Sa-eon led her off the stage, taking her to the rest area and locking the door. Then he tightly hugged her, comforting her as her emotions ran high from the shock.

"Since I met you, there hasn't been a single place in this world that isn't dangerous. Even if I left you at an amusement park, I'd worry myself sick."

He rested his chin on the top of her head, hugging her tightly. Immersed in Baek Sa-eon's embrace, his familiar scent enveloped her.

"Maybe it'll always be like this."

He let out a gentle sigh, a strange sweetness in his voice. His smooth cheek slowly rubbed against Hee-joo's head. The sound resonating from his chest was as deep as a heartbeat, giving her a sense of connection to the vast world.

'Ah...'

Suddenly, a wave of emotion surged within her. Even in complete darkness, she was instinctively drawn to that sound. It was a beam of light guiding her forward.

A realization hit her, unexpectedly.

'I... toward you...'

Stripping away her stubborn exterior, her inner self became transparent. Eventually, it was 406 who had glimpsed into his heart, slowly, bit by bit, unraveling the wounds that had hardened like stubborn scars.

The more Hee-joo tried to hide or approach him, the more exposed the man became.

Do we have... another path?

She remembered his rough confession spoken in the heat of passion. Though the subject was unclear, from beginning to end, his gaze never left one person.

The person trembling beneath him.

'If there's still a place for me—'

Could we become different?

'If I reveal that I am 406... will you accept it?'

Just then.

Hee-joo suddenly paled and grabbed his arm tightly.

"...!"

The thick suit sleeve had been slashed by the knife. Seeing the thin red line on his skin, her heart sank.

"It's nothing, just a scratch, really."

He casually turned his arm away, his expression indifferent. Then, seemingly dissatisfied with the space between them, he pulled her back roughly.

"Where are you going?"

Hee-joo obediently snuggled into his embrace.

As Hee-joo stepped outside to head home, several pairs of eyes were on her. She tried hard to ignore those stares, their gaze falling on her flushed face, and quickened her pace. The strange redness on her face refused to fade away.

Rrrr, Rrrr—

The sharp ringing startled her, and Hee-joo frantically rummaged through her pocket. The caller ID displayed a restricted number. The moment she saw the screen, her heart raced wildly.

'Of all times... now?!'

While Hee-joo hesitated, her face turning pale, someone grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the emergency staircase. The grip was strong enough to make her bones ache faintly. Thrown into the corner, Hee-joo hurriedly rubbed her sore wrist.

"Hong Hee-joo, you...!"

Facing her sister's cold expression, she felt as though her thoughts had been completely laid bare, her very blood draining from her body.

"Is this real?"

Her sister pressed her with an unclear question.

"You... you can't possibly be what I think, right?"

But Hee-joo couldn't say a word. There were too many things she couldn't say, especially the things she had just come to understand.

"That look on your face on the stage..."

Recalling something, Hong In A let out a bitter laugh.

"Could it be that you've really fallen for Baek Sa-eon?"

"......"

Hong In A ran her hand through her hair, biting her lip.

I'm not ready to have this conversation with her...

Hee-joo silently lowered her head, and Hong In A quickly changed her question.

"When did it start?"

There was no escape. Hee-joo slowly moved her hands.

'...It's been some time.'

Hearing this, Hong In A looked up at the ceiling, laughing, then kicked the wall with force before sitting down, her hands covering her face. The intensity of her demeanor left Hee-joo shrinking into herself. Should I apologize for falling in love with my sister's fiancé?

For shamelessly taking something that belonged to her... should I apologize for that too...?

Hee-joo bowed her head low, struggling to organize the chaotic thoughts swirling in her mind.

Suddenly, her sister stood up abruptly, her eyes blazing.

"If the Little Mermaid... hadn't saved the drowning prince but instead saw something terrible on his ship, would she still love him?"

Emotions surged through her like a torrent, yet she couldn't identify what they were. It was all too fast, too intense. Only Hong In A's anger and fear emerged with clarity.

"Hee-joo, I disappeared before the wedding because—"

"......"

"I ran away."

"......!"

"Because neither Dad nor anyone else believed me. There wasn't a single person I could trust, so I left everything behind and ran away...!"

She seemed to have retained her habit of using sign language, gesturing angrily in the air, her voice laced with rage. Then, Hong In A nervously grabbed Hee-joo's shoulders.

The sister Hee-joo remembered had always been a calm person, so seeing her this agitated felt incredibly foreign. Faced with this unusual scene, Hee-joo clenched her fists.

"I pretended not to know the reason for your mutism because—" In A hesitated for a moment, her mouth opening and closing.

"Not only because of my selfishness but also because staying silent seemed better."

"......"

"It was... safer that way."

The statement was hard to comprehend. Hong In A looked around, her gaze trembling, before lowering her head. As her face drew closer, Hee-joo saw her sister's bloodshot eyes. In A spoke softly.

"When I was little... I said something I shouldn't have."

Her pupils still trembled slightly, conveying deep fear.

"That brother wasn't Baek Sa-eon."

"...!"

"His face was different, Grandpa."

Hee-joo's eyes widened at the unexpected name. Hong In A's face was pale as a ghost, and she mimicked a child's tone.

"I said that to Representative Baek Jang-ho. I told him that the face in front of me wasn't the same as the one I'd seen before—"

She anxiously licked her lips.

"At that moment, the look on Representative Baek Jang-ho's face..."

Recalling that moment, Hong In A's shoulders trembled involuntarily.

Everything happened in that meticulously groomed garden, in the instant she introduced her fiancé. When In A had proudly pointed her finger at Baek Sa-eon—the once light-hearted air instantly sharpened like a blade, aimed directly at the little girl.

The kind grandfather had approached her, smiling, and pinched her face tightly. The wrinkled texture of his hand on her tender cheek had been deeply unsettling. With a ghostly grin, his face twisted, his mouth curving upwards.

Later, Hong In A realized that the words of blessing spoken as he touched her cheek were actually a warning. It all began from that moment, because of her careless words. A childish heart wanted to boast, indifferent to the story about all her education being completed through homeschooling.

So, she recalled the face she had once glimpsed, pointing out that the boy standing before her was completely different from the Baek Sa-eon she had once seen.