when the phone rings novel

"406, is that all you have to say to me?"

"What?"
"We don't have many chances to talk. Is this really all you want to say to me?"
"In a situation like this, you're still playing games?" Hee-joo's face twisted. "For me, this call is more important than anything. It's the only time I can hear your thoughts and opinions without any reservations."
"..."
"I'll find you, 406, no matter what."
"You're such a bastard..."

Hee-joo didn't want to continue the call. 406, 406—annoying 406. Although she had set up the relay herself, she could never reach the other side. That sense of victimhood and inferiority complex was unbearable. The water tank she thought she had shattered had been rebuilt in her impoverished hands.

What if she failed, like her father? What if, after learning the truth, he found it boring and walked away? What if, even after breaking down the final barrier, she was still ignored? At that point, she might truly collapse. But how could someone pick themselves up again after such a collapse?

In Hee-joo's world, the only answer was her despondent father. She hadn't yet found the courage to break free from 406 and the voice modulator. This was the worst, and the final call: _last_call.mp3.

Rrrr, Rrrr—

The phone's ringtone was sharp, like shattering glass. Hee-joo had just woken up from a brief sleep to find her mother's call blaring loudly. Her eyes and throat were swollen from crying herself to sleep. The bed beside her was empty, the blanket untouched, not a single crease in sight. The air was so cold, it felt like he had never been there at all.

As soon as she answered, her mother screamed.
"What the hell did you do...!" It was practically a shriek.
"What did you do for this kind of news to break?" Her voice was deafening, clearly agitated. "In A—what the hell is she thinking, pulling something like this with a competing company? Does she want to bring everyone down with her? Now Representative Hong's side is in complete chaos! The house is about to explode! Where is Hong In A? I need to find that rude brat immediately..."

Hee-joo snapped awake.
"And you? What were you doing while Baek Sa-eon was up to this? Sitting around doing nothing at home, letting this happen?"

A sudden premonition flashed in her mind. Hee-joo put her phone on speaker and opened a news app. The headlines dominating the trending list confirmed her fears.

"I knew something was off. Baek Sa-eon suddenly caring about someone? That's not like him. Of course, there's a problem..."

Her hands were trembling as she clicked on one of the most sensational articles.

[EXCLUSIVE] The Disgraceful Double Life of a Cheong Wa Dae Spokesperson: A Shameful Audio Scandal!
Reporter Hong In A, Myeongji Daily

The Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson, Baek Sa-eon, has been accused of an illicit relationship with a woman. The exclusive audio recording obtained by this outlet clearly captures the spokesperson engaging in inappropriate and obscene conversations, sparking widespread outrage.

In the recording, Spokesperson Baek was heard saying to the woman, allegedly his mistress:
"I like to eat X too,"
"I don't sleep with my wife,"
"Haven't you tried doing it alone?"

It was widely known that Spokesperson Baek was a married man, making the revelations all the more shocking. His office announced that he would hold a public press conference during the special screening of the late Representative Baek Jang-ho's documentary later this afternoon.

"...!"

Hee-joo stared blankly at her phone screen.
"Cheong Wa Dae Spokesperson's Shocking Affair Scandal!"
"Spokesperson Baek Sa-eon's Obscene Recording Sparks Outrage!"
"The Shocking Words: 'I Want to XX!' from the Recording!"
"Betrayed by the Perfect Man: Candidate Baek Yi-ryong's Support Plummets!"
"The Beloved Elite's True Colors: Shocking Audio of Vulgarity and Death Threats!"
"Cheong Wa Dae Spokesperson Exposed in Lewd Audio Recording!"

Hearing her mother's furious curses in the background, Hee-joo pressed the end-call button with force. A throbbing headache overtook her.
"Ugh..."

The scandal of the Cheong Wa Dae Spokesperson's alleged affair was plastered across the top headlines of every major portal site. Hee-joo's heart pounded so violently it felt like it might burst out of her chest.

Is this really what I wanted? To see Baek Sa-eon, loved and trusted by the nation, fall like this?

No, this wasn't it. She had only intended to exploit his weakness to push for a divorce, not to drag him into the mud like this.

"I need to see my sister... I'll decide what to do after I see my sister!"

That's not a mistress—that's me.

Summoning all her strength, Hee-joo stood up from her seat. She walked out of her room to change, but froze when she saw Baek Sa-eon standing in her room.

"...!"

One hand was tucked into his pants pocket, while his jacket was slung over his arm. Seeing his back, Hee-joo found it hard to breathe. The man slowly turned his head, his gaze sweeping the room carefully. She couldn't decipher what his actions meant, but there was a strange sense of nostalgia in his deeply expressive eyes.

When did he come in?

Sensing her presence, he turned to face her slowly.

"..."
"..."

The two stared at each other for a long time, neither speaking a word. Hee-joo couldn't read his thoughts at all.

"Did you see the news?" he finally asked, not taking a single step closer to her. The distance between them was glaringly apparent, making her feel an unfamiliar sense of estrangement. His voice was low and detached.

"I'm sorry, but it's all true."

"...!"

He raised an eyebrow briefly before lowering it, his indifferent demeanor as if to say, Believe what you want; it doesn't matter.

How could he... Hee-joo's brows furrowed in pain.

"Don't mind the reports," he said. "There's a press conference today. It'll calm everything down."

Is he planning to brush it off like some celebrity gossip? Am I supposed to keep living like this? Are you going to look for 406 now?

What about our kisses, the times we made love—what were those? Just mistakes born of insecurity?

'But I thought there was at least one space that belonged to me.'

A surge of bitterness welled up in Hee-joo's chest, leaving her feeling utterly wronged. She grabbed the tissue box beside her and hurled it at him. The box hit Baek Sa-eon square in the chest with a loud thud before falling to the ground. Even so, he didn't so much as blink, his gaze locked onto Hee-joo, who glared back at him with equal intensity.

Say something. Don't regret it later—just say it now...!

Hee-joo thought of her father, whose lungs and mouth had rotted away, and opened her mouth.
"...You said—"

You said we'd talk. A real conversation. Is this it?

Her eyes turned red instantly.
"You said..."

But as she looked at the man in front of her, her tongue froze. Thinking back, Hee-joo realized she had never voluntarily spoken to Baek Sa-eon since the first time they met as children. The moment this thought surfaced, anxiety swept over her. Damn this fragile psyche.

Her cold hands clenched tightly as she bit down hard on her tongue. If I don't speak now, I'll end up just like my father. So no matter what, I have to say something...!

But just as she resolved to bite her tongue and speak, something was suddenly shoved into her mouth.

It was his fingers. He pushed them between her molars and firmly gripped her jaw.

"Are you insane? Don't bite."

"...!"

He growled angrily, his brows furrowing before his face settled back into its usual coldness. He sighed, closing his eyes in exhaustion, veins bulging on his forehead.

"Enough. Don't force yourself. Don't say anything."

"..."

"There's no need to do that on purpose." He withdrew his fingers and straightened his posture.

"Don't starve yourself. Stay alert at all times. Wherever you go, remember to leave emergency contact information. Whether you're in the country or abroad, live freely and go wherever you want."

"...!"

Hee-joo furrowed her brows, completely unable to understand his words.

"Check your bankbook. You don't need to look at Chairman Hong's face anymore or force a smile. You don't need to take care of your father-in-law for the sake of your mother-in-law. Even with family, never talk about money lightly. And don't tell Hong In A everything."

"..."

"Only think about your own share."

"..."

"And when you turn thirty, buy yourself a beautiful bag and a pair of shoes." His deep gaze seemed almost hypnotic as he commanded her.

"When you turn forty, think about getting a dog."

"..."

"And when you turn fifty—"

Hee-joo grabbed his sleeve tightly, as if to stop him. The man paused for a moment but then continued nonchalantly.

"When you turn fifty, start singing. You might not know it, but you have a beautiful voice."

Hee-joo couldn't bring herself to interrupt him. She swallowed the sharp pain in her chest and continued listening.

"When you turn sixty, don't be melancholic. Paint a self-portrait."

"..."

"When you turn seventy, make sure you eat with someone."

"..."

"When you turn eighty, take care not to fall ill."

"..."

"And when you turn ninety—"

He stopped briefly, then reached out to cover Hee-joo's eyes with his hand, just as he had done when they were children. Her vision went dark, and his deep voice became even clearer.

"Live your life freely. And then, every once in a while, think of me."

When he removed his hand, her lashes trembled slightly as she finally looked toward him. He was already turning away. His face remained as cold as ever.

The sound of his silent footsteps through the living room stopped abruptly as the front door closed.

Hee-joo stood frozen, like a statue.

She didn't realize this was his farewell.

"406, is that all you have to say to me?"

"What?"
"We don't have many chances to talk. Is this really all you want to say to me?"
"In a situation like this, you're still playing games?" Hee-joo's face twisted. "For me, this call is more important than anything. It's the only time I can hear your thoughts and opinions without any reservations."
"..."
"I'll find you, 406, no matter what."
"You're such a bastard..."

Hee-joo didn't want to continue the call. 406, 406—annoying 406. Although she had set up the relay herself, she could never reach the other side. That sense of victimhood and inferiority complex was unbearable. The water tank she thought she had shattered had been rebuilt in her impoverished hands.

What if she failed, like her father? What if, after learning the truth, he found it boring and walked away? What if, even after breaking down the final barrier, she was still ignored? At that point, she might truly collapse. But how could someone pick themselves up again after such a collapse?

In Hee-joo's world, the only answer was her despondent father. She hadn't yet found the courage to break free from 406 and the voice modulator. This was the worst, and the final call: _last_call.mp3.

Rrrr, Rrrr—

The phone's ringtone was sharp, like shattering glass. Hee-joo had just woken up from a brief sleep to find her mother's call blaring loudly. Her eyes and throat were swollen from crying herself to sleep. The bed beside her was empty, the blanket untouched, not a single crease in sight. The air was so cold, it felt like he had never been there at all.

As soon as she answered, her mother screamed.
"What the hell did you do...!" It was practically a shriek.
"What did you do for this kind of news to break?" Her voice was deafening, clearly agitated. "In A—what the hell is she thinking, pulling something like this with a competing company? Does she want to bring everyone down with her? Now Representative Hong's side is in complete chaos! The house is about to explode! Where is Hong In A? I need to find that rude brat immediately..."

Hee-joo snapped awake.
"And you? What were you doing while Baek Sa-eon was up to this? Sitting around doing nothing at home, letting this happen?"

A sudden premonition flashed in her mind. Hee-joo put her phone on speaker and opened a news app. The headlines dominating the trending list confirmed her fears.

"I knew something was off. Baek Sa-eon suddenly caring about someone? That's not like him. Of course, there's a problem..."

Her hands were trembling as she clicked on one of the most sensational articles.

[EXCLUSIVE] The Disgraceful Double Life of a Cheong Wa Dae Spokesperson: A Shameful Audio Scandal!
Reporter Hong In A, Myeongji Daily

The Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson, Baek Sa-eon, has been accused of an illicit relationship with a woman. The exclusive audio recording obtained by this outlet clearly captures the spokesperson engaging in inappropriate and obscene conversations, sparking widespread outrage.

In the recording, Spokesperson Baek was heard saying to the woman, allegedly his mistress:
"I like to eat X too,"
"I don't sleep with my wife,"
"Haven't you tried doing it alone?"

It was widely known that Spokesperson Baek was a married man, making the revelations all the more shocking. His office announced that he would hold a public press conference during the special screening of the late Representative Baek Jang-ho's documentary later this afternoon.

"...!"

Hee-joo stared blankly at her phone screen.
"Cheong Wa Dae Spokesperson's Shocking Affair Scandal!"
"Spokesperson Baek Sa-eon's Obscene Recording Sparks Outrage!"
"The Shocking Words: 'I Want to XX!' from the Recording!"
"Betrayed by the Perfect Man: Candidate Baek Yi-ryong's Support Plummets!"
"The Beloved Elite's True Colors: Shocking Audio of Vulgarity and Death Threats!"
"Cheong Wa Dae Spokesperson Exposed in Lewd Audio Recording!"

Hearing her mother's furious curses in the background, Hee-joo pressed the end-call button with force. A throbbing headache overtook her.
"Ugh..."

The scandal of the Cheong Wa Dae Spokesperson's alleged affair was plastered across the top headlines of every major portal site. Hee-joo's heart pounded so violently it felt like it might burst out of her chest.

Is this really what I wanted? To see Baek Sa-eon, loved and trusted by the nation, fall like this?

No, this wasn't it. She had only intended to exploit his weakness to push for a divorce, not to drag him into the mud like this.

"I need to see my sister... I'll decide what to do after I see my sister!"

That's not a mistress—that's me.

Summoning all her strength, Hee-joo stood up from her seat. She walked out of her room to change, but froze when she saw Baek Sa-eon standing in her room.

"...!"

One hand was tucked into his pants pocket, while his jacket was slung over his arm. Seeing his back, Hee-joo found it hard to breathe. The man slowly turned his head, his gaze sweeping the room carefully. She couldn't decipher what his actions meant, but there was a strange sense of nostalgia in his deeply expressive eyes.

When did he come in?

Sensing her presence, he turned to face her slowly.

"..."
"..."

The two stared at each other for a long time, neither speaking a word. Hee-joo couldn't read his thoughts at all.

"Did you see the news?" he finally asked, not taking a single step closer to her. The distance between them was glaringly apparent, making her feel an unfamiliar sense of estrangement. His voice was low and detached.

"I'm sorry, but it's all true."

"...!"

He raised an eyebrow briefly before lowering it, his indifferent demeanor as if to say, Believe what you want; it doesn't matter.

How could he... Hee-joo's brows furrowed in pain.

"Don't mind the reports," he said. "There's a press conference today. It'll calm everything down."

Is he planning to brush it off like some celebrity gossip? Am I supposed to keep living like this? Are you going to look for 406 now?

What about our kisses, the times we made love—what were those? Just mistakes born of insecurity?

'But I thought there was at least one space that belonged to me.'

A surge of bitterness welled up in Hee-joo's chest, leaving her feeling utterly wronged. She grabbed the tissue box beside her and hurled it at him. The box hit Baek Sa-eon square in the chest with a loud thud before falling to the ground. Even so, he didn't so much as blink, his gaze locked onto Hee-joo, who glared back at him with equal intensity.

Say something. Don't regret it later—just say it now...!

Hee-joo thought of her father, whose lungs and mouth had rotted away, and opened her mouth.
"...You said—"

You said we'd talk. A real conversation. Is this it?

Her eyes turned red instantly.
"You said..."

But as she looked at the man in front of her, her tongue froze. Thinking back, Hee-joo realized she had never voluntarily spoken to Baek Sa-eon since the first time they met as children. The moment this thought surfaced, anxiety swept over her. Damn this fragile psyche.

Her cold hands clenched tightly as she bit down hard on her tongue. If I don't speak now, I'll end up just like my father. So no matter what, I have to say something...!

But just as she resolved to bite her tongue and speak, something was suddenly shoved into her mouth.

It was his fingers. He pushed them between her molars and firmly gripped her jaw.

"Are you insane? Don't bite."

"...!"

He growled angrily, his brows furrowing before his face settled back into its usual coldness. He sighed, closing his eyes in exhaustion, veins bulging on his forehead.

"Enough. Don't force yourself. Don't say anything."

"..."

"There's no need to do that on purpose." He withdrew his fingers and straightened his posture.

"Don't starve yourself. Stay alert at all times. Wherever you go, remember to leave emergency contact information. Whether you're in the country or abroad, live freely and go wherever you want."

"...!"

Hee-joo furrowed her brows, completely unable to understand his words.

"Check your bankbook. You don't need to look at Chairman Hong's face anymore or force a smile. You don't need to take care of your father-in-law for the sake of your mother-in-law. Even with family, never talk about money lightly. And don't tell Hong In A everything."

"..."

"Only think about your own share."

"..."

"And when you turn thirty, buy yourself a beautiful bag and a pair of shoes." His deep gaze seemed almost hypnotic as he commanded her.

"When you turn forty, think about getting a dog."

"..."

"And when you turn fifty—"

Hee-joo grabbed his sleeve tightly, as if to stop him. The man paused for a moment but then continued nonchalantly.

"When you turn fifty, start singing. You might not know it, but you have a beautiful voice."

Hee-joo couldn't bring herself to interrupt him. She swallowed the sharp pain in her chest and continued listening.

"When you turn sixty, don't be melancholic. Paint a self-portrait."

"..."

"When you turn seventy, make sure you eat with someone."

"..."

"When you turn eighty, take care not to fall ill."

"..."

"And when you turn ninety—"

He stopped briefly, then reached out to cover Hee-joo's eyes with his hand, just as he had done when they were children. Her vision went dark, and his deep voice became even clearer.

"Live your life freely. And then, every once in a while, think of me."

When he removed his hand, her lashes trembled slightly as she finally looked toward him. He was already turning away. His face remained as cold as ever.

The sound of his silent footsteps through the living room stopped abruptly as the front door closed.

Hee-joo stood frozen, like a statue.

She didn't realize this was his farewell.