Secretary Gwanggong's Survival Diary - Episode 113

Episode 113

I knew he wasn’t an ordinary person. Looking back, from his first appearance in Namhae to our continued encounters, his words, expressions, and atmosphere were always unsettling. Only after collecting all the small discomforts I hadn’t noticed during our daily encounters did I belatedly realize they were more than ordinary. That’s why I tried to shake him off and run away, but with Yoon Tae-oh’s appearance and his disappearance, it became unnecessary. Because he vanished without a trace.

Now he has reappeared here.

“…How did you know? My house and my name.”

“Shouldn’t we talk face to face? It hurts me when you act like this…”

Hearing his nonchalant voice made me even less inclined to open the door. I regretted not keeping Kang Seok-ho around, faced with this situation. No one could have predicted such a suspicious approach, so it couldn’t be helped.

“I understand what you’re worried about, but as I said, I have no intention of kidnapping or anything like that. If I had wanted to, wouldn’t I have done it when you were alone?”

It was as if he was reading my mind. I had vaguely recalled the previous attacks and kidnappings. It wouldn’t be easy for me to overpower him physically. Especially if he’s an alpha. But strangely enough, I felt his words weren’t lies. Even though there was no reason to trust him.

After hesitating several times, I finally opened the door. Despite being inside the fortress-like walls, it felt like I had no choice. He greeted me with a leisurely expression, as if he had expected this. Only now did I clearly see the face that had been blurry in my memories despite our frequent encounters. How could I have forgotten such a distinctive face?

“Hello?”

“Explain. Why you’re here and how you know all this.”

“Ah. You really are the cold type, aren’t you?”

He continued to joke around, but my mood was far from amused. As if keeping his word about not intending to do anything, he stood still with his hands in his pockets.

“I’m asking how you knew my name and where I live.”

“Have you thought about it? What I said about being able to send you to a farther place.”

This situation where we’re both saying only what we want to say is frustrating. He seems to have no intention of answering my questions. I had to move past these exchanges that could hardly be called a dialogue.

“I don’t need it.”

“Why? Because this story will end with you and Yoon Tae-oh having a happy ending?”

…What…? His words left me speechless. It was just that surprising. It could be a figurative expression, but he spoke as if he knew the secrets of this world. Because of that, I couldn’t even ask how he knew about our relationship.

“It seems the predetermined ending has completely changed, right?”

It’s certain. He also knows that this world isn’t real.

“Ah, don’t look at it that way. The world you crossed over to isn’t fake. It’s just… there are different standards.”

And he even knows that I’m not from here.

“…Who are you?”

“Well. Let’s just say I’m someone who lost a bet and is a bit angry? But what you should be asking isn’t who I am.”

I’m confused. A man who appeared just as I was getting used to living as ‘Baek Si-eon’. Who is he, knowing all the things I’ve never told anyone? Not knowing what he wanted me to ask, I kept my mouth shut.

“There’s something you’ve always been curious about. Go ahead and ask.”

He brightened his eyes with quite an expectant expression. Something flashed in my mind at his hint.

“…Is this the end, by any chance?”

He responded with a light smile as if my question was correct. I hadn’t judged whether he was an appropriate person to ask such a question. My mouth just opened as if I was entranced.

“Congratulations. The ending has changed. The story that we thought would never change has been altered. And yes, it’s about to end. As you wanted, you’re the protagonist this time.”

These were undoubtedly hard-to-believe stories, but accepting them was surprisingly easy. The moment I heard his answer, relief blossomed in my chest. Moreover, if he knows such hidden details, his identity must be extraordinary.

“An omega secretary who hid their identity falls in love with an alpha protagonist who even twisted predetermined fate… Quite a plausible story. Not bad for an ending, right? I really thought Choi Hyun-jin would win, it’s surprising.”

He talked about my time as if he was quite enjoying it. As if he had been secretly observing my life from somewhere all this time.

“…Are you perhaps…”

Accepting that he was a special person, I could think from a different perspective. The first thing that came to mind was whether he might be from the same side as me. Someone who crossed over to this world from a different time. That’s why, just as I had watched “Madman” as a drama, he knows about the time I spent in this world.

“You can think whatever you want. But your question is wrong again. There should be something else you need to ask?”

It feels like playing twenty questions. He still maintained an attitude of only opening his mouth about what he wanted to answer. I had so many questions that I couldn’t easily think of one to ask.

“If it ends like this, what will happen to you? To the world?”

“Ah…”

“How can you just be happy that it’s over? This is the important part.”

Right. Didn’t I always wonder? What happens to this world when it reaches its complete ending? How many times did I ponder alone about what would happen to me? However, I only ever imagined the ending for Yoon Tae-oh and Choi Hyun-jin, never thinking about the ending I would face after taking Choi Hyun-jin’s place.

“W-what happens…?”

The other person didn’t answer immediately, as if enjoying my reaction. His gaze was fixed solely on me, and the longer he dragged it out, the more tense I became.

Just when my patience was about to run out, the silence broke. He laughed loudly for a long time as if he had lost his mind.

“Haa… This kind of ending isn’t bad either. It’s fun…”

“What on earth are you talking about?”

Watching him enjoy himself alone made my irritation surge.

“You choose. After all, you’re the protagonist who reached the ending, so I should at least give you the right to choose your future.”

However, his voice that continued lacked any playfulness. Rather, it was difficult to easily accept the story he poured out in such a heavy voice.

What on earth… what is he talking about now…

❖ ❖ ❖

I was always a supporting actor. Despite appearing in numerous dramas, the lead role was never mine. Both my looks and acting skills were mediocre. I neither had outstanding looks like some, nor acting skills that could make even average looks irrelevant.

Then luck came to me. I was cast as the lead in a drama anyone would covet. A drama certain to succeed just by looking at the production team and the already confirmed lead actor. I was also filled with expectations that I could stand in the midst of that success. Not wanting to miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I read the script until it was worn out.

But as expected, luck didn’t stay with me. Just before filming began, I lost the lead role. Because it was a renowned actor from a major agency, I couldn’t even protest.

I felt wronged. I was angry. Just how great of an actor must they be to have taken my place? The role I lost was ‘Choi Hyun-jin’. With that bitter feeling, I watched every episode of “Madman” without fail.

To sum up my viewing impression in one word, it was frustrating. The role of ‘Choi Hyun-jin’ seemed like a character made for one person. It was overwhelming, to the point where I felt no one else could suit it better. To the extent that I thought my initial casting must have been a mistake. Although I lost the role, it was a perfect defeat regardless.

There was another reason for the frustration. The work that received so much expectation fell into the abyss even before Choi Hyun-jin appeared. I felt sorry even for secretly hoping it would fail. As the ratings continued to fall without bottom, by the time it entered the latter half, I watched with sympathy, having forgotten my initial anger. While feeling relieved that I didn’t appear in “Madman”.

My life then as a supporting actor was neither good nor bad. It was moderately peaceful and moderately stressful. It was such an ordinary daily life, neither lacking nor excessive. Although I never tasted proper success, perhaps that was enough. Because that’s how life is.

“Did I choose the wrong menu?”

“Pardon?”

“I bought a traditional Korean set meal since it’s been a while since I came to Korea.”

“Ah… no. It’s delicious.”

Yoon Tae-oh was looking at me, even stopping his meal. In fact, until just now, I had forgotten I was in the middle of a meal, lost in thought. I had no appetite at all, but seeing Yoon Tae-oh’s face fill with concern, I had to force myself to continue eating.

“Did something happen?”

“What do you mean, something… I’m just a bit tired. We just got back today, right? You seemed to have urgent business, was everything okay at the company?”

I was full of worry, but it wasn’t something I could share with Yoon Tae-oh. It was the kind of thing where I couldn’t expect his help. We just had casual conversation while finishing dinner. Just because I was troubled inside didn’t mean I had to make this time with him that way too. Even after the meal ended, I deliberately talked for a while longer.

“I should go to sleep now. I’m tired.”

“Si-eon, are you really okay?”

“…Of course.”

Yoon Tae-oh grabbed my wrist as I stood up to go to my room. He was always full of confidence, but now his eyes seemed to waver with some kind of anxiety. Maybe it just felt that way because my heart was shaken by other matters.

“Use that room over there.”

“…The room next door…? That’s…”

“Just use it. No one’s using it anyway, so what’s the problem.”

The place Yoon Tae-oh led me to was the room next to his. It was as large as Yoon Tae-oh’s room. Not only was the location unexpected, but the interior design was also unfamiliar. As if this room alone was from a different world than Yoon Tae-oh’s house, it was all in bright white tones. From the walls to the bedding.

“I thought gloomy colors didn’t suit you after all.”

“When did you do all this…”

Of course, there’s no way I would have done this interior design. I couldn’t even imagine the idea of pure white bedding in Yoon Tae-oh’s house.

“I’m not saying you should use this room permanently.”

“Ah, yes…”

I had forgotten because I was so distracted, but he hadn’t fully permitted me to live in this house. That petty bastard. But I didn’t have the energy to have a long conversation about that part now. Compared to what I was facing, such things were trivial matters that didn’t matter.

“Well then, rest.”

“Um…”

I grabbed his arm as he turned to leave after saying goodnight. It felt like I shouldn’t let him go like this, just for today. The words I heard from that strange man stabbed into my heart, creating waves of anxiety that surged greatly. Although our daily life showed no change, I was overwhelmed by anxiety that everything might go wrong. That nervousness made me hold onto Yoon Tae-oh.

“What…”

I rushed towards him as he turned to look at me again. I kissed the lips that had opened to speak. My kiss was aggressive in a way. Because it might be the last kiss.