Present day

"You cheated on me-" Ha Na jolted out of a nightmare.

She looked around panting heavily, unfamiliar surroundings filled her sight. Under that faint light of the night sky, her bare skin caught a sheer brush of that ambient lighting.

Her eyes next fell on a shirtless man tucked carelessly under the white duvets she was also sharing. And everything began to make sense to her as the familiarity soon seeped in.

She tied the loose knot in her night robe, and left the bed quietly. No matter which way she walked into—the hall, the kitchen, the lounge— everything appeared foreign.

The next moment, she found herself sketching a panel, where the two main characters were locked into a desperate embrace. She carefully rendered the colors, the mist, and the whole ambience swirling around them.

The finished piece before her took Ha Na back a few seasons, especially the night when Jeongguk made his anticipated—or, rather unexpected—confession.

The night if she made a different reaction, the course of all that followed could have been different. Who knows, maybe even better than the lie she forced herself into.

However, contrary to her regrets, the author in her quoted the same words to the fictional characters in the web novel. Within its premises at least, she was the omniscient power—who was sure to give them a happy ending eventually.

So incredibly immersed in her craft, Ha Na could not be bothered about her surrounding outside of the fantasy. Her frozen smile and almost hypnotic eyes appeared quite disturbing to a viewer, as it was to Anh Do Hwan—Ha Na's husband by law.

Do Hwan : Ha Na-ssi? Why are you up this late-

He stopped mid-way having his answers before his sight, as he reached a reasonable proximity to Ha Na. She had a nervous flinch at his voice and ripped off her smile immediately. As if scared to be caught at something.

Do Hwan : You are working? Right now?

Ha Na : Oh- Yeah... 'Had a spark, I couldn't help it.

Like an unaware spectator, Do Hwan couldn't see through her jitters or the blanket of shame she donned on. He let out a light chuckle.

Do Hwan : You are living life, aren't you? (-seconds apart-)  But still, all this set-up might've taken you a lot of effort, you could've woken me up to help you.

Ha Na experienced a sense of relief at his casual response.

Ha Na : It's fine. I am used to it.

They shared a moment in silent smiles, his eyes were starting to notice the grey shades in hers.

Do Hwan : Ha Na-ssi, I am not overthinking, right?

As if his suspicions were proven by it, Ha Na once again grew cautious and avoided his gaze.

Ha Na : W-what do you mean?

Do Hwan : Nothing.

He passed on an enigmatic smile. Eerily, Ha Na felt she knew exactly what he was referring to, yet she chose to play oblivious. Ha Na immediately shifted the conversation.

Ha Na : Also, thank you. For canceling the trip.

Do Hwan : Nevermind. Your work is important. I should respect your choices. Honeymoons can wait.

Ha Na felt a certain unease creep more strongly on her, as his replies now came more straightforward and quick.

Ha Na : Uh... Don't wait for me. I might actually doze off right here while drawing.

He, now, reclined against the edge of the table, facing her. His arms crossed at his chest, as he made his voice calmer and amiable again.

Do Hwan : You know, you don't have to exert yourself to that degree.

Ha Na : I know. It's not like that. I just feel more efficient this way. When there's a stream of ideas, I find it easy to jot them down as soon as possible. And for that, I need the screen at my nearest reach.

Her answers sounded well-crafted and robotic, as if memorized to quote at any given time. Do Hwan did not further question her. He simply nodded with a small understanding smile, and quietly left towards the master bedroom.

Do Hwan let out a long sigh, seated on the bed. The wide space, still as empty as it was before. The aloofness he experienced; he thought it would lessen once they got married. But, to his disappointment, he felt her being more distant than ever.

He shook his head, calling his intrusive thoughts too hasty and impatient. He entered an arranged relationship on his own free will, knowing what to expect. And that kind of distance, he deemed, normal for the initial stage of their bond.

Ha Na busied herself in her world of drawing comics so much, she was barely seen in the bed. Or more so to avoid sharing a bed with a man, she occupied herself elsewhere.

Much like the confident strokes over the digital canvas before her, Ha Na was just as careful drawing lines in her new life. Or, better perhaps, the new compromise.

Do Hwan, having nothing much change in his life than before the wedding, carried on his usual routine as well.

Day by day, they talked all the more less. At times, it seemed as if they lived seas apart, when they breathed under the same roof.

Despite Do Hwan's conscious attempts, Ha Na dodged all such intimate situations—sometimes with deadlines, sometimes on work-sore and fatigue, sometimes simply by mood.

Months leaped by.

Gradual resentment and frustration piling under his quiet and patient breaths, Do Hwan started to get more edgy and irritable.

It was Ha Na's birthday. The one she shared with Jeongguk, the one which might not be her real birth date.
Do Hwan had prepared a present, assuming an outing would be too much to ask for. But, upon hearing Ha Na's dinner-date suggestion, he was caught off-guard.

Do Hwan : Ha! You don't have to draw?

Ha Na projected a genuine smile after ages. She relived the morning incident where Do Hwan took a stand for her against his domineering mother. Ha Na realized, in her attempts to block all forms of affection, she failed to notice the good around her. The good in Do Hwan, and that he deserved better.

Ha Na : I do. But, it appears we never really went out in quite some time. So, why not? Are you tired?

Do Hwan : Oh no. I am perfect!

Ha Na : Cool, then. Give me a few minutes. Let me put on something more fitting.

Do Hwan flashed a smile ear to ear after a long time, too. Things actually seemed to take a better turn for him.

.

.

.

'Pretend it's a scene from the comic and act it out naturally.' Ha Na whirred to herself, silently through the ride. 'Just pretend. And it'll be fine.'

On the other hand, although unprepared, the hopeful Do Hwan managed to bring Ha Na to a fancy diner nevertheless. It was all very elegant. But, Ha Na could not care less about the setting. Her active efforts seemed heavily focused on the mechanical act only.

It was as if, she was unfulfilled. A certain hollowness that consumed her from within, made her unfit to appreciate the bounty, the capabilities of the outer world.

At the unbalanced dinner, Do Hwan finally broke the ice, dominating the still sound of the cutlery.

Do Hwan : Have you called your brother yet? I thought you shared the birthdays.

Unlike before, Ha Na had acquired a hardened cloak now, that nothing Do Hwan asked phased her out. She practiced her persona enough to deliver it believably.

Ha Na : Oh.. Yes. He didn't receive it though. Probably busy with his schedules. 

She lied.

Do Hwan : Right.

Do Hwan pursed his lips, worrying he might have nudged the wrong nerve. But, Ha Na handled it with modesty and perfect nonchalance.

Ha Na : It's no big deal. I am used to it. You see, we grew up not having a normal- "good" relationship.

Do Hwan : Ah, I see. That is why, he had such an unamused expression at our wedding. He must've not liked it.

The couple shared a polite grin, gracefully attending to their food as they conversed.

Do Hwan : Some siblings don't hit it off, I guess. It's quite natural, I feel.

Ha Na : That's true.

The man felt lighter as the sensitive topic was neatly diffused.

Do Hwan : Seems like I don't know a lot about Ha Na-ssi. Well, I hope it's only the beginning.

Ha Na delicately dabbed her lips off the grease as she thought of a response. Flashes of her past stripped the facade of falsehoods for a moment.

Ha Na : There isn't anything pretty to know either. (-lights up once again-) Let's not dig, but simply create as we go forward from here.

The candlelit ambience embraced the attractive faces of the two mortals, seated across the mahogany table. Ha Na noticed a flare of romance teasing between them two.

Do Hwan : I do like that.

Harmless infatuation was what she construed about that instant. She largely underestimated the perils of her flirtatious advances.

This night, none of her attempts to resist or escape a confrontation met with success. Back at their quite secludedly situated house, Do Hwan's eyes only grew darker in lust.

Do Hwan : Are you gonna make me force it out of you? Might as well.

Do Hwan grabbed her wrist tightly and dragged her to their master bedroom. Ha Na's heart pounded in immense fear and horror of what was coming next.

He practically hurled her figure to the bed, before denting his own on the soft mattress as he climbed on top of her.

Ha Na : Do Hwan-Ssi-

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