THE SECOND CHANCE

PRETEND TO BE SICK OF THE SECOND CHANCE

THE SECOND CHANCE LECTURE

Chapter 2: "Pretend To Be Sick"

6:42am. Kang Apartment. Master Bedroom.

The first thing Han Soo-jin felt was warmth.

An arm. Heavy. Solid. Draped over her waist.

Her eyes flew open.

Ethan Kang was asleep next to her.

Not on the chair. In the bed.

His black shirt was wrinkled. Glasses on the nightstand. Hair falling over his forehead in a way that made him look 5 years younger. Less "Professor Ice King" and more... human.

She didn’t breathe. She was afraid if she moved, he would wake up and go back to being cold.

In her past life, they never slept in the same bed. Not once in 3 years.

This was the first time.

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand. Cha Eun-ji.

UNNIE!!! DID IT WORK??? DID HE CARRY YOU HOME???

Soo-jin carefully reached for the phone with one hand so she wouldn’t disturb him.

Yes. He carried me. He’s sleeping next to me now.

Three dots immediately.

OMG OMG OMG PLAY IT COOL. ACT WEAK. MEN FALL FOR WEAK WOMEN.

Soo-jin frowned. She didn’t want to manipulate him. Not again.

In her last life, she spent 3 years pushing him away because she thought he didn’t love her. She died full of regrets.

She wasn’t going to play games.

But... maybe just a little bit. Just to crack the ice.

She closed her eyes and pretended to sleep.

10 minutes later, Ethan stirred.

She felt him go still. Felt him realize she was awake. Felt him slowly, carefully, pull his arm back.

"Morning," his voice was rough from sleep.

Soo-jin kept her eyes closed. Made a small sound. Like she was in pain.

The bed dipped. She felt him sit up.

"Soo-jin?"

No "Miss Han." No "Professor Kang’s wife." Just her name.

She let her brow furrow. "Hmm... my head hurts..."

Footsteps. The sound of water running.

A cold cloth was placed on her forehead. Gentle.

"Did you drink last night?" he asked quietly. "Eun-ji called me. She said you weren’t feeling well."

Soo-jin opened one eye. Peeking.

He was in a white button-down now, sleeves rolled up. Serious. Worried.

She nodded weakly. "Just... two glasses. With the girls."

He sighed. "You shouldn’t drink alone."

"I wasn’t alone," she whispered. "I was with them. I was... lonely. Here."

The word "lonely" hung in the air.

Ethan’s expression flickered. He looked away. "I’ll make porridge."

He left the room.

Soo-jin sat up. Her heart hurt.

In her past life, when she was sick, she called Tae-won. He never came. Said he was "busy."

Ethan came in 10 minutes. At 11pm.

---

8:00am. Kitchen.

The smell of rice porridge and seaweed filled the apartment.

Ethan was at the stove. Stirring.

Soo-jin walked in, still in her pajamas. She leaned against the doorframe and watched him.

He looked... domestic. At home.

"Did you sleep well?" he asked without turning.

"A little," she lied. "Because you were there."

The spoon stopped stirring.

He turned. Looked at her. Really looked. "Soo-jin. About last night—"

"Don’t," she cut him off. Walked to the table. Sat. "Don’t say it was because of the contract. Don’t say it was because you felt sorry for me."

He set the bowl down in front of her. "Eat."

She picked up the spoon. The porridge was warm. Perfect. "You remember I like extra sesame oil."

"I remember everything," he said quietly.

Her spoon paused halfway to her mouth. "What?"

Ethan sat across from her. "Nothing. Eat before it gets cold."

But Soo-jin wasn’t eating anymore. "In my last life, I thought you forgot everything about me. I thought you married me because of the merger." She mortared to herself .

Then she started a conversation asking him how he felt when she announced to the class that she is his wife

His chopsticks clattered to the table.

"Don’t talk about that," he said. Voice low. Dangerous.

"Why not?" She stood up. Walked to him. "Because it’s true ? I don't know why you don't love me and you still get married to me

He stood up too. Fast. Backed away from her. "You’re confused. You hit your head. That’s why you’re saying these things."

Soo-jin laughed. It was bitter. "I’m not confused . Can't you just say you love me for once. Or Loving you is now a crime

She walked past him to the bedroom. Slammed the door.

Then immediately regretted it.

She heard his footsteps stop outside the door.

Silence.

Then footsteps walking away.

---

11:30am. Seoul National University. Professor’s Office.

Ethan couldn’t focus.

On his desk: research papers. On his laptop: lecture slides.

In his head: I love Ethan or loving you is now a crime it's keep coming to his head he felt like he's going crazy

Bullshit.

She was stressed. That’s all. The marriage was too fast. The pressure from both families.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. Took off his glasses.

A knock.

"Come in."

His secretary, Mr. Bae, walked in. "Professor Kang. There’s a post about you on the campus forum. It has 3,000 comments."

Ethan didn’t look up. "Delete it."

"It’s too late. Screenshots are everywhere." Bae hesitated. "It says... it says you’re married. To a student."

Ethan finally looked up. "She’s not a student. She’s my wife."

Bae’s eyes widened. "Sir?"

"Is there a problem?" Ethan’s voice was ice again.

"No, sir." Bae bowed and left.

Ethan rubbed his temples.

His phone buzzed.

Mother: Ji-hoon’s mother called me. Is it true? You married that Han girl without telling us?

He didn’t answer.

Another buzz.

Unknown number: Professor Kang. This is Kang Tae-won. We need to talk about Soo-jin.

Ethan’s jaw clenched.

Kang Tae-won. The guy Soo-jin dated after their divorce in her past life. The guy who left her to die.

He didn't type back

No reply.

---

7:00pm. Kang Apartment.

Soo-jin hadn’t come out all day.

Ethan stood outside the bedroom door. Takeout bags in his hand. Chinese food. Her favorite.

He knocked. "Soo-jin. I brought dinner."

No answer.

"Soo-jin?"

Still nothing.

Panic shot through him.

He opened the door.

The room was dark. Curtains closed.

And on the bed, curled up under the blanket, was Soo-jin. Shaking.

"Soo-jin!" He dropped the food and rushed to her. "What’s wrong?"

She was crying. Silent tears. "Bad dream..."

"Hey. Hey." He sat on the bed. Pulled her into his lap without thinking. "It’s okay. I’m here."

She buried her face in his chest. "In the dream... you didn’t come. You let me die alone."

Ethan froze.

His arms tightened around her. "I’m here," he whispered. "I will always come. Do you hear me? Always."

She nodded against him.

They stayed like that for a long time.

Finally, her breathing evened out. She fell asleep.

Ethan looked down at her. Hair messy. Face pale.

He reached out and brushed hair from her face. His thumb lingered on her cheek.

In his last life... no. In her story. She said he confessed.

Could it be true?

He shook his head. Stood up. Carried her to the bathroom to wash her face. Laid her back down. Covered her with two blankets.

Then he sat in the chair again. Watched her sleep.

---

12:00am.

Soo-jin woke up to the sound of typing.

Ethan was at her desk. Laptop open. Working.

She sat up. "You didn’t have to stay."

"I have grading," he said without looking up.

"Liar. You have nothing due tomorrow." She swung her legs over the bed. Walked to him.

She stood behind his chair. Looked at the screen.

It wasn’t grading. It was a document titled: Divorce Agreement - DRAFT 2

Her heart stopped.

"Ethan," she whispered.

He slammed the laptop shut. "Go back to bed."

"No." She grabbed his shoulders. "Were you going to divorce me again?"

He stood up. Faced her. "This marriage was a mistake. Your family needed help. Mine needed a daughter-in-law who wouldn’t cause scandals. We signed a contract."

"So it IS a contract," she said. Tears falling now. "Just like before."

"Yes," he said. But his voice broke. "It’s a contract."

"Then why did you carry me home? Why did you make porridge? Why are you sitting in my room at midnight?"

He didn’t answer.

Soo-jin stepped closer. "Answer me."

"I don’t know," he finally said. "Okay? I don’t know. You’re driving me crazy. You show up to my class. You talk about dying. You cry in my arms. You—" He cut himself off.

"You what?" she pressed.

"Nothing." He turned away.

Soo-jin grabbed his wrist. Pulled him around.

And kissed him.

It wasn’t soft. It wasn’t sweet. It was desperate. 3 years of regret.

For a second, he didn’t move.

Then his hands were on her waist. Pulling her closer.

The kiss deepened.

When they broke apart, both of them were breathing hard.

Ethan looked at her like he’d never seen her before. "What was that?"

"A reminder," Soo-jin said, voice shaking. "That I’m not unrelated. I’m your wife."

She walked to the bed. Laid down. Pulled the covers up. "Goodnight, Professor Kang."

Ethan stood there for a full minute.

Then he turned off the light.

And laid down next to her. This time, he didn’t hesitate.

---

2:30am.

Soo-jin felt an arm wrap around her again.

A whisper in her ear. So soft she almost didn’t hear it.

"Not unrelated."

Then nothing else.

---

TO BE CONTINUED...

---

Writed by Omahcbeauty

Chapter 2 DONE: