Chapter 9: Calling Wacko
1069 Words
Chapter 9: Calling Wacko
Hana sat at the edge of the bed, hands trembling against the cotton of her sheets. The room still smelled faintly of Chairman Lee’s cologne—a scent too expensive, too deliberate, like something meant to mask rot.
She stared at the door he had exited through.
“Home? Then why do they make it seem scary?”
The words echoed, louder than they should’ve.
Chairman Lee?
Yeonwha once told me about him. That was just yesterday. She racked her brain.
She shook her head. It didn’t make sense. How related were they? She doesn’t remember. She was an orphan—Sun-Woo had made that clear from the beginning. Her family had perished in a fire, she’d been sick, sold to someone who is now her sponsor. Her story was a tragedy and a silence. There was no one else. So, where does Chairman Lee come in?
She stumbled to her feet, the headache from last night pounding again behind her eyes. Yeonwha rushed over, wrapping an arm around her waist to steady her.
“Sit down, you’re still dizzy—”
“No, I need… I need to call him.”
Yeonwha paused. “Who?”
Hana didn’t answer.
Her fingers gripped her phone like a lifeline. She scrolled through her shortlist of contacts. Only one name stood out—a ridiculous name in all caps.
WACKO.
She didn’t know who he was, not really. Just a name, a voice, a sponsor. Sun-Woo never explained much. “He’s a benefactor,” he once said, “just someone helping with your medical bills.” The voice was always calm, composed. Never too warm. Never too familiar.
But something inside her had always trusted him.
Maybe it was instinct. Or maybe it was desperation.
She called.
It rang once.
Then—
A low, controlled voice answered.
“Hana.”
Her heart jumped.
“I…” Her voice cracked. “I don’t know what’s going on.”
She was already crying.
“I thought I was going to school. I bought my books and my shoes. I was ready. And now they’re saying I’m not allowed to leave this house. I have to stay. They hired a tutor and also a therapist and locked me in, and they won’t tell me why— ”
He didn’t say anything.
So she kept going.
“You said you’d get me into a boarding school. You said I’d be safe. You promised.”
Her voice was already breaking. She was crying.
On the other side,
Silence. Cold and long.
But then—
The silence shifted.
Like something inside him broke.
His voice returned, but not the same. It cracked, barely audible, trembling like glass.
“Hana… I’m so sorry. You’re right. You’re right.”
Her tears stopped for a second.
“You are going,” he said, firmer now. “I’ll handle it. I let someone else make that decision before. I won’t let that happen again.”
She sniffled, stunned.
“Are you serious?”
“I promised, didn’t I?” he said softly. “And I keep my promises.”
A rush of joy exploded in her chest. It was reckless, dizzying joy—but it was real.
“Thank you. Thank you—”
“Stay strong. I’ll talk to Sun-Woo myself. Again. It’s settled.”
---
She didn’t wait.
She didn’t even change clothes.
She threw open the bedroom door and stormed down the stairs like a cyclone, her bare feet loud against the floor.
The staff scattered. Maids bowed. One nearly dropped a vase.
Chairman Lee was in the main sitting room, sipping black tea like a royal on retreat. He looked up at the sound of her steps, arching an elegant eyebrow.
Then—
“Hey, you!!” she shouted.
Gasps echoed through the halls. Even Yeonwha, running behind her, flinched at the sound.
“Wacko said I’m going to boarding school! And his words are final!”
For a beat, the room froze.
Even the walls seemed to stop breathing.
Chairman Lee set his cup down with a soft clink, then turned to face her, the smile blooming slowly across his face like it had been waiting for a performance.
“Well then,” he said, “if your uncle said it—”
He stopped.
Too late.
Uncle.
Her brows pinched.
“Wait… Uncle?” she asked, confused.
Chairman Lee blinked once, then quickly covered his mouth with his fingers like a child caught cursing.
“Oh dear,” he said playfully. “You didn’t hear anything, alright?”
He stood and made for the door, his stride quick for a man so regal.
“Just forget that little part,” he called over his shoulder. “Forget, forget, forget~”
He vanished, as he ran out the door like a breeze laced with perfume and secrets, as his guards followed behind.
---
Hana stood frozen on the stairs, chest heaving, mind spiraling.
Uncle?
But how?
She had no family. No living relatives. She knew that.
Didn’t she?
She turned slowly, just in time to see Sun-Woo descending the opposite staircase, watching her with that familiar look—half annoyance, half amusement.
“So,” he said dryly. “He changed his mind.”
She glared. “He kept his promise. That’s the difference. Unlike you, you promised and then changed your mind. Even giving off some attitude.”
Sun-Woo rolled his eyes. “Sigh. Lucky you.”
She opened her mouth to fire back, but stopped when Yeonwha stepped in gently between them.
“Sun-Woo is just worried,” she said softly to Hana. “He’s always been protective. He doesn’t mean to hurt you. You know that… don’t you?”
Hana swallowed hard.
Her voice was small. “Is that why he acted so mean yesterday?”
Sun-Woo looked at her, surprised.
“Fine,” he muttered. “I’m sorry, alright? I was scared. You were screaming about fire. I panicked.”
"You caused it!"
"Fine, I'm sorry, dear, my lovely angel."
But she didn’t respond.
She just snorted—a defiant, proud little sound—then turned and walked away.
Her head held high.
Back to her room.
And if anyone looked closely enough, they would’ve seen—
Her cheeks flushed red.
Her lips were twitching.
A smile curling where sorrow had once lived.
---
End of Chapter Eight
- Writer
