" The Girl They Called Devil "

Episode 33: Morning After

The bright morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, slowly waking Yujin from a heavy, restless sleep. When she opened her eyes, her head felt dull and achy, and her memory was hazy—like pieces of a puzzle that wouldn’t fit together. She could only recall one moment clearly: she had left the house yesterday afternoon, feeling upset and confused. But what happened after that? The details were blurred, like a dream she couldn’t quite grasp. She couldn’t remember where she went, or how she had ended up back in her own bed.

She sat up slowly, pressing her fingers to her temples, then freshened up and changed into comfortable clothes before making her way downstairs. As she entered the living room, she saw Woo-jin sitting on the sofa, flipping through a magazine but clearly not reading it. His expression was serious, and there was a look of worry in his eyes that he couldn’t hide. He had been waiting for her to wake up.

As soon as he noticed her, he closed the magazine and looked at her carefully. “Yujin, are you okay now? Are you feeling a bit better?”

Yujin nodded slowly, still feeling a little disoriented. “I’m fine… just a bit tired and my head feels heavy. To be honest, I don’t remember much from yesterday. I only recall that I went out, but after that… everything is blank. It’s like I’ve forgotten what happened.”

Woo-jin leaned forward, his voice gentle but firm, wanting to understand. “That’s exactly what I need to ask you. Can you tell me what was going through your mind yesterday? Why did you drink so much last night? You know very well that if our parents had found out about this, they would have been extremely upset and worried sick about you. It’s not like you to act this way.”

Yujin frowned slightly, feeling a little defensive but also confused. “I… I didn’t do anything wrong on purpose. I just… felt overwhelmed, that’s all.”

“Drinking until you can’t remember anything isn’t the way to handle things,” Woo-jin said softly. “Do you remember anything at all? Even a little bit?”

Yujin closed her eyes for a moment, trying hard to pull back the fog in her mind. Slowly, faint images started to surface—the dim lights, the noise, the taste of something strong, and the feeling of wanting to make everything stop. “I… I remember being somewhere crowded and loud. I think I was drinking. I just wanted to clear my head, but I didn’t realize how much I was having.” Her eyes widened suddenly as a new thought struck her. “Wait… if I was drinking and can’t remember anything… then who brought me back home safely?”

“Dea did,” Woo-jin replied plainly. “He found you and brought you back here late last night.”

Yujin looked genuinely surprised. “Dea? Why was he there? How did he even know where I was?” She shook her head, still unable to make sense of it all.

Woo-jin sighed, leaning back against the sofa. “That’s something you’ll have to ask him yourself. But listen to me carefully—don’t ever do something like this again. We are part of the Choi family, and that name carries respect and responsibility. People look up to us. We don’t run away from our problems or drink recklessly just because we feel upset. We face difficulties with courage, not by hurting ourselves or acting in ways we might regret later.”

Yujin looked down at her hands, feeling a wave of guilt wash over her. She knew he was right. “I understand. I’m really sorry. I promise… I will never do anything like this again. It was a mistake, and I won’t repeat it.”

Woo-jin’s expression softened a little, seeing that she truly felt remorseful. “It’s okay. Everyone makes mistakes sometimes. But I need to know—what was it that made you feel so lost yesterday? You can talk to me about anything, you know that. Why did you feel the need to drink like that?”

Yujin hesitated for a moment. She didn’t want to bring up the argument or the painful thoughts about her past that had been stirred up. She decided to keep it to herself for now. “It’s really nothing important. I was just feeling a bit stressed while looking for work and thinking about the future. I just wanted to forget everything for a little while, but I went too far. It won’t happen again.”

Just then, the front door opened, and Han Ji-hoon walked in. He was dressed neatly, ready to go out, and greeted them with a warm smile. “Good morning, everyone. I thought I’d stop by before we head out. Long time no see, Yujin. It feels like it’s been ages since we last talked properly. Where have you been keeping yourself busy lately?”

Yujin smiled back politely, grateful for the change of topic. “Oh, I’ve just been busy looking for a suitable job and preparing my documents. Nothing special. What about you? You look like you’re in a rush.”

Ji-hoon chuckled, running a hand through his hair. “I’ve been busy too. I started a part-time job at a well-known design firm in the city. It keeps me quite occupied, but it’s great experience and I’m learning a lot. It feels good to be earning and doing something useful.” He then turned to Woo-jin with a grin. “And speaking of work—tomorrow is your big day, right? You’re starting at your father’s office to learn how the business is run from the inside out?”

Woo-jin nodded enthusiastically, his earlier concern fading as he talked about his future. “Yes, exactly! I’ll be there every day from now on, learning everything step by step. It’s a big responsibility, but I’m really looking forward to it.”

Yujin listened quietly, feeling a little determined. “I’m also looking for a good position—something that fits my skills and helps me become independent too. I want to work hard and build my own path just like both of you.”

Ji-hoon smiled encouragingly. “That’s the spirit. If you want, I can ask around at my workplace and among my friends—there might be openings that suit you.”

“Thank you,” Yujin said, feeling a little lighter. “I’d appreciate that.”

For the next little while, the three of them sat and chatted. They talked about work, what to expect in their new roles, and even made plans to meet up on their days off to relax. Slowly, the heavy, uneasy feeling that had settled in Yujin’s chest began to lighten. She felt supported and surrounded by people who cared, even if she wasn’t ready to share every secret just yet. But deep down, she knew that sooner or later, she would have to face what had happened between her and Dea, and find a way to clear the confusion in her heart.