CH75 | MCT

Her Wish (1)

Tae-soo came to a sudden stop.

[What do you mean? If she isn’t originally from this tribe, why didn’t she return home when war broke out? Why stay here?]

[You didn’t know? In the last battle, my son—the man who was supposed to be her husband—was killed. It happened just a day before their wedding.]

The chieftain’s son had died in the Bedouin conflict. Tae-soo was aware of that much.

[Because of the pact between our tribes, she was left in limbo—neither belonging here nor able to leave. Finding her a new husband was postponed until after the war.]

The war had complicated everything.

[So we made her an offer: when the war ends, she could choose her own husband.]

Tae-soo felt a sinking suspicion.

[And on that day, she chose you.]

[What?]

[She performed a courtship dance for you and gave you the ceremonial ribbon.]

It finally made sense why the Bedouins had teased him so much back then.

He recalled the chieftain taking back the ribbon from him when he looked overwhelmed.

The chieftain’s wife let out a deep sigh.

[Many men here wish to marry her. She’s young, beautiful, and full of charm. But she’s rejected every single one of them.]

[If she refused all of them…]

[That’s why she wants to return home. But before she leaves, could you try talking to her?]

Tae-soo frowned slightly. This was a tricky situation.

[She’s a lovely girl—kind and intelligent. She would make a wonderful wife.]

Tae-soo knew that much.

She was a good woman.

And when she was troubled, she always scrunched her nose—a habit he found undeniably cute.

[It saddens me to see her leave. We want her to become a part of our tribe.]

Before he knew it, they had arrived at her tent.

The chieftain’s wife turned to him.

[She seems to have feelings for you. Won’t you ask her to stay?]

[I’ll do my best.]

The chieftain’s wife called out for the dancer.

At the sound of her name, the dancer stepped out of her tent.

Upon seeing Tae-soo, her eyes widened in shock. She quickly covered her mouth with both hands.

[You—how did you…?!]

[It’s been a while. How have you been?]

With a gentle push, the chieftain’s wife nudged them both inside.

Then she quietly closed the tent flap behind them.

Now, under the dim glow of lantern light, only the two of them remained.

Tae-soo met her gaze.

[The chieftain’s wife doesn’t want you to leave the tribe.]

The dancer let out a small sigh, understanding why Tae-soo had come.

[So, you heard everything.]

[I did.]

[Are you angry? I was planning to leave without telling you.]

[I was just… surprised. Why do you want to leave?]

She hesitated.

Tae-soo reached out and took her hand.

[They say you rejected all the men who proposed to you.]

[Because I didn’t want to marry anyone else.]

She gently squeezed his hand in return.

Then, softly, she pressed her cheek against his palm.

[I’m truly happy I got to see you before I left. Thank you. It feels like an unexpected gift.]

[If I ask you to stay… will you?]

Her eyes widened.

[Are you serious? Would you really ask me to stay?]

A bright smile spread across her face, as if she had been waiting for those words all along.

She suddenly threw herself into his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Then, without hesitation, she pressed a quick, lingering kiss to his cheek—loud enough to make a soft smooch echo in the quiet tent.

[Thank you… I’ll never forget your kindness.]

But she didn’t say she would stay.

[Have you already made up your mind to leave?]

[Yes.]

She smiled faintly.

[When you left, I realized something. I couldn’t bring myself to marry another man while my heart still belonged to you. But… I also didn’t have the courage to follow you to a distant land.]

[So, what you're saying is...]

[That’s why I have to leave. Staying here while holding onto my feelings for you would be selfish. It wouldn’t be right.]

Tae-soo understood.

She had come here because of the marriage pact between tribes.

But since she hadn’t chosen a husband from among them, staying any longer would have made things difficult for her.

[Have you packed everything?]

[Yes, I finished earlier. I need to leave early in the morning, so I—]

[Where is it?]

[Over there…]

She gestured toward the corner of the tent, where her belongings were neatly packed.

Without hesitation, Tae-soo strode over and lifted her luggage with ease.

It wasn’t much—just a small bundle of clothes.

[Then let’s go.]

[What are you doing?!]

[Aren’t you leaving because you feel uncomfortable staying here? Then come with me.]

[Where… where are we going at this hour?]

[To my place.]

One hand holding her bag, Tae-soo extended his other hand toward her.

She stared at his outstretched hand, hesitating.

[I’m going home.]

[Then I’ll take you there. But for now, come with me.]

Her fingers trembled slightly.

Tae-soo reached out and clasped her hand firmly.

Then, without another word, he led her outside.

Waiting just beyond the tent was the chieftain’s wife.

She looked taken aback.

[This is…]

[I’m sorry I couldn’t persuade her. She says she can’t stay.]

The dancer bowed deeply to the chieftain’s wife.

[I’m sorry. As I told you before, I’ve made up my mind to leave.]

[Are you going with him?]

Tae-soo gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.

The dancer turned to him with a warm smile.

[Thank you.]

She and the chieftain’s wife spoke for a long time in their native tongue.

Tae-soo couldn’t understand their words, but he could see the sorrow in the older woman’s expression as she pulled the dancer into a tight embrace.

What are they saying? She looks so sad…

Despite the late hour, the tribe gathered around to bid the dancer farewell.

Finally, she stepped into Tae-soo’s car.

As the engine roared to life, they drove off under the glow of the headlights, cutting through the desert darkness.

As they drove, she suddenly spoke.

[Before we go to the lodge, there’s somewhere I want to visit first.]

[At this hour? Where?]

[The rock shaped like an eagle.]

Tae-soo immediately understood. It was the place where people made wishes.

[I want to make one last wish.]

[Hmph. You could just tell me, and I’d make it come true.]

[I know. But I still want to go. That place is filled with our memories.]

Tae-soo glanced at her before nodding.

[Alright. Let’s go.]

With that, he steered the car toward their special place, where one final wish awaited.

***

Han Cheong-ho’s Study

Han Cheong-ho sat at his desk and closed his eyes.

Scattered across the desk were gruesome photographs.

Beside them lay a broken watch, its surface stained with blood—Song’s final belonging.

Song had promised to return on the next flight.

But he never made it back.

"I never thought Song would go like this..."

A short letter typed on a typewriter:

"When you cut off my son, you must have been prepared to lose your own limbs as well."

It was written in English.

No sender.

But Han Cheong-ho knew exactly who had sent it.

"So, the Saudi Minister of Defense holds quite the grudge against me."

He had severed Rahman’s hand and betrayed him. He had anticipated some retaliation.

But he hadn’t expected to lose Song so soon.

A man like him wasn’t easy to come by.

"Well, it can’t be helped. In a way, this works out for the best."

Song had known too much.

He had been living on borrowed time anyway.

"No matter. There are plenty of men in this world. I’ll find another just as capable."

There were always ambitious men eager to become the secretary to the chairman of Cheongil Group.

Like this one.

"Secretary Park."

"Yes, sir."

Standing beside the desk was Secretary Park.

He had long been overshadowed by Song, unable to secure a position as Han Cheong-ho’s closest aide.

A man who had bided his time, waiting for his moment.

"Deliver Song’s belongings and compensation to his family."

"Understood."

"Take just one photo."

Han Cheong-ho picked up a picture from the desk and handed it to Park.

It showed Song’s bloodied body, abandoned in the middle of the desert.

"His family deserves to find his body, at least."

"I understand."

The door to Han Cheong-ho’s study closed behind him.

***

Eagle Rock was just as breathtaking as ever.

From the high vantage point, the desert stretched endlessly before them, the vast openness bringing a sense of peace.

Tae-soo stood in the breeze, gazing at the stars and the desert below.

As before, she stood before Eagle Rock, pressing her hands together in a silent wish.

[What did you wish for?]

[It’s a secret.]

[Why do you have so many secrets?]

[Because my last wish came true when I didn’t tell you.]

[Hmm. Then I won’t ask anymore. Eagle Rock will grant them all anyway.]

She leaned gently into Tae-soo’s embrace.

[Are you jealous of a rock right now?]

[You think I’d be jealous of a rock?]

[Your expression doesn’t seem too happy.]

[It’s just your imagination.]

She playfully touched his lips.

Tae-soo stubbornly kept them shut.

[If you keep your lips like that, I can’t kiss you.]

She laughed softly before capturing his lips with hers.

As her kiss deepened, Tae-soo found his lips parting, his resistance melting away.

Along with the last remnants of his resolve.

[You said you'd grant my wish if I asked?]

[What is it that you want?]

[Don't go back to your lodgings tonight. Stay with me.]

[That, I can certainly do.]

As Mu-hui slowly slipped off Tae-soo’s jacket, she whispered:

[Tonight, I want to talk to you about many things.]

[I'm listening.]

But before words, their bodies spoke first.

***

"I’m truly sorry for your loss."

Secretary Park handed over the personal effects and a photograph.

The moment Song’s wife saw it, she fainted on the spot.

Her daughter, hands trembling, took the items in her mother’s stead.

Tears streamed down her face, silent and endless.

"Saudi Arabia, right? That’s where my father disappeared?"

"Yes, that’s correct."

"I’m going there. To find his body. Thank you for bringing this. Please… thank the Chairman as well."

"I’ll take my leave now."

Secretary Park turned and exited the house.

Still gripping her father's watch tightly, Song’s daughter wiped her tears and hurried into her room.

"Dad isn't dead. That’s why he sent this."

She recalled his words, spoken in secret countless times:

"If I ever send you numbers, move quickly. It means danger."

"I won’t be able to come for you. You have to take your mother and run."

Her father had sent her numbers.

She rushed to her wardrobe and opened it.

Inside was a hidden compartment—her father’s secret safe.

"The time on the stopped watch... 10:27:53. 102753."

She spun the dial.

With a click, the safe unlocked.

Inside were several notebooks.

"This is what he wanted me to find!"

Inside the safe were stacks of emergency cash, valuables, and even passports—everything they would need.

Without hesitation, Song’s daughter grabbed them all.

"Hurry. Hurry. There’s no time. We have to move fast. It’s dangerous."

She threw everything into a large suitcase, stuffing clothes on top to conceal the hidden treasures.

Then she rushed to pack her mother’s belongings, prioritizing valuables and essentials.

"Mom! Get up! We have to go! Now!"

With her father’s secret ledgers exposing Han Cheong-ho’s corruption in hand, they boarded a plane to Saudi Arabia.

***

Crackle. Crackle.

The campfire burned gently, its flickering glow painting warm shadows across the sand.

Wrapped in Tae-soo’s arms, Mu-hui pulled the blanket tighter around them.

The desert night was still bitterly cold.

Tae-soo adjusted the blanket to cover them both, his warmth pressing against her.

She leaned into him, smiling softly.

[It’s such a beautiful night. I never thought I’d return here with you.]

[If you love this place so much, we’ll come again.]

Her laughter was light and happy.

[I never expected you to stop me. To carry my luggage in front of everyone. To take my hand and walk away.]

Mu-hui laced her fingers through Tae-soo’s, squeezing tightly—just as he had done when they left the village.

[I never knew you could be so bold.]

[Did you dislike it?]

[No… I was happy.]

Was this how runaway lovers felt?

That moment had sent her heart racing, her emotions overflowing in a dizzying rush.

She traced her fingers over Tae-soo’s arm, the one holding her close.

[Hold me tighter.]

[Are you cold?]

[No… I just love the way you hold me.]

Tae-soo tightened his embrace, his warmth melting into hers.

Mu-hui closed her eyes, listening to his steady breaths.

[I wanted to be yours.]

[Even after sharing our hearts, our bodies… is that still not enough?]

His arms instinctively pulled her closer.

[I love you.]

Tae-soo answered her confession with a deep, lingering kiss.

[I love you too.]

A quiet pause.

[I want to have your child.]

Tae-soo froze.