IT - 23

23. Half-Hearted Honesty

The saying that one reveals their true self when drunk was only half true for Ji-soo. Even as alcohol coursed through her from head to toe, she laughed heartily, showing only half of her genuine feelings while keeping the rest tightly concealed.

The two sat facing each other with a small table between them. All the beer she’d bought, the soju in the fridge, and even the ceremonial liquor she’d been hoarding as a gift were steadily making their way into Ji-soo’s mouth.

“You’re quite the drinker.”

Despite his teasing rebuke, Ji-soo busied herself moving around the cramped, empty kitchen. The only snack available was crushed instant ramen, sprinkled generously with dry seasoning powder. Watching this, Tae-ha’s handsome brow furrowed deeply in distaste.

“I’m guessing this is your first time eating something like this?”

He refrained from voicing how it felt like eating red sand and decided against risking her ire by openly criticizing her culinary creation.

But Ji-soo could read the disapproval on his face.

“So you were raised well, huh? If you pour hot water over what’s left after eating this, it becomes a warm, filling meal. Though I guess this would be your first time experiencing that?”

“Why go through all that trouble? Why not just boil the ramen from the start?”

Ji-soo giggled, stuffing another piece of raw ramen into her mouth. Drunk and emboldened, she held up a piece toward Tae-ha, who watched her with a displeased expression.

“Fine. Since you like it so much, I’ll let you have my share.”

“Try it first before saying anything. And don’t ask for more later. You know how annoying it is when someone begs for a bite while you’re eating ramen, right? Go on.”

It wasn’t flirtation or flattery—just the kind of unfiltered words and actions that came naturally when intoxicated. Yet Tae-ha, who wanted nothing more than to pull her close, loosely grabbed her wrist.

Tae-ha opened his mouth not because he wanted to eat but because he desired to suck on Ji-soo’s fingers. The white, rounded tips stained with red seasoning powder and spicy granules beckoned him.

Holding her wrist, Tae-ha placed the piece of raw ramen into his mouth. As planned, he used his tongue to pull her fingers deep into his mouth, sucking on them thoroughly. Watching him lick her hand greedily as if he might devour her entire finger, Ji-soo smirked.

“You asked earlier why I eat it this way separately. Back then… I couldn’t boil ramen from the start.”

Before he could literally melt her fingers with his mouth, Tae-ha released her. He wanted to hear her story earnestly.

“There was a pot placed high up in a cabinet out of a child’s reach. My mom had put it there, and no matter how hard I tried climbing on chairs, I couldn’t get it down. Every time I was hungry, I’d climb up and inevitably fall flat on the floor.”

“Is that the scar from back then?”

Tae-ha pointed to a mark on her thigh near her hip and asked.

“Huh? Is there something there?”

Come to think of it, it was a spot she couldn’t see herself without deliberate effort. If she’d had an attentive mother, the wound would’ve been treated with ointment and care. But then again, a responsible guardian wouldn’t have let a small child attempt to cook ramen alone in the first place.

“It’s been bothering me since our last session. Knowing Han Ji-soo’s unique tastes, I assumed it was one of her marks.”

Even under the influence of alcohol, hearing such explicit words made her blush. Tae-ha seemed to think she was the one flushed from drinking.

The hand that had been exploring her scarred thigh moved upward, cupping her buttocks before pulling her closer. His movements were smoother and faster than any snake slithering over a wall. Lost in comparing Tae-ha to a long, thick serpent, Ji-soo chuckled lightly.

“Wait a moment.”

Knowing her state since he started sucking her fingers, Ji-soo pushed away his hand as it ventured toward more intimate territory.

“This isn’t fitting for the situation.”

At this, Tae-ha’s eyes narrowed. Reading the desire reflected in his cool gaze, Ji-soo felt heat pool between her legs.

“It seems you’re more eager than I am right now.”

Tae-ha knew her body better than she did. He excelled at pushing her to the brink and stealing her climax when she least expected it. This time was no different.

Pulling her waist toward him, Tae-ha swiftly pinned her to the floor. With strong arms, he caged her shoulders beneath him.

“When you’re wet and beautiful like this, it makes me want to taste you here.”

Their hips pressed together, trembling slightly. Tae-ha’s lips descended—not to roughly claim hers as she anticipated, but to softly kiss her cheeks and chin instead.

“You’re the only one who doesn’t realize it. How can I resist when you’re like this?”

The hand stroking her waist traveled upward. When he squeezed gently, Ji-soo exhaled a heated breath. His fingers slipped past bare skin, and she clutched his hand desperately, almost pleading. Sensing her silent plea, he kindly restrained his urge to thrust forward.

Tonight, he wanted to hear her speak rather than indulge in lovemaking. He needed to understand why she acted this way and what she truly desired.

“Aren’t you getting engaged?”

Tae-ha’s frozen, statue-like face stared at her lips, his eyelashes unmoving.

“So what?”

So what? Just as he said, so what? Ji-soo wanted to ask herself: So what are you going to do about it?

She had known this would happen the moment he stepped inside, yet she still opened the door willingly and let him sit on her bed. Her longing for him clashed fiercely with the rational voice telling her this was wrong.

But deep down, she knew she’d return to her usual self eventually.

Who knows? Could she handle it if he suddenly disappeared one day after everything they’d shared?

To Ji-soo, Tae-ha was like a breath of air in her suffocating life.

Before entering university, she craved her mother’s attention, but as an adult, she desperately wished for indifference. Her mother, who calculated every meal and investment into raising her, switched tactics, claiming family obligation to demand money from her.

Perhaps that’s why she gave more of her heart to Tae-ha. Though unrelated, his affection felt like comfort for the version of herself tormented by her mother. In his embrace, she could smile happily without worrying about money, judgment, or hatred.

“If you’re going to zone out, I’ll finish what I started.”

What pulled Ji-soo back from drawing boundaries in her world with half-hearted honesty was Tae-ha’s touch reaching her most sensitive spot. By now, her clothes had slid down to her feet.

“That’s my answer to your proposal from last time.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Tae-ha murmured against her nape, nibbling gently on her tender flesh before lifting his torso. Moonlight streaming through the small window traced the contours of his well-defined chest muscles.

Though she knew touching him would lead to consequences she might not handle, she yearned to feel the shadows cast across his rigid muscles. They looked soft enough to sink into. Shaking off the impulse to touch, Ji-soo turned her head—but he caught her chin, forcing her to face him.

“Han Ji-soo.”

His voice, neither angry nor irritated but filled with intent, pierced her ears.

“Were you planning to marry me or something?”

Hearing the word “marriage” from Tae-ha’s lips, especially in this context, caught her off guard. Marriage was the farthest concept from Ji-soo’s mind, and family was the word she wanted to distance herself from the most. Yet, strangely, a flicker of mischief stirred within her.

What expression would he make if she confessed she wanted to marry him? Would he lash out with sharp criticism, telling her to know her place? Or would he hurt her by suggesting they remain nothing more than excellent bed partners? Neither option appealed to her idea of marriage.

“Why would I?”

Ji-soo bit down hard on her crimson lips before answering with feigned confidence. It was time to hide the other half of her sincerity, Tae-ha judged.

“You like me, don’t you?”

There was no way Tae-ha could have seen the photo stuck to her vanity. That couldn’t be it.

Smiling sweetly to mask her unrequited love, Ji-soo curved her eyes in a charming manner, ensuring she didn’t tempt him too much.

Tae-ha nearly burst into laughter. This was the smile Ji-soo wore when trying to distract him from her poorly concealed honesty—a telltale sign she was hiding something.

Either commit fully to hiding it or stop leaving traces altogether. Yet somehow, this clumsy, imperfect Ji-soo kept ensnaring him completely.

His lips resumed their assault, breathing hot air onto her face. Her frail body writhed beneath his massive frame, gasping heavily as his heat penetrated deeper.

Even though her feelings were already exposed, she bit her lips deliberately to stifle any moans. Amidst this, his calm voice seeped in.

“You’ve liked me for a very long time, haven’t you? Up until now.”

Ji-soo closed her eyes. There was no doubt—he must have seen the photo. Selecting which of Tae-ha’s interview shots to include in the newsletter had been difficult; they all looked strikingly similar. In the end, the editorial team voted to decide.

Ji-soo had kept one of the rejected B-cuts. Even that photo was stunning, making her heart race just looking at it.

Of course, it was natural for someone as perceptive and quick as Tae-ha to notice her face first upon entering this unfamiliar, cramped space. She pitied herself for sneaking his picture away so belatedly.

“Yes, I liked you. But isn’t it more accurate to say my body burns hotter?” Ji-soo trailed off with a gasp as his overwhelming intensity silenced her. Their eyes met, and Tae-ha sent her a sultry smile.

“So, is there anyone else more suited to being just a sleeping partner than me?”

Once again, his scorching lips descended onto her trembling, pale neck.