IT - 25

25. A Pitiful Lie

It was somewhat awkward not to look at Tae-ha as he dressed, his overwhelming presence filling the tiny studio apartment that was smaller than a company office. Rather than risk an embarrassing moment of eye contact, Ji-soo chose to awkwardly turn her head away.

As she stared intently at the bed’s wallpaper, the sound of fabric brushing against bare skin reached her ears. Whether undressing or dressing, Tae-ha had a way of stirring suggestive thoughts.

Why was he still here, lingering in her home and making things difficult?

“Were you cursing me in your head just now?”

The warm breath against her ear startled Ji-soo, causing her to whip her head around. His lips, which had almost touched hers, trembled slightly. There he stood, fully dressed and looking as impeccable as when he first entered her place, smirking faintly.

“The fact that you can’t answer means I’m right.”

“Ah, well…”

Ji-soo wanted to ask where he’d learned mind-reading. As she scrambled for a plausible excuse, Tae-ha chuckled softly.

“You’re terrible at making up lies. It’s better if you just stay quiet. Provoking me will only make things harder for you, Han Ji-soo.”

Ji-soo bit down on her swollen lips, which had been thoroughly kissed and sucked on until dawn. Each press of her teeth caused Tae-ha’s gaze to sharpen with intensity.

“Get dressed. We need to talk.”

“What… kind of talk?”

Running his fingers through his damp hair, Tae-ha glanced around the room. It was the first time Ji-soo had seen him disheveled like this, a stark contrast to his usual perfectly groomed appearance. While she bore physical proof of their intense night, Tae-ha somehow remained immaculate, as though they had merely slept together and woken up.

“I like it here, but I don’t think the homeowner who finds me inconvenient would approve. Leaving seems like the better option, doesn’t it?”

Though Ji-soo saw no reason to continue conversing with him, getting rid of him now required fabricating some story. She nodded in agreement and climbed off the bed.

Traces of Tae-ha lingered in the bathroom. The soap and shampoo were the same ones she always used, yet somehow they smelled different after having touched his body. Amidst the steamy air, Ji-soo sighed softly as she put her toothbrush in her mouth.

“Huh? What’s this childishness?”

[Han Ji-soo is an idiot.]

She muttered under her breath upon seeing the message written in toothpaste on the mirror, both exasperated and amused. When she turned on the showerhead to wipe the mirror clean, she noticed that water flowed only from the nozzle—unlike its usual half-broken state.

The showerhead, which alternated between working and malfunctioning, had behaved perfectly while Tae-ha used it. 

By the time she finished washing up, Ji-soo realized the showerhead’s flawless performance wasn’t mere coincidence.

Tae-ha was inspecting the inside of the light fixture, standing upright to peer into it while she could barely reach it even on tiptoes. Realizing anew how tall he was, Ji-soo approached him.

“What are you doing?”

“Does nothing in this house work properly unless it’s broken? Just like the owner—crooked and troublesome.”

“So… did you fix the showerhead too, Director?”

After carefully examining the interior, Tae-ha closed the light fixture and lowered his hand. His gaze, calm as ever, settled on Ji-soo as she stepped closer.

“Didn’t the light flicker occasionally?”

“It did. I replaced the bulb, but it kept flickering. After leaving it on for a while, it seemed fine. Is it broken?”

“The safety switch needs replacing. There’s an issue inside, much like someone else I know.”

Outwardly, there seemed to be no problem, but upon inspection, issues abounded. His casual remark mirrored Ji-soo herself.

Judging by her clueless expression regarding what a safety switch even was, Tae-ha abandoned any hope of finding spares in this place.

“Thank you for fixing the showerhead and the light. I’ll take care of things from here.”

“Are you refusing my help, or do you just want to kick me out quickly?”

How did Tae-ha manage to read her thoughts so accurately every time without needing telepathy? If her acting skills were as pitiful as he claimed, honesty might be the better route.

“Both. So please…”

“Therefore, I’ll replace the safety switch before leaving. I live to torment you, Han Ji-soo.”

When had the direction of his life shifted like this? Ji-soo watched him with a perplexed expression. Tae-ha pulled out his phone and placed it on the desk.

“I’m not leaving entirely, so don’t get too excited. I’ll be back soon.”

True to his word, Tae-ha bought and replaced the safety switch before stepping out of the studio with Ji-soo.

No words were exchanged as the hot tea gradually cooled. Without the rising steam, the seated pair resembled a paused screen.

Ji-soo hoped Tae-ha, who clearly had something to say, would speak first. But if remaining silent was part of his torment, then he was likely enjoying her discomfort.

Placing her teacup down, Ji-soo lifted her head. Perhaps offering some awkward praise would be better than enduring the silence.

“How did you learn to fix showerheads and replace safety switches?”

His unexpected question broke the quiet atmosphere, prompting Tae-ha to raise his eyes and gaze at her pensively.

“But actually, you didn’t need to bother. I’m moving soon.”

“The most welcome words I’ve heard from you so far. Where to?”

“I’m about to look into that. I have a real estate appointment soon, so I need to leave shortly. If you have anything to say…”

“Want me to introduce you to a decent place?”

Ji-soo’s grip tightened on her teacup as she blinked slowly, trying to decipher Tae-ha’s intentions.

“No, thank you.”

“Rejecting without hearing the details? Have you decided to push away everything I say? Are you afraid that accepting my help will give me an excuse to demand sexual favors?”

On this sleepy Sunday morning, despite only three groups occupying the café known for its photogenic spots and tasty treats, all eyes turned toward their suddenly noisy table.

“That’s not it, Director. I appreciate your kindness, but housing is too personal… something I prefer handling myself.”

“Yet you accept help from Team Leader Kang Eun-ho?”

Once again, Tae-ha had apparently seen Eun-ho’s messages first. Rather than feeling upset about him snooping through her phone, Ji-soo found herself reflecting on how she’d relied solely on Eun-ho until now.

“Let’s move past that.”

With the conversation sufficiently steered away from Eun-ho, Tae-ha sipped his lukewarm tea.

“The homeowner uses only the second floor, so you can have the first. It’s a 20-minute drive from the company, and carpooling with the homeowner is possible if desired. What else do you want to know?”

“You can’t mean… the homeowner is…”

“Skilled at fixing showerheads and replacing safety switches. And let’s not forget—he has a body you like.”

“I refuse. Why should I move into your house? It’s unnecessary…”

Ji-soo couldn’t understand why he was being so reckless, especially with an important engagement looming. Even without engaging in anything explicitly inappropriate, rumors already labeled him as promiscuous and perverted.

“Why stop mid-sentence?”

“I told you last time—I don’t want to be entangled with you like this.”

“What do you mean by ‘like this’?”

His cruel insistence on hearing her articulate their shameful relationship must be another form of amusement for him. Fine then—if he wanted her to spell it out, she wouldn’t hold back.

“I’m neither your mistress nor your sponsor. I have no reason to live in your house.”

“Does that mean if I gave you a reason, you’d move in? Mistress or sponsor?”

“No. Any reason would be unacceptable.”

Ji-soo tried hard not to excite or anger him, yet her voice unintentionally rose. The few patrons in the café glanced briefly before averting their eyes.

“Why? Don’t you like me?”

Under the table, Ji-soo clenched her fists tightly. She wanted to scold the version of herself who brought home that discarded B-cut photo. And yesterday’s self, who let Tae-ha inside.

“I think there’s been a misunderstanding. My feelings for you… You’re just a handsome boss, a man whose body fit well with mine on lonely nights. That’s it. I don’t want a deep relationship with anyone, nor do I wish to share my workplace or daily life.”

Rather than flaring up in anger or storming out of the café, Tae-ha responded with an unexpectedly indifferent gaze. There was even a hint of encouragement in his relaxed demeanor, as if egging her on.

His inexplicable leniency cornered Ji-soo further, pushing her to blurt out words she later regretted. Unaware that provoking him only made her shine more beautifully.

“If I’d known you’d cling to me like this, maybe I should’ve called another man that night. Honestly, it’s exhausting and tiresome.”

Still, Tae-ha replied with a bland expression.

“How convenient for you, Han Ji-soo. Plenty of men ready to be summoned whenever you feel like it.”

His taunting tone dragged her emotions through the mud. Trembling, she bit her lip and met his gaze.

“Yes, there are plenty of men waiting in line right now. I don’t even know when it’ll be your turn. So there’s no need for you to add yourself to the queue.”

Tae-ha’s sharp gaze remained fixed on her, as if mocking every lie she’d uttered so far.

“Alright, fine.”

He glanced at the ripples in Ji-soo’s teacup, noticing the trembling of her hands beneath the table transmitting directly to the cup. Tae-ha’s eyes, which adored every vibration of hers, missed nothing.

“I’ll join the queue too. As one of Han Ji-soo’s standby lovers? Why not?”

The absurdity of his words froze her trembling entirely. Her face paled as she turned to look at him. Staring into his deep, dark eyes felt like being helplessly drawn into an abyss.