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Before entering the garage, Myung-sun caught up with Tae-ha and handed him something she had been carrying.
“While preparing your birthday feast, I made a separate dish for Madam. How is she doing?”
Tae-ha accepted the neatly wrapped cloth bundle. The heavier item felt like porridge, and the faint herbal scent suggested it was the red ginseng brittle that In-hee loved.
“Thank you. I’ll visit her tomorrow.”
“Good, please give her my regards.”
Myung-sun inhaled the damp air and then looked up at the sky.
“It looks like it’s going to pour soon. Hurry inside. Drive carefully. Remember, nothing matters more than good health. It never hurts to be cautious.”
“I understand. Go back inside now.”
“I won’t feel at ease until I see you leave.”
To Tae-ha, Myung-sun was like a mother. When In-hee left the house due to depression and paranoia being cited as grounds for divorce, she insisted on leaving Myung-sun behind despite her own fragile state. And when young Tae-ha unknowingly swallowed dangerous pills, Myung-sun had stuck her finger down his throat to make him vomit every last bit.
That incident had been the decisive factor in expelling Geon-wook’s second wife.
“Are you seeing someone?”
“Yes.”
Why did his face flush so deeply at such a simple question? Perhaps it was fortunate that only dim lights illuminated the garage.
“Oh my goodness. Madam will be so pleased! Even I can tell how wonderful it feels.”
“I’ll bring her over to introduce her soon.”
“You’re introducing her to me too? That’s wonderful!”
“I want to show off my person, but there’s nowhere to talk about it.”
Suddenly, Jisoo’s habit of pretending to be a complete stranger in public irked him.
“Filial piety isn’t complicated. Just get married, live happily, and give grandchildren—that’s all it takes.”
Tae-ha smirked, thinking of how Jisoo would panic and flee if he showed even a hint of sincerity. Maybe he should chain her down to prevent her from escaping—now he understood why the woodcutter stole the fairy’s wings.
“Hurry home. You need rest if you’re driving tomorrow.”
Tae-ha clutched the warm bundle and entered the garage.
As he merged onto the road, heavy raindrops began pelting the windshield. Watching the rain splatter against the glass naturally brought certain images to mind.
Rainy days, cars, hot lips.
Perhaps that’s why being in a car during rainfall always made longing feel more acute.
He almost reached home before realizing he’d forgotten something. Instead of parking in the building’s lot, he pulled over to one side. It didn’t take long to figure out what—or rather, who—he had left behind.
Tae-ha took out his phone and dialed Jisoo’s number.
“Our Vision Workshop.”
The theme of this workshop. Jisoo had just finished printing the materials and was about to leave when the vision coach called to request changes to the evaluation questions.
She sat back down, regretting not picking up some kimbap while she was out.
After discarding the old printouts, she hit print on the revised questions and waited. Standing by the printer, she glanced around the empty office and remembered what Tae-ha had said earlier.
“An office romance lover.”
How could someone say such things about themselves? Despite possessing enough charm to attract people effortlessly, he was an eccentric man with almost no friends.
“He really is strange.”
Despite her words, Jisoo’s cheeks flushed sweetly. She picked up the freshly printed sheets and returned to her desk.
Her phone vibrated slightly. Even if it weren’t past 9 p.m., the only person likely to call her was Tae-ha. Come to think of it, teasing him about having no friends wasn’t exactly fair either.
-What are you doing?
“I’m still at the office. Preparing meeting materials for Monday’s resort visit.”
-It’s raining heavily outside.
“Really?”
Jisoo sprang up from her seat and walked to the window. Pulling up the blinds, she gazed at the rain-soaked cityscape. Did humidity weaken resolve? She wished Tae-ha were here. Ever since their secret relationship began, solitude became unbearable. Darkness, loneliness, sadness—all negative emotions felt harder to endure.
“I don’t have an umbrella.”
-What do you expect? Should I deliver one?
Jisoo chuckled at his preemptive response.
“Of course not. Busy Vice President Cha wouldn’t bother with such trivial tasks. I’m almost done anyway; I’ll call a taxi and head straight to the lobby.”
-Narrow alleys and stairs await you.
A place Tae-ha couldn’t enter. Her sanctuary. Jisoo turned away from the darkened window.
“Thanks for letting me know about the rain and calling.”
-What do you mean? Are you indirectly saying you want me here right now?
How did he always twist everything back to himself? Jisoo marveled anew at Tae-ha’s peculiar ability, nodding silently though he couldn’t see her.
“What if I am? Are you coming?”
-If I come, can you handle it?
“As if I’ve ever avoided responsibility?”
Though her words sounded confident, half of her hoped he’d come while the other half dreaded revealing her racing heart.
Then she remembered his schedule tonight—a family event at his parents’ house. She vaguely recalled hearing he rarely interacted with them. His unhappy family history made her hesitant to pry further.
If he was still there, even if he left now, she’d already be gone by the time he arrived. So she decided to tease him boldly. When else could she playfully provoke him?
“Ever fantasized about doing it in the office? It’s one of my fantasies.”
-Have you been drinking?
Not that drunk people act like this...
“Who drinks at the office?”
-Oh, alcohol is off-limits, but sexual fantasies are fine?
She thought he kept changing the subject because he lacked confidence.
“So, are you coming or not?”
-If I come... will we really do it?
Jisoo walked back to her desk, balancing her phone between her cheek and shoulder as she tidied up. She knew if she said yes, he’d rush over immediately. She packed her belongings and held her phone in hand.
“I don’t have much time. I’m tired and want to go home soon. I won’t wait even a minute...”
Her bold tone faltered. Down the dimly lit hallway, a tall silhouette approached—it could only be Cha Tae-ha.
“You never asked me to wait.”
As Tae-ha strode closer, Jisoo stepped back, but he was faster. He grabbed her waist just before she bumped into the desk and pulled her close.
“Did I ever say women with office fantasies were my type?”
“Well, that’s...”
What had she said to him ten minutes ago?
“Maybe fantasies are better left in the imagination.”
Surely they wouldn’t actually do it here. Though the office was empty, security guards might patrol, and employees working late on other floors could come down.
“I didn’t expect you to come so quickly.”
Jisoo nervously glanced toward the entrance, prompting Tae-ha to chuckle. So she hadn’t expected him to show up after her playful challenge.
Tae-ha lifted her onto the desk. Beneath her smooth legs clad in sheer black stockings, neat loafers peeked out.
“Your obedience drives me crazy.”
As Tae-ha leaned down, Jisoo closed her eyes and tentatively raised her lips.
Her ripe, red lips quivered like sweet fruit. Tae-ha wanted to devour her whole, to sink into her warmth and drown in her sweetness. But he knew if he kissed her now, he wouldn’t stop.
He stroked her full lips with his thumb, causing her long lashes to flutter open.
“Did you eat dinner before working?”
“No, I wasn’t very hungry...”
Gurgle. Despite not feeling hungry moments ago, her stomach growled at his question.
“Guess my belly clock got updated to signal hunger differently on rainy days?”
Jisoo blushed furiously, averting her gaze. Outside, the rain continued to patter against the windows.
“There’s food that tastes twice as good on rainy days. Want to go? I’ll treat.”
Though skeptical about the connection between weather and food, Tae-ha agreed readily. Soon, a red figure appeared, catching his curious eye.
Sharing an umbrella, they entered a narrow alley lined with tin-roofed restaurants. The lively chatter and bustling atmosphere were tolerable.
‘20 Years of Spicy Chicken Feet’
But Tae-ha’s steps halted abruptly in front of the worn-out sign. As he stood rigidly at the entrance, Jisoo cautiously approached.
“You’re not dragging me here because you can’t eat chicken feet, right? Shall we go somewhere else?”
Tae-ha grabbed her arm as she turned to leave.
Chicken might be small, but it was beloved worldwide. From thick breast meat to wings requiring effort to strip clean, and tender thighs—there were plenty of parts to enjoy. Why did they have to eat chicken feet? Tae-ha smirked, recalling his recent contemplation.
“On rainy days, spicy chicken feet are a must. I haven’t eaten any because I couldn’t find any.”
Hoping desperately for no chicken feet, Tae-ha took Jisoo’s hand and led her inside.
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