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Perhaps Ji-soo’s wish had come true, as the sky over Jeju Island was clear like a fresh canvas the morning after their passionate night together.
The couple set out early to have breakfast. As Ji-soo strolled hand-in-hand with Tae-ha along the beach, she suddenly realized this was the first time they were spending such leisurely time together.
He had always been busy, and Ji-soo often felt weighed down by her emotions. Their encounters were always intense, leaving no room for wasted moments, driven by her anxiety not to squander even a second of their time together.
Now that she thought about it, while she had harbored a long-standing crush on Tae-ha, they had never truly dated properly.
Ji-soo’s every “first” had been with Cha Tae-ha—he was her first love, her first man, and even her first date. Would anyone believe her if she said the meal they shared at the restaurant “Tteum Tteum I” near his office during an interview was her first-ever meal alone with a man?
When they finally acknowledged their feelings and tried to start dating seriously, Ji-soo became pregnant. With plans to hold the wedding shortly after childbirth, it seemed like this tender moment between just the two of them might be fleeting.
Throughout their seaside walk, Tae-ha stared endlessly at Ji-soo’s hand, which didn’t have much to offer visually. He would occasionally kiss the back of her hand, and that was all.
“Hey, Tae-ha.”
“What? Are your legs tired? Should I carry you?”
“I’m not a child. How could my legs hurt from just walking? That’s not what I meant.”
“Han Ji-soo is my baby, isn’t she?”
Tae-ha playfully nibbled on her wriggling fingers before letting go with a mischievous smile. He smiled, she smiled, and seeing their mirrored expressions…
It was as if the abstract concept of happiness had wrapped itself vividly around Ji-soo, gently rocking her. If happiness could take physical form for everyone to see, wouldn’t it look exactly like this moment between them?
“If you keep hesitating like that with so much to say, someone impatient like me would’ve died ten times over already.”
“That thing I said before… about casually dating other men—that was a lie.”
Though Ji-soo braced herself for Tae-ha’s scolding, he surprisingly looked at her with a calm expression, serene like the blue sea. For a moment, she wondered if he hadn’t heard her.
“Thinking I’d actually believe that… considering Han Ji-soo’s pitiful lies and painfully awkward acting skills. But I found it cute enough to let it slide.”
A flicker of disbelief crossed Ji-soo’s face. If he had known all along, why didn’t he say something?
“So why did you tease me about ‘playing the field’ and suggest I take turns meeting other men?”
“Because I knew you’d never do such a thing.”
“To think you did that knowing… you’re really cruel.”
As Ji-soo glared at him, Tae-ha’s face lit up with warmth under the sunlight.
“I knew how much you liked me. The way you looked at me so passionately…”
“I never did that.”
Ji-soo felt slightly wronged. She had worked so hard to hide her feelings for Tae-ha. So when had he figured it out?
“We barely saw each other before the interview. There’s no way you could’ve known I had a crush on you.”
“Looking back now, it seems I was the one who liked you first.”
Tae-ha tightened his grip on Ji-soo’s hand as they walked.
“When was that supposed to be?”
“I won’t tell you unless you beg. First loves are treasures meant to be kept deep in the heart, after all.”
Ji-soo had never imagined she could be Tae-ha’s first. And to think they were each other’s first loves—it made her chest swell with emotion upon discovering this small truth.
“So you changed the newsletter interviewer on purpose because of me?”
“If your name, ‘Han Ji-soo,’ hadn’t been on the first page of the proposal, I wouldn’t have agreed to an in-person interview. We could’ve exchanged emails, and any random photo of me would’ve sufficed.”
Against the dazzling backdrop of the ocean, his handsome face smiling brightly at her was infuriatingly charming. Even in this situation, Tae-ha’s smile remained breathtakingly beautiful.
“Why all of a sudden? We hadn’t crossed paths at work for three years.”
Aside from official group-related events, Tae-ha rarely made appearances. Occasionally spotting him using the executive elevator from afar in the lobby was the sole joy of Ji-soo, the expert in unrequited love.
“Prosecutor Jung Si-jin from the Central District Prosecutor’s Office.”
“Huh?”
Confused by the unfamiliar name that popped out of nowhere, Ji-soo tilted her head.
“Why pretend you don’t know? You were supposed to go on a blind date. Didn’t you exchange numbers and talk on the phone twice?”
While Tae-ha recalled the exact number of calls, Ji-soo stared blankly at him, genuinely clueless. Two phone calls with Prosecutor Jung Si-jin, whom she almost went on a blind date with.
“Oh.”
Only then did the memory resurface in Ji-soo’s mind. At a colleague’s wedding, a woman who introduced herself as some kind of manager asked for her number while inquiring about hosting an event.
Later, the woman suggested introducing her to a good man, but Ji-soo politely declined. A few days later, when she received a call claiming to be from the Central District Prosecutor’s Office, she mistook it for a phishing scam and reported the number. After learning it was indeed the prosecutor she was supposed to meet, she called to apologize.
How did this man know about a blind date incident she herself had forgotten?
“We didn’t exchange numbers, and I had no intention of going on a blind date. How did you find out?”
“Jung Si-jin is my cousin.”
Of all the prosecutors, it just had to be someone related to Tae-ha.
“Using family ties as an excuse to visit your company… You were anxious, weren’t you? Couldn’t stand the thought of letting Han Ji-soo roam freely anymore.”
She had never entertained thoughts of another man besides Tae-ha, so there was no reason for him to feel insecure. Still, the fact that he had been worrying about and feeling jealous of other men approaching her for so long made her heart flutter.
“So you changed the interviewer to me and rushed to the restaurant right after finishing your Jeju schedule that day? To gobble me up?”
“Watch your words. Han Ji-soo was the one who devoured me. Do you know how tempting you were?”
Tae-ha chuckled as he kissed Ji-soo’s pouting cheek.
“How was I supposed to resist when you kept teasing me, asking for kisses while I was on the verge of losing my mind just watching you breathe? You stole my first kiss, remember?”
This time, Ji-soo eyed him suspiciously.
“You’re telling me it was your first kiss? That doesn’t make sense.”
“I think it’s absurd too. How could I have known you’d be so good at it for a first-timer?”
Though the sensations of that drunken night weren’t crystal clear, she remembered feeling utterly blissful, as if her body were melting. But to think Tae-ha was also experiencing his first kiss, just like her?
“So it turns out you’re the rookie, not me. Born with talent, huh?”
“Whatever Han Ji-soo wants. You’ve monopolized me, after all.”
Tae-ha whispered against the back of Ji-soo’s hand as he kissed it.
“It would’ve been nice to know earlier.”
His gaze lingered on her, curious about the reason behind her words.
“I wanted to date you properly. Very intensely.”
“Then let’s start dating intensely from today.”
“In the future, we’ll have a baby too, and I want to be a responsible and excellent mother.”
“Does dating your husband intensely make you an irresponsible or bad mother?”
“That’s not it, but… I feel like the emotions involved in dating might be slightly different.”
Ji-soo squeezed Tae-ha’s hand tightly.
“It’ll still be a happy time, though. Happiness comes in different shades depending on the person and situation.”
“Let’s date, Han Ji-soo.”
As Ji-soo nodded, her hair swayed softly in the sea breeze. Tae-ha’s gentle touch followed, layering affection like a soft brushstroke.
________________________________________
Their baby was born without causing Ji-soo prolonged labor, just as Tae-ha had hoped. Upon hearing that labor had begun, Tae-ha, who was on his way to the airport, immediately redirected his car to the hospital.
After three hours, Ji-soo gave birth to a healthy son and was moved to the recovery room.
Though exhausted, Ji-soo’s face was filled with smiles.
She was grateful for the healthy baby and deeply moved to share this precious beginning with her husband by her side.
“Did you see Kkong-kkong? Isn’t he adorable?”
“Yes. He’s adorable, just like his mom. Now rest.”
“I’ll meet the baby soon. I want to see him before resting.”
Ji-soo glanced at the clock in the ward and smiled brightly.
“What’s making you so happy? Aren’t you tired?”
“I love you, Tae-ha.”
“I love you too. Can I kiss you?”
Ji-soo snorted weakly.
“If all you can do is kiss…”
“Holding back is my specialty.”
Tae-ha stroked Ji-soo’s hair and leaned down to kiss her. As Ji-soo parted her lips, her eyes suddenly widened.
“Oh! Our baby’s name!”
“Isn’t it supposed to be Cha Kkong-kkong?”
Tae-ha teased, and Ji-soo shot him a glare.
“I want it to be Cha Yeon-su.”
Surprised, Tae-ha caressed her pale cheek and said,
“He was born on the day we decided to start dating. The child of Cha Tae-ha and Han Ji-soo should be named Cha Yeon-su.”
“Hmm. For something made up on the spot, I really like it.”
Ji-soo repeated the baby’s name like a joyful mantra. Her murmuring lips were soon captured by Tae-ha’s.
The beautiful name they created by combining their own names felt like a gift brimming with happiness.
“It’s lovely, our Yeon-su’s name. And Tae-ha, thank you.”
“What now?”
“I love you. Both you and our baby.”
Tae-ha smiled as he smoothed Ji-soo’s tousled hair.
“Recover quickly so we can start dating soon, Ji-soo.”
Tae-ha gently cupped Ji-soo’s chin and kissed her. His large hand explored her delicate body, instinctively grasping her breast.
“Aah!”
Ji-soo cradled her swollen breast and winced slightly. Remembering her firm resolve to breastfeed, Tae-ha’s smile curved more seductively than usual.
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