Chapter 3

Yeon-hee lay down like withered grass and closed her eyes.

How many times had she taken him in throughout the night? It had been an unusually exhausting day.

Faint dawn light lingered beyond the large glass window. Yeon-hee’s chest, taking thin breaths, rose and fell weakly. Whether she was asleep or not—Yeon-hee herself couldn’t be sure as she drifted in and out of a shallow doze.

The warmth on her shoulder felt unfamiliar.

Before dawn arrived, before the darkness faded, he would always leave the hotel alone. But why was it different now? Jung-hoon, dressed in a robe, was leaning against the bed’s headboard, reading a book.

A large hand gently stroked Yeon-hee’s hair as she lay there. Just hours ago, he had pushed her relentlessly, a rough man, now caressing her with the utmost tenderness.

Yeon-hee unconsciously accepted his affectionate hand. The body that had been sticky from his fluids now felt dry and clean. He must have wiped her down while she slept.

‘...He’s strangely considerate in certain ways….’

Yeon-hee couldn’t tell if she felt good about this or not. The sex had been exhausting, but it was true that she’d experienced an extreme pleasure.

In the end, Yeon-hee decided to conclude that she did feel good.

With her eyes still closed, she savored his touch.

Why had Jung-hoon been so aroused today? And why was he still by her side now?

She wanted to ask why he hadn’t left. To tell him this was the first time he’d stayed by her side after sex.

She wanted to express how overjoyed she was to have him remain by her side, how waking up to find him still there made her heart ache with happiness.

Yeon-hee cautiously shifted her body and pretended to stir from sleep, opening her eyes slightly as if she had just woken up. She wanted to share her thoughts.

It was at that moment that a faint vibration came from the table. It was Jung-hoon’s phone.

Yeon-hee shut her eyes again, pretending to be asleep, while Jung-hoon carefully set his book down. The bed gently shook as he stood, and soon, she heard him walk toward the window.

Leaning against the cold glass, Jung-hoon answered the call.

“Yeah.”

No formal greeting, just a brusque inquiry about the caller’s purpose. It must have been someone he was close to, given he’d answered a call in the middle of the night.

“Today? I just spent it however.”

Jung-hoon rubbed his forehead with a slightly annoyed expression. From the darkness, Yeon-hee peeked at him through barely open eyes. There it was again—that unfamiliarity.

The forced smile was gone, and he appeared sharp and cold, almost frighteningly so, as if she were looking at a stranger.

‘But… “just spent it however”…?’

Could he be talking about the date with her? The only thing he’d done today was meet her and go on a date by the Han River. Was that what he considered “just spent it however”? She had been so happy, though.

Her chest tightened with unease, as if she were secretly peeking into his private thoughts. She should have sat up and said, “I’m not asleep, Team Leader.” She shouldn’t have been eavesdropping like this, sneaky and deceitful.

But she couldn’t bring herself to rise. She simply lay there, her breath shallow and quick.

Jung-hoon switched the phone to his other hand and spoke again.

“What are you curious about? There’s nothing worth explaining.”

A trace of disdain and mockery seeped into his voice. It wasn’t his usual gentle tone with a hint of laughter. Yeon-hee’s fingertips suddenly went cold. The “nothing worth explaining” couldn’t be about her, could it? It mustn’t be...

Letting out a quiet sigh, Jung-hoon spoke languidly.

“Boring. It was pathetic.”

His voice was utterly cold.

‘Ah…’

Yeon-hee’s heart turned to stone. Breathing became difficult. A nauseating chill seeped through her, taking over her body.

Just moments ago, he had been gently stroking her with such affection. But now, the sharp words he spoke in that languid tone stabbed cruelly into her core.

Yeon-hee buried her face deep into the pillow. It was a strange, vivid kind of pain. She felt as though tears might spill out at any moment. But she couldn’t let him hear her secret sobs, so she bit her lips hard, holding back her emotions.

She thought they had gone on a normal date, just like anyone else. Her heart swelled with joy, as if she had truly become his girlfriend.

It felt like someone was slicing into her tightly compressed heart. The pain seeped deeply into the cracks of her shattered emotions. Even her fingertips and toes ached with a dull throb.

He really is someone from a different world. To him, dating someone like me must seem pitiful. I shouldn’t have dragged him to a place where he doesn’t belong…

Don’t cry. I can’t cry right now. I don’t know anything. I didn’t hear anything. I just need to keep looking at the Team Leader’s smiling face, let myself be fooled by his kindness, and foolishly stay by his side.

She repeated those thoughts to herself like a mantra.

Even if it meant being a fool, she wanted to stay by his side.

It had been a long time since she’d been deceived by Jung-hoon’s false kindness and given him her heart. She desperately wanted to cling to him, even if it meant being discarded by him someday. Even if it meant becoming the pitiful existence he described.

‘But still… I thought it was genuine.’

Yeon-hee clenched the blanket tightly. She bit down hard on her lip to suppress the flood of emotions threatening to burst out, the taste of blood spreading faintly on her tongue.

A painful secret had been born. A cruel truth she never wanted to know lay bare before her.

It would have been better if she could have remained forever drifting in the false comfort of ignorance.

“How is it? Isn’t it amazing?”

“Hmm…”

Yeon-hee feigned a strange expression as she reached out to touch the sculpture Jun-jae was proudly showing her.

She was visiting Jun-jae’s art gallery, looking at a sculpture he had recently acquired.

He called it a sculpture, but to her, it was just a rectangular rock. The center of the black rock was hollowed out, as if a cannonball had passed through it. In short, it was just a big chunk of stone with a hole in the middle.

And this was supposed to be a work of art?

“How much did you say this was?”

“120 million won. This artist’s work is going to explode in value within three years. I got it at a steal.”

Jun-jae’s voice brimmed with pride.

Yeon-hee let out a faint, awkward laugh. She couldn’t understand it no matter how she thought about it. How could this hunk of stone cost 120 million won? And what kind of wealth did her friend have to call that a bargain?

At times like this, Jun-jae—her friend who grilled pork belly with her and shared soju—felt completely unfamiliar.

‘…Lately, everything feels so unfamiliar.’

With a faint smile, Yeon-hee plopped down on the grassy lawn.

Somehow, her life had become surrounded by people born with golden spoons. Her ten-year friend and art gallery director, Im Jun-jae, and Team Leader Min Jung-hoon, whom she was now seeing privately. It was strange how only people who didn’t match her kept ending up in her orbit.

Last night. That night when she faced the cruel truth. After Jung-hoon ended the call, he went straight to the bathroom to wash up and then left. As always, he left a card on the table.

It was only then that she realized.

What she had thought was an act of consideration—the card—was actually his payment.

After he left without a word, Yeon-hee stared blankly at the sleek black card before throwing it onto the floor. But just seconds later, she picked it up with trembling hands.

It felt like she hadn’t just thrown away the card but her heart as well. And she wasn’t ready to let go. So she clung to it, painfully, once more.

In the icy hotel room, the cold morning air seeped through. Standing on the marble floor that was as cold as her heart, she stared at the card for what felt like an eternity before tears began to fall. She wept endlessly, silently.

Everything he said was brutally true.

Confronting the very patheticness he must have felt, all she could do was sob like a lost child.

It was miserable—utterly and endlessly miserable—and yet, she still liked him. She wanted to give up, but she couldn’t. She hated herself for being so unbearably pitiful.

She should have stood up and told him not to treat her like trash, but why couldn’t she? She shouldn’t have allowed herself to be treated like that, even if she were just his sex partner. How foolish and stupid she was, throwing herself into the trash and turning a blind eye to the truth.

Whenever Yeon-hee glimpsed the unfamiliar sides of Jung-hoon, he felt to her like the pale moon, hanging high above.

The moon that people gaze at from Earth never shows its dark side, they say.

Maybe Jung-hoon was the moon. Somewhere in the hidden spaces he never showed her, he carried a deep, profound darkness.

Yeon-hee lay down lightly on the grass. The fresh scent of early spring grass spread around her.

Lying on the lawn of a private art gallery, enjoying this luxury—this was all thanks to her friend Jun-jae. Yet here she was, naturally accepting this indulgence as if she were leeching off his wealth.

It’s no wonder I dared to covet someone like Team Leader Min Jung-hoon. I didn’t even know my place…

She let out a self-deprecating sigh and laughed quietly to herself. She had never thought of herself as pathetic before, but being treated as such by him made her feel genuinely small.

The sunlight filtering through her closed eyelids was warm. Yeon-hee rubbed her sleepy eyes and tossed a remark to Jun-jae.

“Jun-jae, I went to a hotel with a man.”

Thud. Something fell.

When she opened her eyes and glanced to her side, Jun-jae stood there, blinking with an incredulous expression, his lips moving soundlessly. The coffee tumbler in his hand had rolled onto the grass.

Watching the coffee seep silently into the lawn, Yeon-hee spoke again.

“I thought we were kind of seeing each other, but I guess… I became his partner instead. It’s a little sad, but still, it’s something, right? At least I’ve started something with him.”

“……”

Jun-jae, her most open-minded, gay best friend—the one person who understood her the best. She had impulsively blurted out her feelings, hoping that confiding in him might relieve her chest of its burden.

After all, Jun-jae often shared his own dating woes with her, so it wouldn’t hurt to switch roles for once. And her gamble paid off—finally voicing the heavy words she had carried felt liberating.

Jun-jae’s expression, however, was bizarre. He looked as though he’d just seen Larry Page juggling while riding a unicycle.

After staring at her for a long time, he stammered, “Uh… first of all, congrats… I guess? That’s, uh… wow. You’ve been busy, huh.”

“It’s not that big of a deal. It’s just… you know, what everyone does.”

“Right, yeah… it’s not that big of a deal. But… like… how did someone who hadn’t even started with A suddenly sprint all the way to Z?”

“Beats me. It just turned out that way.”

Yeon-hee replied lightly, smiling faintly as if she were talking about someone else’s life. Speaking of something so serious in such a casual tone made it feel like it wasn’t a big deal at all, which was a relief.

Her heart ached, as if it were being torn apart, but her voice came out calm. If she didn’t feign nonchalance, she might end up crying and blaming herself for “being so stupid to have expectations.” So, she put on a thin mask and forced a smile.

Jun-jae brushed at the coffee-stained pants and rubbed the back of his neck. Then, after rolling his neck a couple of times, he reverted to his usual expression and flopped down beside her.

“So who’s the guy? Who’s the daredevil you decided to take this wild ride with?”

His voice carried a sigh, muttering something like, “Why is this girl always so extreme…”

Yeon-hee squinted up at the sky, staring into the glaring sunlight. If she had to describe it, Jung-hoon was like that sun. Shining brightly on everyone, looking down on them from above. So brilliant that trying to look at him directly made her eyes sting.

“Our team leader. He’s really rich, really handsome. I’ve been secretly in love with him from the start.”

“Hmm… the team leader… so, workplace… a workplace sex partner… at the same company… man, this is…”

Jun-jae kept repeating the same phrases like a broken record. Even this sheltered, greenhouse-raised young man seemed to find the situation rather heavy.

“Hey, Jun-jae. Am I an easy person? Is a relationship that starts like this abnormal?”

“What?!” Jun-jae shouted, shaking his head furiously.

“No! Absolutely not! What era do we live in to even consider what’s normal or not! And we’re at an age where that kind of thing can happen! Even I’ve slept with a number of—no, wait, that’s not the point…”

Jun-jae scratched his furrowed brow, trying to gather up the words he had just carelessly thrown out. Grateful for his effort to justify her actions, Yeon-hee let out a small laugh.

Jun-jae sighed deeply. “Anyway, Yeon-hee. Enjoy yourself while you’re young.”

“Yeah. That’s the plan. This really isn’t a big deal, right?”

“Of course not! Everything you do is right! Just follow your heart!”

Just don’t get hurt… he whispered faintly. Yeon-hee merely nodded in response.

With a more serious expression now, Jun-jae scratched the back of his neck.

“I never thought we’d have a conversation like this. I’m always the one whining, but now that you’ve shared your feelings, I’m actually grateful…”

“But, Jun-jae.”

Yeon-hee cut him off softly as he mumbled. Jun-jae turned to her with a quiet “Hmm?” His eyes were as kind as ever.

Unlike Jung-hoon, who wrapped himself in kindness to mask his cold core, Jun-jae radiated a warmth so bright that not even a shadow could be found in him. She loved that brightness about him, as a friend.

If only Team Leader Min—no, Jung-hoon—could be like the Jun-jae in front of her. If what he showed was all there was to him, she might now be swimming in happiness, savoring her life.

“I like the team leader. I really, really like him. I’ve liked him from the beginning. He’s so impressive, so good at his job, and the way he’s always so decisive—it kept drawing my attention.”

“Yeah. Knowing you, you wouldn’t have ended up in… that kind of relationship if you didn’t like him.”

“When he reached out to me, I was so happy. But I didn’t expect him to draw such a clear line with me. I was the only one confused, all on my own.”

Yeon-hee spoke lightly, her voice mixed with laughter, as if she were trying to brush it off. Jun-jae responded in a similarly light but slightly bitter tone.

“…Well… sounds like you had… unrealistic expectations…”

Yeon-hee nodded. Jun-jae was right. It had been a futile expectation. She had hoped for more than she deserved, only to hurt herself in the process. This wasn’t a wound inflicted by him—it was a scratch she’d etched into herself.

“He didn’t do anything wrong. I chose all of this. But… yesterday, I felt a little resentful. Why did he approach me in the first place, only to shake me like this?”

“……”

“I could either enjoy this casually or just give up… but I can’t do either. What do I do now, Jun-jae?”

Her sincerity spilled out softly, quietly, like a calm ripple.

She knew she shouldn’t become a clingy, pathetic presence to him. Yet, she hated herself for wanting to stay by his side, pretending otherwise.

The sunlight felt unusually intense today. Yeon-hee closed her eyes against the glare.

So the warmth heating her eyelids and the tears silently falling—they were all because of the sun. The light was too bright for her eyes to endure, making her tear up reflexively.

This had nothing to do with a breaking heart.

Her mind kept replaying his cold voice.

“It’s boring. It was pathetic.”

To stay by his side, she shouldn’t have been pathetic. But pathetic tears were all that came out.

Jun-jae, who had been lying still, suddenly sat up.

She peeked at him through half-open eyes. He must have noticed her tears.

“Hey. Are you crying? Huh? You’re crying right now?”

Yeon-hee kept her eyes closed, saying nothing in response.

She had meant to finish this conversation lightly, after spilling out her frustrations, but in the end, she ended up crying like a fool.

This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. What a fool.

“Wow. Seriously. I thought something was off because you were acting so calm…”

“……”

Jun-jae’s face flushed red as if he were angry. He huffed, yanking at the grass in frustration.

“Damn it! What the hell is this nonsense?!”

Yeon-hee, with tear-filled eyes, glanced at Jun-jae, who slammed his fist into the grass repeatedly. It was an expression of extreme emotion.

“Hey, damn it. What’s the big deal? Why are you bawling like this?!”

“Maybe it’s because it’s my first time.”

Yeon-hee mumbled, her voice trembling. What had started as an attempt to appear nonchalant had turned into sobbing. She was so embarrassed she could hardly stand it.

Jun-jae’s nostrils flared as he let out a deep sigh.

“Exactly! That’s it! It’s because it’s your first time. The first time you give your body and your heart, you act like an idiot, just like now! I told you ages ago to start dating and get a boyfriend, didn’t I?”

“……”

Yeon-hee turned her head and stared at the grass. Behind her, Jun-jae’s nagging poured out nonstop.

“Ah, whatever. You’ll get used to it. You just need to get used to it until it becomes nothing.”

“Will I really get used to it?”

“Of course! Just pour your heart out, run wild like a horse with no reins… and then shake it all off.”

Yeon-hee stared blankly at the grass before turning her head back to him. Jun-jae, who let out a sigh heavy enough to sink the ground, continued speaking.

“I was the same at first… The first person I met told me they preferred women, after all… Anyway, the first time is always hard. It’s normal for things not to go the way you want.”

“……”

“Think of it as meeting a mad dog. Do crazy things with them, then get yourself a rabies shot and move on, got it?”

Ridiculously, Yeon-hee felt a little guilty for reducing her team leader to a “mad dog” in this scenario.

After all, he hadn’t done anything wrong, had he? He extended his hand, and she took it. Misinterpreting his proposal to be friends-with-benefits as something deeper and giving him her heart had been her mistake. She had inflicted this pain on herself.

While his words—”You’re boring. It was pathetic.”—did hurt, that wasn’t something she could hold against him. If she didn’t like it, she could walk away. If she couldn’t walk away, she’d have to endure it silently.

Yeon-hee decided she would endure it silently.

“The team leader isn’t a bad person. It’s just me causing a fuss by myself. Yeah, that’s all it is.”

“……”

Jun-jae blinked incredulously, then clicked his tongue.

“Can’t you just resent him for no reason? I mean, you’re clearly struggling, right? Whatever. Ugh.”

His words carried an unmistakable note of concern for her. Knowing that, Yeon-hee simply smiled. She was grateful she had been there for Jun-jae before—listening to his dating woes, comforting him as he cried, and patting his back. She never expected the day would come when Jun-jae would comfort her instead.

“Anyway, talking to you has made me feel a bit better. Thanks. I’ll do what you said—follow my heart and wrap this up properly.”

“Good. After that, I’ll introduce you to a nice guy.”

“Sure. I’ll look forward to it.”

Though she had no intention of meeting anyone else, his kindness touched her. She wiped her tear-streaked eyes and nodded.

At that moment, her carelessly tossed phone began to buzz. She fumbled to pick it up and check the caller ID. Her expression froze slightly.

[Min Jung-hoon, Team Leader]

It was him. The very person who had made her cry. The one who had pushed her into the depths of sadness yet remained impossible to let go. The man she still liked so much it hurt.

Yeon-hee glanced at Jun-jae nervously before cautiously answering the call. She had considered ignoring it but found she simply couldn’t. Just seeing his name on the screen made her heart race.

“Hello?”

Jun-jae’s eyes immediately sharpened. He must have seen the word “Team Leader” displayed on the screen.

After crying like that, she still happily answered? Jun-jae muttered under his breath, clearly incredulous. Yeon-hee awkwardly laughed and gestured for him to keep quiet.

“Did you get home safely yesterday?”

The pleasant sound of Jung-hoon’s voice came through the phone.

“Yes, I got home fine.”

“Something came up early this morning. I’m sorry I had to leave first.”

“Ah, I see.”

She nodded faintly toward the invisible speaker, a small smile on her lips. Why would he call over something like this?

It had felt like a natural sequence of events for him to leave without a word. There was nothing to apologize for, yet his call surprised her.

“How are you feeling? I’m sorry for being rough yesterday.”

“I’m fine.”

Worried that Jun-jae might overhear the conversation, Yeon-hee pressed the phone closer to her ear. Even though they were in a private and personal relationship, it felt inappropriate for Jun-jae to overhear any more than he already had.

“Where are you? What are you up to today?”

“Ah, I’m with a friend right now.”

She leaned back slightly to avoid Jun-jae’s piercing gaze as she answered. For a moment, his sharp eyes seemed to narrow even further, and then—

“Jung Yeon-hee, why do you keep avoiding me? Did you do something wrong to me?”

Jun-jae’s rough complaint burst out. Already irritated, his frustration seemed to boil over as he watched Yeon-hee take a call from her “amazing team leader”—the same man who had made her cry just moments ago.

“……”

On the other end of the line, a chilling silence fell. Yeon-hee quickly clamped her hand over Jun-jae’s mouth and hastily continued her conversation.

“I’m sorry, Team Leader. My friend—”

“I told you not to call me ‘Team Leader.’”

His tone, sharp and cold, cut through her words. A shiver ran down Yeon-hee’s spine as she fumbled for an excuse.

“Ah, Jung-hoon. Sorry. My friend suddenly—”

“Jung Yeon-hee. Where are you right now?”

His interruption was as frigid as his earlier words. His voice came through like something dredged up from the depths of an abyss.

Was it just her imagination, or did she sense anger in his tone? Startled by his sudden shift, Yeon-hee blinked rapidly before managing to respond.

“Here… Yongin…”

Her lips felt stiff, as though the muscles had frozen.

She felt like a mouse caught in front of a lion. Even though she had done nothing wrong, her words came out sounding like excuses. It was as if she were standing at the podium, clutching a disastrous report.

“……”

There was no response from Jung-hoon. The silence stretched on, cold and suffocating. Yeon-hee opened her mouth to say something but quickly closed it again.

Finally, cutting through the long pause, his usual gentle voice returned, almost as if none of the tension had existed.

“All right, Yeon-hee. Let’s meet at the office on Monday.”

And without so much as a farewell or conclusion, the call abruptly ended.

Yeon-hee remained frozen with the phone pressed to her ear, staring blankly for several seconds before lowering it. When she checked the screen, it had already gone black, signaling the call was over.

What was that about? He had called so suddenly, demanded to know where she was, seemed angry, and then ended the call with a gentle voice. His behavior was incomprehensible.

She wondered if she had made some sort of mistake and began replaying her actions carefully in her mind. Nothing came to mind.

Unable to pinpoint anything wrong, Yeon-hee decided to let it go. She couldn’t make sense of the situation, but she was already accustomed to his cold demeanor. She had encountered Jung-hoon’s frigid and curt words as a team leader countless times before.

“What did he say? That oh-so-great team leader of yours, what did he say? Why’d he call, huh?”

Still blinking blankly, Yeon-hee was startled when Junjae abruptly threw out a question. She absently rubbed at the phone screen, as though the answer might appear there.

If only I knew. She wanted to know more than anyone why he had called.

“I don’t know. I have no idea.”

“What? What do you mean you don’t know?”

“I don’t know.”

“What?”

“I said I don’t know.”

“…What are you even saying?”

Their conversation devolved into an endless back-and-forth of “I don’t know” and “What” until Yeon-hee gave up and lay back down on the grass. She couldn’t understand why such a short call was weighing on her so heavily.

But then again, that’s how it had always been. A casual word from Jung-hoon, a small gesture of kindness, a fleeting smile—each one sent her spiraling into overanalysis, trying to assign meaning to everything.

It was likely because she had feelings for him. Because she liked him. Because she liked him far too much.

Because she couldn’t control the feelings that flowed toward him.

The weekend passed, and Monday returned like an unfinished assignment. It was another whirlwind day, just like any other. By the time Yeon-hee had worked through the backlog of weekend emails and caught up on delayed tasks, lunchtime was already approaching.

Assistant Manager Kwon leaned slightly toward her and asked, “Yeon-hee, how about going out for lunch instead of eating at the office cafeteria today?”

“Sounds good. Should we grab some pasta?”

Yeon-hee replied lightly, already imagining the menu options in her mind. As she pondered, the office phone began to ring. She stared at the blinking light on the receiver for a moment before quickly picking it up, temporarily forgetting her conversation with Kwon.

“Yes, Team Leader!”

It was extension 201—Jung-hoon’s number.

“Come to my office.”

The commanding tone of his voice came through the receiver. Before Yeon-hee could respond, the call ended with a sharp click.

Without hesitation, Yeon-hee stood up. She had wanted to see him anyway. It had only been a day since she last saw him, but this level of longing was surely a sign of serious infatuation.

“I really have no pride, do I?”

She chastised herself as she walked. After all, this was the same man who had hurt her feelings and made her cry the day before. Yet here she was, wagging her tail and running to him the very next day.

But there was nothing she could do about it. Somewhere along the way, whenever it came to Jung-hoon, it felt like the steering wheel of her emotions was no longer in her hands. It was as if he had taken over control of her heart.

As she stepped into the team leader’s office, she saw him standing with his back to the bright sunlight.

“Team Leader.”

Yeon-hee hesitated, unsure whether to address him as Team Leader or Jung-hoon. She didn’t know how to act toward him in the workplace.

Was the reason he had called her here work-related? Or was it something personal?

As soon as she entered, Jung-hoon lifted his gaze from the documents and leaned back in his chair.

“Yeon-hee.”

He called her name softly, gesturing vaguely with his hand, as if to signal her to come closer.

Yeon-hee glanced nervously at the unlocked door before cautiously approaching him. Surely, he wouldn’t do anything embarrassing like last time. The slight worry that rose in her mind was probably unfounded.

Jung-hoon rested his chin lazily on one hand, tilting his head slightly as he stared at her. His expression was hard to read—somewhere between a smile and a blank look.

“Team Leader, is something wrong?”

She asked with concern, but Jung-hoon simply continued to gaze at her without responding. She had thought she was used to his gentle demeanor by now, but encountering this softer side of him felt strangely unfamiliar.

After what felt like an eternity of eye contact, Jung-hoon tilted his head further, scanning her face, before finally letting a small smile spread across his lips.

“It’s nothing.”

“Hmm…”

“It’s my problem, so you don’t need to worry about it.”

His tone was as kind as ever. Yeon-hee nodded slightly, and in response, he spoke softly.

“Come here.”

Releasing the hand that supported his chin, he opened one arm lightly toward her. As if drawn by some unseen force, Yeon-hee moved closer to him.

Soon, his firm arm wrapped around her waist, gently pulling her in. A faint, cool scent emanated from him, making her cheeks flush helplessly. How was it that even his scent was so irresistible?

She wanted to lift her arms and embrace him in return, but somehow, she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Standing in front of him made her overly cautious, so she could only stiffen in his arms like a piece of sun-dried wood.

Moments later, she heard a light chuckle, and before she realized it, she was being lifted off the ground. In her disoriented state, she found herself perched precariously on his thigh.

Warmth touched the back of her neck as Jung-hoon buried his face there, nuzzling her gently as if seeking comfort. He let out a low sigh, as though he was finally at ease.

“Team Leader, the door’s not locked,” Yeon-hee said urgently, pulling her upper body back and pushing against his shoulders. But his solid frame didn’t budge. Instead, he pulled her closer, planting light kisses along the nape of her neck.

“No one who would come in without knocking,” he murmured. “Don’t worry.”

“But still…”

“It’s fine.”

It didn’t seem like he had any intention of letting her go, so Yeon-hee gave up and relaxed her arms, resting her cheek against his shoulder.

“What if someone sees us like this?” she asked softly.

“It doesn’t matter.”

His unhurried voice resonated like a quiet hum.

Yeon-hee blinked, her forehead still pressed against his shoulder. It doesn’t matter? Weren’t they supposed to be secretly involved as nothing more than casual partners?

She couldn’t grasp the meaning behind his words. Was it something he said without thinking, or… was it a sign that he truly didn’t care if others saw them like this?

No, no. Don’t overthink it. Don’t jump to conclusions, she scolded herself. After falling apart so miserably yesterday, here she was, hoping again. It was pathetic. She forced herself to dismiss the presumptuous thoughts and rested her forehead carefully against his shoulder again.

Trying to lighten the mood, she joked, “If we get caught like this, all those anonymous posts praising you on the company forum will take a big hit.”

Every week without fail, posts about how good-looking Team Leader Min Jung-hoon was would appear on the company’s anonymous forum.

“Then you can write them for me instead,” he replied.

“Hmm… In that case, I’ll post one every other day. I’m an employee who works a hundred times harder than most, after all.”

“Sure. If you write them well, I’ll give you a great performance review.”

“Thank you, Team Leader. I guess I can look forward to a performance bonus early next year.”

A soft chuckle escaped from the nape of her neck. He brushed her hair aside, kissed her ear, and then whispered in a calm, deliberate voice.

“But, Yeon-hee, who were you with yesterday?”

The soft flesh between her ear and neck was gently nipped. Startled by the sudden pain, Yeon-hee flinched.

“A friend. Someone I went to high school wi—”

“Are you very close?”

He cut her off mid-sentence and asked, his voice dripping with a coldness that seemed to chill the air.

Before she could even answer—

“No, never mind. It’s not something I need to know, is it?”

He wrapped up the conversation in a slightly stiff tone.

Yeon-hee stayed still in his embrace, unable to make sense of the brief exchange.

“It’s not something I need to know.” The hard wall that now stood between them felt bitter, but that was what their relationship had always been—distant, even when physically close. There was no need to meddle in each other’s private lives.

His warm breath lingered on the nape of her neck. The ticklish sensation made her eyelids flutter, but before she could react further, his teeth sank into her skin with enough force to sting.

“Ah…!”

She jerked her head back in surprise.

Jung-hoon tightened his hold on her trembling body and began sucking and biting the tender flesh with deliberate intensity.

“Mmm…!”

Heat radiated outward from the painful kisses. Instinctively, Yeon-hee pushed against his shoulders, but his solid frame didn’t yield.

As if engraving a mark, Jung-hoon sucked and nibbled on her delicate skin. Only when her hands began to tremble faintly from the mix of embarrassment and pain did he finally pull his lips away.

A vivid red mark stood out starkly against Yeon-hee’s pale, slender neck. Fortunately, it was hidden beneath her hair, but even a slight breeze could reveal it in full.

“It’s beautiful,” he said with a satisfied smile.

His neat, tapered fingers traced the reddened bruise slowly. A shiver ran down Yeon-hee’s spine in response to his delicate touch.

Smack. A light kiss landed on the mark, followed by more feather-like kisses that brushed against her skin.

“Let me know if it fades. I’ll make another one,” he murmured.

Yeon-hee swallowed hard and pressed her lips tightly together. Honestly, it would have been easier if he had just unbuttoned her blouse like last time and touched her chest. This subtle contact was far more provocative than any direct act.

Her heart kept racing, as if she were a naive young girl rushing headlong into love without a care for the consequences.

Tap, tap-tap.

Yeon-hee opened her eyes to the faint sound of raindrops. Rain had been falling steadily since midday, drumming noisily against the window.

“…It’s raining.”

She sat up sluggishly, her body feeling heavy. Opening the window slightly, she looked down at the gray city below, drenched in rain.

She stared blankly at the water pooling along the streets and flowing under the trees before closing the window again. The smell of rain wasn’t refreshing today—it carried a strangely somber note.

The clock showed it was already 3 p.m. She had intended to take just a quick nap after lunch, but somehow, two hours had slipped by.

Stretching her arms, she stepped out of the room and into the empty living room. She found herself idly staring at her phone. Unlocking the screen, she saw no missed calls or messages.

Was it because of the rain? She felt an inexplicable loneliness. She thought of Jung-hoon for a moment, but then let out a faint smile.

The weather must be affecting my mood, she thought. But they weren’t close enough for her to call and say something so trivial like, “The rain is making me feel restless.”

As she moved to sit on the sofa and turn on the TV, Yeon-hee wrinkled her nose at the smell of food. Turning her head to check, she saw empty plates of jajangmyeon and tangsuyuk left on the dining table.

“Ha…”

A sigh escaped her lips.

Jeong Yeonjun. Her older brother must have ordered food again and left without cleaning up afterward.

Yeon-hee deliberately ignored the messy table and sat on the sofa. She turned on the TV, trying to focus on the screen, but as if losing the battle of patience, she got up in less than ten minutes.

“Ugh, I really hate myself.”

Cursing herself, Yeon-hee stacked the plates and tidied up the disposable containers. She thought she could just leave it alone, but here she was cleaning up anyway. Maybe it was because she absolutely couldn’t stand the smell of leftover food.

She placed the takeout containers in a large bag and tied it tightly. Just as she was finishing up, she heard the sound of the front door opening. Yeon-hee glanced over indifferently and asked,

“Where did you go?”

She greeted briefly and then began wiping the table with a dishcloth.

It was her mother who had entered. Her mother placed a paper bag on the table next to the living room and immediately asked about her son.

“Where’s Yeonjun?”

“I don’t know. Looks like he went out.”

“Where did he go?”

“How should I know? When I got up, he wasn’t here.”

Yeon-hee answered as she threw the dishcloth into the stainless steel container by the sink.

She glanced at the paper bag her mother had brought. It was from XX Bakery. But whatever was inside, she wouldn’t be the one to open it while her brother was away. Her mom always acted like she only cared about her son.

But today was unusually different.

“Yeon-hee, do you like this bakery’s bread?”

Her mother had come over and neatly placed some bread on a plate.

“Uh, yeah, I do…?”

Looking puzzled, Yeon-hee accepted the plate and picked up a piece of bread to eat.

“She really bought this for me?”

She could hardly believe it.

“What’s gotten into you, Mom? You even bought something for me?”

It was just bread, but it put her in a strangely good mood. She chuckled to herself, thinking how her brother, who always enjoyed the sunny attention, could never understand. He would never know how much this rare drop of affection from their mother meant to her.

After finishing the plate, her mother, as if waiting for this moment, struck up a conversation.

“By the way, isn’t your savings account with XX Bank reaching maturity soon?”

Yeon-hee slowly put down her fork and cautiously observed her mother’s expression.

“Yeah, it is.”

“How much is it again?”

“Why?”

Feeling a sense of unease rising, Yeon-hee asked cautiously. And, as expected—

“Could you lend me that money?”

Her mother asked for the money in the most casual tone, as if it were a trivial amount. Though she said “lend,” Yeon-hee knew from experience she wouldn’t be paid back.

Right. She should have been suspicious from the moment she received that uncharacteristic kindness. Her mom would never prioritize her unless there was a reason behind it.

“No… You haven’t even paid me back the last time.”

“How can you keep track of things like that between a mother and daughter? That’s so hurtful.”

“It’s not the first time, that’s why.”

Since starting her job, half of Yeon-hee’s salary always went into her mother’s bank account. Her mother claimed it was for managing money to use for her future wedding. From the other half, after setting aside her allowance, Yeon-hee gave her mother 500,000 won as living expenses. The remaining money, if any, was barely saved in a deposit account...

But even that was always taken by her mother when the term ended. Her mother promised to pay it back, with interest, but Yeon-hee had never seen any of it—let alone the principal.

“This time, I’ll definitely pay it back soon. Since I’m living with my grown-up daughter… If I were you, I’d just lend my mom that much and be thankful,” her mother would say.

“And that’s why I give you 500,000 won for living expenses separately,” Yeon-hee would reply.

“Do you think 500,000 is enough if you were living on your own? You can live comfortably here, but if you live on your own, you won’t be able to save like you do now!”

...The salary I’ve saved, I’ve never touched. It’s all with my mom.

Yeon-hee knew there was no point in arguing any further, so she just sealed her lips. She stared blankly at the table, where the empty bread plate sat.

She hadn’t expected this. She had foolishly been happy, thinking her mother had bought bread for her today… not realizing it was just the foundation for asking for money.

She laughed at herself, feeling silly for getting happy over a single piece of bread. What was she doing? She let out a wry chuckle and pushed the plate away. The anger inside her bubbled up once again.

“Mom, Yeonjun ordered jajangmyeon again and left the plates out without cleaning up. It smelled, so I cleaned it up. Tell him not to do that.”

“Your brother could leave it for you to clean up, but why do you complain so much about everything?”

By this point, Yeon-hee had no choice but to stand up abruptly from the sofa, her face hardening.

“You’re the reason Yeonjun does whatever he wants!”

“What do you mean? What is Yeonjun doing that’s so out of line?”

Yeon-hee bit her lip and stared silently at her mother.

What’s he doing?

Yeonjun always acted on his own terms. He lived however he pleased, without thinking about anyone else. And that’s fine, as long as he doesn’t drag her into his mess. But that was exactly what he did, and it was always exhausting.

When Yeonjun was in New York, after he was kicked out of the dorms for his marijuana problem, Yeon-hee had even flown to New York to take care of him. She wasn’t just looking after him; she was cooking, doing laundry, cleaning—she was like a maid and housekeeper all rolled into one.

“If you’re busy, you can just leave, but you always remember everything and complain. Does badmouthing Yeonjun make you feel better?”

“Mom!”

Yeon-hee jumped up from her seat, her breath heavy and uneven. She knew that bringing this up wouldn’t lead anywhere, but she couldn’t help herself.

Her mother turned away and said flatly,

“Anyway, when your deposit matures, lend me that money.”

“I said no. Ask Yeonjun for it. Why do you keep asking me for money?”

It was the same old song. As soon as Yeonjun was mentioned, her mother got angry again.

“Yeonjun doesn’t have any money! There’s no place for him to get it!”

“He could work. He went to a good university in the U.S., so why is he just sitting at home?”

Yeon-hee couldn’t understand why her brother, who had graduated from a good university in New York, was just sitting around at home.

Well, it wasn’t like she couldn’t understand at all. She had known from the start. Yeonjun was just comfortable. With a safety net, he could live without any worries.

Her mother borrowing money from Yeon-hee occasionally was just to cover Yeonjun’s overspending on his credit cards.

Her family wasn’t exactly struggling, but they had spent a lot on Yeonjun’s university tuition, his study abroad costs, and his various mishaps. All that was left was this apartment.

“Yeonjun’s not not working because he doesn’t want to. He just can’t find the right job!”

He’d quit after a month at a U.S. company, saying it wasn’t a good fit. Back in Korea, he’d joined three companies, but he left all of them within two months.

“I don’t know. I don’t care… Ask Yeonjun for it. I really don’t want to this time. Last time, you took my deposit to cover Yeonjun’s car accident. Isn’t this the same thing again?”

At those words, her mother’s eyes sharpened instantly. She pushed Yeon-hee’s shoulder hard.

“Get out. If you’re going to talk like that, just leave. Get out, Jeong Yeon-hee!”

“......”

Yeon-hee tried to steady her breathing, which was growing hotter. Arguing would only be pointless, so it would be to her disadvantage. Her mother always got defensive when Yeonjun’s name came up. Reaching the limit of disappointment, Yeon-hee almost found it laughable.

“After everything so far, huh? You haven’t even been thankful for how comfortably you’ve been living! You’re not my daughter anymore! Just leave!”

“Fine. I’ll leave. I guess Yeonjun and you will be happy if I leave.”

Saying this calmly, she picked up the plate and stood up. Behind her, her mother’s angry shout pierced through her.

“Raising a daughter is useless! Ungrateful girl!”

“...I guess Yeonjun took all the manners, leaving me with nothing.”

Love, affection, and attention—all went to Yeonjun. She wondered if there was any manners left for her.

With sad eyes, Yeon-hee turned around and spoke to her mother.

“Mom, I’ll give you the money from the deposit, but can you give me the money I entrusted to you? I need it for the security deposit.”

“Your money? Where is it?”

“Half of my salary goes to you, so how can you say it’s not there? Fine, I’ll leave. Just give it to me.”

With Yeon-hee’s resigned words, her mother threw a cushion at her. The cushion hit Yeon-hee’s body and fell to the floor with a thud.

It didn’t hurt much, but Yeon-hee felt as though the cushion on the floor was her heart, making a sharp ache inside.

“How much does she think she earns? Acting like she can boss people around with money? Mom doesn’t steal from you? I kept that money to give you for your wedding fund!”

“......”

Arguing only scratched her soul deeper. Yeon-hee placed the cushion back on the sofa, tidied the dishes, and let out a faint smile.

She always said “leave,” but all her salary went to her mother. Without the security deposit, where was she supposed to go?

She swayed into her room, threw on just her coat, and grabbed her wallet. She couldn’t stay in the house any longer; she felt suffocated.

As she silently walked toward the front door, her mother’s sharp voice pierced through again.

“So, are you going to give me the money from the deposit or not?”

Yeon-hee held the open door and turned her head.

In the end.

In the end, her mother had successfully broken her heart.

“I’ll give it to you. Take it all, Mom.”

At that, her mother’s expression softened slightly.

“…You’ll give it to me? …I don’t have the money for your security deposit. I kept it for your wedding fund.”

Yeon-hee walked out without answering. The sound of the door slamming echoed coldly down the hallway.

“Ah, it’s cold.”

Stupid, naive.

Recalling what Junjae had said to her, Yeon-hee stared vacantly at the sky. The sky was covered with gray clouds.

She had left the house because it was too hard to stay, but she didn’t have the presence of mind to bring an umbrella. So she stood in the lobby of the building, staring blankly at the rain-soaked parking lot before eventually finding refuge in a pavilion about fifty meters away, avoiding the rain. She didn’t want to go back home.

She felt as though she was a shadow of Yeonjun, with her identity fading away in the darkness. Sometimes, when she felt this so clearly, it felt like her chest tightened.

One day, she remembered what Junjae had said.

“You’re so smart, why do you act so foolish at home? Just get rid of everything and leave.”

What did I respond to that? Did I say I didn’t know? Or did I say I didn’t understand myself either?

I really don’t know. Why am I acting so foolish? Why do I cling to this place like this?

Maybe it’s a lack of affection. Maybe I think someday my mom will notice me. If I stay strong and become a good daughter, maybe one day she will recognize me.

But in the end, I’m just going to get hurt again by the same things. Why do I keep expecting…?

The early spring rain brought a cold wind. Yeon-hee wrapped her shoulders around herself and leaned against a pillar in the pavilion. The sound of raindrops falling, plip plop, echoed coldly.

How long had she been standing there? She felt her phone vibrating in her pocket. She picked it up weakly. Unexpectedly, a name was glowing on the screen.

[Team Leader Min Jung-hoon]

For a moment, Yeon-hee hesitated, wondering whether she should answer. She was afraid that her inner sadness would be too obvious to him. But the hesitation didn’t last long. She wanted to hear his voice now.

“Hello, Jung-hoon.”

• It’s raining, Yeon-hee.

Without even a greeting, he simply threw out a short sentence.

Even though she already knew it was raining, Yeon-hee lifted her head and stared at the sky. Yes, it’s raining. The coldness settled down, and the tip of her nose felt chilled.

“Yes. It’s raining.”

• Are you catching a cold?

He asked in a concerned tone. Yeon-hee sniffled.

“No. I’m not sick.”

• Then why does your voice sound like you’re crying?

At that, Yeon-hee blinked, dazed. A tear fell down her cheek. The moisture that had gathered under her eyes began to flow endlessly like raindrops.

As the hot tears traced the cold curve of her cheek, she realized:

I’ve been crying.

She hadn’t even realized she was crying.

Yeon-hee rubbed her eyes with her sleeve and shook her head.

“I guess my throat is hoarse because it’s cold. I’m outside.”

• Outside? Where are you? It’s cold. If you need a ride, you should’ve said so.

Hearing that, Yeon-hee couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Oh my. Could I really treat such a distinguished team leader like a driver? No matter how many times I died and came back to life, I could never ask him, “It’s cold, come pick me up.”

“It’s not that far. I’m just at the apartment pavilion. I came out to listen to the rain.”

I’m not a teenager anymore. I couldn’t bring myself to say, “I fought with my mom and I came out because I felt bad.”

• I see. It’s cold, so don’t listen to the rain for too long. You’ll catch a cold.

His kind reply came back. The area under Yeon-hee’s eyes warmed again. His gentle voice made her heart soften. Is this what it feels like when someone’s voice offers comfort? How can someone like him even exist?

Even though she knew the truth—that he was a lonely, detached person—her heart melted with just his gentle voice. She only wanted to believe what she saw and heard. No matter what was behind his kindness, she wanted to face the image he showed and ignore the truth.

Just like how she often wandered around, seeking her mom’s affection, whenever she felt his kindness wrapping around her, she found herself falling for him more and more.

Is it my fate to always thirst for love and suffer over things I cannot have?

She looked up, feeling like she might cry again. The ceiling was blocked by the wooden roof, but it felt like raindrops were dripping down her face.

• Yeon-hee?

Jung-hoon called to her, noticing her silence.

Yeon-hee impulsively opened her mouth.

“I miss you.”

-……

There was no reply.

In the cold silence, Yeon-hee smiled faintly. She hadn’t said it with the expectation of a response, so she wasn’t particularly hurt. She was already accustomed to not being loved by the ones she wanted affection from.

After wiping her wet face, she stood up from the pavilion. It was time to shake off these ridiculous feelings and return to her usual self.

“Jung-hoon, I’m about to head home now. I’ll see you at the office.”

After forcing herself to speak cheerfully, she heard his reply of “Okay,” and hung up the phone. Then, she rushed back into the heavy rain, running toward the apartment lobby.

First, she would take a hot shower. After washing away the gloom surrounding her, she would lie down in bed, rolling around in the warm blankets.

At least she wasn’t feeling like she was sinking in the same pit of despair as before. For that, she was thankful to Jung-hoon.

Even though he didn’t share the same feelings, he was a person she was grateful for just by existing.

Buzz—buzz—

The vibration sound echoed in the dimly lit room. Yeon-hee fumbled for her phone and groped her way to the bed.

She had taken a hot shower and gotten into bed, but it seemed like Jung-hoon had been right—she really might have caught a cold. She had been shivering in the cold pavilion for a long time and then got drenched in the rain. Was that the problem? Her body felt hot, but it was sluggish and heavy.

She lifted her hand weakly to answer the phone. She hadn’t even checked who the caller was.

“Hello?”

• It’s me. Are you home?

A warm voice, completely unexpected, came through. Yeon-hee sat up, her messy body moving to check the screen. It was Jung-hoon.

Her sleepiness quickly vanished, and she pulled the blanket tighter around herself as she replied.

“Yes. I just got home.”

• I’m glad. I bought some brownies that you like. You don’t sound so well.

“Brownies?”

The sleepiness fully left her now. She could hear him laughing on the other side of the phone.

• Why are you so surprised? It’s cute. I figured it would be hard for us to meet suddenly, so I’ll leave them by your front door. Just tell me your building number.

Yeon-hee quickly moved to reply, flustered.

“No! It’s okay! Where are you right now?”

• I’m in the parking lot of your apartment.

“What? I’ll come down right now!”

• Hmm... Well, I’d like to see your face, but… Don’t rush. Take your time and come down slowly.

“Okay!”

Yeon-hee hastily ran her fingers through her hair and threw on a coat, rushing out of her room. Even though he said not to rush, her steps quickened.

Her mother must have gone out again, as the house was empty. She crossed the darkened living room and flung open the front door. After running a short distance, her heart started to race with excitement.

As soon as she exited the apartment lobby on the first floor, she saw him.

Jung-hoon, holding an umbrella in the rain, was quietly smiling at her, surrounded by a misty fog. He seemed even more like an unattainable illusion in that moment.

Unlike her, who had just thrown on a coat, he was as neat and well-dressed as usual. Even though she thought it was inevitable since she had come straight out of her home, it made the gap between them feel even more real.

“Why did you come outside in this cold?”

He asked, placing the umbrella over her.

Yeon-hee murmured, barely audible.

“I missed you.”

-……

There was no reply.

In the chilling silence, Yeon-hee smiled faintly. She hadn’t said it expecting an answer, so it didn’t hurt as much. She was already accustomed to not being loved by the ones she longed for affection from.

After wiping her wet face, she got into the passenger seat with the ease of someone who had grown used to it.

The sound of the rain, soft and gentle, filled the air. Soon, the driver’s side door opened, and the sound of rain rushed in before the door was closed again, restoring the calm.

The rain tapped rhythmically on the car window, like a melody.

Jung-hoon, sitting in the back seat, picked something up and placed a thick paper bag on Yeon-hee’s lap.

“Eat this. Your voice didn’t sound well. Have something sweet to feel better.”

“Did you come all the way here just to give me this?”

Yeon-hee’s gaze was fixed on the paper bag. It reminded her of the bakery bag her mother had brought earlier. Her mother’s gesture, thrown in her direction because she wanted something. But Jung-hoon’s gift was a pure act of kindness. That was all it was.

She felt her eyes well up but quickly lifted her gaze. Emotions, it seemed, only dug deep when the heart softened. Why was she so moved by something so small?

Maybe it was because the car was warm that her body started to feel heated. After taking off her coat, Yeon-hee ate the brownie, then spooned some cream pudding. Every time she stirred the fluffy pudding with her spoon, a strange smile spread across her face.

“Do you feel a bit better now?”

“Yes. ...Thank you.”

Leaning against the steering wheel, Jung-hoon turned his head slightly and smiled at her with his eyes.

“Can you tell me why you were feeling down earlier?”

“Well... I had a fight with my mom. It’s fine now. It really wasn’t a big deal.”

Fortunately, it seemed like Jung-hoon believed her words.

His gentle gaze touched Yeon-hee’s trembling lips. The intensity of his gaze made her embarrassed, so she looked out the window, moving only her lips. Water from the rain ran down the window in streams, merging and swirling together.

“I think I should visit like this more often.”

“Why?”

“Because your outfits are cute when I see them unexpectedly.”

Yeon-hee slowly looked down at her clothes. A white polar bear holding a Coca-Cola. The outfit was such a contrast to his crisp shirt and neatly ironed pants that her face reddened.

She fidgeted with her oversized sweatshirt, trying to cover the bear with her coat.

Jung-hoon quietly approached her, gently tossing her coat back and asking.

“Did you finish eating?”

Instead of replying, she nodded. There were still some snacks left, but she intended to save them for later at home. She wanted to savor his kindness bit by bit, day by day.

Jung-hoon, who had removed the box from her lap, leaned closer. He was so near that their lips would touch if they got any closer.

“Then, kiss me now.”

His calm voice blended with the sound of the rain.

“...What?”

Her eyes shook.

“I’ve wanted to do this since we met, but it was hard waiting until you finished eating.”

“Ah...”

Yeon-hee’s face turned crimson, and her lips moved but said nothing.

Jung-hoon didn’t seem to be the one to approach first. Instead, he merely tapped his own smiling lips, waiting for her to come closer.

“I even delayed my dinner appointment by an hour to be here. So, hurry up.”

His sweet, deep voice was interrupted by the rain tapping on the window.

His eyes gently curved upward. It wasn’t an alluring or seductive smile, but the warmth in his expression was enough to make Yeon-hee’s heart flutter.

It felt as if his gaze was caressing her face. Yeon-hee closed her eyes and slowly lifted her face.

Though the movement wasn’t large, a warm sensation quickly overlapped.

As their lips met, Jung-hoon tilted his head as if he had been waiting for this moment, and gently began to kiss her. Though it was Yeon-hee who had opened the door, it was Jung-hoon who stepped in.

Jung-hoon softly licked her lips before diving deeper. His tongue gently pulled hers, and they shared breath as their tongues tangled and slowly stroked against each other.

The rhythm of the kiss was slow. Even as Jung-hoon slowly wrapped his tongue around hers, Yeon-hee shivered with excitement. The tender kiss, slower and more gentle than a hurried, passionate one, seemed to pierce her heart deeper.

The warmth of his embrace enveloped her entirely, and his presence filled her world.

It was both blissful and terrifying. She was already so deep, unable to escape, yet he felt as though he was pulling her even closer, making it impossible to free herself. Yeon-hee was filled with both happiness and fear.

The wet sounds became stickier. Yeon-hee gripped his collar tightly to steady her faltering mind. A large hand came up and held hers. He licked her lips gently, then intertwined his fingers with hers, fitting his hand snugly between her fingers.

The sound of rain intensified, but in Yeon-hee’s ears, the frantic pounding of her heart was louder than the rain.

“I like you. I really like you, Jung-hoon.”

Her entire heart was shaken relentlessly by him.

Yeon-hee sat on the unfamiliar sofa, absentmindedly staring at her phone.

[Seoul, Yongsan-gu, Hannam-dong XX-……. Password 298-…….]

His home address. And the entrance password, written in a message Jung-hoon had sent, inviting her to come anytime.

Now, Yeon-hee was sitting on the large sofa in Jung-hoon’s living room, still wearing the outfit with the white bear holding a Coca-Cola.

After a deep kiss in the car, Jung-hoon didn’t pull away from her easily. After pulling back his lips, he continued to hold her face, gently pressing light kisses on her lips and nose, softly brushing his lips against hers.

It felt like an act filled with complete and genuine affection, and Yeon-hee barely managed to close her eyes, which threatened to tear up.

“Are you okay? You have a fever.”

Jung-hoon asked, planting soft kisses on her face. Yeon-hee, unable to open her eyes, merely shook her head.

“I’m fine.”

“I think you caught a cold, Yeon-hee.”

His words might have been right. She had shivered in the blanket earlier, fighting off a chill while enduring the heat in her body.

But the warmth she felt now wasn’t just because of that. It was because he was close. The closeness of him made her feel as though he truly loved her. Her body burned with the warmth of that feeling.

“Did you eat dinner?”

“Not yet.”

“What will you eat?”

“I don’t know. No one’s home, so I don’t feel like preparing anything.”

“…….”

Her vague answer made his smile shift slightly. Jung-hoon continued to hold her face, gazing at her. Then, after planting a final kiss on her lips, he pulled back.

“Pack your clothes and come downstairs.”

“Excuse me?”

“Come with me. Tomorrow, rest at my place, and we’ll go to work together on Monday. You’re not eating and you’re sick... I’ll take care of you.”

She had never spent the night together with him, yet here she was, suddenly invited to his home. And now he was even asking her to stay the night. Even when they had shared a hotel room before, he had always left promptly, but now, he wanted her to stay. Yeon-hee couldn’t quite believe what was happening, and before she could respond, she found herself at a loss for words.

Before she could say anything, Jung-hoon had already gotten out of the car. He opened the passenger door, held the umbrella over her, and escorted Yeon-hee to his house. He told her to pack her things and come back.

Without hesitating, Yeon-hee nodded like a good student and quickly gathered her things to return.

Before she knew it, she was at Jung-hoon’s house.

The house was empty. He had delayed his appointment by an hour to come see her, but he hadn’t been able to cancel it entirely. Instead, he kindly told her to relax at the house and that he would bring her something delicious.

“Today, I forced you to come with me, but… if you’re ever sick again, just come right away. Did you get the address and the password message?”

He had patted her head, as if he were a father reassuring his child before leaving for work. After making sure she would be okay on her own, he left the house.

And so, Yeon-hee was left alone in the unfamiliar space.

She hugged a cushion from the sofa and looked around. The yellow light from the crystal chandelier softly illuminated the room. The interior didn’t feel like a home at all; it felt more like a hotel, everything arranged perfectly.

The cold marble floor, the delicately patterned rug—everything was straightened and flawless. Even the picture frames were perfectly aligned.

A large window, as if it could let in all the light in the world, now let in not sunlight, but rainwater.

‘When will Jung-hoon be back?’

She had been invited to his house, but now that she was left alone in his home, she felt like an uninvited guest. She wondered if she should hang her clothes somewhere, but hesitant to touch anything in the house, she decided to hold off.

She felt strangely out of place waiting for him.

‘Is it okay for me to be here…?’

Uncertain of her place, she sat still on the sofa and stared aimlessly at the pouring rain.

She didn’t know how long she had been staring at the rain when she suddenly heard sounds from afar. It seemed like Jung-hoon was back, and with a nervous expression, Yeon-hee stood up slowly.

Why am I even here? She thought he would scold her for being in his home, but she felt strangely shy in front of him. She should be more confident, but for some reason, she felt small.

Jung-hoon soon appeared. He placed his phone on the table, paused, and then looked at Yeon-hee with a slightly strange expression.

“……”

Yeon-hee’s heart sank. His silent response made her feel like an intruder, and it made her uncomfortable. She tried to hide her feelings and cautiously spoke up.

“Did you come back?”

Jung-hoon finally gave a faint smile, struggling to lift the corners of his mouth. He crossed his arms and shook his head, then let out a small laugh. His gaze was fixed not on Yeon-hee, but on the floor.

“I was a little surprised, Yeon-hee.”

“Eh? Why?”

Yeon-hee only repeated the question, standing still in place. Jung-hoon raised his head and walked over to her, quickly closing the distance. He started planting soft kisses around her eyes, each kiss affectionate and tender.

“It’s a nice feeling to have someone waiting for me at home. I’ve never experienced it before... I already knew you were here, but…”

He whispered as he kissed her eyes, her cheeks, and her ears. His words were somewhat unfinished, strangely lacking his usual clarity.

In his embrace, Yeon-hee could feel the heartbeat, warm and comforting. She gathered the courage to embrace him back. The warmth from his arms made her heart melt.

He wasn’t even thinking of taking off his coat as he continued to hold her tightly. He glanced at the bag of her things next to the sofa and then slowly ran his hand around her waist, asking:

“Why haven’t you unpacked your things?”

“I feel bad about leaving my stuff here, like I’m being presumptuous in someone else’s house.”

“Hmm……”

Jung-hoon dropped his body onto the bed and began rummaging through Yeon-hee’s bag. Then, with an indifferent face, he laid out her belongings one by one.

He walked past Yeon-hee towards the dressing room. Yeon-hee obediently followed him at his gesture.

“Your clothes are here.”

Yeon-hee’s clothes were hung in the dressing room.

“Put your toothbrush here.”

A new toothbrush was placed in the bathroom.

“You can do your makeup here.”

Yeon-hee’s cosmetics lined up on the marble table in the dressing room.

Finally, they returned to the living room. Jung-hoon held Yeon-hee’s cardigan, pondered for a moment, and then neatly draped it over the back of the sofa. The corners of his lips gently curved upwards, as if satisfied.

“Now I’ve left all of Yeon-hee’s traces. Don’t move the clothes on the sofa. I decorated it in commemoration of Yeon-hee’s visit.”

Jung-hoon tightly hugged the blankly standing Yeon-hee and gently ruffled the hair at the back of her head. Slender strands of hair flowed through his fingers.

Yeon-hee, held in his arms, exhaled a hot breath. The large hands that were gently touching her lightly reached inside her top.

Jung-hoon kissed Yeon-hee from her eyes down her cheeks, slowly tracing the curve of her back with his fingertips. Soon, the clasp of her bra popped open.

Soon, his fingertips loosened her bra.

“Now I just need to put my gown on you...”

With the straps that had been tightening her chest now loosened, she should have felt more comfortable, but instead, she felt suffocated. His warmth naturally entered through the gap of the loosened straps. He gently stroked her bare back and whispered in her ear.

“Shall I wash you?”

The hand that had been touching her back moved forward and abruptly entered the loosened bra. And before Yeon-hee could be surprised, he grasped her soft breast.

“Ah!”

Yeon-hee’s upper body swayed.

Jung-hoon pinched and rubbed her nipples with two fingers. He rubbed and rolled them with his index finger, creating a tingling sensation. The rising pleasure spread from its peak.

Soon, he massaged her breasts with both hands, flicking at her nipples with his thumbs. Slightly careless yet roughly. The swollen nipples bounced elastically.

Dizzying sensations intermittently washed over her, and Yeon-hee struggled to breathe. She could only resent her body for crumbling at such simple stimulation. She leaned her trembling body against him.

Jung-hoon supported Yeon-hee’s swaying waist and kissed her neck. Soon, the hand that had been holding her waist abruptly entered her pants. Before Yeon-hee could even close her legs, he unexpectedly groped through her pubic hair.

“Ah...!”

His fingertips teasingly rubbed her cute, protruding clitoris. The moistening, swollen mound gently rubbed.

“Mmm...”

Her hips bucked each time he lifted the foreskin and rubbed the sensitively swollen area.

Jung-hoon gently guided Yeon-hee’s arousal, pressing and rubbing her clitoris with his palm and rubbing the crevices with his index finger. Her already wet vulva made wet sounds as it squelched under his touch.

“Lean on my arm.”

Yeon-hee grabbed his arm and leaned her swaying body against him, biting her lip. A tingling pleasure surged through her, making it difficult to stand properly.

His middle finger slid through the slick opening and entered her.

“Mmm!”

A groan escaped Yeon-hee’s lips. The finger that had pushed its way in smoothly entered along the vaginal wall. It rubbed and dug inside, then pulled out. It entered again and slowly stirred.

“Can you feel it going in? You used to have trouble even with a finger, but now you’re accepting it beautifully.”

“Ah... Mmm...”

Her legs gave way, and she clung entirely to him. She felt like she was seeing stars. Her thighs trembled with every stir and rummage inside her.

Just as she was about to collapse, she felt herself being lifted by him, and when she regained her senses, she was lying sprawled on the carpet.

Jung-hoon removed Yeon-hee’s underwear and bottoms in one swift motion. Then, he firmly grasped her thighs and lowered his face between them.

“Ah... Jeong, Jung-hoon...”

A flustered Yeon-hee tried to close her thighs, but the face between her legs didn’t move.

Yeon-hee’s eyes were filled with embarrassment. She couldn’t believe what was happening. In his house, with her lower body completely exposed, she was shamelessly spreading her legs wide. She felt like crying.

“Let’s go to the bed... together... there...”

She covered her face with both hands and pleaded. Instead of answering, Jung-hoon parted her vulva. He pushed the labia aside, found her hidden clitoris, and without hesitation, took it into his lips.

“Ahhh...!”

Her hands covering her face trembled. Every time his tongue tapped the pointed tip, a thrilling sensation ran down her spine. He lightly sucked on her clitoris, as if suckling a nipple, and said,

“Then you should have answered earlier. Since you didn’t answer, I thought you wanted me to fuck you right here.”

“Mmm... Ah, ah, don’t... Hng!”

He teased the protrusion with his lips, then gently bit the swollen bud of pleasure.

“Hut!”

Yeon-hee’s back arched again. A throbbing pleasure surged through her body like an electric current.

He firmly pressed down on Yeon-hee’s legs, which were trying to close again, forcing them open. Then, he forcibly took her hands and made her spread them herself.

“Are you embarrassed? Why do you keep hiding it?”

“I’m embarrassed...”

Yeon-hee replied tearfully. Jung-hoon took her hands, which had fallen from her thighs again, and placed them near her vulva.

“Then spread them yourself.”

It was an order disguised as consideration. Yeon-hee, feeling an almost oppressive tone in his otherwise gentle voice, unconsciously used both hands to carefully spread the opening. As she slowly parted the wet crevice, the red inner flesh was revealed. Her vulva was twitching as if breathing.

The fluids that were leaking out like a spring flowed down her cleft and dampened the carpet.

“Good girl.”

He spoke calmly, as if praising a child, and then brought his face back down. He traced the crevice with his tongue, gently caressing the sensitive skin. After only lightly teasing the surface, Jung-hoon inserted his tongue.

“Ah... Mmm!”

Yeon-hee couldn’t suppress the sound. The hands that had been holding her open lost their strength and fell down. Jung-hoon, with his face buried there, smiled and spread her thighs again, holding them firmly in place.

“Mmm... Jung-hoon... Ahhh...!”

Yeon-hee was on fire, about to go crazy.

A man who hadn’t even taken off his coat, a neat man with not a single hair out of place, was now obscenely licking her below. With a face more composed than anyone else, he was doing something more lewd than anyone else.

The incongruous sight was even more stimulating, and she kept getting wetter.

Her swollen clitoris was sucked. Her hips lifted. Her vulva was already soaked with a sticky mixture of saliva and vaginal fluids.

He gently nibbled on her clitoris. An intense excitement surged through her like a tide.

“Ahhh...! Mmm!”

She was disoriented by the dizzying sensations that spread like ripples. But Jung-hoon, as if not allowing her to reach her climax, slowed his actions each time she was about to crest the wave.

He licked up the split crevice with his tongue. Jung-hoon’s hot breath tickled her clitoris and vulva.

“Yeon-hee. Have you ever seen this yourself? How beautiful it is.”

A sweet voice echoed from below. Yeon-hee only shook her head instead of answering. She didn’t have the courage to make a sound. She was afraid that sobs would burst out instead of words.

He pulled his face back and began to examine her vulva with his eyes.

“D-don’t look... Hng...”

“It’s as pretty as your face. When I spread it open, the inner flesh is even more erotic. I’ll show you yours in a mirror later.”

“Mmm... no...”

Yeon-hee closed her legs in a feeling of shame. But he pressed down on her thighs with one hand and skillfully spread her vulva with his fingers.

The red inner flesh was revealed again. Smooth fluids gushed out through the opening, which was parting and closing in a lewd manner. Jung-hoon grabbed Yeon-hee’s hand, placed it on her vulva, and forcibly pushed her finger inside.

“Can you feel it? How tight and hot Yeon-hee’s pussy is.”

“Ah...”

Yeon-hee, flustered, only thrashed her hips. The finger she was inserting herself felt burning hot. Jung-hoon removed her bewildered finger and pushed his middle finger in firmly.

“Now you know, right? How much this turns me on.”

His finger was pushed in all the way.

“Ah...! Ahh...”

“Next time, touch yourself in front of me.”

“Haa...!”

Yeon-hee twisted her hips as if shuddering, instead of answering.

Jung-hoon rubbed the hot, wet vaginal walls with his fingertip. Each time the inner walls rubbed softly, her vulva quivered and gripped his finger. Jung-hoon rummaged inside Yeon-hee and then pulled up her shirt. Her breasts were fully exposed.

“Ah!”

He teased her sharply erect nipples in the cool air while continuing to stimulate her below. He gently rubbed her nipples and then roughly grabbed them with his hand. With one hand tormenting her breasts and the other her below, Yeon-hee was on the verge of becoming disoriented with dizzying sensations.

“Ahh...! Ah, Jung-hoon... Hng...!”

Jung-hoon’s movements quickened. Lecherous sounds echoed lewdly. The leaking fluids began to splatter profusely.

Yeon-hee’s moans, reaching their peak, were cut short with heavy breaths. The viscous liquid flowed down Jung-hoon’s hand to his wrist.

“Ah! Ah! Ahh...!”

Yeon-hee couldn’t control the trembling of her body. It was difficult for her to control her body because he was rummaging around, picking only the places that made her feel the most.

Then, when he finally rubbed the vaginal wall and firmly pierced her pleasure point,

“Ah! Ahhh...!”

Yeon-hee stretched her toes out and let out a deep moan.

The area around her thighs became soaked with the gushing fluids. She shivered with the rushing orgasm, accepting the pleasure. Her vulva contracted and released his finger in small spasms.

Jung-hoon gently rubbed the vaginal wall. He seemed to be enjoying the trembling of the vaginal wall that he felt on his finger.

Yeon-hee’s hips twisted strongly. She felt like she was going crazy from the sensation of being stimulated by the lingering afterglow.

“Haa... Stop... Jung-hoon... Hng...”

Yeon-hee pleaded almost crying. Her body didn’t feel like her own. It was difficult for her to regain her senses.

Jung-hoon pulled out his deeply inserted hand and gently rubbed the vulva, which was gushing fluids, with his palm. The wide surface swept over her vulva and clitoris as a whole.

Yeon-hee’s body helplessly twitched.

Her white breasts swayed as she breathed heavily. Her eyes were flushed, and her lips were bitten in excitement. Jung-hoon gazed at Yeon-hee greedily before rubbing her breasts with his wet palm.

The sticky fluid was smeared lewdly.

“This all came from down there, Yeon-hee. How can your body be this lewd?”

“Hng... Hng...”

He stroked her nipples, which were erect with excitement, with his hand and pressed them firmly with his entire palm. Then, he moved his hand down again and playfully tapped her clitoris.

Yeon-hee barely opened her eyes, drawing her thighs together. As the afterglow of the intense pleasure faded like dying embers, she finally regained her senses.

With hazy eyes, she dimly stared at him. She saw Jung-hoon, perfectly dressed, not even having unbuttoned his shirt. He looked as if he could go out immediately, while she was indecently stripped bare in front of him.

He gently rubbed her wet clitoris with his thumb and smiled softly.

“You have to understand that I lose my reason and just thrust inside you whenever I have sex with you, Yeon-hee. It’s because your pussy is this lewd.”

She dreamed of a forgotten past.

A few years ago, in New York.

The sound of a party from outside the door and the thick scent of wine filling the air. A stranger’s voice whispering in her ear as she grew drunk.

“Jeong Yeon-hee. Aren’t you curious about me…? About who I am? Do you remember where we first met…?”

His deep voice, sweet enough to melt into her.

She couldn’t remember the face of the man she had first been with, the one who had roughly pushed her. The only thing she could recall was his heavy, hot body pressing her down, and his voice, strangely soothing, and his smile, which had seemed a little offbeat and languid.

Yeon-hee let out a labored breath in her sleep. Just before she fully woke up, the traces of the past scattered like a dream.

‘Where have I heard that voice before…?’

Who are you…? She murmured to herself in a half-sleep, her words mumbled and indistinct, as if trapped inside.

Just as she was about to recall something, a voice called her name.

“Yeon-hee.”

The familiar voice broke through her memories, pulling her out of the past like a waking dream. She felt a soft hand brushing through her hair. It was the warmth of someone she had come to recognize.

‘Ah. It’s Jung-hoon.’

Yeon-hee’s eyelids fluttered. The gentle voice echoed again above her head.

“Yeon-hee, eat this and sleep.”

Yeon-hee slowly opened her eyes.

She was lying on a soft bed, almost cloud-like. Turning her head slightly, she saw Jung-hoon holding a white bowl. His skin was smooth, especially pale, as if he had just washed.

But perhaps due to his wet hair, his expression—normally gentle—somehow seemed a little seductive.

“What’s that...?”

Yeon-hee propped herself up, confused.

“Abalone porridge. Try it.”

“Did you make this yourself?”

At Yeon-hee’s round-eyed question, Jung-hoon laughed out loud.

“Unfortunately, no. I learned it, and I’ll make it for you one day.”

“Yes. You have to put in a lot of abalone.”

She dismissed his words as a light joke, replying casually. As she moved the spoon, she felt a sense of wonder. Here she was, sitting on Jung-hoon’s bed, being taken care of, eating abalone porridge. What was going on?

In fact, it felt like she had been running through a dream since yesterday. Was this reality, staying in his house now?

“It’s delicious. Did you buy it?”

“No. I asked the housekeeper to bring it. It wasn’t her scheduled day, but she’s very good at it.”

“Ah...”

The word “housekeeper” struck Yeon-hee as strangely unrealistic.

Through the open window, she could see the grass outside, wet with dew. She hadn’t known that a high-end mansion would have a terrace with a grassy garden, something she learned just this morning.

It had been about a day since she came to his house.

After being completely exposed in the middle of the living room and reaching her peak, she had been carried to the bedroom by Jung-hoon. There, she was again swept away for quite some time.

In the darkness, with all the curtains drawn and no light coming in, she was lost in him for a long while. She was shaken and pushed until her mind almost faded away. She finally freed herself in the early hours, not knowing whether it was night or morning.

She wasn’t sure if she had fallen asleep or fainted, but when she opened her eyes again, it was morning.

The dimly lit room was now filled with bright sunlight. A damp towel rested on her forehead. It seemed that he had wiped her feverish body with the warm towel several times throughout the night, so it must not have been a dream.

This morning, his gaze was filled with genuine concern as he asked if she was feeling better. At that point, Yeon-hee couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it, her face flushed with heat.

His behavior was like giving medicine after causing illness, but his worried face as he looked at her made her heart warm. The way he looked at her with complete focus felt endearing.

By now, it was hard for Yeon-hee to tell whether his kind expressions were sincere or not.

“Yeon-hee, you need to move your spoon. You’ve stopped eating. Are you planning to eat this all night?”

“I’m not hungry.”

“No, you have to finish it. If you keep eating this slowly, you’ll be working overtime tonight.”

He teased her as though he were a team leader urging an employee. Yeon-hee resumed moving her spoon and lightly responded.

“Will I get overtime pay?”

“No overtime pay for negligence,” he joked.

“I’ll report you to the labor board.”

At the mention of reporting, Jung-hoon’s eyes widened slightly, but then he shook his head.

“There are so many things I could be reported for besides unpaid overtime... I’m worried about what you’ll report first.”

“What have you done wrong?”

His expression turned serious, and he began to list things with his fingers.

“First, on Christmas, you flirted with me, even though I’m your subordinate... Then, you asked me out on a weekend, which is an illegal request for weekend work... And now you’ve dragged me to your house, which could be considered off-hours labor. At this rate, I’m looking at arrest.”

His face held a smile as he quietly observed Yeon-hee. She shook her head, laughing lightly.

“Well, I’ll pay for the bail. I was going to use my savings anyway...”

Yeon-hee stopped mid-sentence, suddenly stiffening. She had been about to say that she felt secure after receiving her savings, but it struck her suddenly.

“Right. I promised to give the savings to Mom.”

Even in the light-hearted moment of joking with him, thinking about her mother made her body tense. She sighed involuntarily. While offering her savings for bail was a joke, giving them to her mother wasn’t, and that made her feel a certain heaviness.

It wasn’t the amount of money, but the feeling of being treated like an endless source of funds by her mother that saddened her. Feeling suddenly melancholic, she lowered her gaze, and that’s when she felt a warm touch on her cheek.

“Yeon-hee?”

She lifted her head slightly. Jung-hoon was gently cupping her cheek, leaning in with a concerned tilt of his head.

“What are you thinking? Your expression looks strange.”

“It’s nothing.”

Yeon-hee shook her head and gave a faint smile.

It was truly surprising. Just with that look in his eyes. With one simple word of concern, her heart swelled as if she had been comforted immensely.

Last night, when she mentioned that she missed him, he had postponed their meeting time just to come see her. He had readily invited her into his personal space, let her stay, and took such delicate care of her. In the end, like now, he gently touched her cheek to comfort her.

Without even knowing what was troubling her.

In this moment, it felt like she had become his top priority. Someone who had always been second to her older brother, never receiving full affection, now felt as though she was his one and only. And that feeling made her emotions overflow.

Clinging to love she could never have was likely due to the emptiness within herself. Always empty, never fully fulfilled, she filled that void with fleeting emotions to patch up the hopeless hole.

Even knowing that, even though she was aware that his kind touch might eventually become poison, she foolishly kept falling deeper. Like a car with a broken brake, her heart kept racing toward him.

She watched Jung-hoon’s smile as he looked at her.

Min Jung-hoon. He was a man as ambiguous and secretive as a gift wrapped in opaque paper. The gift inside might look nice, but somehow, it wasn’t entirely clear.

Would the truth revealed once the wrapping is torn away shine as brightly as she imagined?

Fearing what she might find inside, Yeon-hee couldn’t bring herself to unwrap the gift.