PTT - 67

“Isn’t this visit as Baek Si-heon’s mother, not as the NIS director?”

Si-heon smoothly deflected his mother’s question with a playful tone. Still, Director Kwon Jung-ah looked at them both alternately, her expression suggesting she already knew everything. Gently patting Ra-on’s shoulder, she turned and headed toward the door.

“I’ll leave you two alone then. Agent Yoo Ra-on, see you later.”

“Yes, Director. I’ll see you at the office.”

“Goodbye, Mother.”

“Oh, Si-heon.”

Just as she was about to open the door, Kwon paused and turned back, stroking her chin thoughtfully. She locked eyes with Si-heon for a long moment.

“I’m about to cause a bit of a stir. Don’t be too surprised, okay?”

“How big of a stir are we talking if you’re giving me a heads-up?”

“Well… it’s something I should’ve done years ago, but better late than never. Anyway, don’t worry too much. Have fun, Agent Yoo Ra-on.”

With a soft click, the door closed behind her. Alone in the room, Ra-on exhaled deeply, finally relaxing. Watching her with an amused smile, Si-heon gestured to the foldable chair beside his bed.

“You must be tired. Sit down. You were surprised to see Mother, right?”

“It would be a lie to say I wasn’t. …I didn’t expect Director Kwon to come here. What if other employees saw her?”

“She took that risk willingly. For years, she’s kept our relationship completely under wraps. Aside from you, Ra-on, no one at the NIS knows about us.”

“Really? Phew… Well, I was definitely nervous.”

Why did she feel so anxious when she hadn’t done anything wrong? Placing the lunchbox on the bedside table, Ra-on slumped into the chair. Si-heon gently tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, his dark eyes brimming with affection.

“By the way, it seems you made quite an impression. She was unusually warm toward you.”

“…Is that so? She’s always been such a charismatic figure.”

“You can tell just by looking. I’m glad she likes you.”

It certainly wouldn’t hurt to be on good terms with Director Kwon, who was both his mother and their superior. Nodding in relief, Ra-on suddenly remembered something and pursed her lips tightly.

Unconsciously narrowing her eyes, she fidgeted with her lips. Si-heon chuckled softly as he tenderly smoothed her forehead and temples.

“What’s with that expression all of a sudden? Did I do something wrong?”

“…No, not really. It’s nothing.”

“It’s not nothing. Something’s clearly bothering you. Was it because I didn’t warn you about Mother’s visit?”

Ra-on was an exceptional actress during operations, yet she couldn’t hide her emotions from him. Fidgeting nervously, she avoided his gaze and mumbled softly. As childish as it felt to even think about it, she couldn’t help but ask.

“…Are we dating?”

“What? I didn’t catch that. Say it louder, Yeon-ah.”

“Sigh…”

Taking a deep breath, Ra-on stared directly at him with wide eyes.

“What exactly is our relationship? When the director asked earlier, you didn’t give a proper answer.”

“Oh. So that’s what this is about. Are you upset, Agent Yoo Ra-on?”

“…Do I have to spell it out? Are you clueless, or do you just not care?”

His teasing tone irked her more than usual. Pretending to brush dust off his sleeve, Ra-on lightly punched his arm. Though she hadn’t put much force into it, he exaggerated a wince.

“Ow! That hurt. Was that fueled by emotion?”

“…Never mind. Why bother talking about it? We’re just team leader and subordinate.”

“Do you really believe that? Your face says otherwise, my dumpling.”

Grinning mischievously, Si-heon cupped her cheeks with both hands. Planting a quick kiss on her puckered lips, he slowly scanned her face.

Her jet-black eyes mirrored his own, her flawless pale skin unblemished, and her plump lips inviting. Her once short bob, barely grazing her jawline, had grown enough to touch her shoulders. Every detail of Yoo Ra-on was irresistibly lovable to him.

Smooch, smooch, smooch. He kissed her several more times, playfully pinching her soft cheeks. Massaging them gently, he felt all his worries melt away.

Pouting, Ra-on sighed heavily and pulled his wrist down.

“Are you playing games with me, Senior?”

“Games? Never heard of that term before. How could I, when there’s only you in my heart?”

“Then why…”

Why don’t you define our relationship properly? Swallowing the unfinished sentence, Ra-on fell silent. He seemed nonchalant, but she couldn’t shake the disappointment weighing on her chest.

Whether they labeled themselves as lovers or not, keeping their relationship hidden from others remained unchanged. Was that why he hadn’t confessed to her? The thought filled her with a deep sense of melancholy.

“…”

“Yeon-ah, look at me. I promise I won’t joke around.”

“…I’m looking.”

Seeing her visibly hurt expression, Si-heon abandoned his playful demeanor. Gently stroking her hair, his face turned serious.

“You have no idea how much I care about you.”

“…How would I know if you never say it?”

They’d both sensed their feelings aligned long ago. Perhaps, for five years now, they’d only ever cared for each other.

“I love you. I don’t want to live without you.”

“…”

“Every morning, I wake up wanting to see you. Every night, I miss your warmth. Whenever I eat something delicious, all I think about is sharing it with you.”

“…Is that so?”

His heartfelt confession flowed naturally, unfiltered. Leaning forward, Si-heon pulled Ra-on into a tight embrace. Wrapping one arm around her waist and cradling the back of her head with the other, he whispered in his deep, soothing voice.

Some emotions are too precious to reveal easily. His feelings for Yoo Ra-on were among the most delicate and valuable.

“I planned to confess properly after this mission ended. I could just say ‘I like you’ or ‘let’s date,’ but that didn’t feel right. I wanted to express my true feelings in a place full of happy memories. I’m sorry I didn’t consider your feelings.”

Sorry for making you sad. Kissing her forehead tenderly, he pressed his warm lips against her skin, leaving a vivid sensation.

She hadn’t expected him to wait so patiently for the right moment. Suddenly feeling childish for overreacting, embarrassment washed over her.

“…Then I’ll wait.”

“Yeah, just a little longer.”

Fidgeting with her fingers, Ra-on cleared her throat and pulled out the lunchbox. Meeting his gaze now might make her cry. Unpacking the tiers, she spoke softly.

“Have you eaten dinner? I brought some porridge, thinking you might be hungry.”

“Oh, I wondered why the hospital food tasted so bland today. Guess the nutritionist was saving me for this meal with you.”

“That doesn’t even make sense. Stop joking.”

Despite her words, a small laugh escaped her lips. Baek Si-heon had a knack for lightening the mood. Or maybe it was simply that every word he said warmed her heart. Opening the thermos lid, steam momentarily clouded her vision.

“Porridge? Hmm… I was hoping for something tastier. I’ve been discharged for days now, Yeon-ah.”

“It’s the only thing I could cook. Let’s eat your favorite foods together after you’re discharged.”

“You made this yourself? Porridge?”

“…Yes. Do you doubt me?”

The fact that she nearly sliced her thumb while chopping carrots, zucchini, and shiitake mushrooms remained a secret. Having rarely cooked due to her grandmother handling meals throughout her childhood, Ra-on’s culinary experience was limited to instant ramen at best.

Still, she wanted to cook a homemade meal for him at least once. After searching online for recipes, she managed to prepare it—though the process proved far less simple than the instructions suggested.

Setting up the portable tray on his bed, Ra-on placed the lunchbox and utensils neatly. The other compartments held peeled tangerines and slices of peach her grandmother had prepared.

“Can I get excited? It smells amazing.”

“…I haven’t tasted it myself, so I’m not sure how it turned out. It probably cooled down on the way here.”

“It smells incredibly nutty. I’ll enjoy it. Aren’t you eating?”

“Fruit is fine for me. Eat a lot, Senior.”

Adding unnecessary comments in case it didn’t taste good, she split a soft tangerine in half. Watching him eagerly eye the porridge, Si-heon finally took a spoonful.

“…”

“…Does it taste bad?”

“Huh? No, it’s… surprisingly interesting.”