SS - 63

The warmth that filled her heart just from thinking of someone—perhaps that was what love felt like.

Her heart, which had grown bitter and frozen because of Chairman Choi, melted at the mere sound of Joo-Hyuk’s voice.

Like ice thawing in the spring after a long, harsh winter.

About an hour later, the two met in Seochon Village, shared dinner, and sat across from each other in a café.

“Did you take a taxi?”

Joo-Hyuk immediately asked as he placed their ordered drinks on the table.

“No.”

“You didn’t listen?”

“There weren’t many people, luckily.”

Sena smiled and extended her hand across the table. Without hesitation, he took it firmly. She could hear whispers from people around them who had recognized him.

“Maybe I shouldn’t have suggested dating in such a crowded place.”

“It’s fine.”

“Still… people are still watching us…”

“If you hadn’t noticed before, I’ve always been under this kind of attention.”

As if to reassure her, Joo-Hyuk squeezed her hand gently.

The sun had set, and darkness enveloped the windows. More people were out now, having finished work and heading to meet friends or loved ones. The two quietly sipped their tea and watched the passersby outside the window.

“This unemployed life has its perks. I can leisurely drink tea with you like this.”

“I should ask you out more often. I didn’t realize it would feel this nice.”

“Can I see the sticker photos you took earlier?”

Sena pulled the sticker photos from her bag and handed them to Joo-Hyuk.

On their way from the restaurant to the café, they had stumbled upon a sticker photo booth—one of those old-school machines she hadn’t seen since childhood.

Amused by her curiosity, he grabbed her hand and led her inside. He playfully placed ridiculous wigs on both their heads.

“Sticker photos turn out better when we look silly. See? This one came out great, right?”

The photo Joo-Hyuk chose showed the two of them wearing red and blue wigs and posing in clownish jackets. Their faces lit up with uncontrollable laughter, looking brighter than ever.

For a moment, Sena stared blankly at her own face in the photo, feeling as though it wasn’t really her.

When was the last time she had laughed like this?

It was true that she had laughed more since being with Joo-Hyuk, but capturing such pure, carefree laughter on film felt like something she hadn’t done in ages.

Was it back when she was with her mother? Probably around then.

“Sena?”

Hearing Joo-Hyuk’s worried voice, Sena realized tears were streaming down her cheeks.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, yes. I’m fine.”

Not wanting others to see, she quickly wiped her tears with a tissue.

“I’m just so happy. It’s been such a long time since I’ve seen myself laugh like this.”

“Right. Me too.”

“If I stay by your side, will I always be able to smile like this?”

As tears welled up again, she hastily lowered her head and dabbed her eyes with another tissue.

When no reassuring response came, she looked up to find him gazing at her with a serious expression.

“What’s wrong?”

“What do you mean?”

“Something happened today, didn’t it?”

“Nothing happened.”

Sena shook her head.

She didn’t want him to worsen his already strained relationship with his father because of her.

“Liar.”

“I’m not lying…”

“Don’t think I don’t know your tells when you lie. You scrunch your nose slightly and avoid my gaze.”

She hadn’t realized he’d picked up on such habits, but apparently, lying to him was futile. Frustrated, she bit her lip.

“What happened? Why are you keeping secrets from me again?”

“It’s nothing like that.”

“Then what? Are you planning to disappear again?”

In Joo-Hyuk’s furrowed eyes, Sena saw pain.

Pain, fear, and a hint of anger. The memory of her leaving with lies must have left a deep scar, a trauma within him.

She didn’t want to push him back into that pain.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“Then tell me what happened.”

He pressed on without backing down.

There was no choice now.

Sena gave in.

“But promise you won’t get mad.”

“I’ll decide after hearing it.”

“No, promise first.”

“…I promise.”

Joo-Hyuk nodded reluctantly, his expression unimpressed.

“Your father called for me, so I went to see him.”

“My father? My father called you?”

“Yes.”

“And you went alone?”

“Yes.”

“Why!”

“You promised not to get mad.”

Her voice softened as she spoke to him, who was raising his voice. He clenched his teeth and held his breath. His pale face flushed red, looking as if he might explode at the slightest touch, but Sena continued.

“I didn’t think I needed to report to you about meeting your father.”

“It’s not about reporting. I just mentioned it because I didn’t know what he might say given the timing.”

“I know. I thought about whether I should have gone with you.”

“What did he say?”

How could she phrase it so Joo-hyuk wouldn’t get too angry?

No matter how much she thought about it, the answer was the same. No matter how she said it, he would still get mad.

“He told me to break up with you.”

With a sharp sound, Joo-hyuk shot up from his seat. The gazes of the surrounding customers instantly focused on him, but he didn’t seem to notice.

“Sit down. Don’t get angry already.”

Sena reached out and grabbed Joo-hyuk’s hand, pulling him back.

“I can guess what he said without hearing it.”

“It’s probably worse than you think, so just sit down for a moment.”

After barely managing to get Joo-hyuk to sit, she relayed Chairman Choi’s threats word for word.

“This is insane…”

A rough curse slipped from Joo-hyuk’s lips.

“So, did you agree to it?”

Under his accusatory gaze, Sena felt a chill run down her spine.

“No. If I had, would I have asked you out on a date?”

“Who knows? Maybe this is our last date.”

“I’m sorry. That’s why I’m asking you not to get so angry.”

It was natural for him to be angry. If the situation were reversed and he had gone to her father without telling her and brought up such a topic, she would have been furious too.

Still, she didn’t want to see or hear him being sarcastic and accusatory like this.

“I’m angry for two reasons. One, why didn’t you discuss this with me before I asked? And two, obviously, because of your father threatening you.”

“I know. I’d be angry about those two things too.”

“So answer me. Why did you hide it? Did you think you could handle it alone?”

Sena couldn’t answer.

There was no way for her to solve this problem without leaving Joo-hyuk, as Chairman Choi wanted.

“Of course not. There’s no way I could solve it without your help.”

“Now you get it? We’re in this together. An attack on you is no different from an attack on me.”

“You’re right. I’m sorry.”

At Sena’s apology, Joo-hyuk let out a long sigh.

“I told you to trust me. Just trust me.”

His slightly softened voice soothed her.

“I can’t bear to see you lose KMS because of me.”

“That won’t happen. What you’re worried about will never happen.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

Joo-hyuk answered firmly.

________________________________________

“Ah…”

Sena quickly bit her lip, but it was no use. Joo-hyuk’s lips, his touch, were too stimulating, and a moan escaped between her lips.

“You seem especially sensitive today. Why?”

His impatient voice rang in her ear before he bit her earlobe.

As soon as they got home, Joo-hyuk dragged Sena into the bathroom and buried his face in her chest.

The shower was turned on, soaking their clothes, but that only added to the novelty. Every time his hands and lips touched her through the wet fabric, her body squirmed.

Joo-hyuk, who had been pressing his lips against her chest through the wet blouse, looked up at her with a furrowed brow. His slightly irritated expression made her swallow hard, staring into his dark eyes.

At that moment, he grabbed the front of her blouse with both hands and tore it apart.

There was no other way to describe it—he literally tore it. The buttons popped off one by one, scattering across the bathroom floor.

He lowered his head and cupped her breasts.

Even with his large hands, he couldn’t fully grasp them. As he applied pressure, her breasts bulged between his fingers. Her pink nipples stood erect, as if begging to be sucked, and Sena tightly closed her eyes.

As expected, a hot breath touched her chest, followed by a wet tongue licking her soft skin. A moan escaped her lips like a sigh, and Joo-hyuk immediately took her nipple into his mouth, sucking and making wet sounds.

“Joo-hyuk…”

“What?”

At Sena’s call, Joo-hyuk, who had been focused on her chest, looked up with only his eyes.

He’s excited.

His voice, heavy with rough breaths, his wet eyes, and his sharp tone—everything about him reflected his desire.

“I… can’t breathe.”

“We’re not even kissing.”

“I know, ah…”

She moaned again, feeling his hand on her panties.

As if annoyed by the obstruction, he roughly pulled off her pants, almost tearing them, and pressed his body against hers. Her back touched the cold tiles, and goosebumps rose on her skin from the heat of his arms.

The sound of a buckle being undone echoed, and then his thick cock touched her stomach. It twitched and throbbed, tapping against her stomach, announcing its presence.

No matter how many times she saw it, it was always impressive. Sena’s dark eyes followed the cock leaking pre-cum.

“You can see it well now?”

At the voice above her, she looked up in surprise and met his damp gaze.