CEB - 10

Chapter 10: The Kiss, and Beyond

“Ha! What? Marriage?”

Won-soon clicked his tongue in disbelief at Min-hyuk’s words. It hadn’t even been three months since Dan-jung broke up with him—how could she already be getting married?

Won-soon turned sharply to glare at Dan-jung.

“You’re really getting married?”

“Huh?”

Dan-jung hesitated, unsure how to respond. She hadn’t yet decided whether to marry Min-hyuk. However, this seemed like the perfect excuse to get rid of her clingy ex-boyfriend. Surely even a stalker wouldn’t persist if she was engaged.

“Yes, I’m getting married.”

“Wow, seriously? How could you do this? It hasn’t even been that long since we broke up!”

“So stop coming here. Even if you come, I won’t be around.”

“Ha! You’re so easy. How can you marry someone you’ve barely met?”

Won-soon’s words struck a nerve, hitting the one thing Dan-jung hated being called.

“What I do has nothing to do with you,” she snapped back, her frustration mounting. Her eyes began to well up with tears, but she stubbornly held them back, refusing to cry in front of this pathetic man.

“Miss Choi is anything but easy.”

“You… what are you doing?!”

Min-hyuk stepped closer to Won-soon, his imposing presence causing the other man to stumble backward in fear.

“To me, she’s very difficult.”

Min-hyuk moved past Won-soon and approached Dan-jung, extending his hand toward her. He looked at her hopefully, silently asking her to take it.

To Min-hyuk, Dan-jung truly wasn’t an “easy” woman. The unfamiliar flutter of excitement she stirred within him had caused his head to ache, and now, something deep inside his chest churned uncomfortably. He couldn’t explain this feeling—it was all so puzzling, like an unsolvable mystery.

“Let’s go.”

“Huh?”

Dan-jung hesitated, staring at Min-hyuk’s outstretched hand. Would he reject her again if she took it? But with Won-soon glaring daggers at her, she felt she had no choice.

“Let’s go.”

Desperate to shake off Won-soon’s clinginess, Dan-jung impulsively grabbed Min-hyuk’s hand. Holding it tightly, she walked away from Won-soon without looking back.

“Hey, you wretched woman! Live happily ever after, then!”

Won-soon burst into fresh tears as he watched their retreating figures, overcome with bitterness.

“But where are we going?”

“For now, let’s just get away from here.”

With no better idea, Dan-jung led Min-hyuk to the small playground across from her officetel.

“…”

“…”

The two walked in silence, hands still intertwined. Though awkwardness hung in the air, Dan-jung found herself oddly comforted by Min-hyuk’s warm hand. His touch sent a pleasant warmth through her, and his profile under the dim streetlights made her heart race uncontrollably.

________________________________________

“Oh! Right. Hold on. Let me call my friend first.”

As they headed toward the playground, Dan-jung suddenly remembered Jin-hee, who was supposed to be watching from the window. Turning back, she saw Jin-hee waving at her from the apartment window.

Despite Dan-jung’s suggestion, Min-hyuk didn’t release her hand. He seemed to have forgotten he was even holding it.

“Um… excuse me, my hand…”

“Oh! Sorry.”

Only then did Min-hyuk realize he’d been holding her hand and quickly let go. Freed, Dan-jung pulled out her phone and called Jin-hee.

“Hello, I’ll be back in a bit, so don’t worry.”

• Who’s that breathtakingly handsome guy next to you? Don’t tell me it’s your boss?!

Jin-hee, amazed by Min-hyuk’s striking appearance even from afar, gushed with excitement.

“Yes, it’s him.”

• Oh my, oh my, oh my! Are you crazy? A rich, tall, handsome man wants to marry you, and you rejected him?

“I need to talk to him. Lock the door and stay safe.”

Afraid Jin-hee’s voice might carry through the phone, Dan-jung hurriedly ended the call.

• Hey! You don’t have to come back!

“Alright, I’m hanging up.”

After finishing the call, Dan-jung arrived at the small playground tucked into a corner of the apartment complex. Though late at night, the area was softly lit by lampposts.

“Shall we sit here?”

Dan-jung sat on a bench and gestured for Min-hyuk to join her. Without a word, he sat beside her.

“Um… why did you come here?”

Dan-jung couldn’t understand why Min-hyuk, who had kicked her out earlier, suddenly showed up again.

“There’s something I wanted to confirm.”

“Huh? What?”

“Would it be okay if we kissed now instead of tomorrow?”

“Now?”

Dan-jung was taken aback—and angry. Sure, she had been the one to suggest kissing, but this felt too presumptuous.

Sighing deeply, she furrowed her brow. Min-hyuk studied her face carefully.

“Are you upset?”

“Yes, honestly, I am. If you wanted to kiss, why didn’t you do it at your place? You kicked me out, and now you show up out of nowhere asking for a kiss. Do I look like someone obsessed with kissing? And I’m not some easy girl who’ll kiss anyone just because you want me to.”

Looking at Min-hyuk, Dan-jung felt a surge of indignation. She blurted out her frustrations without hesitation.

“Well… as I said before, Miss Choi isn’t easy for me. Honestly, she’s quite difficult.”

“What’s so difficult about me?”

“It’s hard to explain, but I think I feel excitement when I think of you.”

“Huh? I thought you said you couldn’t feel emotions.”

“I feel emotions—I just can’t identify them. That’s the issue.”

“So how did you figure out you were excited about me?”

“A friend helped me.”

“What? A friend?”

“When thinking of you, my headache didn’t go away. I wanted to know why, but it was late, so I asked my friend for help. Does that bother you?”

“No, not exactly. So what did your friend say?”

Dan-jung couldn’t criticize him since she had also confided in Jin-hee about Min-hyuk. Doing so would make her a hypocrite.

“He said I stare at you and my heart races because I like you.”

“Oh…”

“So I need to confirm.”

“…”

“If we kiss, I think I’ll know for sure if I was really excited about you. It might also help me decide about marriage.”

Min-hyuk gazed at Dan-jung with intense seriousness. Though he struggled to grasp emotions, his instincts as a man were undeniable.

No woman had ever stirred such primal urges in him—not even Hye-mi, his first girlfriend. While he had kissed her before, it had always felt like a mere obligation between lovers.

But if kissing Dan-jung made him want more—if it awakened desires beyond just a kiss—then Min-hyuk knew he had to claim her, consequences be damned. She was the only cure for his ailment, regardless of his father’s will.

“That goes for me too!”

Dan-jung’s lips pouted reflexively. If a kiss could determine marriage, then she wasn’t ready to commit either. Though she had proposed the idea, she felt as though the roles had reversed, leaving her uneasy.

“So… may I kiss you now?”

“Here?”

“I’d be fine with your place too.”

“No, that’s impossible. My friend’s there.”

“Then let’s do it here.”

Min-hyuk shifted closer, his face inching toward hers. His eyes, filled with longing, silently sought her permission. Before she could respond, his lips hovered dangerously close to hers, stopping just short of contact.

“May I kiss you?”

Min-hyuk’s breath came ragged, his gaze smoldering with raw desire.

Thump-thump, thump-thump.

Dan-jung’s heart raced wildly. Whether it was his intense gaze or his handsome face so close to hers, she couldn’t tell. Under the lamplight, Min-hyuk looked irresistibly provocative.

How could she possibly refuse when he asked like that?

“Yes.”

Without further thought, Dan-jung gave her consent.

One second—that’s all it took for Min-hyuk to press his lips against hers. Gently landing on her lower lip, his mouth lingered, tasting her like fine wine. Eyes closed, he savored her soft, jelly-like lips for what felt like an eternity.

Her lips were moist and velvety, a sensation Min-hyuk relished. Determined to savor every moment, he refused to rush. This was their first kiss, and he intended to treat it with utmost respect.

Yet, despite his intentions, his body betrayed him. His lips yearned to explore deeper, desperate to taste more of her.

Curiosity got the better of him. Slowly opening his eyes, he gazed at Dan-jung’s face. Her trembling eyelids were shut, her cheeks flushed pink. Whatever expression she wore, it made his heart race uncontrollably.

Anyone else seeing her now would surely call her sexy.

Realizing the danger of losing control, Min-hyuk reluctantly pulled away.

“That’s enough for today. Any more, and I might become dangerous.”

Min-hyuk, striving to remain a gentleman, gently detached his lips from hers.

“?”

Confused by the abrupt halt, Dan-jung stared at him, flustered. Dangerous? Naive as she was, she didn’t immediately grasp his meaning.

Reading her puzzled expression, Min-hyuk clarified.

“I think I might want more than just a kiss from you.”

“What?”

Min-hyuk’s words turned Dan-jung’s face and ears crimson.

More than a kiss?! Just because I’m pretty, does he think we can skip ahead? We’ve only known each other for a day!

“And no matter what, I must marry you, Miss Choi.”

With unwavering determination, Min-hyuk acknowledged his feelings and resolved to make her his wife.