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chapter 42
Once again, a week had passed, and it was the weekend.
Yeon-woo, feeling a sense of irritation at the return of the weekend, tugged the hair stuck to her cheek.
It would be outrageous for a typical office worker to hear this, but strangely, Yeon-woo had come to dislike weekends. She hated being stuck idly in Gojing-eup, and more than anything, she felt uncomfortable having to stay in the same house with Woo Jeong-ha.
Since then, it didn’t seem that Jeong-ha had any particularly strong thoughts about her. Yet, over the past week, Yeon-woo had felt his uncomfortable gaze, and her sleep had been restless every night.
That Saturday evening, she wasn’t particularly hungry and felt unwell enough to skip dinner. Her throat felt slightly swollen—perhaps from not drying her wet hair properly after showering—and every time she swallowed, a sharp sting made her wince.
She let out a small groan, curling her back on the bed like a shrimp, when there was a knock at the door.
Knock, knock.
Yeon-woo’s eyes snapped open at the clearly audible sound.
She had told the housekeeper that she wouldn’t be having dinner, so there was only one person left in the house who might be knocking.
As Yeon-woo furrowed her brows, a low voice, as if aware of her feigned deliberation, came through the door.
“Seo Yeon-woo.”
“…….”
At the sound of her name, Yeon-woo’s shoulders tensed. Should she pretend to be asleep? Her mind raced frantically.
In truth, her body feeling unwell was just an excuse. Skipping dinner was really to avoid Jeong-ha’s gaze for just one day.
If he noticed the familiar shadow she gave off, he might think it amusing to hover near her, which was the last thing she wanted.
“I know you’re not sleeping.”
But her words had no effect on Jeong-ha. His voice, almost mocking, made Yeon-woo’s eyes roll upward into the whites.
She was trying to keep quiet, yet…
“……Is something the matter?”
“Having trouble opening the door?”
If she asked “what is it?” again, it might be too obvious that she was avoiding him.
“Th-that’s not it……”
With no choice, Yeon-woo got up from the bed and muttered a reply. She thought she heard a soft chuckle from the other side of the door.
When she turned the doorknob, she saw Jeong-ha standing in front of her, unusually large and blocking the entire doorway.
“Do you need something?”
“Something I need, Seo Yeon-woo?”
“Eh?”
“It’s dinner time. You haven’t come down.”
Dinner. Why had he come all the way here just for that? Yeon-woo blinked, too incredulous to respond. Then, a surprisingly gentle voice reached her ears.
“Are you feeling unwell?”
“No, it’s just that I don’t feel like eating tonight.”
At her reply, Jeong-ha raised one eyebrow. His gaze scanned her face deliberately. Even though she knew his eyes lingered on her, Yeon-woo refused to look up at him.
There was no other way to avoid Jeong-ha except to visibly show her fatigue.
“You usually eat well for someone so thin.”
“…….”
“Is it my fault you’ve lost your appetite?”
“No. It’s not that.”
But he was someone who threw blunt questions effortlessly. Yeon-woo, answering reflexively, felt her insides burn.
She knew all too well that the number of stares directed at her had multiplied over the past week. She thought she could ignore it, but…
The fact that Jeong-ha even cared about whether she ate dinner was not a good sign.
“If you want, I’ll go down with you.”
“……If I get sick from eating like this, how would I face you, Seo Yeon-woo?”
When Yeon-woo maintained a professional stance, the warmth in Jeong-ha’s initially kind voice soured.
“Rest.”
His voice sounded curt. The figure blocking her body disappeared.
Thud, thud. She heard Jeong-ha walking down the stairs to the first floor. She also heard the housekeeper call out in a friendly tone, “Still not eating, huh?” Yeon-woo exhaled, struggling to organize her dizzy thoughts.
No.
From observing Seo Yeon-woo over the past week, Jeong-ha was certain that she had known him in the past.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t avoid eye contact and fluster herself like that. Even skipping dinner to evade him was silent confirmation.
“…….”
He didn’t know what she was hiding. When they last crossed paths, or how she had recognized him, wasn’t the point he was curious about.
He asked simply because her presence lingered in his mind. The sight of her pale neck blushing red, her long hair unnecessarily fluttering…
The problem was that she kept avoiding his gaze.
She might as well be honest.
The way she wore guilt on her face but acted like she wasn’t, somehow… irritated him.
He knew his twisted personality. It was similar to a young boy who couldn’t help but meddle with the girl he liked.
Some might call it a man’s pure desire, but for Seo Yeon-woo, his behavior would feel disturbingly inappropriate.
Even knowing this, he couldn’t control himself.
“……If you’re not ready, I’ll come back.”
Early in the morning, before the schedule began, Yeon-woo froze at the sight of Jeong-ha’s bare upper body.
Seeing his face flush crimson instantly, a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
“I haven’t picked my clothes yet. Would you choose for me, Seo Yeon-woo?”
“……Me?”
Her voice sounded surprised. With nowhere else to look, she answered while staring elsewhere.
Seeing him nod, she went to the wardrobe, frowning, her eyes darting uncertainly at the clothing.
Unaware that Jeong-ha had risen from the bed, leaning lazily, she murmured,
“Not ready yet?”
“……!”
She flinched when she realized the man was standing close behind her.
“You’re startled.”
“……How about this one?”
Ignoring his teasingly light tone, Yeon-woo picked a navy-blue suit.
“Shall we go with that?”
“Once you change, I’ll be outside.”
The warmth he radiated, even without touching her, made her uncomfortable. Trying not to show her flustered feelings, she started to leave.
“Did you eat today? You skipped yesterday.”
Reaching into the wardrobe, Jeong-ha grabbed a dress shirt and quickly draped it over her shoulders.
“Today…….”
“Shall I tie your tie?”
His voice was gentle, yet he allowed no room for her to slip away.
Noticing he was intentionally keeping her in the room, Yeon-woo bit her lip to steady herself.
Holding the tie, she stepped in front of him.
“Could you tilt forward just a bit?”
Her voice carried a barely suppressed resolve. Like an unspoiled, innocent person, her reactions were all transparent.
Unaware that it was stimulating his mind, Jeong-ha bent slightly at the waist. She had only expected him to adjust the height minimally, but it was far too much.
“How much more should I adjust?”
Their noses nearly touched, and if she tilted slightly more, their lips might meet.
“……Director.”
“You keep doing this, and I can’t help but wonder… were we fated to be adversaries?”
