Chapter 6 …

“It’s fine. It’s not like it was expensive or anything.”

“That’s the problem? It had sincerity behind it. Sincerity.”

Seoyoon had always been like that.

No matter what people around her said, she always took Jeonghee’s side, and she was genuinely grateful even for the smallest, most insignificant gift.

If it weren’t for what had happened with Seohoon, Jeonghee would have been able to celebrate Seoyoon’s wedding more wholeheartedly.

If only she had realized reality a little sooner, if only she had let go of her lingering feelings earlier, perhaps things would have turned out better than they had now.

‘You know I love you, right?’

There had even been times when she wished that kindness was genuine.

Arrogantly enough, Jeonghee had foolishly believed him whenever he told her she was special.

And that was why, even on her close friend’s wedding day, she found herself writhing in inferiority and self-loathing.

Still, she had no intention of telling Seoyoon the truth about the two of them.

After all, she was the one who had trusted Ji Seohoon, and she was the one who had fallen for his gentle facade.

Forcing away the thoughts that kept resurfacing, Jeonghee hurriedly pulled out her phone from her jacket, pretending to be busy.

She was just about to make an excuse about not being able to stay for the ceremony when the waiting room door opened, causing her to miss the timing.

“What have you two been talking about for so long?”

“What? Why are you picking a fight the moment you walk in?”

Of all people, it was Seohoon—the one person she most wanted to avoid.

“Because I’m jealous.”

“Oh, really?”

“You won’t let Jeonghee go.”

As soon as he finished speaking, she could feel a gaze sharp enough to pierce her face.

“You get jealous of your own sister too?”

“I already don’t get enough time with her as it is.”

“Ugh, Ji Seohoon, that really doesn’t suit you.”

“It’s been especially hard to see her lately.”

Jeonghee casually brushed aside the oddly meaningful remark and turned to Seohoon with a natural smile.

“I told you I’ve been busy with work.”

“You did. I remember.”

Seohoon knew too.

He knew that Jeonghee had refused to meet him with every excuse imaginable, that they had fought repeatedly whenever he came to her house, and that she had eventually started avoiding even his calls.

‘Let’s break up.’

‘No. Who says we get to break up?’

Even amid the tense battle of wills that still felt on the verge of snapping, Jeonghee steeled herself.

No matter what Ji Seohoon said, nothing would change.

Trying to avoid his relentless gaze, she sharply turned her head away.

But before she knew it, he had already moved right beside her.

Was it the weight of the emotions pressing down between them?

As if he could see straight through her desire to escape, Seohoon wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close under the pretense of affection.

Jeonghee could neither push him away nor avoid him.

“So, Heeya, don’t play around too much and make me cranky.”

All she could do was listen to his falsely gentle whisper and realize more clearly than ever that the time had come to end this game that looked so real.

* * *

As soon as she left the bride’s waiting room, she saw Seohoon already standing by the wall next to the entrance, waiting for her.

When he suddenly grabbed her arm, Jeonghee coldly slapped his hand away.

Seohoon stared silently at the arm that had been pushed aside before walking ahead of her.

Jeonghee quietly followed behind.

No matter how large the hotel was, the wedding hall was crowded with guests.

Even amidst all the noise and commotion, the sound of shoes striking the floor echoed unusually clearly in her ears.

It sounded just like her own heartbeat.

Low and steady, yet unmistakably distinct.

Like a ticking time bomb on the verge of exploding.

Clenching her fists tightly, Jeonghee slowly tried to calm her racing heart.

‘Yoo Jeonghee, get a grip. You came here prepared for this anyway.’

At this wedding, she intended to put an end to this struggle with Seohoon once and for all.

This was the last time.

After more than ten years of his deception, Jeonghee wanted to cut off this unbelievable relationship.

‘Though Ji Seohoon won’t let me go easily.’

Calling it the last time was one thing, but hadn’t they already fought countless times over the past month?

As long as she remained in Seoul, she knew better than anyone that she was still within the palm of his hand.

Pushing aside her chaotic thoughts, Jeonghee followed him through the emergency exit door.

And just as she turned to leave—

An arm suddenly reached out and pulled her forcefully into his embrace.

“…Ugh, what are you—”

Startled by the familiar scent that suddenly enveloped her, Jeonghee instinctively shoved both hands hard against Seohoon’s chest.

More easily than expected, Seohoon staggered backward, his back hitting the cold emergency stairwell wall with a loud thud.

Yet he seemed not to feel any pain at all.

Looking down at her, he murmured softly near her ear.

“You’re late. You should think about the person who’s waiting.”

Feigning composure, Jeonghee lifted her chin sharply.

“It’s only been a few dozen seconds.”

“I haven’t seen you in two weeks.”

“So you dragged me here to fight?”

Facing his face now close enough to touch, Jeonghee frowned.

“You’re awfully confident, Yoo Jeonghee.”

“You know exactly why.”

Despite the sharpness in her eyes, Seohoon smiled as calmly as ever.

As though nothing had happened.

Jeonghee’s gaze grew even colder as she stared at that arrogant face.

Even now, it felt as though he were playing with her.

Resentment rose all the way to her throat, and no matter how hard she tried to suppress it, it wouldn’t go away.

“Why did you call me out here?”

“Because I missed you.”

“I’m not in the mood for jokes, so stop.”

Still acting completely natural, he cupped her cheek.

“Then what exactly are you trying to do?”

“I already told you. I have nothing more to say to you.”

It didn’t matter where they were.

Being left alone with Seohoon at all made her skin crawl.

At some point, Seohoon had taken on that same expression again.

His birthday.

Their conversation.

That expression alone brought everything rushing back, and Jeonghee swallowed hard.

Yes.

That was probably his true face.

“Jeonghee.”

The hand that brushed her disheveled hair back into place was gentle.

His eyes were not.

The relentless gaze pursuing her resembled that of a predator.

Unable to endure the stare that seemed to tighten around her with every passing second, Jeonghee looked away first.

“I made my position perfectly clear.”

“So you’re not planning to change your mind?”

“Don’t think everything will go your way.”

Seohoon caught her cheek as she turned away and slowly turned her face back toward him.

The familiar scent drifted around her again as his face drew dangerously close.

Seeing him lower his face as if he intended to kiss her, Jeonghee instinctively bit down on her lower lip.

“Still, disappearing like this causes problems.”

The corner of Seohoon’s mouth twisted into an even more mischievous smile.

“I ignored all your calls, and do you know how worried I was?”

Their lips nearly touching, he whispered like a loving partner while wrapping an arm around her waist.

She could feel his hand slowly tracing upward along her back.

“Take your hands off me right now.”

Jeonghee flinched and twisted away instinctively, but escaping his firm grip was not easy.

“If it’s jealousy, I’d welcome that too.”

“Don’t get the wrong idea. To me now, you—”

“It’s a happy day, isn’t it? What would Seoyoon think if she found out?”

The moment he suddenly mentioned Seoyoon, Jeonghee froze.

“…Ji Seohoon, you…”

“So be good.”

Biting her lower lip hard, Jeonghee glared at him fiercely.

Apparently irritated by her sharp gaze, Seohoon clicked his tongue and tapped the lip she had bitten with his finger, frowning.

“Don’t touch me.”

Jeonghee coldly slapped his arm away, but it had little effect.

“Why are you so temperamental, huh?”

Seohoon immediately caught her chin again and lowered his face.

His eyes lingered on her reddened lips.

Wasn’t this behavior utterly revolting?

Mentioning Seoyoon directly at the wedding was no different from an outright threat.