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Chapter: 9
With Cherry Blossoms Fluttering
Bora woke up early in the morning and hurriedly got ready to go out.
While taking a shower, she found herself humming for no particular reason.
She thought that her cherry blossom–scented shampoo matched perfectly with today’s flower viewing.
“Cherry blossom festival… when was the last time I went?”
Thinking back, the only time she had ever gone was during her freshman year of college, when she briefly dated a senior and visited the Yeouido cherry blossom road.
And now, for her second cherry blossom festival in her life, she was going with none other than the famous Han Kang-yoon.
While she was putting on the stockings after carefully choosing a cream-colored dress and a pink cardigan the night before, an important fact suddenly came to her mind.
“But… now that I think about it, he said he has a pollen allergy.”
Only then did she remember, but it was already twenty minutes before Kang-yoon was due to arrive.
“Well, it can’t be helped. We’ll just have to look around quickly and leave.”
After carefully checking in the mirror one last time to make sure her makeup hadn’t caked, Bora sprayed her favorite perfume, her expression bright and excited.
“I’m here in front of the house.”
“Tosun, I’m leaving now!”
Seeing the message arrive exactly at ten o’clock, Bora patted Tosun’s head, who was lying on the bed, and rushed out the front door.
“Hey, Bora, where are you going so early in the morning?”
Startled by the noise, her mother came out of the bedroom. She was already fully dressed in expensive golf wear, as if she had a golf appointment today as well.
“Oh. I’m going to see the cherry blossoms with Mr. Han Kang-yoon.”
“What? Oh my goodness. Look at you!”
At Bora’s answer, her mother widened her eyes and rushed to the entrance, lightly smacking Bora’s arm.
Bora, who was slipping her feet into white flats, shrank back slightly.
“Change into heels right now.”
“But I’ll have to walk a lot…”
“Whether you walk or run, you still need to look pretty! What is this? You’re all dressed up nicely, and you’re doing this? Change them now.”
Under her mother’s pressure, Bora reluctantly changed into pearl-colored enamel stilettos and left the house.
“Good morning.”
Bora greeted loudly as she opened the passenger door of the luxury car parked proudly in front of the villa.
Kang-yoon’s lips curved into a faint smile as he looked at her.
“Yes, good morning.”
“Wow… you look like a completely different person.”
Bora had only ever seen Kang-yoon in perfectly tailored suits until now, so his casual outfit made him seem like someone else entirely.
He wore a light beige cashmere knit and standard-fit black wool slacks, which gave him a softer impression.
On top of that, his usually neatly slicked-back hair now fell naturally over his forehead, making him look about three years younger than usual.
“Is that a compliment?”
“Yes, of course. You look much younger.”
At her words, Kang-yoon nodded in satisfaction.
“You look pretty today too, Bora. You were already pretty, but still.”
“I was going to wear flats, but my mom insisted I wear heels… look at this. Do you think I can walk around all day in these?”
Bora stretched out her leg, showing off the heels that were easily over ten centimeters tall.
The movement caused the hem of her cream-colored dress to lift slightly, revealing her pale thigh.
“If that’s your way of seducing me this early in the morning, I might be willing to fall for it.”
“W-what? That’s not it.”
Only after Kang-yoon’s gaze landed on her leg did Bora’s face flush bright red as she quickly pulled her leg back.
“You’re surprisingly good at joking, you know that?”
Bora fastened her seatbelt tightly and gave him a sideways glance.
“What part of that sounded like a joke? I’m always serious.”
Even today, Kang-yoon wore glasses, and his eyes gleamed playfully behind the lenses.
Bora stared at his handsome face for a moment longer than usual, then quickly turned her head away.
“Shall we go? It’ll probably be really crowded.”
“Alright. Let’s head out.”
Before he teased her any further and made her tear up, Kang-yoon started the car.
The car heading toward Seokchon Lake drove smoothly at first, but halfway there, it got caught in heavy traffic due to the overwhelming number of cars.
“There seem like more people than cherry blossoms today…”
“I see that too. I didn’t realize people were this passionate about flowers.”
“Oh right. You said you have a pollen allergy. Is it okay for you to go?”
At Bora’s worried tone, Kang-yoon let out a short laugh.
“You’re worried very early. You should’ve asked me that sooner.”
“I… yes. You’re right. I should have, but I was so excited I didn’t think that far. I’m sorry…”
Bora fidgeted with her hands resting on her skirt, her side profile graceful.
Kang-yoon glanced at her slightly sulking face.
Her white, soft cheeks, like glutinous rice cakes, twitched slightly, making him want to tease her even more.
“I’ve already taken all my allergy medication at home, so it’ll be fine. Just let me wear a mask when we walk along the cherry blossom road.”
“Of course. Thank you… because of me…”
“Right. Thanks to you, I’m going to my first cherry blossom festival in my life.”
At his words, Bora’s lips parted slightly.
“So… do you mean you like it or hate it?”
The way she pouted as if she might actually get upset was so endearing that Kang-yoon brushed his bangs back a few times.
“I mean I like it.”
There was no subject, but Bora somehow felt as if those words were directed at her, and her face flushed instantly.
‘Get it together, Yoon Bora. You really have taken too long of a break from dating. How can every single word make your heart race? Calm down.’
As she took deep breaths inwardly, Kang-yoon’s dark eyebrows twitched with amusement, as if he knew nothing about her thoughts.
“Wow, we’re finally here.”
After finally parking in a public lot and crossing the underpass, they arrived at the park. Bora’s mouth fell open at the massive crowd.
“There are more people than flowers.”
“Wow… it really is.”
After a brief moment of surprise, they began walking along with the flow of people.
Even though Kang-yoon wore a mask and glasses, his tall height and strong physique made passersby keep looking at him, wondering if he might be a celebrity.
“Um… people keep staring at you, Kang-yoon. They probably think you’re a celebrity.”
“I think they’re looking at you, not me. Out of all these people, you’re the prettiest.”
Bora looked up at him, who casually said such things without even blinking, and wrinkled her nose.
“Have you dated a lot of women? You say things like that so easily.”
“I haven’t dated many, but one thing I know for sure is that I’ve never met anyone prettier than you, Bora.”
“Oh, seriously…”
Who exactly was this man?
Who on earth had spread rumors that he was a cruel, ill-tempered scoundrel?
The Kang-yoon Bora saw was cold on the outside but warm inside, a tsundere with a surprisingly playful side.
“Ah, watch out.”
At that moment, a woman being nearly dragged by two large dogs lost control of their leashes and staggered toward Bora.
“…Kang-yoon, isn’t this a bit overprotective?”
The woman was already being pulled away by the dogs, but Kang-yoon had already pulled Bora into his arms.
Bora swallowed hard without realizing it, overwhelmed by how wide and firm his chest felt.
The subtle woody scent coming from him was also exactly her taste, making her heart pound even harder.
“Are your shoes okay? If not, I can carry you.”
“I’m perfectly fine.”
In truth, her toes were stinging, but Bora slipped out of his arms and walked ahead, clicking her heels loudly on purpose.
Kang-yoon followed slowly behind her.
Her dress fluttering in the wind looked like the delicate wings of a butterfly.
Perhaps she didn’t realize it herself, but every man who saw her walking turned to glance at her at least once.
Some even got scolded by their girlfriends for it.
Kang-yoon leisurely followed behind Bora and took out his phone.
Among the countless people passing under the blooming cherry blossom trees, only Bora seemed to shine.
Just then—
Click.
He tried to take a photo of her from behind, but the moment he pressed the shutter, Bora suddenly turned around as if she had sensed it.
“Kang-yoon, why aren’t you com—”
Bora’s eyes met his, holding his phone up toward her.
“……”
Amid the fluttering cherry blossom petals, Bora appeared on the screen—more beautiful than the blossoms themselves.
Kang-yoon looked at the screen, then lifted his head to look at Bora standing in front of him.
In that instant—
Thud.
His heart sank.
