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chapter 29
After finishing her overtime work, she trudged heavily into the officetel elevator.
As she pressed the button for her floor and leaned her head against the wall, the exhaustion she’d been holding back hit her all at once.
It was nearly 11 PM. She hadn’t even eaten dinner, yet strangely, she wasn’t hungry.
The elevator doors opened, and at the end of the familiar hallway, she saw the entrance to the apartment next door. In that instant, the thin thread of patience she’d been holding onto snapped completely.
“Who am I suffering like this for right now?”
Before reason could even intervene, she walked over to the neighboring door and pressed the doorbell.
Ding-dong. Ding-dong.
No response.
She let out a hollow laugh.
She had come because she was worried, because she wanted to check on him—but it seemed he wasn’t home.
This was exactly why she avoided getting involved with coworkers. She didn’t want to waste emotional energy on unnecessary things.
Biting her lip, she turned to leave when suddenly: click. She heard the sound of the door opening behind her.
Turning her head, she saw Dohyun’s pale face through the narrow gap of the door.
Her pupils dilated in surprise.
“Dohyun, are you feeling unwell?”
“…What’s the matter?”
Instead of answering, he asked her reason for coming in a rough, cold tone, different from his usual self.
Feeling slightly embarrassed at the subtle distance, she explained.
“Ah, I didn’t see you at the office today… I was wondering if something happened.”
“It’s fine. Thanks for caring.”
As he tried to close the door with that, she hurriedly added,
“Um… have you had dinner?”
“…”
“If not… would you like to eat together?”
“Sorry… I don’t have much of an appetite.”
“I’ve been hungry all day, and I don’t want to eat alone.”
Even she didn’t understand why she was doing this, but she didn’t want to leave him alone.
Glancing at his wristwatch briefly, he seemed troubled by the fact that she hadn’t eaten all day and reluctantly nodded.
“I’ll go wash up. Wait here.”
Without waiting for a reply, she immediately returned to her apartment, threw her bag on the sofa, and headed to the bathroom.
After a quick shower, she changed into a T-shirt and shorts and opened the fridge.
At first, she considered making porridge for someone who had no appetite, but then she decided that a refreshing soybean sprout soup would be better. She gathered the ingredients and a microwavable rice pack and headed to the neighboring apartment.
Pressing the doorbell nervously, hoping he hadn’t changed his mind, the door opened shortly.
His hair was still damp, strands hanging over his forehead, suggesting he had washed up too.
Seeing him like that made her lips dry; she discreetly moistened them.
As he stepped aside, she entered naturally.
“I’m going to make soybean sprout soup. Is that okay?”
“Doesn’t matter.”
He shrugged, seemingly indifferent to anything since he didn’t have much appetite.
“Go rest for a bit. I’ll call you when it’s ready.”
“I’ll help.”
“Just staying put is helping.”
“You won’t know where anything is.”
“You’ll find it if you look. So don’t worry, just go rest.”
Gently ushering him toward the bedroom, she rolled up her sleeves and headed to the kitchen.
She washed the soybean sprouts, put them in a pot with water, and started boiling. She chopped garlic and green onions, adding them with soy sauce, fish sauce, and salt to season.
After microwaving the rice and setting the table, she stood by the bedroom door to call Dohyun.
Knock. Knock.
“Dohyun, dinner’s ready.”
When there was no response, she cautiously opened the door. He was curled up on the bed.
“Dohyun… are you sleeping?”
Assuming he was asleep, she tried to quietly close the door, but—
“…Don’t go….”
Startled by the low murmur, she froze.
Thinking it was directed at her, she flinched, but soon realized he was just talking in his sleep.
“Don’t go… please….”
This time, he reached out in the air, pleading desperately.
Moved without thinking, she approached and carefully sat beside his bed, holding his trembling hand. As she patted him gently, his shaking gradually eased.
Noticing the furrowed crease in his brow, she cautiously pressed it with her finger.
His eyelids fluttered open at that moment.
Startled, she jumped up as if caught in the act—but his hand held her back down onto the bed.
As she tried to pull away, he quietly asked,
“Why are you running away? Did I… do something bad?”
“N-no… nothing bad. I just… held your hand because it was shaking.”
“My hand was shaking?”
“Not sure what kind of dream you were having, but you were pleading not to leave.”
Thinking of the dream, a deep shadow fell across his face.
“Did you have a bad dream?”
“…Yeah. A terrible nightmare.”
The redness in his eyes proved it.
What kind of dream made someone usually so composed look so fragile?
Her chest ached.
“Don’t worry. You’re awake now.”
Her gentle words softened his gaze.
“I thought you were cold… but you’re secretly kind.”
“I’ve always been kind. I just don’t show it to anyone.”
As she replied coyly, he smiled.
“Then… I guess I’m lucky?”
“Something like that.”
His dark eyes stared at her intently, muttering softly:
“But… team leader, do you know something?”
“…?”
“If you recklessly enter a man’s room… it’s dangerous.”
“What do you mean…”
Before she could finish, he flipped their positions. Stunned, she looked up at him; he supported himself with his elbows to avoid putting weight on her and stared down at her. Their faces were close enough to feel each other’s breath.
“W-what is this all of a sudden?”
“You came into a man’s room without any preparation?”
His low, deliberate voice made her even more flustered.
“Were you unwell?”
When he opened the door, his face had been pale, his eyes hazy, seeming ready to collapse.
“When did I say I was sick? You just assumed that.”
“Are you really okay?”
“Do I look like I’m sick?”
Seeing her doubtful gaze, he pressed his lower body against hers, the firm sensation against her abdomen making her freeze.
“…Why did you pretend to be sick? You made me worry.”
“So… you were worried about me?”
“Of course. You didn’t come to work for two days.”
His lips curved slowly.
“Feels good… someone cares about me.”
“…Nothing really happened?”
Her gaze became serious. He hesitated, then smiled:
“…Something did. But thanks to you, I’m okay now.”
“Then that’s fine.”
She said calmly, but her eyes continued to scan his face.
“I thought you’d grill me about what happened this time, but you didn’t ask?”
“If it were something you could talk about, you’d have said it before I could ask.”
He chuckled softly at that.
“That’s why I think I like you, team leader.”
“I’m not falling for your confession.”
“Are you really sure?”
“Don’t.”
When he slowly moved his waist, she sensed danger and firmly said,
“Why? You said you were confident.”
“Stop joking and get up. The soup will get cold.”
“That can be reheated.”
He silenced her with a kiss, the heat searing through her parted lips.
In the whirlwind of the kiss, her shirt rode up. Exposed to the cool air, her sensitive skin prickled.
As she tried to cross her arms in embarrassment, he held them down and lowered his face. Her pale skin seemed to draw him in like a black hole.
Her upper body arched at the overwhelming sensation. Pain and pleasure mingled, making her shiver.
Holding her tightly, he fully started.
With his size increasing and speed rising, her body, which had been moving wildly like flying through the sky, trembled before slowly descending.
As she panted, he opened a drawer and carefully tore the packaging of a contraceptive.
