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Chapter 21
Where the Heart Leads
“Don’t read in the car. It’s bad for your eyes.”
At the casual remark, I lifted my gaze from the script I had been reading and looked at him.
“Are you introducing yourself?”
“What?”
“You’re reading documents right now too, Taewook-ssi.”
I gestured toward the papers in his hand with my eyes.
He frowned briefly as if dissatisfied with my answer, then pointed at the glasses he was wearing.
“But I’m wearing glasses.”
“…What?”
The absurd response made me let out a disbelieving laugh.
Even while watching my dumbfounded expression, he merely shrugged as though nothing was wrong.
The more I looked at him, the more shameless he seemed in a subtle sort of way.
Leaning my head back against the seat, I spoke.
“You should really thank your parents, Taewook-ssi.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The fact that even with glasses, you’re still my type is the only reason I’m letting nonsense like that slide.”
I grinned teasingly and closed the script I’d been reading.
Taewook, whose brows had twitched as though something displeased him, spoke in a somewhat irritated tone.
“Han Gyeoul.”
“Yes?”
“Do you say things like that to other people too?”
At the abrupt question with no context whatsoever, I glanced over at him.
He was staring at me with a deeply displeased expression.
“What are you talking about?”
“Saying things like ‘you’re my type.’”
“……”
“I’m asking if you say that kind of thing to other men outside too.”
I couldn’t understand why his face looked so twisted up.
Why? What’s wrong with that?
Pushing aside the questions rising in my mind, I slowly nodded.
“Well… so far I haven’t met any men outside who looked like my type, so I haven’t said it.”
“……”
“But if I met someone like that, I probably would say it.”
“Don’t.”
“…What?”
“I said don’t.”
“So what exactly are you talking about?”
“Saying things like someone’s your type to just anybody.”
At his firm response, I let out a small sigh.
Looking at his crumpled face that seemed to be holding back irritation, I spoke.
“I already told you earlier.”
“……”
“I don’t say it to just anybody. I only say it to people who are my type.”
“That’s exactly what I—!”
“There hasn’t been anyone besides you yet.”
“……”
“A man who looks like my type.”
At my added words, he shut his mouth as though speechless.
Though his displeased expression still made it obvious he had plenty more he wanted to say.
Looking at his thoroughly annoyed face, I suddenly wondered why I was even arguing with this man over something like this.
Wasn’t this country supposed to guarantee people the right to openly state their preferences?
Watching Taewook glare at me as if suppressing anger, I smiled brightly.
“You’re still my type even when you frown.”
“Han Gyeoul!”
“Oh, we’re here. I’ll get out first.”
“You seriously…!”
Pretending not to hear his raised voice, I stepped out of the car.
Just before shutting the door, a thought suddenly crossed my mind, and I leaned my head back into the car.
“Ah, Joo Taewook-ssi.”
“……”
“Frowning is sexy too, so it’s fun to watch, but don’t get too angry.”
“……”
“If you get wrinkles between your brows, you won’t be my type anymore. See you later.”
Bang!
After slamming the car door shut hard enough to nearly make it fall off, I hurried toward the elevator connected to the company parking lot.
Right before I shut the door, the image of Taewook’s face—beyond stunned and completely dumbfounded—came to mind, making me snort out a laugh.
“Um… President?”
“Go up first.”
“Huh? Ah, yes. I’ll do that.”
After Sangwoo went up first as well, Taewook remained alone in the car, letting out a hollow laugh as he recalled the argument he’d just had with Gyeoul.
He couldn’t even begin to grasp what exactly this boiling emotion inside him was.
Was it disbelief? Exasperation? Or something else…?
The unfamiliar emotion that flashed through his mind caused his face to crumple like paper.
Shaking his head as if dismissing the ridiculous thought, Taewook suddenly pictured Gyeoul smiling brightly at him.
There had definitely been a clear intent to tease him hidden within all the chatter she used to nitpick his words.
Otherwise, there was no way she would have continued talking about him being her type right up until the moment she got out of the car.
Normally, words like that wouldn’t have bothered him at all, so why did they keep irritating him now?
And even though he knew she was provoking him further while he tried to hold back his anger, who was it that kept letting her get away with it?
“…Idiot.”
The carefully styled hair he’d fixed earlier became disheveled beneath his irritated hand.
From a few days ago up until now, Taewook couldn’t stop thinking that Gyeoul kept getting the better of him somehow.
Was it because the woman who once struggled just to speak a word to him had suddenly changed as though she were a completely different person?
At the strange feelings clouding his thoughts, Taewook let out a faint sigh.
Get a grip.
With that brief resolution, Taewook steadied himself once more and stepped out of the car.
Pretending not to notice the unfamiliar emotions that kept trying to rise within his chest.
“Did the conversation go well?”
“Huh? Ah, yes.”
Before Won could even hang up his coat, Section Chief Im asked the question, causing Won to smile awkwardly and nod.
Pretending not to notice the curious stares directed at the back of his head, Won picked up a document from his desk.
“Investigator, could you make copies of this for me?”
“Yes, Prosecutor.”
Ji-eun hurried over and accepted the papers, and Won gave her a grateful glance before quickly sitting down and focusing on the documents.
Once he firmly shut his mouth as if he had no intention of talking about it, Section Chief Im smacked his lips in disappointment before returning to his seat.
Hoo…
Letting out a sigh too quiet for anyone to hear, Won scratched the back of his head.
Even while looking over the materials Gyeoul had handed him, the words wouldn’t properly register in his mind.
All he could think about was Arin, confessing to him as though declaring war.
“Um… thank you for liking me.”
“……”
“I don’t really know why you’d like someone like me…”
“Because you’re handsome.”
“…Excuse me?”
“Prosecutor, you’re handsome.”
“……”
“You’re smart, considerate, thoughtful, and well-mannered too.”
“Arin-ssi.”
“For me, it’s harder to find reasons not to like you.”
Had anyone ever liked him that openly before in his life?
A bitter yet absurd feeling settled over him, and a hollow smile formed at the corners of Won’s lips.
“Um… yes. I mean, I appreciate that you like me for those reasons, but…”
“……”
“I’m sorry. This absolutely doesn’t mean you’re lacking in any way, Arin-ssi.”
“……”
“It’s just… I’m just not ready to like someone yet…”
“It’s okay.”
“…What?”
“I know Prosecutor Han was sincere about Han Yeoreum too.”
“……”
“And I know those feelings weren’t shallow.”
Despite his fumbling rejection, Arin had appeared calm.
No… perhaps she had merely pretended to be calm.
Won could see the way her clasped hands had tightened.
That sight reminded him exactly of himself on the day Yeoreum had broken up with him.
“Yeah, I know. You’re amazing, Han Yeoreum. I’ll cheer for you.”
Had Yeoreum known, back then, as he acted cool while accepting the breakup?
That he hadn’t been okay at all.
That the sudden breakup had felt like the sky collapsing on him that day.
The memories that surfaced unexpectedly dragged his mood downward.
Holding onto the lingering scars from that day, Won looked at Arin, only to find her staring directly back at him with eyes that had become sharper and stronger.
The seriousness in her gaze made his heart suddenly drop.
“But my feelings aren’t light either.”
“Kim Arin-ssi.”
“That’s why I confessed. Because I think I’m going to bother you a lot from now on.”
“What exactly do you mean by—”
“I’ll apologize in advance. I’m sorry.”
Arin abruptly stood up and bowed toward him, making Won flustered enough to rise and bow back instinctively.
At that, the rigid expression she’d worn the entire time finally broke into a bright smile.
“Then I’ll see you again soon.”
“……”
“Next time, I hope we can have a meal together instead of just tea.”
Arin’s confession, dropped like a bomb before she left, kept making Won feel feverish.
Being on the receiving end of feelings he’d never experienced before felt unfamiliar, almost ticklish at the back of his neck.
Though no one else could possibly know about that confession, somehow the embarrassment remained entirely his burden.
As Won’s gaze drifted aimlessly in embarrassment and awkwardness, it landed on the papers Gyeoul had given him.
Son of the culprit behind the Johyeong-dong serial murder case. Disappeared after enduring criticism from those around him. Appears to harbor resentment toward me for exposing his father’s crimes. Estimated to currently be in his early thirties.
Seeing Yeoreum’s faded handwriting, darkness once again settled heavily over Won’s face.
As soon as I stepped into the first-floor lobby via the elevator, the head of JT Entertainment’s security team approached me.
Looking troubled, he carefully whispered,
“You have a visitor.”
“A visitor?”
The man glanced behind me before turning aside.
Following his gaze, I spotted a face that wasn’t unfamiliar.
“Kim Arin-ssi.”
At the sound of my voice, she turned toward me.
Wearing oversized sunglasses that covered nearly half her face, she slowly removed them.
The face that had been hidden seemed more subdued than the last time I’d seen her.
“You’re arriving pretty late.”
“……”
“If you’d been ten minutes later, I was going to leave.”
The sharp sound of heels echoed through the lobby as Arin walked toward me.
Lifting her chin slightly as she looked down at me, she spoke in a somewhat arrogant tone.
“You have time, right?”
“……”
“Let’s talk for a bit.”
As though my answer had never mattered in the first place, Arin turned and started walking ahead.
Watching her back, I could only follow after her with a resigned expression.
