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Chapter 5
“Other times, you stare at me just fine.”
Unlike Yoojin, whose chest was tight with unease, Heejae’s teasing voice carried only amusement, as though the whole situation were nothing more than a joke.
At least he didn’t seem angry. That much was a relief.
“Maybe because you caused a major incident?”
“Oppa, I—!”
Just as she opened her mouth to apologize, he suddenly leaned forward. Yoojin flinched, sucking in a sharp breath. But instead of what she feared, he simply reached across, tugged the seatbelt into place, and clicked it securely for her.
“We’re leaving.”
With that single line, he pressed down on the accelerator. Silence quickly filled the car, heavy and suffocating.
Yoojin gnawed at her lip. She needed to explain—he deserved to know she hadn’t truly meant harm. But where to begin? And how much had he heard?
She shifted, searching for the right moment, only to feel his eyes flick toward her.
“If you’ve got something to say, say it now.”
“……”
“And stop stealing glances like that.”
Caught red-handed, she twisted her fingers in her lap and forced her dry lips to move.
“I’m sorry. Truly… I’m sorry.”
She almost said I’m sorry, Oppa—the way she’d spoken her whole life—but stopped herself. The subtle shift between them over the past two days made the familiar intimacy feel strangely out of place.
“Sorry for what?”
His tone was light, but the words cut sharp—an unspoken order to confess everything.
Heart pounding, Yoojin exhaled and finally let the words spill, like someone at a confessional.
“The rumors, Team Leader… I didn’t correct them. I should have. I’ll go to the office on Monday and explain it was all nonsense.”
Heejae’s lips twitched, almost a smile. He already knew most of it, but hearing her own admission was… satisfying.
“And what exactly will you say?”
“That it’s absolutely not true! That I confirmed it with you myself!”
“Confirmed with me? How would that even prove anything? You’re not my girlfriend. Why would anyone believe Im Yoohyun’s sister knows whether or not I can kiss—or do anything else in bed?”
Sharp. Too sharp. Her lashes fluttered shut, and she exhaled a shaky sigh.
“You should have corrected it right away. Maybe they’d have believed you. Maybe.”
The car rolled to a stop at a red light. Heejae turned his head slightly, his gaze brushing over her.
“But now? I don’t see a way out of this. What do you think we should do?”
His lips curved in a faint smirk. Yoojin’s heart thudded. He wasn’t furious… but he wasn’t letting her off either.
“I’m sorry, Oppa.”
This time, the words were soft, raw. But he didn’t respond. The silence itself felt like punishment.
And so, she tried again.
“I really was going to tell them. I swear. I just… didn’t.”
But the real reason—the fact that she had done it out of a possessive, foolish love—remained locked in her throat.
Before she could crumble, his voice cut through.
“What do you want for dinner?”
She blinked, stunned. Dinner? Now?
He went on, matter-of-fact:
“We could do dak-galbi, since you like it. Or a French place I’ve been to recently—it’s got great atmosphere. Say the word. We’ll go tonight.”
It felt like a last supper. Her chest tightened.
“If you don’t answer, I’ll decide.”
And just like that, he drove them off.
Dinner passed under the suffocating air of professionalism. Heejae talked about work—advice, plans, strategies. Yoojin nodded, responded, listened. The personal tension between them never surfaced, though it lingered in the silence between words.
By the time they reached her apartment complex, she was exhausted from holding her tongue. He parked, shifted the gear to neutral, and leaned back.
“If you’ve got questions, ask.”
Yoojin swallowed. She had so many—but none she could voice. Not here. Not now.
“I’ll… ask at work.”
The formality clung to her tongue, heavier than ever.
For a while, silence reigned. Then:
“Im Yoojin.”
“……”
“Lift your head. Look at me.”
Her shoulders stiffened. She couldn’t. If she looked up, she might break.
“I said, look at me.”
The command was firm, colder than she’d ever heard from him. Tears pricked at her eyes. She bit them back, but the dam broke, and warm drops slid down her cheeks.
“Our little bean, you never listen, do you?”
He brushed her hair aside, tilting her chin with one hand. His brows rose when he caught sight of her damp cheeks.
“Yoojin. Are you crying right now?”
“…Hhk.”
Her lips trembled. She bit them, trying to stop the sobs, but they spilled out anyway.
He almost laughed—she was heartbreakingly adorable.
“And just who do you think has the right to cry here?”
Through the blur of tears, his sharp features melted into something softer.
“I didn’t… I didn’t even do it…!” she hiccupped.
“Why cry then? Hm?”
His thumb brushed gently over her cheek, wiping the tears. The tenderness only made the sobs worse.
Finally, his voice dropped low, threading into her bones.
“I already told you. Go to them. Tell them yourself. Prove it. Experience it.”
Her wet lashes lifted, confusion flickering in her eyes.
His thumb skimmed her swollen lower lip. The warmth of his touch burned into her skin.
And then, his gaze darkened—intense, magnetic, inescapable. Yoojin’s breath caught.
“Kiss me. See for yourself. Am I good… or am I not?”
Before she could answer, his head dipped.
Heat. Softness. A sudden, dizzying rush.
Their lips met—firm, unyielding, searing.
Two mouths locked, deep and unrelenting.
