MFYBS 06

Chapter: 06

She blinked several times, shook her head, and looked closely at his face. The baby fat was gone, but it was unmistakably the face of Mu-hyeok from their childhood.

He had followed her around constantly when they were kids, so once she looked carefully, those old memories came back to her.

A faint smile appeared on Mu-hyeok’s lips.

“It’s been a long time, Yoon Hae-ru.”

After saying that, he leaned toward her lips again, and she quickly turned her head away.

“H-Ha… You’re Chae Mu-hyeok?”

The moment she recognized his face, another strange memory surfaced. It was something that could never have happened in the reality she knew.

“Yeah. So… take a good look at me. See how well I’ve grown up.”

“What? Are you crazy? Let go of me right now.”

She twisted and struggled to pull her hand free, but she was too drunk to control her body properly. She couldn’t escape his grip.

He moved even closer until his breath brushed against her face.

“Why? Are you scared? Afraid we’ll go all the way again… like we did eight years ago?”

“What… are you talking about?”

Her eyes widened as yet another unfamiliar memory flooded into her mind.

The memory from eight years ago—something that could never have existed in reality—became clearer and clearer before her eyes.

Earlier that day, when she’d thought about Mu-hyeok, she’d vaguely remembered lying in bed with a man. Now, the blurry face of that man became perfectly clear.

She stared at him, her eyes widening in shock.

Eight years earlier.

Twenty-three-year-old Mu-hyeok had returned to Korea for a short visit while studying overseas.

Not long after arriving, he received a call from Mu-yeon and went to meet her, only to find Hae-ru there instead.

Mu-yeon had already left because of work, leaving only the drunken Hae-ru, who sat there nodding off.

Mu-hyeok helped her into his car, and the moment she sat down, she fell asleep.

Unable to wake her, he had no choice but to bring her to his house.

After turning off the engine, he looked toward the passenger seat.

Hae-ru was sleeping peacefully, making soft little breathing sounds.

“You sleep so well… without knowing how someone else feels.”

After quietly admiring her sleeping face, he got out of the car.

She looked so fragile.

Opening the passenger door, he carefully lifted her into his arms as though she were a baby. Carrying her from the parking area, he followed the stone path through the garden and entered the detached guest house.

The interior was decorated almost entirely in white.

Still fast asleep, she instinctively snuggled closer into his embrace.

Mu-hyeok stopped in his tracks.

His body trembled so much he couldn’t move.

Even his breathing stopped.

He stood frozen before slowly letting out a long breath.

“…Haa.”

Ever since childhood, he’d followed Yoon Hae-ru around far more faithfully than he had ever followed his older sister, Chae Mu-yeon.

As he continued following her, his feelings gradually deepened.

Because he had gone abroad to study while still young, he couldn’t see her often.

But every time he returned to Korea, he quietly watched over her.

She had been his first love.

And his unrequited love.

The closer she nestled against his chest, the more violently his heart pounded, and instinctive desires threatened to overwhelm him.

He wanted to lay her down and hold her in his arms.

Standing still, he steadied his breathing.

After staring at her for a long moment, he turned his head away and carefully climbed to the second floor.

Since he had only recently returned from America, most of the rooms were still unfinished.

Only the living room and his bedroom were fully prepared.

He cautiously climbed each step, stealing nervous glances at her face, worried she might wake up.

By the time his breathing grew heavier, he reached the slightly open bedroom door.

He nudged it open with his foot before pushing it wider with his shoulder and walking inside.

Gently, he laid Hae-ru down on the white bed.

But just as he carefully tried to stand up after setting her down, her arms wrapped around his neck.

He could have easily freed himself.

She was only loosely holding him.

But he didn’t.

Clenching his fists, he silently traced her flushed face with his eyes.

She was still asleep from the alcohol.

What on earth was he thinking?

He repeatedly shook his head and tried to pull away.

But he couldn’t.

She intertwined her fingers behind his neck and pulled him even closer.

“Ugh!”

Unable to move away, he ended up hovering over her, staring down into her face.

Hae-ru slowly opened her eyes halfway before letting out a deep sigh.

Earlier that day, she had received news about her mother, Kim Jang-mi.

Her friend Lim Su-jeong, whom she had met through Mu-yeon back in middle school, had been studying in England.

Although Su-jeong had been too busy to contact her for quite some time, she suddenly called.

She said she thought she had seen Hae-ru’s mother, Kim Jang-mi, at a party.

She had looked like an elegant noblewoman.

After saying that, Su-jeong ended the call.

Filled with resentment toward her mother, Hae-ru had spent the evening drinking with Mu-yeon until she was completely intoxicated.

“Huh? Mu-hyeok!”

Her unusually cheerful voice made him bite the inside of his lip.

She was obviously drunk.

The real problem was that he couldn’t stop staring at her plump, flushed red lips.

“Yeah… It’s me. Chae Mu-hyeok.”

“I know that!”

As she nodded, he swallowed hard before blurting out something unexpected.

“I… want to kiss you.”

Her round eyes filled with curiosity.

After frowning thoughtfully for a moment, she slowly nodded.

Her gaze softened as she intentionally narrowed her eyes and looked straight at him.

“Well… you’re old enough for that now, aren’t you? Go for it! Be brave! You can do it, Mu-hyeok! Your noona is cheering you on…”

Hearing her encouragement, he frowned.

“…Ha.”

She blinked slowly before asking,

“But… with who? Did you tell Mu-yeon you like someone?”

Still worried about her friend’s younger brother, Hae-ru moved the hand around his neck to gently stroke his black hair.

Then she smiled softly.

“My goodness… when did you grow up so much?”

His brows drew together.

She reached toward the crease between them, but before she could touch him, he caught her wrist with a sharp motion.

“You definitely… gave me permission.”

His voice was low and firm.

Then he kissed her.

The haze vanished from her eyes.

The instant his lips touched hers, they moved with burning intensity.

Soon, the hand gripping her wrist slid behind her neck, pulling her closer as the kiss deepened.

When her breathing became ragged and her heartbeat thundered in her ears, Mu-hyeok finally pulled away.

Still completely dazed, Hae-ru’s face turned bright red.

“Haa… A kiss like this… is something you only share with someone you love…”

Before she could finish speaking, he interrupted.

“I love you, Yoon Hae-ru.”

The moment he confessed, he captured her lips once again.

Everything felt hazy.

She was already drunk and unable to think straight.

As Mu-hyeok’s burning lips claimed hers again, she was swept away before she even realized it.

When she unconsciously responded to his kiss, Mu-hyeok grew even more excited.

Even though she knew this shouldn’t happen, she couldn’t push him away.

Her body refused to obey her reason.

His kisses were so warm and sweet that she no longer wanted to resist them.

After kissing her passionately, he gradually became gentler, handling her as though she might break if he was too rough.

As the heat inside him intensified, he straightened up, pulled off his shirt completely, and kissed her again.

The overwhelming sensation made her instinctively grip his arm tightly.

He stiffened in surprise and pulled back slightly to look at her.

Biting his lower lip, he frowned deeply.

He stared into her eyes for a long moment before finally speaking.

“I’m sorry, but… I… can’t stop.”

He had intended to stop after just a kiss.

Even that alone had made his heart feel as though it would burst.

But the more her soft skin touched his, the more desperately he wanted to hold her tightly.

And every time she responded instead of pushing him away, he wanted her even more.

His entire body burned as though consumed by fire.

He had never experienced emotions like this before.

His brows furrowed slightly as he slowly kissed from her neck downward, cherishing every inch of her.

Hae-ru squeezed her eyes shut, overwhelmed by the pleasure he stirred within her.

She couldn’t think of anything.

It was as though every thought had been wiped clean from her mind.

His lips gradually returned upward while his hand firmly held her thigh.

The sensation left her breathless.

She bit her lip tightly.

“I can’t think of anything.”

Her painful thoughts about her mother…

The fact that he was her friend’s younger brother…

She seemed to have forgotten all of it.

Why had it happened?

Was it only because she was drunk?

Or had she secretly loved him all along?

She didn’t know.

All she knew was that she couldn’t stop.

“Today… think only about me.”