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Chapter: 19
The corners of her eyes were damp, as though she’d had a bad dream, but his drunken behavior was unexpectedly adorable.
As if scolding her, he narrowed his eyes and silently stared at her flushed face. The moment their eyes met, her heart began pounding like crazy.
“I think… I just had a bad dream.”
“Yeah… I had a nightmare.”
His brows lifted.
“A dream where you drifted away from me…”
It seemed what she’d said earlier had really shaken him. Even in the short time he’d fallen asleep after drinking, he’d dreamed about it.
As the dream came back to him, he frowned. Even the slightest crease in his brow made her tremble.
Inside the cramped space, she feared he might hear the frantic pounding of her heart. Sensing danger, she knew she had to leave as quickly as possible.
“We should go. It’s late.”
She pushed against his chest, turned around, and grabbed the door handle.
But he caught her wrist just as she tried to escape.
Her body lurched toward the passenger seat once again.
His hand wrapped tightly around her waist, pulling her so close it made her dizzy.
Their eyes met at an impossibly close distance.
“Ha…”
He gazed deeply into her eyes, the strong scent of alcohol on his breath as he let out a long sigh.
Flustered, she blinked rapidly with wide eyes.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Stop… pulling away from me.”
Maybe because he was drunk, his way of speaking had become as casual as it used to be.
She swallowed hard.
Looking down, she noticed her open palm resting against his chest. Starting with her ring finger, she slowly curled her fingers inward until they formed a tight fist.
Only after clenching her hand did she manage to hide her turbulent emotions.
She straightened herself and spoke firmly.
“You’re drunk. You should go inside now.”
She shoved hard against Mu-hyeok’s chest, trying to get away, but his large fingers tightened around her waist, refusing to let go.
“Ah!”
Her body stuck against his like soft taffy, and a quiet moan escaped between her lips.
“You’re right.”
“I’m drunk.”
With hazy eyes, he admitted it without resistance.
People always claimed drunk people insisted they weren’t drunk until the bitter end. His unexpected confession left her tilting her head in confusion, unable to understand what he intended.
Taking advantage of her brief distraction, Mu-hyeok pulled her even closer.
“Ugh!”
“So… forgive me.”
Murmuring words she couldn’t understand, he gently placed his large hand against her cheek, his gaze becoming even more intense.
The moment his fingertips touched her face, her shoulders flinched upward.
Her already large eyes widened even more.
They were sitting in the parking lot right in front of the house.
If one of the household staff happened to pass by, anyone would become suspicious.
The image of Mu-yeon collapsing in shock if someone saw them together and rumors spread flashed through her mind.
Hurriedly, she pulled Mu-hyeok’s hand away from her face.
“We’re in the parking lot in front of the house!”
Although the parking lot was dark and quiet, illuminated only by dim yellow lights, she nervously kept turning her head from side to side through both windows, terrified that someone might see them.
But Mu-hyeok only had eyes for her.
Ignoring her resistance, he tightened his grip and gently caressed her face once again.
Tenderly stroking her strawberry-red cheeks, he looked at her with desperate eyes.
Her entire cheek fit perfectly inside his hand.
His gaze grew fiercer by the second.
Still anxiously looking around, Hae-ru suddenly met his eyes.
The intensity in them startled her so much that her lips parted slightly.
“I don’t care.”
His deep voice answered quietly.
Then he suddenly pulled her face toward him—
and captured her lips.
Perhaps because he’d been drinking, his lips were burning hot.
One large hand firmly held the back of her neck while he gently claimed her soft lips.
It happened so suddenly that she nearly lost her breath.
Just as she felt herself suffocating, his persistent tongue slipped insistently between her lips.
Startled, Hae-ru grabbed the front of Mu-hyeok’s suit and tried to push him away, but he wrapped an arm tightly around her waist.
Was he really drunk?
Their lips and tongues intertwined, sending tingling shocks straight through her heart that were impossible to resist.
Her mind went completely blank.
All she could feel was the heat, her wildly beating heart, and the sweetness filling her mouth that made her not want to pull away.
At first she remained motionless, but as his lips continued moving against hers, her trembling lips slowly began responding.
Feeling her response, his heart pounded uncontrollably, and he frowned deeply.
Just as rough breaths escaped through the tiny gap between their lips—
Ring—
Ring—
A loud ringtone broke the moment without mercy.
It was coming from the inside pocket of his suit jacket.
She suddenly came to her senses.
Startled, she shrank back, pushed against his chest, and quickly pulled away.
“Haa… haa…”
She hurried back into the driver’s seat, facing forward.
Pressing both hands against her racing heart, she struggled to catch her breath, her brows tightly furrowed.
She glanced over at him.
The phone continued ringing, but he made no move to answer it.
As she watched him, the ringing finally stopped.
His eyes slowly drifted shut.
It seemed he’d fallen asleep again, overcome by alcohol.
“Ha… this is driving me crazy.”
Letting out a long sigh, she frowned and began blaming herself.
She’d done something completely unlike herself once again.
Even just looking at him sleeping made her heart tremble.
Unable to bring herself to touch him, Hae-ru remained in the car for a long time, clutching at her pounding chest.
Eventually, realizing she couldn’t possibly move him by herself, she asked Mu-yeon for help.
Together with one of the employees working at Mu-yeon’s house, they carried Mu-hyeok into his room and laid him on the bed.
After settling Mu-hyeok into bed, Hae-ru returned to Mu-yeon’s detached house with her.
As she entered through the front door and took off her shoes, Mu-yeon, dressed in pink pajamas, followed her inside.
“Why are you back so late?”
“Huh? Well… I got caught up with work.”
She walked inside and headed upstairs.
Unable to meet Mu-yeon’s eyes, Hae-ru deliberately looked away.
A strange sense of guilt had settled over her, making it impossible to look her friend in the face.
Meanwhile, Mu-yeon seemed unusually cheerful today, following close behind her like sticky rice cake.
“I heard today’s inauguration ceremony was a disaster?”
“The rumors already reached you?”
“My mom told me.”
“Oh… really?”
Just thinking about the ceremony made her head throb again.
Not only did Mu-hyeok’s future seem far from smooth, but his relentless approach and the way he kept shaking her heart left her sighing deeply.
“So why did it go so badly?”
Mu-yeon asked with raised brows.
Hae-ru couldn’t answer.
If she did, she’d have to explain what had happened between herself and Mu-hyeok.
So she kept her lips tightly sealed.
When she remained silent, they reached the second floor.
Mu-yeon grabbed her shoulder and turned her around.
“Why do you look so exhausted? What happened?”
Normally, whenever someone asked her something, Hae-ru always answered.
She wasn’t especially expressive, but she never avoided questions.
Seeing her refuse to speak now only made Mu-yeon more worried.
“Nothing happened.”
“Did Mu-hyeok act like an idiot again? He’s always been impossible. Tell him to do something, and he’ll do the exact opposite. Just try to understand him.”
“It’s not that.”
“I’m just really tired today. I’m going to bed.”
She pointed toward the room behind her with her thumb.
Just as she turned to go inside, Mu-yeon hurriedly grabbed her wrist.
But instead of speaking, Mu-yeon simply twisted her body awkwardly.
The sight made Hae-ru let out an involuntary laugh.
It was the cute little act Mu-yeon always used whenever she wanted to ask for a favor.
She’d always been naturally affectionate.
“What is it?”
Hae-ru lifted her chin and asked.
“Hm?”
Mu-yeon raised her head, lifting her brows.
“What favor do you want?”
“Huh? How did you know I was going to ask for something?”
“Do you think I don’t know you by now?”
“So… can I ask?”
“Hurry up. I’m tired.”
“Okay! Fine! You should let someone introduce you to a guy.”
Hae-ru gently removed Mu-yeon’s hand and turned away.
Her head already hurt enough.
She was still worried she’d somehow get entangled with Kim Tae-jun again, and she couldn’t stop thinking about Mu-hyeok, who had barged into her life and shaken her heart from the roots.
Shaking her head from side to side, she let out a long sigh before entering her room.
After taking off her coat and hanging it in the wardrobe, she answered Mu-yeon, who had followed her inside.
“Sorry, but I’m too busy. I don’t have time for that.”
“Please, just save me this once~”
“I’m really busy.”
“Just meet him once~ Please? Or at least think about it.”
“No.”
Like an immovable rock, she refused without the slightest hesitation and began getting her pajamas ready after her shower.
“Why~? You said you’d help me! Remember that torn painting?”
Sitting in front of the wardrobe as she picked out her clothes, Hae-ru looked up at Mu-yeon, who had somehow ended up standing right beside her.
“What does that have to do with this?”
“The artist… asked me to introduce you to him….”
