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CHAPTER 03
A hot warmth was felt through the large, firm hand.
Startled by the burning heat, Ju-hye’s stiffened eyes trembled in confusion. Meeting his pitch-black, clear gaze, the corners of Dae-hyun’s eyes curved faintly.
“……!”
The moment Ju-hye pushed his shoulders with both hands, their lips met.
The softly pressed flesh parted in an instant, and hot breath spilled out. Her dry lips quickly became wet.
Her hands, which had tried to push him away, were caught again and slipped downward. Their breaths mixed together, tangled and disordered.
His hand firmly gripping her waist did not move, pulling their lower bodies together. Something unwelcome made its presence known below.
This is insane.
She couldn’t believe what was happening. The idea that Dae-hyun was aroused by her felt like a lie. Didn’t he have another woman?
With half-lidded eyes, Ju-hye looked at his expression. Through narrowed eyes, his sharp gaze pierced through her.
See? You still love me.
It felt as if his eyes were whispering that.
“Haah… ngh… stop… it!”
At that gaze, humiliation surged through her.
Shame that she had been exposed—her lingering feelings discovered after all this time—and anger that she had to face this situation so directly.
And yet, somewhere deep inside, a desperate feeling flickered—relief, even joy—that he might still love her, even just a little, even if it was obsession.
“I said stop it!”
Perhaps because she mustered all her strength to push him away, Dae-hyun slowly pulled back.
He wiped her bitten lower lip with his index finger, erasing his faint smile. His face was expressionless, but strangely, he seemed satisfied.
“I clearly told you,” Ju-hye said, breathless.
A suffocating pressure washed over her like a wave. Meeting him like this and then having dinner together—she would be lucky if she didn’t lose her appetite.
But Dae-hyun’s response remained frustratingly unchanged.
“Too late.”
He tilted his head slightly, studied her face, then gently fixed her disheveled hair and whispered:
“Go in and sleep first.”
That was all. He brushed off her rejection and turned away.
He headed toward the study—apparently he still had work left to do.
It’s this late… he still has work? He must be tired…
At that thought, Ju-hye realized with shock that she was unconsciously worrying about him.
Even so, she couldn’t take her eyes off him until he entered the study and closed the door.
So this was love—it really was a disease.
Otherwise, there was no way her rational judgment would collapse like this.
Just like the day she first fell in love with Seo Dae-hyun.
March—the spring when flowers began to bloom on every roadside tree.
Ju-hye sat in the back of a large lecture hall, attending a liberal arts orientation.
At the top of the projected slide was the course title:
[Understanding Forest Recreation Culture and Healing]
She had entered the business department at her father’s insistence, but her interest lay entirely in elective courses chosen by preference.
For the youngest daughter of Jinju Construction—a company deeply involved in environmental development—it was a somewhat ironic interest. She knew it herself, but couldn’t help it.
Ever since she was young, she had loved mountains and forests. She even dreamed of running an arboretum in secret from her father.
“Now then, I’ll take attendance.”
The professor began calling names. Ju-hye listened and raised her hand when her turn came.
The lecture hall was smaller than expected, and many students seemed uninterested.
It wasn’t very popular during registration either.
Indeed, compared to other electives, competition had been low.
While she scanned the room hopefully for familiar faces, the professor suddenly paused.
“Seo Dae-hyun?”
The sharp voice echoed again in the quiet room.
No response.
“Seo Dae-hyun student? Not present?”
Just as Ju-hye turned her head curiously—
“Here, professor.”
As if dropped from the sky, a presence appeared beside her.
“Seo Dae-hyun?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
The calm voice of the man filled the room clearly.
When Ju-hye saw his face, she swallowed a quiet gasp.
Beneath a low baseball cap, his features were partially hidden—but still striking.
Clean, sharp facial lines. Clear skin without blemishes. A straight nose bridge. Bright eyes without double eyelids.
Even in jeans and a white T-shirt, his tall, lean build made him stand out like a model.
His slightly frowning expression gave him a sharp, almost sensitive impression, which only added to his mature aura.
Without question, Ju-hye had never seen anyone that handsome before.
Others seemed to agree—more and more students were now looking in their direction.
“Um…”
As if used to such attention, the boy casually tilted his head toward her. A faint scent of fabric softener drifted from his shoulder.
“Has attendance only been taken so far?”
It was his first question to her.
His pitch-black eyes momentarily stole her ability to think.
Ju-hye stared blankly at him before snapping back to her senses a beat later.
“Yes, class hasn’t started yet.”
He nodded slightly in thanks and turned forward again.
The professor had already begun the lecture.
Ju-hye tried hard to focus, but her gaze kept drifting sideways.
Fortunately, she wasn’t the only one stealing glances at him.
He looks like a celebrity…
Resting his chin on his hand, he listened to the lecture. Every now and then he nodded slightly, his soft hair shifting with the movement.
“Therefore, the midterm and final exams will be group projects.”
A collective sigh filled the room.
Ah… group work.
Ju-hye looked around anxiously, but everyone already seemed to have formed groups.
She regretted sitting in the back.
“Do you have a group partner?”
A voice suddenly came from beside her.
Startled, she turned to him. He also seemed to be without a group.
From across the room, several girls were clearly watching them, eager to approach him.
“I… I’m taking this class alone… I wish I had someone I knew, but I don’t.”
Her shoulders slumped.
At that moment, the handsome boy spoke quietly.
“Want to work with me?”
“Huh?”
“I’m taking it alone too. It’s annoying to look for a group now, and since we’re already sitting together, might as well.”
He pulled a pen from his case and wrote something in the corner of his notebook.
Neat, sharp handwriting—just like him.
Seo Dae-hyun.
Ju-hye silently repeated the name in her mind.
As if noticing, he introduced himself casually.
“I’m Seo Dae-hyun, third-year International Trade student. You?”
The conversation flowed too quickly for her to refuse.
Feeling the girls still watching them, she gathered her courage.
“J-Jin Ju-hye… first-year Business student.”
Her cheeks turned red.
He studied her reaction and smiled faintly.
“Ah, a junior then. Just call me comfortably.”
“Ah… yes, senior.”
After brief introductions, he returned to the lecture as if nothing had happened.
But Ju-hye could not focus at all.
Her heart was pounding uncontrollably.
Why is this happening to me?
Her racing heartbeat, flushed cheeks, and wandering eyes…
Ah.
So this must be first love.
Only then did Jin Ju-hye realize—
she had just fallen in love at first sight with the man sitting next to her.
