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Chapter 33
Click. Click.
A noise suddenly cut through the sound of the keyboard, and Somang turned her head.
She saw someone in a black H-line skirt that accentuated her hips, paired with a subtly shiny silk blouse.
Somang couldn’t help but glance at her own outfit. The woman exuded a far more feminine and mature aura, and Somang bit her lip nervously.
“I was right!”
Eunjung, peeking over the partition, gestured toward the team leader’s office with the blinds down.
Somang tried her best to divert her attention elsewhere, but her eyes slid naturally back.
Under the blinds, she could see Yesul’s slender calves moving. Opposite her, black suit pants and polished shoes came to a stop. Somang wondered what kind of expressions they had and what they were talking about.
Was Yesul showing him the same warm, kind smile that had fooled her back in school? That thought made her uneasy.
“Oh? So they’re that close that they’d make time to meet?”
“Looks like she already picked him out as a potential spouse.”
Just as Eunjung said, Yesul appeared as soon as work began. The scent she left behind swept through Somang’s mind.
In the office, Yesul sat on the central sofa, brushing her long hair back.
“What’s this about? Why are you meddling in someone else’s birthday party?”
Yesul had received messages from Hangyeol telling her to cancel her party or change the location.
Somang felt uneasy after receiving his message for the first time in her life, so she couldn’t just ignore it.
“That club is where Yoo Jong-min often goes. That day, he booked the entire basement.”
“So what?”
“If you don’t want to get caught up in a drug incident, cancel it.”
“Do you know something?”
Yesul frowned.
Yoo Jong-min was notorious for his wild parties, but drugs in broad daylight in the middle of Seoul?
“I clearly told you. Believe it or not, that’s your choice.”
Recently, Hangyeol had caught suspicious activity from Yoo Jong-min. Although he hadn’t touched drugs in Korea, the manager reported that he had been purchasing them on certain dates.
Since he often held hedonistic parties in the U.S., the purpose was obvious.
Coincidentally, the venue that day was booked by Seri Electronics’ Eun Yesul.
“Ask everything you need to, then leave.”
They had some familiarity through their respective fathers, but Somang didn’t want to drag unrelated people into the situation. And it would’ve been troublesome if Seri Electronics got involved and asked questions.
“Are you planning to deal with Yoo Jong-min?”
“Not allowed?”
Yesul’s response was as natural as breathing.
After hearing that, she got up and called her manager to change the planned party location.
At the entrance, as she was taking off her shoes, nagging came from behind.
“Baek Somang, don’t be late.”
Siwon, holding a glass of water, wandered after her.
“Were you on a date with your boyfriend? It was Park Min-chan, right?”
“No, I was at work.”
Somang, exhausted, pushed Siwon’s shoulder with a look that clearly said, move out of the way.
But Siwon didn’t budge and stood by her door, sipping water.
“I’m going to shower and sleep. Leave me alone!”
Somang stomped her foot in frustration.
“You don’t look like you’ve been on a date. Pass.”
Finally, Siwon opened the door. Somang let out a bitter laugh as she stepped inside.
“Hey, what’s this?”
Siwon laughed, noticing the Housemate Rules posted on her door. He teased her, saying how childish it was that she and Hangyeol had played around like this at home.
“Watching movies together? What’s this?”
“Nothing like that.”
Somang scoffed but froze when she read the rule:
6. Watch movies together
When Somang saw Hangyeol’s handwriting, she muttered under her breath.
Siwon, ignoring her, went to Hangyeol in the room and waved the paper.
“Yoo Hangyeol, what’s this?”
Through the slightly opened door, Somang saw his toned arms and perfectly defined abs as he tugged on his T-shirt.
Startled, Somang quickly turned away.
“Oh, I thought Somang might feel uncomfortable.”
Hangyeol stepped out boldly into the living room. This rule was clearly written after she rejected a date earlier.
“Oh, so this is just hoping to get closer?”
Siwon flicked his fingers cheerfully.
“Everyone to the living room. Movie night!”
Following Siwon’s lead, the three laid blankets on the floor around the sofa.
“Do we really have to do this?”
Somang frowned.
“Yes. You used to follow Hangyeol like a puppy as a kid, and now you act so grown-up?”
Siwon clicked her tongue disapprovingly.
“How did you even get into medical school with that head of yours?”
“Hmm?”
Somang shook her head at Siwon’s incredulous reaction.
“Lights off.”
The living room went dark, the TV brightly illuminating the space.
Siwon confidently played a movie perfect for cuddling together. It was the second season of the zombie movie Somang had nervously watched with Siwon before.
“Somang, aren’t you scared?”
Why is he sitting here?
Somang sat between Siwon and Hangyeol, feeling her breath grow unsteady as Hangyeol sat slightly closer.
“I watch zombie movies well,” Somang said, moving slightly away.
Hangyeol leaned in closer and whispered near her ear,
“Want to hold hands if you’re scared?”
It felt like a secret date. Her body tensed under his warm breath, and her legs stiffened beneath the blanket.
“…No.”
Somang hugged her knees in response, narrowly forcing her gaze back to the movie.
“Close your eyes if it’s scary.”
“Then I can’t see.”
“That’s the point.”
“But I want to watch.”
The warmth from his gaze made her cheeks burn.
“Now you can see properly.”
Somang instantly realized he wasn’t looking at the movie but at her. Her face turned bright red.
“L-Let’s watch the movie!”
“Yes.”
She was relieved the dim room kept her flushed neck less visible.
Clearing her throat, Somang said,
“Don’t distract me. I’m focusing on the movie.”
“You two have weird movie tastes.”
Laughter slowly broke through the tension.
As her body relaxed, Somang’s hands, still hugging her knees, fell on top of Hangyeol’s resting hand.
A spark!
Her previously calm heartbeat jumped.
“No, it’s not intentional. Really.”
She tried to pull away, but Hangyeol gently pressed her hand down.
The advantage shifted instantly.
“Move your hand.”
She wiggled her fingers in resistance, but it had no effect.
“I’m scared. Isn’t this what you do when scared?”
“That’s…”
Somang recalled how she had tried to hold Hangyeol’s hand in middle school, and now he returned the favor, slowly sliding his fingers along hers.
Her heartbeat raced, matching the pounding movie soundtrack.
The dim lights, his eyes fixed on her…
Ah… is this what people call the perfect timing for a kiss?
Should I close my eyes? She bit her lip lightly in thought.
Then she remembered that Siwon was also there.
Krak! Bang! The movie’s chaotic soundtrack startled Siwon as he glanced subtly.
At that moment, Siwon’s wide eyes met hers.
“Somang!”
