1.3

The car that left Seoul entered a driving course along a river lined with lush trees. Looking at the magnificent scenery unfolding outside the window, Chaeyoon said to Joo-eun.

“How many times do we have to have a farewell party? And this time, it’s for one night and two days.”

“Hehe, look forward to it. This farewell party will be very different from the previous ones.”

Joo-eun replied with a meaningful expression.

“Your expression makes it even more suspicious and unsettling. Do you know anything about this Seokhyun-oppa?” 

Chaeyoon asked Seokhyun, who was driving, hoping to get a hint.

“I’m just a driver.”

Seokhyun said, wearing a gentle smile that seemed trustworthy at first glance.

“I think you’ve turned into an idiot since you got into a relationship with her. Why don’t you get a life of your own? Women don’t like guys like that.”

“Who said I don’t like him? I like him a lot. He’s totally my type.”

Joo-eun said in a sing-song voice and kissed Seok-hyun’s cheek as he drove.

“I can’t stand looking at you two. Are you really that happy?”

“Yes. I’m happy. Very, very happy. I feel like I could live without eating just by looking at his face.”

Joo-eun laughed heartily while caressing Seokhyun’s cheek.

Watching the two from the back seat, they were truly a picture-perfect couple. Honey seemed to drip from their eyes as they looked at each other. 

However, Chaeyoo’s heart ached as she looked at them. She knew it was the end of their relationship. The more you love, the greater the pain when you part ways, right?

No, could they even part ways like this? Surely that naive guy wouldn’t turn the household upside down by getting married, right?

“No matter how much you like each other, just keep it to dating, okay? Don’t make me uneasy by whining about wanting to get married. It’s disturbing my studies.”

Chaeyoon warned the two as if she were scolding them.

“Seriously, you’re ruining the mood, Chaeyoon. Do you have to say that right now?”

Joo-eun glanced at Chaeyoon slightly. 

“Yes. I have to bring it up now. When will I see Seokhyun-oppa again? Oppa, did you understand what I said? Just be happy. Don’t fall in love. If you two ever mention marriage, I’ll oppose it no matter what. I’ve said it beforehand.”

“Are we fools? We know. We get it. So just stop.” 

Joo-eun said in a dead voice, and Seokhyun patted the back of her hand comfortingly.

Feeling the pain in Joo-eun’s subdued demeanor, Chaeyoon felt a twinge of guilt. 

But even so, it was something that needed to be said. She wanted them both to find someone worthy of them and be happy.

Conventional forbidden love tends to lead to conventional pain and ultimately ends in conventional ruin, as Chaeyoon and they knew all too well.

Love is not something that could simply wither away. But leaving the two of them like this while she embarked on her study abroad journey made Chaeyoon quietly anxious.

The silence in the car settled heavily, breaking only when they reached their destination.

“We’ve arrived.”

Thankfully, Joo-eun’s voice sounded cheerful again, easing Chaeyoon’s mind.

Joo-eun had gone out of her way to make a nice farewell party for her, yet Chaeyoon didn’t seem to realize how grateful she should be.

From now on, let’s have fun without breaking the mood.

With this resolution in mind, Chaeyoon also tried to put on a bright expression. After all, relationships were the concern of those only involved, and getting overly involved beyond friendship boundaries was overstepping.

“Let’s see how nice this place is.”

Getting out of the car, Chaeyoon looked around.

She expected to find a villa in Yangpyeong, but all she saw was a very small building compared to the spacious parking lot.

“Huh? What is it? Why is it so empty?”

“This is the parking lot. Expect it. Whatever you’re imagining, it’s more than that.”

Joo-eun confidently banged on the door.

There was a luxury sports car already parked in the lot.

“There’s another car. Someone else came?” 

“Yeah. Where did he go?” 

As Joo-eun looked around, a man walked up the stairs leading towards the river. 

“Oh, there he is. We’re here!” 

Joo-eun waved her hands vigorously to get his attention. Chaeyoon froze as she saw his face. 

It was Seonho.

Why is he here?

“Hey.”

Dressed in a white short-sleeved polo shirt and beige pants, Seonho greeted them with his hands in his pockets. He looked like he’d stepped out of a magazine, and his usual languid expression was still as charming as ever.

A man she disliked but was attracted to.

Seonho evoked this contradictory feeling in her. Chaeyoon always felt on guard around him, fearing that she might lose control of her emotions when she saw him.

“You’re early.”

Seokhyun approached Seonho, and the two exchanged handshakes before engaging in a brief conversation.

“What are you planning?” 

Chaeyoon whispered to Joo-eun in a hushed tone. After the shock of seeing Seonho, Chaeyoon was worried for Joo-eun when the two men came into the frame.

“What?” 

“You two are supposedly secretly dating, or are you trying to get Seonho to find out?”

No matter how much they tried to hide it, if they spent too much time together, Seonho would notice.

“He already knows.”

“What? Seonho knows? Is it okay for him to know?”

The two families had been in contact for a long time, and Seonho and Joo-eun were the top candidates for an arranged marriage. Unless there was something special, the fact that the two families were discussing marriage prospects between them meant something.

But does it make sense for a woman who could potentially become his wife to be dating someone else and for the potential husband to know about it? Does that make sense?

“What’s wrong with it?” 

Joo-eun gave her a nonchalant look.

“It’s not right. Even if it’s an arranged marriage, it’s not good to show that you’ve been in a relationship before.”

“Of course not. Do you think I’d marry Seonho or something?”

Joo-eun grimaced.

“I actually thought you’d pull off some crazy stunt like introducing your lover to the top priority for an arranged marriage with you.”

“Even if I’m not very smart, I’m not that brainless, you know?”

“Guess not. I underestimated you.”

“You were ignoring me.”

Joo-eun nudged Chaeyoon’s side with her elbow.

Perhaps this was Joo-eun’s way of saying she wouldn’t marry Seonho. However, that in itself was worrying.

Would Seonho actually keep this dangerous secret?

As Seokhyun finished his greeting and Seonho approached, he stood in front of them.

“Long time no see.”

Seonho greeted them in his characteristically languid voice,and as he slowly raised his eyes, the tear duct under his right eye glimmered in the sunlight.

“Yes, it’s been a long time. This is the first time since you were discharged, right?”

“No, the last time was at the charity party at the end of last year.”

“Oh, right. You saw me then. It hasn’t been as long as I thought.”

Chaeyoon remembered being busy as a helper at the charity party, so they didn’t have much chance to talk.

“You’re quitting your job to study abroad?”

“That’s right, but what are you doing here?”

“I heard you’re having a farewell party.”

Seonho nodded towards Joo-eun with his chin.

“Did she invite you?”

“I ended up getting involved since I’m the owner of the villa.”

Seonho said with a lazy smile, shrugging his shoulders. 

“Seonho received the villa as a birthday gift and remodeled it, so I asked to borrow it. I saw the pictures, and it totally suits your taste. You’ll love it when you see it.”

Joo-eun laughed widely and exchanged meaningful glances between Chaeyoon and Seonho.

Among all her wealthy friends, why did she specifically borrow Seonho’s villa?

Chaeyoon squinted her eyes, silently reading Joo-eun’s intentions, and looked at her sharply.

Suits my taste? Remodeling the villa nicely was just an excuse, but in reality, she probably asked him to borrow it because she wanted me to see Seonho. She probably wants me to create some beautiful memories.

Ah, she really thinks ahead. She wasn’t just talking after all.

“Come to think of it, you’re the first guests to see the villa after it’s been renovated.”

“Joo-eun, you’re something else. We’re not even that close, and I’m sorry to put you through all this trouble.”

“Don’t feel bad. We’ve known each other since we were ten years old. We were even classmates in college. I think we’re close enough to lend my villa for your farewell party.”

“Well, if you think so, then thanks.”

“Are you sure you’re not the one who’s uncomfortable with me?”

“Of course not.”

Chaeyoon offered a practiced smile.

“What about your luggage?”

When Seonho asked, Seokhyun replied, “Here,” pointing to Chaeyoon’s luggage among the others.

That’s right. This farewell party is for one night and two days, right? Surely, Seonho won’t be with us the whole time, will he?

Chaeyoon glanced briefly at Seonho, feeling unsettled.

Surely not. Seonho will stay for a while and then leave.

“Well then, shall we go?”

Seonho led them towards the stairs he had come up from earlier. Chaeyoon thought there might be a villa structure under the stairs, but as they descended, there was a dock with a motorboat.

“A motorboat?”

Chaeyoon looked at Seonho.

“We’ll go in this.”

“Ah!”

Taking a motorboat to the villa, what a grand scale. It’s definitely chaebol level.

“What did I say? I told you everything would be beyond your imagination, didn’t I?” 

Joo-eun chuckled at Chaeyoon’s surprised expression amusingly.

“Don’t say that. It’s overwhelming.” 

Seonho said, glancing down at them.

“The Yoon Seonho feels overwhelmed? You expect me to believe that?”

Joo-eun chuckled.

“You could be disappointed after seeing the villa. Chaeyoon, don’t get your hopes up. It’s only a very ordinary villa.”

Seonho said as he leaned in close to Chaeyoon’s face.

Chaeyoon swallowed nervously as she looked into Seonho’s brown eyes, shining like transparent jewels. 

Chaeyoon, stay calm. Keep a poker face.

As Joo-eun’s friend, she had experienced the glamor of a chaebol lifestyle countless times, so she was used to it, which meant she could afford not to get flustered.

But this situation was a bit different. Reluctantly, Seonho’s mere presence made everything seem far from ordinary.

“It’s overflowing enough as it is.” 

Chaeyoon said with a masterful practiced smile, skillfully hiding her turbulent emotions. Internally, she resented Joo-eun endlessly, but at least she didn’t show it.

Her proximity to Seonho was too close. His presence felt too overwhelming, almost like a threat.

Chaeyoon didn’t like being overwhelmed like this due to her personality, so she wasn’t entirely comfortable with the current situation. For example, situations like Seonho offering his hand to help her get onto the boat were not something she liked.

“Come on, get on!” 

Chaeyoon looked at the long, elegant hand offered to her. It was beautiful and graceful.

What’s wrong with holding Seonho’s hand?

Chaeyoon placed her hand on top of his, not wanting to show even a hint of hesitation.

Seonho firmly grasped her hand and pulled her closer. Despite its graceful appearance, his hand felt strong and powerful. As his palm touched hers, an indescribable thrill ran through Chaeyoon, making her breath catch.

“Thank you.”

“No need for formalities. Make yourself comfortable.”

“I’ll try.”

Chaeyoon awkwardly smiled and released his hand. She worried if her palm was sweaty due to nervousness, but fortunately, she managed it well.

“Sit here. Put on a life jacket.”

Seonho handed a life jacket to her.

“How long does it take by boat?”

Putting on the life jacket, Chaeyoon asked Seonho.

“Not too far. About ten minutes?”

“Why isn’t this working?”

The straps for tightening the life jacket around the body didn’t seem to work as well as expected.

“Wait. Let me help you with that. Put your arms up.”

Seonho leaned in to assist. Chaeyoon kept her gaze away, pretending not to notice his breath brushing past her forehead.

“You’re driving the boat?”

“Yeah. Don’t worry; I have a license. Let go of unnecessary concerns. All set.”

Stepping back from Chaeyoon, Seonho grinned.

“Thanks for telling me. I would have been anxious otherwise.”

While the two exchanged some sort of joking remark that wasn’t funny, Joo-eun and Seokhyun donned their life jackets and took their seats. Once they were in place, Seonho turned to everyone.

“Let’s go.”

With a loud noise, the motorboat set off. 

Despite it being early June, the hot sun made the weather feel warm. However, the splashes of water and the cool breeze from the fast-moving boat were refreshing.

“Wow, this is exciting!”

Joo-eun screamed with joy, seeming to enjoy it like a child.

“The scenery is nice.”

Chaeyoon also smiled, enjoying the changing scenery as the boat passed by.

After about ten minutes, they reached the dock where the villa caretaker and uniformed servants were waiting. As Seonho parked the motorboat, they greeted them, and the servants accepted their luggage.

Upon stepping onto the dock, a subtle scent of flowers carried by the wind lingered in Chaeyoon’s nostrils. Instinctively, she took a deep breath, absorbing the fragrance.

“This way.”

Seonho led them up a charming wooden staircase. With each step, the scent of flowers grew stronger.

Is there a flower garden?

It seemed like the scent of flowers planted in the garden, but it wasn’t the usual fragrance she was familiar with. Chaeyoon wondered what kind of flowers they were.