4.2

The bright sunlight filtering through the transparent glass windows felt intensely hot. Chaeyoon’s eyelids fluttered open at the intensity.

As she opened her eyes, dew-kissed peonies in vivid colors struck her sight, impressively vibrant and fresh.

The peony garden, resplendent in a splendor that words like “beautiful” cannot fully capture, seemed so aesthetically pleasing that merely looking at it could plunge one into ecstasy.

It seems the garden resembles its owner. Or perhaps, it was made to resemble the owner.

Maybe it felt more dreamlike because she was still half-asleep, and a languid sense of satisfaction washed over her in that trance.

Looking down due to the heavy sensation on her waist, she found Seonho’s arms around her. 

Chaeyoon followed the arm upwards and saw Seonho’s face, still lost in sleep. 

How could even his sleeping face look sexy? 

He looked utterly peaceful, as if he had not spent a passionate night.

It was surprising. Normally laid-back and annoyingly leisurely, he was passionate and intensely emotional in bed.

She hated to admit it, but she had imagined having s*x with him, despite her unwillingness. And the reality of it had given her pleasure that was incomparable to her imagination.

It was a one-night stand with him, a shocking gift from Joo-eun. Initially, she thought it was a crazy gift, but now she felt fortunate. 

Because she didn’t walk away then, she didn’t miss this opportunity.

Chaeyoon removed his hand from her waist, but there was no sign he would wake up soon. 

He probably still wouldn’t wake up easily. 

His love for sleeping in was legendary since their school days. He was always oversleeping and arriving late to school during middle school, and it was the same in college. His poor attendance due to oversleeping was why Chaeyoon could be the top student in their course.

Even during their MT (Membership Training), Seonho wouldn’t leave the bed because he slept in, earning him the nickname “sloth.” 

Sexy sloth.

His actions were slow like a sloth’s, but he looked too sexy when sleeping or just waking up.

She had denied it until now, but today she decided to just accept it. 

Fortunately, since her luggage was upstairs, Chaeyoon could quickly grab clothes before heading into the bathroom. She took her clothes and phone and went into the bathroom. In the mirror directly in front, she could see the red marks etched across her chest.

“I can’t be the only one with these, right?”

Chaeyoon’s brow twitched. She tried to remember if she had marked Seonho’s body as well, but she couldn’t recall clearly.

“That doesn’t mean I can’t go check it out now.”

The only relief was that whether it was intentional or not, the marks were placed only on areas that wouldn’t be visible under summer clothes, like the chest and hips.

“How am I supposed to get out of here, anyway? Don’t tell me I have to go out with Seonho?”

She hoped that an embarrassing scenario wouldn’t unfold.

Before showering, Chaeyoon called Joo-eun. Fortunately, the call connected.

• Uh, Chaeyoon, you’re up already?

Joo-eun’s voice, heavy with sleep, came through.

“Where are you?”

• Not far. Did you have a good night?

There was a playful tone in Joo-eun’s voice.

“Come quickly.”

Chaeyoon didn’t answer, just said what she had to say.

• Okay, I’ll send Seokhyun oppa. Come to the dock. Yawn.

“I need to shower, so you better wake up and hurry out too.”

• Hmm, do I really have to? I’m sleepy.

“Isn’t it obvious? Get up and come quickly.”

After hanging up, Chaeyoon clicked her tongue at Joo-eun’s thoughtlessness.

Trying to leave her alone with Seokhyun in such an awkward situation.

After a quick shower and gathering her belongings, Chaeyoon was heading down the stairs when she heard Seonho’s voice.

“Are you leaving?”

Seonho asked, barely managing to open his eyes, true to his nickname of a sexy sloth.

It wasn’t necessary to mention that last night had been enjoyable, was it?

“Yeah. Take care.”

Chaeyoon replied crisply.

“You too. Safe travels.”

After saying goodbye, Seonho’s eyelids closed again.

It wasn’t bad. A hot night, a cool morning. A tidy conclusion, so to speak.

Chaeyoon stepped out of the villa and walked through the colorful peony garden that had captivated her. With each step she took, the fragrance of the peonies seemed to envelope her.

As she reached the end of the garden and stood before the stairs leading down to the dock, she hesitated, feeling a vague sense of regret.

Chaeyoon stared at the small villa at the end of the peony garden.

She reminded herself that her regret was for the unreal, dream-like garden, not for the man inside the villa.

Hearing the sound of an approaching boat, Chaeyoon finally descended the stairs to the dock.

“You know how to drive a boat?”

Chaeyoon asked Seokhyun as she boarded.

“What can’t our Seokhyun oppa do?”

Joo-eun, ever smitten, chattered away.

“That’s right. Thanks to him, your prank was easy to pull off.”

Chaeyoon sat down on the boat, and Joo-eun squeezed in next to her.

“Hey, it wasn’t a prank, it was a gift. How was it? How did you feel sleeping with Seonho?”

Joo-eun’s eyes sparkled intensely.

“I might not have slept wih him at all.”

“No way. Seriously? Come on, you did, right?”

Joo-eun bounced impatiently on her seat.

“Let’s drop it. This isn’t something friends should share.”

Chaeyoon said in a stern voice.

Thanks to Joo-eun, she had indulged in something she would never have dared to try otherwise, and even if it was a thrilling experience, she had no intention of sharing it with Joo-eun. 

It was a good thing Seonho had agreed to do it, or it could have been a lifelong source of embarrassment for her.

“Haha, I thought so. If nothing had happened all night, that guy would be abnormal. Phew, nearly started a weird rumor.”

Joo-eun giggled.

“Great. Put someone in an awkward spot and then laugh about it.”

“Oh, come on. You enjoyed it though.”

Joo-eun playfully nudged Chaeyoon with her elbow. 

“You must be the one who enjoyed it. Now a panda will be running after you calling you ‘unnie’.”

Joo-eun’s face, which had been lively just the night before, now appeared haggard, with dark circles heavily set under her eyes. 

“Really? Is it that bad?” 

Joo-eun rubbed her eyes in disbelief.

“It’s just you looking like this while he’s fine? Get some exercise. How are you going to handle a relationship properly with that kind of stamina?”

Chaeyoon teased, but then she suddenly blushed as she imagined what she and Seonho have done. 

She hadn’t experienced such thoughts before. A hot night like that could indeed leave some serious aftereffects.

Chaeyoon shook her head to dispel the rising thoughts. 

“There’s a place on the way that serves delicious hangover soup. Let’s stop there for breakfast.” 

Seokhyun, steering the boat towards the dock, suggested to them.

“Sure. By the way, you’re taking me home, right?”

“Nope. You have to come to our place. Mom wants to see you.” 

Joo-eun informed her.

“An alibi for staying out?” 

“Yeah. I was going to say I was with you the other day.”

Joo-eun rolled her eyes and scratched her cheek.

“What will you do when I go abroad? You can’t use my name then.” 

“Don’t worry. I’ll just say I’m visiting you, and stay with my boyfriend instead. Maybe I should even say a short-term study abroad program? That’s a brilliant idea.” 

Joo-eun smiled brightly, unabashed.

“My conscience is really bothering me. To think I have to be your alibi all the way from New York.”

“Come on, why are you like that? Love you, Chaeyoon.”

“Isn’t it pathetic? Oppa, don’t you feel uncomfortable when she says she loves me?” 

Chaeyoon rolled her eyes at Joo-eun and turned to Seokhyun.

“How could I ever compete with you?” 

Seokhyun continued to smile warmly, unaffected.

“Forget it. My mistake for asking.” 

Chaeyoon waved her hand dismissively, ending the conversation.

Joo-eun cooed, clinging to Seokhyun’s arm as he drove. 

“You’re the man I love the most. If both of you fall into the water, I won’t just save one of you, I’ll hold you both and we’ll die together.”

Like a witch obsessed.

“That’s kind of scary. I’ll manage on my own, so just save your boyfriend.”

“Ah, it’s just an expression. It means I love you both that much.”

“Oh, you greedy thing.”