Chapter 21 – Mature Adult  

A strong attraction inevitably leads to a collision.

However, Seo-jun, unaware that the cause of his accumulated dissatisfaction was love, decided to stop wasting unnecessary emotions.

In this place, where one couldn’t come or go without a car, whether Eom So-yeon called a taxi or walked endlessly until reaching the city, Seo-jun thought it was none of his business what she did. That was until he looked down through the window and saw her entering the forest.

Why did she choose that direction instead of the well-trodden path? It seemed she chose a shortcut to the main road, but unfortunately, her destination was surrounded by steep cliffs.

After confirming that the bag he had given her was still on the dining chair, Seo-jun found himself following Eom So-yeon, who was wandering in the dark and rugged mountain.

When So-yeon, who almost tripped, sighed while bending over, Seo-jun decided to stop watching and moved towards her.

Startled by his presence, So-yeon sat down and muttered loudly. Her futile shouting was so earnest that Seo-jun couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

But when he saw her face up close, it was a different story. Although she was inherently beautiful and didn’t look haggard, her face, which had paled in the meantime, seemed pitiable.

Seo-jun gently grasped So-yeon’s hand and spoke.

“I should have just let you hit me.”

“I didn’t know it was you, Director!”

No one pushed her, yet she ran out on her own and got lost. She was so scared she even tried to hit a man. How ridiculous and pathetic it must have looked. Not wanting to appear more miserable, So-yeon shook off his hand.

“Why did you follow me and scare me?”

“We came together, so we should go back together.”

However, Seo-jun held her hand again, firmly, as if he would never let go.

“Let’s go back to the villa first.”

“…”

Blushing, So-yeon pouted her plump lips.

With no money and no idea of the way, there was only one answer. To return to the villa as he said. She decided not to mention that she had left her bag behind.

He must have seen her trembling and doing all sorts of things, so confessing that would be like proving herself a fool.

“When are we going?”

“Tomorrow, I planned. I’m neither a criminal nor a cruel employer.”

During their dinner, Manager Bong and Park Seong-ho also ate and drank, etc. Seo-jun explained at length.

In other words, if they insisted on going today, someone would have to drive under the influence, and if that were discovered, an undesirable article would immediately make headlines in the entertainment news.

“But…”

The small hand enveloped in his large hand wriggled. Enjoying the soft touch reminiscent of a baby’s, Seo-jun seemed to understand why she couldn’t speak and hesitated.

The line they’ve precariously maintained until now.

It seemed about to collapse, yet still stood, perhaps a protective barrier for Eom So-yeon, fearing the wall between us would break.

Reading that from her hesitant expression, Seo-jun softened his thick eyebrows and spoke.

“Don’t worry, I won’t eat you. I mean no harm. It’s been a while since both of us had time to relax. So let’s rest well at the villa today and leave tomorrow.”

His demeanor, quite different from his behavior inside the villa, was no longer threatening.

His gentle words and occasional smiles, like comforting a mischievous child, were as affectionate as an older brother.

Or maybe he never had any special intentions from the start.

Perhaps he just wanted to have some conversations they hadn’t had before and had set a little trap for that purpose. Frightened for no reason, she had reacted overly sensitively. Thus, the one who turned nothing into this mess was herself.

“Did anyone say anything? Anyway, I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“For earlier. For speaking recklessly to you, Director, and for running out, driven by my emotions. I was thoughtless.”

Without reflection, there can be no progress.

Having learned that principle early from her parents, So-yeon knew how to look at her mistakes. Moreover, as a mother to a child, she needed to become a more mature adult.

“It’s surprising you know how to apologize.”

“…!”

Uh! What’s with this petting?

As Seo-jun’s hand patted her head, So-yeon’s brows slightly furrowed. It felt like she was a child being praised by an adult.

“Shall we go now?”

Seo-jun started walking with long strides.

Her legs, hurrying to keep up with his hand and large steps, were busy scurrying when it happened.

“Oh!”

The heel, which had been wobbling earlier, completely came off the shoe. And because of that, her ankle…

When Seo-jun placed his hand on her right foot to check the condition and moved it slightly, a faint groan escaped So-yeon’s lips. Moreover, walking immediately was challenging due to the broken shoe.

“It’s sprained. Get on.”

Without hesitation, Seo-jun bent his waist and knees, lowering his tall frame.

“Oh, no, uh, oh!”

In an instant, So-yeon climbed onto his broad and flat back.

It was because Seo-jun pulled her arm without giving her a chance to refuse.

***

Though she liked his warm warmth, being a grown woman clinging to a man’s back wasn’t entirely comfortable.

Unable to handle the awkwardness, So-yeon babbled on, and before she knew it, they had reached the villa’s garden.

Seo-jun walked slowly across the lawn and ascended the bridge.

Under the vintage bridge of the small pond, the reflection of the two, one carrying and one being carried, was perfectly mirrored.

She didn’t want him to hear her heart pounding, but So-yeon’s heart clattered even more loudly as she came on Seo-jun’s back, and it was no different now.

“You must be tired, Director. Let me down quickly.”

“Your foot.”

“It seems okay now, and we’re almost there.”

“…”

Like a child whining, So-yeon stomped her feet, and Seo-jun’s sealed lips stiffened.

Wanting to stay like this a bit longer, he walked slowly. And once they arrived here, he wandered meaninglessly around the villa.

The pounding heart sound. The cute movement tightening around his neck, not wanting to let go. The feather-like breath tickling his ear. Even the sweet scent.

He found it amusing how he was immersed in everything coming from her.

“Can I sit here?”

“Of course.”

Seo-jun sat next to So-yeon, who he had seated on one side of the bridge, letting his long legs dangle below.

The soft moonlight flickered on the water. And the two-shot of a man and woman sitting side by side like lovers. So-yeon voiced her longing in a small voice as if talking to herself.

“It’s so nice. I’ve wanted to do this for a long time…”

“Is it to your taste, Eom So-yeon?”

“I’m a bit old-fashioned.”

“You don’t seem very tame, though. Quite fierce. Weren’t you the one talking about tigers and threatening to bite everything?”

“You followed me to tease me, didn’t you?”

Her coy gaze landed on his handsome face.

“Yeah. It was really fun. If I hadn’t followed, I would have regretted it.”

“I’m glad you at least found it fun, Director. I was scared just enough not to die. Is that your personality, Director? Teasing and provoking people at every turn. Ah, even before, you…”

As So-yeon chattered on, Seo-jun’s brows gradually furrowed with discontent.

He had wanted to say it for a while but had held back because he disliked how childish it made him feel. But perhaps no longer able to stand it, Seo-jun fixed a dissatisfied gaze on her and said,

“Why do you call me ‘Director’?”

Despite Seo-jun’s prickly tone, So-yeon’s lips, already in motion, didn’t stop.

“What should I call you then? Teacher? Senior? Or perhaps the great star, Actor Tae? What do you want?”

“…”

“See, you don’t like any of them, so you don’t respond. It’s always like this. Tease, get angry, ignore. I called you ‘Director’ because you are the Director, but what did I do wrong…”

When So-yeon, breathless from speaking quickly, paused to catch her breath, Seo-jun lightly grasped her slender chin with his thumb and index finger, drawing her gaze to him.

“Will you do anything if I want it?”

“If it’s something I can do…”

“…”

His temples throbbed with annoyance and irritation.

His mind was so full of thoughts about this woman that it felt like it would burst.

Even today, it was the same. Watching Eom So-yeon wandering in the mountain, he stopped and started several times, unsure whether to call her name. This situation was so absurd and displeasing that even a hollow laugh wouldn’t come out.

Does she even know this about me?

The me that’s not like me.

How much longer should this go on?

Because of you, Eom So-yeon, how much longer…

His gaze fixed on her face was like peering into an abyss, and his fingers holding her chin unintentionally applied pressure.

Her clean face, bathed in the gentle texture of moonlight, resembled a wildflower blooming at night. Seo-jun, who had been silently staring at that face with his dark eyes, finally spoke.

“Call my name.”

“Pardon? Who…”

“My name. When it’s just the two of us.”

“Just the two of us?”

“Yes. You, me, just the two of us.”

Though her name held no special meaning, somewhere in her heart began to tickle, and So-yeon tilted her large eyes.

“Tae, Seo, Jun… Like this?”

“Do it again.”

When So-yeon said his name, albeit slowly, Seo-jun requested once more.

“Tae Seo-jun…?”

Hearing his name in her voice, his gaze deepened a little more.

So-yeon continued to look at him without losing sight.

Being close to Tae Seo-jun made time seem to stand still, as if they were the only two people in the world. So-yeon wanted to cherish this strange and exciting feeling for a long time.

“You’re finally quiet.”

“…Me?”

“Yes, you don’t look like it, but you sure talk a lot.”

“No, I don’t. I don’t talk much. This is the first time I’ve heard that…”

“See, you’re talking a lot again.”

“…”

Wondering what he’d say next, So-yeon pretended to seal her lips and made her round eyes coy.

“I let it slide because you’re pretty.”

“…”

Who wouldn’t like being called pretty? So-yeon’s lips curved gently upward. Seo-jun slowly traced those luscious lips with his thumb and asked in a barely audible voice.

“…Can I?”

His face, drawing her gaze, and his eyelashes softly lowering seemed to desire more than a kiss.

“…”

Unknowingly, So-yeon gently placed her fingertips on Seo-jun’s cheek.

Wondering if this affectionate Tae Seo-jun was just a dream.

Wishing that if this were a dream, she would wake up very, very late.

But contrary to her heart, So-yeon’s hand quickly withdrew from Seo-jun’s face. Her hastily averted gaze even fell below the bridge.

When she had fled the villa, she had tried to escape from him as far as possible. Ignoring everything else, she was a sinner who had to step back in front of the issue of the child. She knew she couldn’t stand proudly before Tae Seo-jun, nor did she have the right to look him straight in the eye.

Dropping her gaze into the pond, So-yeon bit her lower lip tightly. She curled her restless hands into fists.

Wanting to see his face again.

Wanting to touch that unguarded face again.

But she was trying to restrain herself, telling herself she shouldn’t.

“If you don’t like it, just say no…”

Seo-jun softly grasped her slender chin, drawing her gaze back to him.

“…”

So-yeon’s eyes trembled as she looked at him again.

Her heart pounded.

Before she knew it, the season without cold winds, the full spring, had returned. Another season besides winter to remember this man had come.

That alone made So-yeon’s heart swell with emotion.

The cluster of stars in the night sky pierced through the darkness, twinkling brilliantly. The breeze carrying the fresh scent of the forest felt as cozy as fluffy cotton.

It was a perfect night.

For a trembling kiss with her first love.