Chapter 27 – We Were Definitely Lovers

Tae Seo-jun didn’t make any threatening moves.

He just sat in a relaxed position, leaning against the sofa. The atmosphere emanating from his graceful and robust body was one of pure leisure.

However, his gaze fixed on So-yeon was cold and intense enough to freeze and swallow anything.

It wasn’t even the middle of winter, but spring, and moreover, they were indoors. It was clear. This chill wrapping around her senses was because of this man.

Was this how a young animal caught in a trap felt before being devoured? 

So-yeon, feeling paralyzed by his overwhelming gaze, couldn’t even properly exhale the breath that had risen to her throat.

But love blooms even amid war, and flowers bloom even in the mud. So-yeon’s complicated feelings were just like that. Her heart was pounding as if it would tear apart, and what made it beat even more wildly was an intense thrill.

Get a grip, Eom So-yeon!

After being confused for a while, So-yeon suddenly stood up straight, extending her legs.

“I’ll think about it. I’m going now.”

Barely holding onto the thread of reason, So-yeon quickly stepped toward the room’s entrance.

I need to get out of here quickly.

I need to run far, very far away from Tae Seo-jun.

Because the danger wasn’t Tae Seo-jun, who tempted her—it was herself, who was being irresistibly drawn to him.

With that thought alone, So-yeon’s mind was more urgent than her legs, which moved quickly. And then it happened in an instant.

Thud!

“Ah!”

So-yeon’s body, which hadn’t gone far, suddenly collapsed onto the floor. The hem of the dress, which seemed a bit long, kept getting caught at her feet, and now of all times, it had caused trouble.

“Oh dear!”

Seo-jun, showing regret at the unexpected development, approached So-yeon.

“…”

Oh, this is driving me crazy!

So-yeon couldn’t even lift her head, unable to get up quickly.

Thanks to the carpet, she wasn’t injured, but the impact of the fall caused the back of her dress to rip open. One of her shoes, which had flown towards the sofa, was a bonus. Having caused a fuss on her own and ending up like this, the embarrassment was indescribable.

Seo-jun’s gaze, which had picked up the shoe that had fallen to the floor, landed on her back.

“Be careful, won’t you? Who’s going to eat you?”

So-yeon was easily lifted by Seo-jun’s hand.

Whoosh…

“Give it to me, now!”

Holding the neckline of her dress with one hand, So-yeon tried to snatch the shoe from his hand with the other.

But Seo-jun’s movement, raising his long arm, was much faster. This was like asking someone who saved a drowning person to hand over their bundle.

With a tilted smile, Seo-jun whispered in her ear with a low voice.

“Try to take it if you can. Don’t just whine like a child.”

“…!”

Joking in such a serious situation!

The delicate hand gripping the neckline of the dress, as if it would slip down if let go, trembled violently. She was extremely vexed.

“G-give it to me! Hurry!”

She tried to reach up and grab the shoe, but the significant height difference was a hurdle. It was like the reality where he was in a high place, and she was in a low place. Because of that, as she desperately jumped and tiptoed, her balance suddenly tipped forward.

“…!”

In that instant, Seo-jun’s arm swiftly moved to wrap tightly around So-yeon’s slender waist.

“I didn’t expect this, but it’s not bad.”

He had only caught her without thinking as she was about to fall again. There was no impure thought at all. However, Seo-jun’s hand touching her frail body was very warm.

Without needing to use his head, his body knew a man’s instinct.

His body temperature soared with the desire to hold this woman more deeply.

The warmth from his large palm seeped into her waist, and So-yeon felt scared for no reason. That boundless fear was echoed in a voice mixed with resentment.

“Why are you doing this? Do you hate me that much?”

“I told you. I like you.”

“And you expect me to believe that? You’re the one tormenting me like this! What did I do so wrong that you’re…”

Why wouldn’t there be something wrong?

So-yeon suddenly closed her mouth.

She was hiding the fact that Tae Seo-jun was the father of her child. She even said the child’s father was dead. To her parents and everyone who knew about the child’s existence. In truth, she was a huge liar.

However, there was room for excuses. It was all done for the betterment of everyone. It was a white lie she had to tell with tears, so she decided to bury her guilt in the past.

“Even if I did something wrong a long time ago and you’re angry, what could possibly remain after all this time? It was just one night! It’s been years! There’s nothing between you and me!”

“……”

While So-yeon was pouring out her frustrations, Seo-jun, kneeling on one knee on the floor, lowered himself and slipped the shoe onto her small foot.

“……!”

At the unexpected action, So-yeon’s body stiffened.

“……”

Is there really nothing between us? Am I just bothering her for no reason?

‘How do you walk in these shoes?’

‘You saw me walking fine. Haha, stop it!’

The sound of your clear laughter… That night, we were definitely lovers. At least in that moment when we laughed together.

Recalling that time, Seo-jun gently caressed So-yeon’s ankle.

“Ah, no, why…”

It was a gentle touch that didn’t match the person who had been pushing her so coldly just moments ago.

Feeling strange due to his warm actions, So-yeon couldn’t help but stand still, rooted to the spot.

As Seo-jun slowly straightened his long legs and stood up, he looked at So-yeon’s face and spoke.

“Shall I tell you honestly?”

“What?”

When So-yeon tilted her head slightly, Seo-jun entwined his calm gaze with her shimmering one and said.

“You’re beautiful. You look really beautiful.”

No matter what kind of woman you are, no matter what you’ve done… If it’s you, then anything…

“I like you so much that I don’t want other men looking at you.”

“You… You can’t just say things like that so casually!”

“Then should I say it while crying?”

“Ha… That’s not what I meant…”

What am I supposed to do? I already want to keep getting closer to you and lean on you, so what am I supposed to do! My heart is pounding so hard it hurts, my chest feels like it’s going to burst!

The words, filled with sorrowful eyes, spilled out, and Tae Seo-jun cupped Eom So-yeon’s flushed cheeks with one hand.

“Why? Are old memories finally coming back to you?”

“They’re probably no more than a speck of dust.”

“You’re denying it again.”

“……”

So, why… Why do you keep shaking me?

How much time has passed since you and I drifted apart…

Her eyelashes trembled, but she didn’t have the mental space to worry about that. The brown eyes scrutinizing Seo-jun’s face revealed a sense of longing. As if she desperately wished for something from him, which she had to keep deep within her heart.

The large surroundings, like they contained the stars of the universe, were rosy.

Her long hair, disheveled from the fall, covered her white neckline and shoulders. As Seo-jun’s fingertips gently tucked it behind her ear, So-yeon’s face unconsciously leaned toward him.

From his cold, mischievous, warm, ever-changing demeanor, she couldn’t tell which was real.

But even if she knew this man’s true feelings, it was meaningless to So-yeon.

She wanted to get closer to him, but she couldn’t move a step due to the past, which was inseparable from the present, and things she couldn’t say or hear.

“I’m leaving.”

Just as So-yeon, breaking free from Seo-jun’s arms, began to take weak steps away—

“Don’t go.”

“!”

Seo-jun suddenly hugged So-yeon from behind as she turned away.

But So-yeon, who still had to leave, shook off Seo-jun’s arms that wrapped around her. However, the man’s strength, firmly encircling her chest, wasn’t easily undone.

“…I said don’t go.”

“……”

As So-yeon turned back, tears that had suddenly welled up rolled down her cheeks.

Seo-jun spoke in an even deeper voice.

“Stay. Stay with me.”

“I haven’t even answered yet, and you’re already trying to shake me?”

“Maybe I am.”

“Not tonight. Didn’t you say I have until tomorrow to decide? You have to give me time to think.”

When So-yeon spoke firmly, Seo-jun chuckled.

Her lips looked adorable as she spoke. Her sorrowful gaze didn’t match her playful head shake, which was irresistibly cheeky. He didn’t like how powerless he felt when it came to this woman, but at the same time, he didn’t exactly hate it.

“You don’t seem to realize, but if you walk out looking like this…”

Seo-jun’s gaze swept from her head to her toes and came back up again.

“It would be troublesome for you, but what will it make me look like?”

“If it bothers you that much, just lend me a coat or something.”

So-yeon knew. If people saw her torn dress and disheveled appearance, they might think she had been through something rough.

“Don’t go. Just stay here. I promise I won’t touch you.”

“Oh, and are you going to say you’ll just hold my hand while we sleep?”

“Then let me rephrase. I might want to hold you while I sleep.”

“……”

Ah, I can’t take this anymore…

Could the devil’s temptation be like this? 

As he whispered playfully in a low voice, So-yeon couldn’t help but press her plump lips to suppress the laughter that threatened to escape. Seo-jun, interpreting her lip shape as anger, rephrased.

“Still, I’ll just hold your hand and sleep.”

“And how is that supposed to make me feel better? I’m still a woman, you know. Isn’t that basically treating me like I’m not even worth noticing…”

Oh no, I’ve lost my mind!

Her honest feelings slipped out unconsciously. But once spoken, words can’t be taken back. So-yeon quickly bit her lips, turning red.

“It’s not ignoring you; it’s me holding back.”

Seo-jun, with a chuckling mouth, said, and So-yeon, as if to make up for her mistake, asked.

“Tae Seo-jun! Who even are you? Where’s the person I used to know?”

“You’ve been calling me ‘Director’ all this time, but now you’re finally using my name properly.”

“You didn’t think I called your name because I was upset?”

“Well, then, I guess I’ll have to keep upsetting you. Thanks for giving me such a good idea.”

“Oh, really…!”

The conversation between the two, like a verbal sparring match, continued endlessly for a while. The two gazes, locked in a tug-of-war, didn’t back down an inch.

So-yeon laughed despite herself, her eyes curving.

Even little Hyun-woo wasn’t this stubborn. But seeing the adult Tae Seo-jun constantly nitpicking and arguing, she couldn’t help but see a resemblance between the two. The thought of sweet, gentle Hyun-woo acting like his father someday made her feel like she wouldn’t stand a chance.

And then it happened.

Beep…

At the cheerful ringing of the bell inside, So-yeon’s eyes hurriedly turned toward the room door.

“Was there someone coming?”

“No.”

Seo-jun, arching one eyebrow, immediately checked the intercom screen.

“It’s my mother.”

“Y-your mother?”

“My aunt is with her too.”

Not only was Seo-jun overwhelming, but in front of his mother and aunt, she couldn’t help but feel like a guilty sinner.

Her heart sank like a stone, and panic overtook her as she frantically searched for a place to hide.

“What should I do?”

“Wait.”

Seo-jun first covered So-yeon’s body with his coat from the dressing room, concealing her damaged dress. It was a coat far too big for her, as if a child had draped themselves in their father’s clothing. However, Seo-jun’s lips curved into a wide smile.

“Not bad.”

Regardless of her appearance, Eom So-yeon wearing his clothes was the most satisfying sight he had ever seen.