Chapter 3 – Wanting to Be Something

When So-yeon asked, Seo-jun’s deep eyes stretched into a smile.

It was a sign to keep doing just that.

Up close, Tae Seo-jun had smoother skin than a woman. His prominent, straight nose and vivid lips looked like they had nothing applied, yet they were very red.

Even his eyes were beautiful. Perhaps it was due to his long, thick eyelashes, but his particularly dark pupils seemed deep and melancholic, displaying a mysterious hue.

So-yeon’s gaze, which had been exploring the man’s flawless face, soon turned toward the entrance of the hall. She cautiously observed the woman still standing there like a statue.

“Let’s go.”

“Wh-where to…”

Seo-jun suddenly stood up and grabbed So-yeon’s wrist.

“My room.”

“But I haven’t…”

The remaining cocktail was a pity, but she hadn’t even touched the Gambas. Feeling a bit regretful, she hesitated, but Seo-jun urged her by pulling her arm.

“If you need more drinks, we can have them together upstairs.”

Seo-jun, passing by the woman as if it were nothing, led So-yeon out of the bar and stood in front of the elevator. While waiting for the elevator doors to open, the man’s arm wrapped around So-yeon’s waist. Feeling a sudden chill at the back of her head, So-yeon instinctively turned to look back.

It was the exact moment when her eyes met the mysterious woman’s gaze.

“Ah!”

Seo-jun, holding So-yeon’s waist, stepped into the elevator and pressed her back against the hard wall. The next moment happened in an instant.

“Don’t be surprised.”

With a brief warning, Seo-jun leaned in deeply.

“!”

Their lips met seamlessly. So-yeon’s eyes widened in shock.

Though their posture was plausible as lovers, their locked lips barely grazed each other. However, at that moment, So-yeon couldn’t do anything or think of anything. The electrifying sensation, as if she had been struck by lightning, completely bound her body and mind.

When the elevator doors closed, Seo-jun stepped back and distanced himself by a step.

“…!”

As he moved away, So-yeon’s legs wobbled as if she might collapse at any moment. Just as she seemed to lose her balance, a firm arm swiftly reached out and pulled her waist back.

Holding So-yeon tightly with one arm and leaning against the wall with the other, Seo-jun asked,

“Are you okay?”

“I’m not okay…”

Her heart nearly burst, so how could she be okay!

The resonant voice was exceedingly polite. If that made her feel even more peculiar, perhaps she was abnormal?

“N-no, I’m fine.”

As So-yeon stuttered, Seo-jun wiped her moist lips with his thumb, displaying a graceful smile before stepping back.

The spot where his fingertips had brushed felt hot. Unconsciously, So-yeon bit her lower lip.

The elevator doors opened softly on the VIP floor.

The time spent in this confined space was less than a minute. Yet, to So-yeon, it felt like an eternity had passed.

“I-I’ll be going now.”

When Seo-jun, who had exited the elevator first, turned around, So-yeon bowed her head as if to say goodbye.

His kiss was meant to be shown to that woman, and the plan had succeeded. Therefore, there was no longer any reason to stay with him.

Through the closing elevator doors, she saw his handsome forehead crease deeply. A short encounter like a 30-second commercial. So-yeon, who felt this was the ending between her and Tae Seo-jun, blankly watched the doors close.

“Wait!”

Seo-jun’s long arm reached through the reopening doors.

***

Perhaps Seo-jun’s words, indicating there was more to discuss, had an effect. So-yeon, pushed by his inescapable persuasion, found herself inside the room in no time.

“If this is because I helped you, I’m fine.”

While Seo-jun closed the door and turned around, So-yeon spoke hesitantly near the entrance.

“I’m not fine.”

Perhaps because he had exerted himself to bring So-yeon here, the man’s chest heaved as he took a deep breath.

“I can’t just let you go. Give and take. Let’s stick to what we initially discussed.”

“Even if I say I won’t accept it?”

“There’s nothing more unsettling than not being able to give what should be given. Moreover, didn’t you kiss my cheek first?”

“That was to help you!”

He didn’t say anything earlier, but now he’s complaining about my kiss? 

Feeling somewhat unjust, So-yeon raised her voice slightly.

“I’m not complaining about that. Your kiss meant you agreed to the deal I proposed, didn’t it? I’m saying let’s settle it properly.”

“…”

So-yeon’s mind was in turmoil.

She wanted to stay with Tae Seo-jun a little longer, but she had an uneasy feeling that her life might change dramatically if she did.

Was it because her fear was so clearly reflected in her wide, shaking eyes? As Seo-jun observed her complexion, he led her to the sofa in the spacious room.

“It seems there’s some misunderstanding, but I’m not that kind of person.”

Judging by his words, he seemed quite upset.

“It’s not that…”

Oh, forget it.

Giving up on resisting, So-yeon let out a long sigh and plopped down on the sofa. Whatever the reason for her fear, it now felt like an unavoidable destiny.

However, no matter how soft the sofa was, it was certainly a thorny seat for So-yeon. Being in the same space as Tae Seo-jun was chaos in itself.

“I really don’t think this is right. At most, it’s just a brief physical contact, but calculating that in material terms is even stranger. It’s too sudden, and I can’t think of anything.”

“Then take your time and think about it while seated. If you ponder it carefully, there might be something that comes to mind.”

“Well, what could it be?”

“That’s what I’m curious about too. What you might want.”

She tried thinking about it as he suggested. However, no matter how much she racked her brain, nothing specific came to mind. Only the scene of her kissing Tae Seo-jun kept replaying endlessly.

“Honestly, what did I even do? I don’t think you need to feel burdened.”

For the sake of her unsettled heart, So-yeon quickly stood up.

“I’m really fine, so I should be going back…”

“If you leave right now, it might be a bit troublesome for me.”

With a polite gesture, Seo-jun guided So-yeon back to the sofa and persuaded her in a calmer tone.

“Ah… I hadn’t thought of that.”

If she recklessly left the hotel, she might catch the eye of that woman from earlier. Now realizing the depth of his intentions in bringing her here, So-yeon acknowledged her short-sightedness with a slight nod and a small voice.

“So, are you asking me to stay in this room a bit longer?”

“If possible, I’d appreciate that help too.”

“I already decided to help, so I’ll stay a little longer. I do have that much loyalty.”

Seo-jun made a flexible request without forcing, and So-yeon accepted his second request as well.

“Today must have been confusing, but thank you. I’ll definitely repay you. Would you like a drink first?”

“Shall we?”

The room, with a spacious reception area and two bedrooms, was quite large. While So-yeon carefully looked around the luxurious interior, Seo-jun asked,

“Your name.”

“It’s Eom So-yeon.”

They finally exchanged basic introductions now. After the kiss and the peck on the cheek. It was an unexpected request, and she helped without thinking, but perhaps there was a sense of camaraderie that unknowingly formed during the process.

Seo-jun and So-yeon exchanged glances and simultaneously chuckled.

It was a smile filled with excitement.

Seo-jun took out wine from the minibar in the dining area and, while watching So-yeon remove her coat and approach him, slightly stretched his eyes.

“Take those off too.”

About to sit at the table with some simple snacks, So-yeon froze with a shocked expression. His words sounded far too suggestive.

“What? Take what off…”

His eyebrows and lips crookedly curled. It was a sneer as if to say, ‘Would I really mean that?’

“The long boots. They must be uncomfortable after wearing them for so long.”

“Oh…”

What was I thinking?

Feeling both embarrassed and relieved, So-yeon took off her boots and changed into the slippers Seo-jun handed her.

Facing Seo-jun across the table, So-yeon felt the current situation was purely surreal.

However, the lingering sensation of their first kiss on her lips was anything but surreal. A man who seemed only possible in dreams, never to be encountered again in reality. The fact that she kissed Tae Seo-jun was still evidenced by her lips, which hadn’t cooled, and her heart, which was still pounding.

That fact made So-yeon somewhat embarrassed, and she took a sip of wine. Yet, she couldn’t shake the sensation of his lips from her mind.

But why did my lips tremble? What was with those moist eyes that seemed soaked in melancholy? Was it because of heartbreak? Even though he broke up with that woman, did he not want to? Was he pretending to be okay, but in truth, it was unbearably painful?

In that moment when her lips touched his, So-yeon strangely felt such emotions and wanted to comfort his sadness, even if just a little.

Even if it was only for an hour or two, she would willingly do so.

The low lighting from the chandelier and the indirect lighting enhanced the winter night’s ambiance. Moreover, the hotel room was inherently a provocative setting. In such an environment, having a man and a woman alone was the perfect condition to stir up even nonexistent desires.

Despite the slightly cool indoor air, Seo-jun, feeling warmer as the drinking time progressed, unbuttoned the top button of his dress shirt and rolled up the sleeves after removing the cufflinks.

Watching his every subtle wrist movement, which seemed like a scene from a movie, So-yeon suddenly thought she was staring too blankly and turned her gaze away, fiddling with her neck.

The large painting on the wall was erotic yet a masterpiece with golden hues that exuded a sense of mystery.

Carefully parting her lips, So-yeon asked,

“Is that artwork real?”

“Would you find something from the Austrian palace here?”

“Oh…”

Of course, that was a silly question.

Feeling awkward, So-yeon puffed her cheeks slightly. Seo-jun glanced at her face and chuckled. At that moment, So-yeon’s phone, placed on the table, vibrated briefly.

[So-yeon, I’m curious about the movie audition results but can’t ask. Still, I’m asking. You’re not wandering around late at night because you got rejected at the audition, right?]

After roughly checking the message displayed on the screen, So-yeon hesitated for a long time, unsure of what reply to send. Meanwhile, the phone rang.

“Answer it.”

“It’s a friend. I can call back later.”

So-yeon had a reason to ignore Do-soon’s call by turning off her phone completely.

Yeo Do-soon was a die-hard fan of Tae Seo-jun.

Because of that friend, So-yeon knew the history of Tae Seo-jun from his debut to the present by heart. So if Yeo Do-soon found out that she was with him right now…

Even if she told her, she wouldn’t believe it, but today’s events had to be kept secret, even from her closest friend.

“It’s getting late, but shouldn’t you contact your parents or family, Eom So-yeon?”

Seo-jun raised his eyebrows slightly and spoke slowly.

“My parents are abroad. My older sister is a workaholic and has no plans to return from New York, and my younger sister got married early and settled in Jeju Island. So I live alone. It means I handle everything myself.”

“Then you can stay the night? I’m saying this because there’s an extra bedroom.”

“…!”

So-yeon’s eyes widened.

Though he was likely saying it out of consideration, since it was late and she had been drinking wine, So-yeon’s heart couldn’t help but skip a beat. This was the first time she felt such excitement. Unconsciously, So-yeon responded.

“Then can I drink more wine? Honestly, I’m in the mood to drink a bit.”

After briefly staring at the empty bottle, Seo-jun brought a new bottle and filled So-yeon’s empty glass.

“It seems like something’s bothering you, but have a little more and then rest.”

He was a perceptive man. What more could be said? So-yeon gulped down what was in her glass. However, as the alcohol accumulated, memories of the day’s events kept surfacing, making So-yeon feel melancholic.

Her large eyes turned red.

Though it seemed tears would soon fall, she stubbornly held them back. While it was clear she was on the verge of tears due to something upsetting, Seo-jun couldn’t understand why his heart felt so tight.

No, in fact, Seo-jun knew.

Despite their first meeting today, he felt strangely familiar with her, wanting to be anything for her.

With a warm impression that could melt even a frozen heart and being so beautiful. What man could just sit by and watch such a woman cry in front of him? She seemed unaware that unintended temptation was even harder to resist.

Seo-jun’s right arm twitched.

He quickly clenched the hand that was about to reach out to her, against its owner’s will.

While it was true he needed help at the bar, there was no need to bring her to the room. Offering a comforting gesture to her, who unknowingly followed him here.

He needed to restrain himself.

At least for today.