Chapter 31

“It’s really fine now.”

Seol-rin firmly refused Tae-oh’s insistence on going to the hospital. She had already received an IV drip at Cha Yeon-woo’s house, and now she truly felt completely fine. However, Tae-oh still frowned slightly, looking concerned. Determined to ease his worries, Seol-rin proposed an alternative.

“If you’re that worried, why don’t you cook for me?”

“Cook?”

“Yes. The bean sprout soup you made this morning was absolutely amazing. If I eat your cooking again, I think I’ll feel completely better.”

Tae-oh looked at her with a doubtful gaze but soon nodded as if giving in.

“Then rest in the living room.”

“Okay!”

Rolling up his shirt sleeves a couple of times, he took a simple, patternless apron hanging neatly on the kitchen wall. Watching this, Seol-rin couldn’t help but smile. 

Professor Ma Tae-oh seemed like someone who didn’t belong in a kitchen. But contrary to her prejudice, he wore the home apron with an effortless charm, and Seol-rin found herself silently admiring him.

‘He’s so cool….’

Even as she sat quietly on the sofa, her gaze was drawn toward the kitchen. Tae-oh’s broad back, clad in the apron, caught her attention for no apparent reason. She felt an urge to run over and bury her face in his strong shoulders.

When had I become such a pervert? 

Shaking her head to snap out of it, she suddenly noticed the aroma of cooking filling the house. 

Tae-oh moved back and forth between the dining table and the kitchen, setting out a feast of elaborate dishes as if by magic. After a while, he called out to her in a low voice.

“Come and eat.”

“Wow…”

As she approached the dining table, she couldn’t help but let out a gasp. Steaming white rice, a variety of healthy side dishes, and perfectly cooked rolled omelets—everything looked flawless.

“What are you doing? Didn’t you say you wanted me to cook?”

When Seol-rin stood there with her mouth agape, Tae-oh pulled out a chair for her and seated her. Picking up her utensils, she spoke to him.

“It’s been ages since I’ve had homemade food. Thank you for the meal.”

Thus, the two began eating in silence. Feeling awkward and a bit nervous, Seol-rin wiggled her toes under the table as she ate. It seemed she wasn’t the only one feeling this way, as Tae-oh suddenly broke the silence.

“This feels a bit strange.”

“What does?”

Pausing her meal, Seol-rin tilted her head in confusion. 

Strange? Was there rice stuck on my face? 

She touched her mouth just in case.

“Pfft.”

Seeing her reaction, Tae-oh chuckled playfully, his smile looking straight out of a magazine. Her face flushed red in an instant. No matter how much time passed, she didn’t think she’d ever get used to his handsome face.

“D-don’t smile like that…”

“Why not?”

“Because… it’s making my heart flutter!”

“…?”

Embarrassed, she pouted her lips and muttered. Yet, a soft smile crept onto her lips as well.

“Pfft!”

“Why are you suddenly laughing?”

“I just find this whole situation strange.”

Reflecting on it, her complaint was absurd. When she first met Professor Ma Tae-oh, she couldn’t have imagined being able to grumble at him like this.

“What’s strange?”

“Everything. Coming to your house, eating with you, complaining to you like this… Everything about it feels strange.”

“In a bad way?”

“Hmm…”

After some thought, Seol-rin spoke again.

“No, I think it’s in a good way. This strangeness doesn’t feel unpleasant.”

“Me too.”

“…!”

“I also found it strange—coming home after work and finding someone in my house.”

“Oh…”

“Having someone to eat dinner with.”

“Professor…”

“And the fact that it’s you, Jin Seol-rin… Everything about it felt strange.”

“It’s a good kind of strange for you too, right?”

“…Of course.”

Hearing his firm answer, Seol-rin felt a warmth spreading deep within her heart. 

So this is what it feels like to be loved. 

It was such a cozy and fulfilling feeling. Her cheeks, already red, grew even hotter.

As she poked at her rice with her chopsticks, a piece of rolled omelet was placed on top of her white rice.

“Try it.”

His kindness always came without warning. Trying to calm her pounding heart, Seol-rin cleared her throat.

“Ahem. But how are you so good at cooking, Professor?”

“I’ve lived alone for a long time.”

“Since when?”

“I don’t really remember. I’ve lived alone since I was very young.”

“How young?”

“Pretty much since high school.”

“What? Really?”

Her eyes widened in surprise at his unexpected answer.

“Wow, that’s surprising. You seem like someone who grew up pampered and cared for like a prince, showered with love from your parents.”

“Well…”

Just as he seemed about to say something, Seol-rin’s phone, lying quietly on the table, buzzed. The screen displayed an unknown number.

“Who keeps calling?”

“Why?”

“They’ve called twice this morning, but I didn’t answer since I didn’t recognize the number.”

At her words, Tae-oh recalled the events of the morning. His gaze, which had been warm until now, turned cold in an instant.

‘Cha Yeon-woo.’

He didn’t need to be told to know whose number it was. He could even recall the childish look in Cha Yeon-woo’s eyes as he asked, 

‘Where is Assistant-noona right now?’

A strange emotion enveloped Tae-oh, and it soon manifested in his actions—childishly, perhaps.

“Don’t answer calls from unknown numbers.”

Tae-oh’s large hand covered her phone screen. Though she might have been startled by his sudden action, Seol-rin simply nodded and pushed her phone aside.

“Well, it’s true that answering unknown calls these days can lead to unexpected charges.”

“…That’s a bit…”

“What? You don’t believe me? It’s true! Want me to show you an article?”

“I believe you. Let’s just eat.”

“Ugh, you don’t believe me, do you?”

Seol-rin pouted again, and Tae-oh chuckled softly, finding her reaction amusing.

“I believe you, I do. Now let’s eat before it gets cold.”

“…Okay.”

Afraid her reddening face might be noticed, Seol-rin quickly lowered her head and ate the rolled omelet he had placed on her rice. 

Satisfied, Tae-oh also picked up his spoon and began eating.

***

Dressed in a loose-fitting loungewear dress, Seol-rin stood in front of the bathroom mirror, staring at her reflection for a long time. If she had known this would happen, she would have brought prettier pajamas. Regret filled her.

She had been drifting from one place to another for the past few days, so she had packed some underwear and a few clothes separately. However, she had never imagined that one of those places would turn out to be Professor Ma Tae-oh’s house.

Sure, she had drunk herself into oblivion last night, but now that she was fully conscious, the stretched-out pajamas felt nothing but embarrassing.

“Maybe I should just lie down on the bed quickly. I can cover myself with the blanket.”

That was the best idea she could come up with. At least the room Tae-oh had given her had its own bathroom, which was a relief.

Peeking her head out of the door, Seol-rin quickly dashed to the bed. The soft microfiber blanket wrapped around her body felt so cozy that she already felt sleepy.

Knock, knock.

At that moment, a knock sounded, and her heart sank.

“Can I come in for a moment?”

“Oh, y-yes!”

The door opened slowly, and Tae-oh stepped into the room. At that moment, Seol-rin’s mind went blank as if she were a bride on her wedding night. As he took one step, then another closer, she felt her heart race and stammered a question.

“W-what is it…?”

“I thought you might need this.”

What he handed her was none other than a sleep mask. A thoughtful gesture for someone who couldn’t sleep in complete darkness.

Seol-rin bit her lip. The fact that he remembered her fear of the dark was touching and endearing, but it also made her feel a mix of gratitude and embarrassment.

“You… remembered.”

“Of course. How could I forget after all that chaos?”

Tae-oh’s face filled her large, round eyes. His sharp eyes (where the whites of the eyes are visible around the iris) had initially seemed so intimidating, but now they didn’t scare her at all.

One thing was certain: the more she got to know Professor Ma Tae-oh, the more she realized how kind, considerate, and warm he was.

“Or should I leave the living room light on and keep the door open while you sleep?”

When no answer came, Tae-oh asked again. This time, Seol-rin quietly shook her head.

“No.”

“…?”

“Just… I think it’ll be enough if you stay by my side until I fall asleep.”

Really, that was all she needed.

Hearing her words, Tae-oh looked down at her silently. She had such an innocent expression but could suddenly act so provocatively, leaving him momentarily speechless. It was as if language itself ceased to exist.

“…Alright.”

Finally, he sat down on the floor with a thud. Seol-rin quickly waved her hands in protest.

“Uh… no, no! This feels like the roles are reversed…”

It was absurd for her, the guest staying at his house, to be lying in bed while the homeowner sat on the floor.

“You asked me to stay by your side, didn’t you?”

“Well, uh…”

Her eyes darted around as she came up with an alternative.

“Would you like to… come up? To the bed…”