CHAPTER 13 – Rice Cake Soup (Part 2)

I don’t like this.

Seo-yeon thought as she pressed the doorbell and waited. This waiting time of less than a minute, this anxious feeling until the door opened, this darn vast villa complex, and Hwang Dojun who annoyingly tires people out on a holiday afternoon.

God, I hate this.

“Come in.”

The door opened, revealing Dojun’s face. When their eyes met, he gave a slight smile, which only exacerbated her disbelief. With his neat face and casual attire, he embodied the typical upper-class man spending his holiday leisurely. 

Yes, now I know what I hate the most.

“I apologize for the intrusion.”

I hate being obliged to smile at you. 

Seo-yeon thought firmly while smiling politely.

“You’re here sooner than I expected.”

“The traffic wasn’t too bad.”

As they entered the living room, Dojun went back behind the island and asked.

“Would you like a drink?”

“Uh, no. I’ve had my coffee. I’ll go straight to the dressing room.”

She didn’t bother to tell him the truth, though she had only brought a coffee-flavored candy instead of coffee due to coming directly here. She had absolutely no desire to engage in small talk while sitting and drinking coffee. It would be better to get to work as soon as possible and head home.

“Sure.”

Dojun said, taking a mug from the shelf. Seo-yeon headed towards the master bedroom. As she passed, she saw papers strewn across the living room table and a laptop open.

Seo-yeon pushed open the slightly ajar door of the master bedroom. It looked impeccably organized as if no one had been in there, with pillows neatly arranged and sheets spread out without a single wrinkle, just like it was on Friday.

Looks like he stayed out overnight.

She thought absentmindedly, shaking her head. 

What’s that got to do with me anyway? 

Passing through the corridor in front of the bathroom, she opened the door to the dressing room. It was still in the same tidy state as when it was last Friday, except for the suits she had hung, which were slightly disarranged.

He probably said they weren’t as good as expected and messed them up easily. On the right side of the hanger, she spotted a set of New Year’s Eve suits. She sighed as she looked at the New Year’s Eve tags on the hangers.

A three-piece dark gray wool suit and a shirt with a very faint blue tint. A patterned brown tie. A black cashmere coat. Watch and shoes. Cufflinks.

She imagined Dojun wearing it. His bright eyes and the curve of his lips. Wavy hair with thick strands. A thick build and a tall stature like a model. Masculine and glamorous at the same time, it would literally be a perfect fit for Dojun.

What is it that he doesn’t like?

Seo-yeon turned around. The open closet, neatly arranged by type, season, and color, resembled a store.

She picked out coats, suits, and shirts and hung them on one side. She tried matching them and put back the ones she didn’t like back. After a few iterations, she had a complete outfit, hung it on a hanger, and headed into the living room.

“CEO Hwang.”

Exiting the master bedroom and calling for Dojun, who was sitting on the sofa looking at documents, Dojun lifted his head.

“I’ve set up something new, could you take a look?”

“Sure.”

Dojun put down the documents and stood up. He walked past where Seo-yeon was standing and into the dressing room. Seo-yeon followed.

“The newly set clothes are over here.”

Dojun stood in front of the hanger. He tapped the hanger with his index finger, tic, tic, and then looked back at Seo-yeon.

Is this the best you can do? His expression did the talking.

“You don’t like it?”

“I liked the last one better.”

Not that he particularly liked that either. Leaving words behind that she wasn’t sure if it was a soliloquy or meant for Seo-yeon to hear, Dojun briskly left the dressing room.

God, I hate this.

Seo-yeon clenched her fist tightly, biting her lip as she stripped off the newly arranged clothes, hanging them back up and then removing them again. Her insides churned with frustration.

You just enjoy bullying people, don’t you, you psychopath? Who would’ve known you’d act like this just because I didn’t give you some files? That little kiss…

Seo-yeon’s movement of removing the shirt from the hanger halted. That night. Humidity and rain. Moans and reddened eyes. Memories she had tried to bury as if they never happened suddenly burst forth.

She squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head.

Don’t think about it. Don’t think about that night.

“Don’t do that.”

The sudden voice made Seo-yeon jump and turn around. Dojun, leaning in the doorway, looked at her with a questioning expression.

“Are you startled?”

“No.”

“It seems like you were cursing me.”

“No, that’s not it.”

Her heart thumped. She couldn’t help but feel her face heat up after looking both surprised and embarrassed. Seo-yeon asked Dojun, hoping to sound as calm as possible.

“Do you have something else to say?”

“I’m wondering when this will end at this rate.”

Dojun crossed his arms and jerked his chin toward the hanger.

“Will it be over quickly if we do it together?”

So, he intended to stay here and oversee the process of choosing clothes and offer his input. What sin did I commit in my past life to deserve this meddling in her wardrobe choices? 

Despite the overwhelming sense of dread, work was work, and the customer was the customer. Seo-yeon had only one answer she could give.

“Yes, I understand.”

First, she had to finish organizing the clothes she had set aside. She hugged the rejected clothes in her arms, still in their hangers. Shirts in the shirt section, ties on the tie hanger, and jackets in their place. As for the coat…

Holding up the coat that needed to be hung up high, Seo-yeon tiptoed. It seemed she couldn’t quite reach, so she tried again to stand on her toes when a hand suddenly reached out from behind. The hanger slipped out of her hand and snapped into place.

“Ah……. Thank you.”

As she turned to say thanks, Dojun was right behind her. Their eyes met, and Seo-yeon inadvertently froze. Dojun smirked. His brown eyes stared directly into hers.

Her lips tingled as if wanting to say something. Time passed without either of them saying a word. 1 second. 2 seconds. 3 seconds. And more.

“So…….”

Don’t look at me like that. Seo-yeon wanted to say that. 

Don’t look at me with those eyes that make me tingle all the way to my toes.

That’s what she wanted to say.

Dojun’s hand gripped Seo-yeon’s cheek. In his slightly lowered eyes, there was a faint hint of laughter. His warm lips touched hers, and soon Seo-yeon’s lower lip was drawn into Dojun’s.

Dojun’s lips were warm and soft.

Seo-yeon closed her eyes.