CHAPTER 30 – Necklace (Part 3)

The moment that truly soured his mood was when Yoon Seoyeon graciously accepted the necklace with a smile. Seeing her lifeless expression, Dojun let out a hollow laugh at his own arrogance.

Refusal is only possible when one’s feelings are hurt. But Seoyeon’s attitude now was that she didn’t need to waste unnecessary emotions on someone she was going to end things with anyway.

It seems she intends to collect and neatly pack away any remaining feelings.

Unsure how to express this frustrating sentiment, Dojun turned his gaze out the window. A bitter taste welled up in his throat.

So she’s just waiting for the end with a smile. And she didn’t even intend to let me know about Lee Sehyun.

Narrowing his eyes as he looked at the outdoor lights, Dojun shifted his gaze to Seoyeon, who was calmly eating her meal.

“If you’re grateful, you can buy me some chocolate on the way out.”

Seoyeon nodded in acknowledgment.

“I will.”

I’ll buy you as much as you want. It doesn’t mean anything. I could buy you a truckload. Chocolates without any meaning behind them, as many as you like.

Hearing those words, Dojun swallowed another bitter mouthful. 

This was just ridiculous. If she doesn’t want to buy the chocolates, he feels bad, and if she does buy them, he still feels bad.

The main course of steak arrived, accompanied by a red wine. Silky pureed spinach sauce and buttery mashed potatoes were arranged under the steak.

“Eat up. Don’t say you’re tired later.”

“Okay.”

Seoyeon picked up the steak with her fork, the blood juices dripping. After a brief glance, she brought it to her mouth without any sign of dislike. One would think she regularly ate undercooked steak, so smooth was her expression.

“Shall I have them cook it a little more?”

“No, it’s fine.”

Dojun’s throat felt parched again.

Then he laughed.

He realized why he had chosen this place, why he had bought the gift, why he had specifically picked the steak.

He had thought he wanted to see Seoyeon’s flustered expression. He had wanted to see her face twist in discomfort and displeasure, and unable to hide her distaste. He had thought that was all there was to it.

But no, it wasn’t.

He had hoped she would frown when presented with the rare steak. Oh, how he had wanted to hear that sound one more time. He had hoped she would pout and complain, like when he had served her the grilled eel.

Then he could pretend to be generous and offer to have it cooked more, pushing the fork into her mouth himself. He wanted to watch her chew with a sullen expression, so he could laugh. He had wanted to say he would buy her favorite soft tofu or bean sprout rice next time.

He had hoped she would express discomfort at this open, couples-filled space, and say it was too blatantly a place for lovers. Then he could suggest they go somewhere more private, just the two of them.

He wanted her to say the necklace wasn’t to her liking, and he would gladly refund it and buy her some simple chocolates on the way instead. That would be enough for him, as long as she was smiling.

Swallowing the bitter welling up in his throat, Dojun gave a wry smile and said to Seoyeon,

“I’m glad it suits your taste.”

Seoyeon smiled softly. That smile of hers has been grating on him for a while now. The way she neatly crinkles her eyes and lifts the corners of her mouth. That slick, slippery smile that seemed to slip through his fingers no matter how tightly he grasped, it twisted his insides painfully.

Finally, rich coffee and coffee-flavored cookies were placed in front of them. As Dojun lifted the coffee cup, he said,

“Let’s go to your place tonight.”

Seoyeon’s eyes widened at Dojun’s words. She seemed puzzled as to why he suddenly wanted to go to her place. Taking a sip of the coffee, Dojun spoke.

“Just… I want to try a different place for once.”

Joking in that tone, Dojun then smiled, lifting the corners of his mouth.

“Come to think of it, you were the only one who came and went every time. It’s not fair.”

“No, that was more comfortable for me.”

Dojun let out a brief laugh. He recalled the sight of Seoyeon dragging her exhausted body back home late at night. How uncomfortable she must have felt staying at his place for it to be more comfortable for her.

“Is there a reason I can’t go to your place?”

Seoyeon looked at Dojun for a moment, then smiled and replied,

“No, there’s no reason.”

“Shall we get going then?”

While the food and wine had been consumed, by the glass count, they had each had more than six glasses of wine. Seoyeon’s face was flushed as she stood up, and Dojun’s eyes were also reddened.

The chauffeur called by the restaurant took the driver’s seat. Dojun and Seoyeon sat side by side in the backseat. The driver entered Seoyeon’s apartment address into the navigation and gently pulled out.

Dojun turned his head to look at Seoyeon. With her long hair neatly tied up, small pearl earrings clinging to her plump earlobes, and a beige coat over an ivory wool dress, she looked like a magnolia blossom to Dojun.

The delicate cream color, the tender skin that bruises easily, the way she blooms alone in early spring, dazzling the eyes, and then drops her petals without a trace – Seoyeon beside him embodied all of those qualities.

He chuckled. He was no perverted magnolia-lover, nor was he simply drunk from six glasses of wine that made his eyes ache.

It was Yoon Seoyeon sitting properly beside him, her soft skin that made him want to bury his face in, her sweet-smelling breath, her pillowy lips that he could never tire of sucking on – she inflamed Dojun’s blood.

Dojun suddenly reached out and touched Seoyeon’s ear. Startled, Seoyeon turned to look at him. Maintaining eye contact, Dojun rubbed Seoyeon’s reddened ear between his thumb and forefinger.

As he continued stroking without letting go, Seoyeon turned her head, but he didn’t stop. Feeling the warmth in her ear, Seoyeon spoke in a small voice,

“We’re almost there.”

“I know.”

He languidly continued caressing her ear. Seoyeon’s face was flushing deeper. When he brushed his knuckles against her cheek, she flinched and looked up, saying,

“CEO”

“Just stay still.”

Refraining from pulling her into his lap, Dojun cupped Seoyeon’s face with one hand. Tracing her reddened lips with his thumb, she said, 

“CEO.”

She probably wants to remind him about the driver. Dojun smiled wryly and slipped his thumb between Seoyeon’s parted lips. Nudging her upper lip and then her lower lip, her face turned a deep red.

“Stop…”

“What?”

Dojun pressed down on Seoyeon’s lower lip with his thumb. 

What do you want me to stop? You should be grateful I’m not doing anything worse.

Inside her parted lips, he could see bright red mucous membranes.  The damp, slightly salty flesh that never quenched his thirst no matter how much he sucked and nibbled. The tender, soft insides of Yoon Seoyeon that he had the urge to crush.

He slipped his index finger into the moist membrane. Seoyeon’s face stiffened. Biting down on his finger, Dojun chuckled.

“I’m sorry, I must be drunk.”

He nonchalantly withdrew his finger, wiping it on his suit. Smiling softly as if it were a genuine mistake, the tension in Seoyeon’s eyes wavered. Dojun let out a deep sigh and looked ahead again.

Silence filled the car as they passed a few traffic lights. Soon, Seoyeon’s apartment building came into view on the side of the road. The driver parked the car in the lot and announced their arrival.

“We’ve arrived.”

Dojun handed the driver a few banknotes.

“Thank you for your hard work. You can go first.”

The driver obediently closed the car door and left. Silence returned to the car once more. As if sensing this night would not be an easy one, Seoyeon hesitated to open the door. 

Dojun waited patiently. Finally, Seoyeon spoke up, as if she had made a decision.

“Let’s go up.”