Chapter 1.8

“By the way, isn’t it strange?” 

“What is?” 

“Why are you just watching? The guy you’re supposed to be engaged to is over there, kissing another woman.” 

The man, who always appeared at the worst possible moments, never failed to ask questions that put Seo-hwa in a difficult spot. 

And it was always the questions she was most sensitive about. He knew how to push her buttons. 

“…I don’t have to answer that, do I?” 

“True, you don’t have to answer.” 

“…” 

“But I still want to know.” 

The man’s demeanor was so different from the boy locked in the attic that Seo-hwa wondered if she had misremembered him entirely. 

The boy who had once stared at her with empty eyes now teased her lightly, throwing out playful remarks with a mischievous gaze. 

Just enough to be annoying, but not enough to cross the line. 

Back then, he hadn’t even answered her questions—he had only stared blankly at her. 

“Maybe because I want to get closer to you.”  

What could she say? He seemed so sly now. 

The reason the man kept talking to her was probably because he remembered their connection from long ago. Perhaps he would continue pretending to be friendly until she finally recognized him. 

Truthfully, it would be a lie to say she wasn’t curious. What exactly had been going on with him back then? What had happened to him after he escaped that day? 

But she didn’t feel the need to use their past as a foundation for building a bond, so she kept her mouth shut. 

If the topic of conversation included memories from that day, she feared the feelings she had finally dulled would begin to ache again. She didn’t want to dig up painful memories and reopen old wounds. 

“I don’t want to get closer to you.” 

She hoped that the man would stop approaching her. 

Just seeing his face brought back memories of long ago, flooding her mind without warning. 

“You’re only cold to me, Seo-hwa.” 

Perhaps her feelings had seeped into her voice because the man raised one eyebrow in mock disappointment. 

“…I’ve always had a bad personality.” 

“Bad? You’re ridiculously gentle.” 

“Gentle? Me?” 

“You find me annoying, but you can’t even tell me to go away.” 

The man seemed to have already figured out that Seo-hwa didn’t welcome him. Unlike her flustered reaction, he was smiling brightly as he spoke. 

“Wait, how do you know my name?” 

“How could I not? Seo Young-hoon talks about you all the time.” 

“Seo Young-hoon? About me? What does he say?” 

“Who knows? Are you curious?” 

She hesitated for a moment before nodding. 

She needed to know what Seo Young-hoon was saying about her so she could prepare for whatever situation might arise. 

“I think you’ll start bawling again if I tell you.” 

The memory of holding onto the handkerchief the man had given her and crying her eyes out at Seo Young-hoon’s birthday party flashed through her mind. 

It felt embarrassing now. What had made her so upset back then? She had cried alone for ages, her voice breaking as if everything she had been holding back had finally erupted. 

“I didn’t cry.” 

“Sure.” 

“…I really didn’t. I wouldn’t cry over something like that.” 

“Really? You’re so brave.” 

The man spoke softly, like he was dealing with a child. 

The curve of his lips made it clear he was enjoying this conversation. 

“Anyway, I was just really emotional that day because I drank too much. Forget about it.” 

She had been too emotional that day. She had revealed things she wanted to hide, snapped at someone for the first time, and cried outside instead of in her room. 

She wanted to forget the version of herself from that day. 

“So, can you tell me what Seo Young-hoon has been saying about me?” 

“Not for free.” 

“What do you want, then?” 

“Hmm, what should I ask for first?” 

For a moment, a mischievous spark flickered in his eyes. 

“…Never mind. I won’t ask. I’ll just ask Seo Young-hoon directly.” 

Noticing the playful look on the man’s face, Seo-hwa quickly shook her head. She didn’t want to get caught up in his teasing again. 

“You trust Seo Young-hoon’s words but not mine?” 

“…” 

“You’re terrible at judging men.” 

“By the way, why aren’t you leaving? Stop worrying about me and just go.” 

Feeling awkward about standing at the door like she was waiting for something, Seo-hwa wished the man would leave quickly. 

But instead, he leaned against the wall beside her, acting as if he had business there too, and asked her back, 

“Why aren’t you going in?” 

“…How can I go in when that’s happening? I’ll just wait until they’re done and make an appearance before leaving.” 

She found her own words ridiculous. 

It was like admitting she was a toy for Seo Young-hoon, but she didn’t bother hiding it. 

The man had probably already figured out the nature of her relationship with Seo Young-hoon anyway. 

“Then I guess we’ll wait together.” 

“What?” 

“I have to wait here too. He asked me to drive for him.” 

Seo-hwa squinted at the man, who was smiling faintly. 

Recently, wherever Seo Young-hoon summoned her, this man was always there. 

He didn’t seem like Seo Young-hoon’s friend, nor did he appear to be someone trying to curry favor by voluntarily serving him. 

‘What was their relationship, then?’

The man seemed to follow Seo Young-hoon around, handling various errands and cleaning up after him, yet there wasn’t a hint of humiliation on his face. 

Though he was being used by Seo Young-hoon just like her, the man didn’t look pitiful. 

That was strange. 

How could he always smile like that? 

The boy who used to stare blankly at the air with a gloomy expression… 

She had been staring at the man’s curved lips without realizing it when he spoke again. 

“You said you weren’t interested in my lips, didn’t you?” 

“What?” 

“Then why are you staring?” 

“When did I ever stare…” 

“If you change your mind, let me know. I’ll lend them to you anytime.” 

Seo-hwa frowned and quickly turned her gaze away. 

How could he say something so embarrassing so casually? 

In the end, the embarrassment was hers alone. 

She waved her hands dismissively, strongly denying his words. 

“That’s not what I meant…” 

“Then what did you mean?” 

“I just think it’s strange that you’re always smiling. What’s so great about running errands for Seo Young-hoon?” 

Every time they met, the man’s expression was always the same—calm and carefree. 

Despite being at Seo Young-hoon’s beck and call, his face showed no trace of humiliation. 

Instead, it carried a playful, innocent smile and eyes filled with curiosity. 

Seo-hwa found these traits fascinating. 

“It’s because you’re here, Seo-hwa. Didn’t you know?”  

The man tilted his head and let out a short laugh as he looked down at her. The moment their eyes met, Seo-hwa instinctively held her breath again. 

Noticing how Seo-hwa flinched every time he called her name affectionately, the man began addressing her as though they were close friends. 

Every time her name rolled softly off his lips, Seo-hwa felt a peculiar discomfort. 

Her name, flowing so tenderly, felt awkward enough to give her goosebumps. 

“You’re doing it on purpose, aren’t you?” 

“What?” 

“Putting so much effort into saying my name.” 

“Oh, is that how it sounds?” 

“Yes.” 

“You heard it well.” 

“…Excuse me?” 

“Your name is pretty. Woo Seo-hwa.” 

The man nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders and called her name softly once more. 

She didn’t know why those three syllables, accompanied by his faint smile, felt so ticklish. 

Seo-hwa rubbed her arm where goosebumps had risen and glared at him. 

“…Stop playing weird tricks. They don’t work on me.” 

“So, you know they’re tricks?” 

“…” 

“You seemed oblivious, so I thought you didn’t notice.” 

Contrary to the heavy impression he had left during their first meeting, the man’s words and actions were remarkably lighthearted—almost too much so. 

But only when he was in front of Seo-hwa. 

When speaking with Seo Young-hoon, his expression became dry and devoid of humor. 

Yet with her, he acted like a cheerful boy, teasing her playfully. 

“Well, it’s worth it.” 

“…” 

“At first, you barely talked to me. Now you’re even asking me questions.” 

“That’s because you keep bothering me.” 

“So, if I bother you more, does that mean we’ll get closer?” 

“…What’s the point of getting closer to me?” 

“Hmm, where should we start? How far can we go?” 

“Do you enjoy teasing me?” 

“Yeah, it’s fun.” 

Whenever their childish exchanges continued, Seo-hwa was always the one left speechless.