Chapter 5.6

The scent of his cologne mixed with his natural smell invaded her nostrils, throwing her breathing into chaos.  

His hand slipped through her long, loose hair, and she was pushed backward.  

“Sometimes, you make me lose my mind.” 

“…”  

“Where do you think you’re going? If you’ve tempted me, you have to take responsibility.”  

He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer. Adjusting the angle for a deeper kiss, he pressed on, and Moonkyeong instinctively grabbed his shoulders.  

Like parched earth absorbing every drop of rain, he relentlessly explored her mouth.  

“Mm.”  

His kiss was merciless and rough, like a snake slithering into her throat. It felt as though he would swallow her whole, so she deliberately took shallow, broken breaths.  

“Ugh, mm. Mm!”  

Her body, pressed against his, had nowhere else to go and eventually hit the cold wall. The chill behind her contrasted sharply with the heat in front of her.  

His hand slipped under her blouse, touching her bare skin in a way that sent shivers through her. Her chest felt crushed, and his arousal pressed insistently against her.  

Trapped in his hold, Moonkyeong was powerless. Her lips, devoured by his, left her too dazed to think clearly.  

She struggled to push his tongue away, like a magnet repelling another.  

“Managing… Director.”  

“Don’t be so scared.”  

“…”  

“I’ll believe you’re innocent, Seo Moonkyeong. So just let go.”  

His eyes gleamed with desire, as if he lacked the patience to unbutton her blouse one by one.  

“S-stop.”  

Her gaze fell on his disheveled white shirt. His lowered eyes looked at her steadily, and she spoke again with more force.  

“Stop it.”  

“You don’t want this?”  

“No, I don’t.”  

Pushing him away, Moonkyeong fled from Seojun’s villa.  

In the dark night, she ran as fast as she could. The lingering sensation in her lips felt both like the remnants of his touch and an old, buried desire of her own.  

How far had she run? Panting heavily, Moonkyeong stopped in the middle of the road, struggling to catch her breath.  

“Ha, ugh.”  

She was frustrated. She couldn’t name this unclear emotion. Was it the alcohol? Herself? Or was it all because of him?  

She was confused.  

***

Moonkyeong’s ballet career ended beautifully, with critics calling her performance of Giselle the saddest in the world.  

While she was thrilled to no longer need to visit the practice room, the sudden whirlwind of wedding preparations left her overwhelmed.  

She was constantly summoned by Hyeran and Nam Leehyun, and in her spare time, she attended cooking or flower arrangement classes.  

Among all this, Bora’s suggestion came as a surprise.  

“A trip?”  

Bora, who had been selecting bags in the dressing room, nodded vigorously.  

“Yeah, just the two of us. I won’t see you much after you’re married. Is this okay for me to take?”  

“Yeah. Where to?”  

“You decide. I’m fine with anywhere.”  

“Do you think my mom will allow it?”  

“Of course, we’ll go secretly! Don’t tell the professor. Let’s go right before the wedding. It’ll be so exciting! You’re coming, right?”  

Watching her friend hug a bag with a delighted expression, Moonkyeong nodded.  

Two days before the wedding, Moonkyeong used the free time Hyeran had given her for optimal condition management to go on the trip with Bora.  

It took about five hours by bus to get from Seoul to Geoje. Moonkyeong had chosen Geoje Island simply because it was one of the many domestic places she hadn’t visited, it had the sea she loved, and it was far from Seoul.  

Though December and Geoje seemed like an odd combination, the winter sea turned out to be unexpectedly enchanting.  

While unpacking at their hotel, Hyeran called. Moonkyeong answered without hesitation, while Bora nervously paced the room.  

“Hello?”  

– Where are you?  

“At home.”  

– How are you feeling?  

“Fine. I’m watching a movie with a face mask on.”  

– Really? If you’re feeling fine, why don’t you come to Seongbuk-dong for some tea?  

“No. Mom, you must be busy preparing food. Get some rest.”  

– I’m not the one doing it.  

“I’ll have tea with Seojun after the honeymoon.”  

-That sounds good. Alright.  

Toward the end of the call, Bora, who couldn’t resist, leaned in and gave her a thumbs-up.  

“Seo Moonkyeong, wow! You’re such a good liar!”  

Moonkyeong casually pulled clothes from her bag and hung them in the hotel wardrobe.  

“It’s not my first time.”  

“Huh?”  

“Let’s go get lunch. This time, I’m choosing what to eat.”

Bora asked with eyes full of anticipation,  

“What do you want to eat?”  

“Ramen.”  

“Seafood ramen?”  

“No. Plain ramen, with nothing in it.”  

“Hey!”  

Even as Bora shouted that it was ridiculous to eat ramen on a trip, Moonkyeong firmly searched for a nearby snack bar.  

The restaurant they found was shabby, and until the ramen was served, Bora’s face was full of dissatisfaction.  

“Ugh. Seriously!”  

As Bora looked ready to throw a tantrum, Moonkyeong gave her a relaxed smile.  

“You can choose dinner.”  

With that, Moonkyeong handed Bora some cash from her wallet. She couldn’t use her card because a text message would go to Hyeran the moment it was swiped. In truth, she didn’t have much cash left either.  

Hyeran had never given her an excessive allowance. She always provided just the right amount, never too much or too little.  

While Hyeran mostly encouraged her to use cards, she occasionally deposited cash into an account under her name, saying it might be needed. Moonkyeong had diligently saved that cash over time.  

This time, Bora had handled the hotel reservation and payment herself. Knowing that using a card could cause trouble, she had acted accordingly—though it was likely a spur-of-the-moment decision.  

After their meal, the two wandered around the area. The harsh wind made Bora suggest returning to the hotel to warm up, but Moonkyeong insisted on enjoying the walk a little longer.  

“Aren’t you cold? Are you seriously not cold?”  

“It’s winter, so of course it’s cold. But this much is nothing.”  

“Sometimes, you act like an 80-year-old grandma.”  

“Bora, thank you.”  

“For what?”  

“For bringing me here like this.”  

“…”  

“I really don’t want to get married.”  

Leaving Bora frozen in place with a blank expression, Moonkyeong walked alone toward the crashing waves on the beach.  

She stood before the stormy blue sea, watching the clouds gather beyond the distant horizon.  

[Do you hate it?]  

Kim Seojun’s cold question suddenly resurfaced in her mind.  

Since that night when they kissed, Kim Seojun had returned to being distant. When she played the role of Giselle, he had attended the performance with Hyeran, but he hadn’t exchanged unnecessary greetings or spoken to her privately.  

Even on the day her wedding dress was fitted, he used his busy schedule as an excuse not to visit the boutique. Throughout the wedding preparations, the person Moonkyeong had to face repeatedly wasn’t Kim Seojun but Director Nam Leehyun.  

Nam Leehyun was even more meticulous and exhausting than what Hyeran had described.  

Whenever she asked for Moonkyeong’s opinion, she would calmly respond, only to be met with ten or more reasons why her answer was wrong.  

If Moonkyeong later said, “I’m not sure” or “Please choose whatever you think is best,” Nam Leehyun would treat her as someone thoughtless.  

Dealing with either Shin Jueun, who would grab her by the collar in fury, or Nam Leehyun, who nitpicked every little thing, felt suffocating. The thought of having to handle two mothers-in-law at once after marriage was already overwhelming.  

According to Hyeran, Nam Leehyun’s two daughters and sons-in-law also didn’t get along well with Seojun. On top of that, there were the formidable presences of Kim Seouk and Lee Heejin.  

It felt like an insurmountable mountain.  

“Moonkyeong! It’s too cold! Let’s go back!”  

Hearing Bora’s shout, Moonkyeong turned away from the sea with a faint smile.  

Back at the hotel, the two spent time separately before taking a taxi to a restaurant for dinner.  

The dishes at the Japanese restaurant were neat and looked delicious. Bora rested her chin on her hands and proudly said,  

“Moonkyeong, I know you love sushi. I picked this place just for you.”  

“Thanks.”  

“Go ahead, try it.”  

Bora picked up a piece of red snapper sashimi, made from seasonal fish, and placed it on Moonkyeong’s plate.  

The savory, chewy texture of the sashimi was enough to lift her spirits, no matter how many pieces she ate. Bora, picking up a large shrimp from the steamed seafood platter, spoke to Moonkyeong.  

“How is it? Isn’t it nice to get out like this?”  

“Yeah.”  

“Moonkyeong.”  

“Yeah?”  

“Do you remember when we used to carve our names into stones as kids? Sometimes, I miss those days.”  

Moonkyeong simply smiled at Bora’s lie. She knew that out of the two of them, she was the only one who truly missed those times.  

Raising her hand, Moonkyeong ordered a bottle of soju from the restaurant owner. Bora squinted her eyes.  

“You’re drinking soju?”  

“Yeah.”  

“Let’s have cocktails or wine back at the hotel.”  

“You drink that.”  

“Seo Moonkyeong. Why is your taste so—”  

Moonkyeong laughed.  

“Cheap?”  

“What? Yeah.”  

“Do you know how romantic it is to have soju at a street food stall? And then go home and make ramen? It’s the best.”  

“Crazy.”  

Bora shook her head in disbelief.  

Moonkyeong downed her drink in one gulp with practiced ease. The soju, her first in three months, burned as it slid down her throat.  

The bitterness made her forehead crease. She quickly drank another.  

The more she tried not to think about him, the more his face surfaced in her mind, drawing a heavy sigh from her.  

“What’s wrong? Something bothering you?”  

“No, nothing.”  

“Okay. Since we’re on a trip, don’t think about anything! Oh, by the way, my phone died. Can I borrow yours for a bit? I forgot to charge mine.”  

Moonkyeong shook her head firmly.  

“Are you going to make a call? Do it when we’re back at the hotel.”  

“I just remembered something urgent I need to tell my manager.”  

“Even so, you can’t use my phone. Find another way.”  

Moonkyeong was worried that Bora might accidentally call someone and alert Hyeran. She slipped her phone into her pocket.  

***

The next morning, Moonkyeong woke up late. She realized her phone, which she had left by her bedside, was missing. Sitting at the vanity table, Bora hummed a tune as she drew her eyebrows.  

“Where’s my phone?”  

“Why would I know where your phone is?”  

“You didn’t take it?”  

“Nope.”  

Bora continued humming as she turned back to her mirror. Moonkyeong threw off the blanket with a cold expression.  

“You didn’t use it to make a call, did you?”  

“I told you, I didn’t take it!”  

“Fine.”  

She knew they had to head back today, as tomorrow was her wedding day.  

With only an hour left before checkout, Moonkyeong quickly got ready and packed.  

No matter how much she searched the hotel room, her phone was nowhere to be found, leaving her irritated. Running her hand through her still-damp hair, she saw Bora offering her a vitamin drink.  

“Moonkyeong, here.”  

“What’s this?”  

“Drink it.”  

“I’ll have it later.”  

Watching Moonkyeong closely, Bora nodded and grabbed her suitcase handle.  

“Fine. But since the bus ride will be long, make sure you drink it. I’ll wait downstairs.”  

“Okay.”  

In the lobby, Bora checked her watch. When Moonkyeong didn’t come down, she returned to the hotel room to check on her.  

If Moonkyeong had drunk the vitamin drink as planned, she should have been asleep by now, unable to wake easily.  

The doctor had said the effects would last at least six hours. Even if she woke early, it wouldn’t be before 6 p.m.

With a full six hours gained, she now had the time to think carefully about what to do next. Even if Moonkyeong hadn’t drunk the vitamin drink, she could always make her drink the coffee she had prepared right before boarding the bus. There were still plenty of options.  

The best plan, of course, was to inflict a deep wound on Moonkyeong’s sleeping face. She imagined the new bride being rushed to the emergency room, needing stitches, and being unable to attend tomorrow’s wedding.  

The idea of Seo Moonkyeong marrying Kim Seojun was something Bora found more unbearable than death, even if it meant their relationship could never be repaired again.  

She fiddled with the phone she had stolen from Moonkyeong earlier. Turning it off wasn’t enough—she even removed the battery completely. Without a shred of guilt, she slipped the dismantled phone into her pocket.  

As she tapped the card key against the hotel door, Bora smirked to herself.  

“You didn’t want this marriage anyway, so I’m helping you. Don’t resent me for it.”  

The moment the door opened, she spotted the vitamin drink she had handed over earlier, along with its cap lying open on the vanity table.  

Bora’s lips curled upward. Leaving her suitcase outside the door, she hurried inside to check on Moonkyeong’s condition.  

Sitting at the edge of the bed, Moonkyeong was staring blankly at her.