Chapter 27

As soon as Hyeseong finished speaking, his body was abruptly pulled away from Haji.

“In a hurry, aren’t you…? Haha.”

Hyeseong showed an awkward smile while Seojin held his shoulder. In contrast, Seojin’s expression remained cold.

“Lee Hyeseong, shouldn’t you be heading over there?”

“Yes, yes, I was just about to.”

Seojin, who had never spoken to Hyeseong before, called his name in a low, warning tone. Realizing it wouldn’t be wise to provoke him further, Hyeseong quickly backed down.

“Haji, I’ll be going now.”

“What? Oh…”

The situation had escalated so quickly that Haji couldn’t finish her sentence, only watching Hyeseong and Sehee’s retreating figures.

I think Hyeseong might be misunderstanding something.

“I told you to wait, but I guess you weren’t waiting for me?”

“W-what do you mean?”

Haji stammered. Despite his words sounding like a complaint, his expression was quite scary.

Even though he wasn’t frowning, it was clear he was angry. Maybe it was because his gaze on her had deepened.

“Never mind. I guess I was the only one expecting something.”

Seojin abruptly turned around and walked out of the café. Seeing him leave, Haji quickly took off her apron.

“Sunbae!”

Grabbing her belongings and the juice she had made for Seojin, Haji hurried after him.

“Let’s go together! We said we’d go together.”

Why is he angry?

Haji was bewildered, not understanding why he was angry. He only gave vague answers to her questions.

“Let’s go together, I—ah!”

Seojin, who had been walking ahead with long strides, suddenly stopped. As Haji tried to slow down her pace, she ended up bumping her forehead into Seojin’s chest when he turned around.

“Ouch…”

The solid chest made her head throb. When Haji looked up, she saw Seojin’s indifferent expression.

“What are you doing, stopping so suddenly? Didn’t you know I was following you?”

“I knew.”

“Then why…?”

Seojin dropped his head onto Haji’s shoulder. Her shoulders twitched in surprise but soon relaxed at the familiar peppermint scent.

“What’s wrong?”

“Who knows?”

“Did I do something wrong?”

“Not really…”

Seeing Seojin’s unusual demeanor, Haji felt guilty. It seemed like it was because of her.

“It’s not your fault. I just…”

Seojin, murmuring softly, paused and took a small breath as if trying to calm himself.

“It’s just my lack of patience.”

“Does that patience have anything to do with me?”

“What do you think?”

Seojin’s hair brushed against Haji’s shoulder as he looked up.

In the dark company lobby, the man and woman stood close enough to touch.

“What if I told you I’m like this because of you?”

“If you tell me the reason…….”

“Would that be okay?”

“What?”

Seojin’s eyes shone brightly, as if piercing through her.

And as if drawn by those eyes, Haji held her breath. Even though she didn’t fully understand his words, she knew what would happen next.

Haji’s eyes slowly closed.

In the darkness between them, light slipped away. The light between their lips quickly disappeared.

“Mm.”

For the first time, she felt someone’s lips on hers. Even though she closed her eyes as if giving permission, the sensation was unfamiliar, and she clenched her fists.

As if sensing this, Seojin’s lips gently nibbled and pulled, repeating the motion. As if to get her used to his lips.

His soft lips brushed against hers, easing the tension in her body.

The peppermint scent from his lips felt refreshingly cool, contrasting with the heat bubbling inside her, making her cling to him even more.

As if waiting for this, he sucked deeply. The soft sensation gathered in one place. The sweet mint scent was intoxicating.

“Ha, you…”

Seojin, exhaling a shallow breath, scanned Haji’s face with reddened eyes. The woman who pulled him in without knowing what would happen next.

“… What?”

“You’re killing me, Haji.”

You’re suffocating me.

Seojin’s eyes deepened as he looked at Haji. Her dazed eyes and the way she licked her lips as if something was missing drove him crazy.

Seojin rubbed his face with his hands and turned his head. He knew better than anyone what he wanted to do right now.

If he acted impulsively, he might not be able to fix things later. He wanted to approach her slowly, but the urge to rush was overwhelming.

Rather than causing unnecessary confusion and pushing her away, he wanted to make her come closer first. When that time came, he wouldn’t let her go.

“Sunbae…?”

“Is that for me?”

“Oh, the juice. Yes, I made it for you.”

The juice, made with ice and blended, was melting from the heat of Haji’s hands.

Seojin took it, removed the straw, and poured it into his mouth as if he needed any kind of coldness.

“It must be cold…”

Haji watched in surprise, her mouth agape, as the drink disappeared from the transparent cup.

***

In the elevator, neither of them spoke, staring straight ahead.

Haji glanced at the floor number, pretending to check it while looking at Seojin’s face in the reflection.

He looks the same as usual.

The man who had seemed ready to devour her in the lobby had returned to his usual self after gulping down a juice. His expressionless face gave nothing away.

I didn’t cast a spell or anything. How can he be like this?

Feeling disappointed, Haji pressed her lower lip. It wasn’t just her who had kissed, but it felt like only her heart was racing.

“That’s unfair…”

Her inner thoughts slipped out.

She knew Seojin’s gaze was on her, but she pretended not to notice.

The elevator, which had been rising from the basement, stopped at the first floor.

“Oh my, Haji? Are you getting off work with your husband?”

“Hello. Ah…….”

Haji, greeting the neighbor’s kid’s mom who got on the elevator, glanced at Seojin.

“My husband…”

He’s not.

“What? What did you say?”

“Nothing. Are you heading home now?”

When the neighbor’s kid’s mom asked again, Haji shook her head and changed the subject. Only Seojin heard her mumbling.

“But you two seem a bit awkward today?”

The neighbor, standing between the two who were standing far apart, laughed softly, sensing the awkward atmosphere.

“What?”

“Did you have a fight? Newlyweds often do. Make up quickly. You don’t have time to waste on fighting.”

At the words “affectionate,” Haji’s face turned as red as a beet.

“Oh my? Haji, why is your face like that? Are you embarrassed? Even though you do all the couple stuff. So innocent.”

“Cough, it’s not like that…….”

Seeing Haji’s face turn red up to her neck at the mention of couple stuff, the neighbor covered her mouth and widened her eyes, finding it cute, and lightly tapped Haji’s arm.

“Haji, you must be very charming to have such a kind and affectionate husband, right?”

The neighbor, who had been complimenting Haji, naturally sought Seojin’s agreement. Seojin, seeing Haji’s flustered state, gave a small nod.

The neighbor laughed and got off the elevator.

“This couple is both quite shy, huh? Oh, by the way, Haji, I mentioned it before, but thanks for playing with my son.”

“Yes.”

“Haji, when you have kids, I bet their dad will be great at playing with them.”

Leaving behind bombshell comments, the neighbor smiled and entered her home.

“Cough, cough.”

Feeling awkward, Haji cleared her throat and tapped the door lock.

She planned to wash away the heat in her body as soon as she got inside. Unless he called her.

“Haji.”

At Seojin’s call, Haji turned slightly. She didn’t want to show her face, which she couldn’t control.

The neighbor’s words about being affectionate, marital relations, and kids kept running through her mind.

At the same time, the recent kiss replayed in her mind, making her lips burn and her heart race.

“Are you going to sleep right away?”

“Sleep…?”

What kind of question is that?

Does he know what’s going through my mind right now?

She almost blurted out her thoughts but swallowed them down.

“Do you want some Shine Muscat?”

(T/N: Shine Muscat Grapes are big, green, seedless grapes. )

“Huh, what?”

“I’ll wash them. Change your clothes and come out.”

“No, that’s not it.”

At the mention of fruit, she unconsciously answered positively. She thought she had refused, but Seojin pretended not to notice.

Haji pouted as she watched Seojin quickly head to the kitchen like he was escaping.

“What is he thinking?”

Making her heart so confused and then trying to woo her with Shine Muscat.

It was really unfair.

You’re unfair Ki Seojin.