Chapter 9

Haji’s eyes widened at the suddenly close proximity. Facing Seojin’s clear eyes, his lips curved into a smile.

“Aren’t you too relaxed?”

She couldn’t say that she was more tense than anyone. Her lips had stiffened from the tension.

A warning red light flashed from the top of her head.

Gulp. The swallow of the strawberry made her throat bob noticeably. With a faint laugh, Seojin slowly straightened his posture.

As he moved away, Haji’s head also lifted slowly. Though his gaze and posture were arrogant, it was hard to look away from his mesmerizing eyes.

“Seems like you were nervous.”

Seojin’s lips, tilted in a smile, held satisfaction. His hand slowly approached Haji’s face. Specifically, her lips.

His fingers wiped off the white whipped cream, then moved to his own mouth.

Haji’s face flushed as she watched the whipped cream disappear into Seojin’s mouth. The unexpected skinship made her lips feel hot.

“Tastes good.”

His curved eyes were dangerously affecting her heart.

***

“What should we do about the land sale?”

Tap, tap, tap. Despite the question directed at him, Seojin, who had been lost in thought, continued the meeting as if nothing had happened.

“Sir?”

“The price will drop by next week. Let’s discuss it again in the next meeting.”

Seojin answered nonchalantly to the voice calling him, continuing the meeting as if he had never been distracted.

“Yes, understood.”

As the meeting ended and the staff filed out of the conference room, a man who had participated whistled and approached Seojin.

“What’s up?”

“What?”

“What’s the big deal that had Ki Seojin thinking about something else during the meeting? It must be something huge, right?”

Matthew’s playful tone showed his interest piqued by Seojin’s unusual behavior. Despite having spent several years together abroad, it was the first time Matthew had seen Ki Seojin lose focus in any situation.

“Not really.”

“If I tell Nick in Jeju about this, he’ll fly over in surprise.”

“Stop talking nonsense.”

When Matthew mentioned Nick, who had recently gone to start a resort business in Jeju, Seojin became serious. He thought that if Matthew really did tell him, Nick, as impulsive as he was, might indeed fly over.

“What’s going on? Come on, tell me.”

“Nothing’s going on.”

Despite Seojin’s usual indifferent expression, Matthew kept pestering him. After all, Seojin had always driven himself hard every day since they met in the U.S. six years ago.

Unable to tolerate even small mistakes, Seojin had completed a six-year undergraduate course in four years. As if it were his goal, he had turned down various offers from professors and major companies before recently flying back to Korea.

Even if others didn’t know, Matthew, who had witnessed Seojin’s tenacity, knew that he was a genius who had achieved his current success through effort.

For him to be thinking about something else during a meeting was indeed a big deal.

“If it’s about a girl, I’m good with that stuff, you know?”

“…Forget it.”

Oh my god. A girl problem for Ki Seojin?

Normally, Seojin would have flatly rejected such a question. Matthew had just thrown it out there without expecting anything, but he definitely noticed Seojin hesitating.

It was odd for him to be handling work outside despite setting up an office upon returning to Korea, but if it was all because of a girl, it made sense. He used to treat women like stones.

“Congratulations. You finally got to know a girl?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I was worried you might like the same s*x. I like girls, you know.”

Matthew dramatically clutched his muscular chest in relief. Having spent several years with Seojin, he had seen numerous women try to seduce him but had never seen him give in. It was natural to question his preferences.

“Stop talking nonsense. What about that building I told you to sell?”

“It’s in progress. It seems the owner didn’t want to sell, but it should be ours soon.”

“Get it done quickly.”

Get it done quickly. These weren’t words Seojin often used. He was always meticulous, investigating thoroughly before seizing the best opportunity.

“But why are we trying to buy this building? I wasn’t going to ask, but this one’s puzzling. It’s unrelated to our current projects, and the price has hit its peak.”

“Yes, it’s unrelated to our current projects and overpriced. For now.”

“So it will be necessary later?”

“It will be soon. So hurry up with it.”

“Well, if you say so, boss.”

Matthew saluted with a grin. He knew Seojin never made a bad deal. He was too smart for that.

***

After lunch, Haji, having taken some time to visit the real estate office, frowned deeply at the agent.

“What do you mean?”

“I’m sorry. But there’s nothing I can do. Suddenly the landlord changed, what can I do?”

They were at the stage where only the final payment was left after the contract was signed. But when she contacted them to make the payment, she was suddenly told the contract might have to be canceled.

The real estate agent, who looked aggrieved, explained as Haji urgently came to see him.

“The new owner wants to tear down the building and rebuild, so what can we do?”

“Then what about my home?”

“Since the payment hasn’t been completed, the contract isn’t finalized. You’ll have to cancel it and find another place.”

“Find another place? With just two days left to move, is that possible?”

“There are a few places available.”

The sudden notice disrupted her plans, making her head ache. Who would have expected such a thing with the move so imminent?

“Can I move in right away?”

“Not immediately….”

The agent, who had said there were places available, trailed off. He seemed to realize just now that she was supposed to move in two days.

“I’ll look for places you can move into quickly. Can you come by in the evening?”

“…Alright.”

Haji reluctantly agreed, having no other options. Even if she checked with other real estate offices, time was still an issue.

***

Late in the evening, a tired, dragging sound of footsteps echoed through the quiet street. After asking Sehee to close the café early, Haji had spent the day looking for a new place but found nothing suitable.

“What should I do…”

Kicking at the ground, Haji muttered to herself, unable to believe there was no home for her among all these houses.

“Where have you been?”

Her head, about to droop, lifted at the familiar voice. Standing in front of her house was Seojin.

“Oh, Sunbae….”

“Are you okay?”

Haji looked at Seojin and sank to the ground. Seeing him made the exhaustion of the day hit her all at once.

“Today was really tough.”

The effort she put into raising the corners of her mouth hinted at her hard day.

“Have you eaten?”

“No time…….”

“Get up.”

Before Haji could finish speaking slowly, Seojin reached out his hand. She wondered that perhaps it was delusion that he appeared like a lifeline at that moment.

Seojin led her to a nearby BBQ restaurant not far from Haji’s house. She had been here once before with Seonghee, so she chose the menu with familiarity.

As the meat sizzled on the grill, Haji’s grumbling stomach made its displeasure known.

“Eat slowly.”

As if aware of her hunger, Seojin slowly moved the cooked meat from the grill.

“I haven’t had a single meal today.”

I might eat a lot.

She swallowed her words with the meat. After spending a busy morning at the café, visiting the real estate office, and then back to the café, she had not eaten anything in between.

“One cola, please.”

Seeing Haji devouring the meat with a vengeance, Seojin ordered a cola and scanned her face. Her face, already weary, now had an added layer of worry.

“Alcohol, too?”

“No, I can’t. After what happened last time, I have some shame. Cola is enough.”

Her firm refusal indicated that the previous incident had been quite shocking for her as well. Haji, who had been continuously eating meat, soon finished the last piece and smiled contentedly.

Seeing her face, which had looked gloomy before entering the BBQ restaurant, now brightened, Seojin looked at her incredulously.

“Shall we go now? I’m too full to sit here any longer.”

“…… Yeah.”

Expecting her to talk about her day was his arrogance.

Seojin’s impatience, knowing it was hard to get close to Haji, might have been acting up. As they stepped outside, the cool evening breeze brushed past them. The shadows of the two walking side by side seemed quite close on the ground. It almost felt like their shoulders were warm.

“Do you want some ice cream?”

Despite saying she was full earlier, Haji asked as she looked at the convenience store and went inside without waiting for Seojin’s answer.

“Huh……?”

A small chuckle escaped Seojin’s mouth. It was clear she felt more comfortable around him than before. Seeing her come out, shaking two ice creams in her hands, made him smile.

“Let’s eat here!”

Haji plopped down at the table with a parasol outside the convenience store. Watching her, Seojin took the ice cream she handed him and sat across from her.

“I like this weather. It’s a shame spring is short, but I love this cool yet warm evening breeze.”

Smiling broadly, Haji looked at the stars between the distant buildings and spoke softly. Her smile made her look genuinely happy, just as she said.

“How about you, Sunbae?”

“For me, summer. I think I like summer.”

Haji burst into laughter with the ice cream in her mouth.

“You talk as if you have a story about summer. Why so serious?”

“Maybe there is.”

“Really?”

“Well…”

Avoiding Haji’s round eyes, Seojin mumbled. Seeing this, Haji sighed and got up from her seat with a determined effort.

“Thank you for having dinner with me today. I should go in now since I have to go to work tomorrow.”

“You…….”