“Seems like you think I’ll change my mind if you behave like this, Mr. Kang Woo. You’ve picked the wrong number.”
“…….”
“Actually, it makes me even angrier wondering why a person who can do this much didn’t do it before. A real couple, no, we didn’t even register our marriage then, so was it halfhearted then too? Anyway, let’s do the dining out that we didn’t do then.”
“…….”
“Leaving work on time every day, staying at home on weekends. Even the man who detests troublesome things going as far as buying gifts himself. Isn’t it ridiculous that we act like a window display couple?”
“Is it wrong to correct your mistake after realizing it?”
“I never asked you to change. Don’t ask me why I won’t accept your efforts. I have no obligation to willingly accept the efforts I didn’t ask for.”
“Why didn’t such a strongwilled woman say a word to me all this while?”
His eyes full of suspicion gently caressed Se Ah’s cheek. She avoided his gaze and bit her lips lightly.

“I have a question. I’m like a woman who waited for my faults to pile up and then exploded all at once.”
“……What do you mean? What is that?”
Se Ah brushed it off as naturally as possible, trying not to look surprised. A faint smile crossed Kang Woo’s lips.

“No big deal. So, you’ve turned down tonight’s dinner. How about tomorrow then?”
Se Ah sealed her lips as she didn’t want to argue.

In fact, her heart was pounding like crazy. His gaze for a moment was sharp like a detective who has caught his prey. Her head became complicated wondering if she did anything to make him suspect.

“I have to concentrate because I can’t capture the character. If you really don’t want to eat alone, meet a friend.”
It was difficult to get past him blocking the way. He didn’t seem to have any intention of moving away. She felt awkward because he didn’t step back as easily as usual.

“Let’s make a deal then.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“One month shortening of the contract period for one date. How about that? Isn’t it a fair deal?”
Se Ah hesitated. Her conflicting feelings of wanting and not wanting collided.

“Why. Is it because it’s a shame to give me one month of living together?”
“…….”
She hated him smirking. She was angry at herself for not being able to make a decision easily.

“It’s a pity. If the time living together decreases by a month with just one date, as Mr. Kang Woo said, it’s worth doing.”
“But there’s a condition.”
“…….”
“Let’s act normally, even if we can’t pretend to be a loving couple. Don’t even mention window display couple.”
She wondered what was included in that normalcy. Se Ah made an ambiguous face.

“I won’t hug you forcibly if I don’t want to. That’s not the goal.”
His sharp eyes seemed to look into her mind, then quickly disappeared.

“Not much time left. It’s time for us to become normal.”
“…….”
“What should I wear? For our historic first date.”
Kang Woo opened the dress wardrobe while whistling low.

With a short sigh, Se Ah was the first to leave the room.

((()))((()))((()))

Kang Woo opened his eyes as soon as the morning light came.

He sat on the bed and checked the time on his phone. An ambiguous 6 AM, whether it was morning or dawn.

Yet, he woke up about an hour later than usual.

His body felt unusually light. He loosened his shoulders and stood up.

He went to the living room and peeked towards the bedroom. The quietness indicated that Se Ah seemed to still be dreaming.

Should I let her sleep a little more? It is Sunday after all. They say that a late sleep on Sunday is important for an office worker.

To save time, he headed straight to the bathroom.

After showering, he lightly sprayed perfume on his neck. He casually put on a bathrobe and spent time working. Then he went back to the bedroom.

When he knocked on the bedroom door about three times, a reply came from inside, ‘Yes…,’ in a sleepy voice.

“It’s 9 AM. Do you want to get up yourself? Should I come in?”
“The door… is locked…”
Her answering tone had a slight irritation mixed in, like a child throwing a tantrum in sleep.

“You seem to forget every time that I have a spare key.”
“……Ah… I’ll get up… I’ll be out soon.”

“I don’t have time. It’s a day that’s been exchanged for a month, so I have to get my money’s worth.”
“……”
I was sure that she wouldn’t have to rush much longer and she would get up. I knew Se Ah’s stern manner of keeping her promises.

When I was waiting anxiously in front of the bedroom door, the door opened slightly after a few minutes.

Her sleepy face as she rubbed her eyes was like a newborn kitten just entering the world.

“……From the morning……”
“Easy. I’m giving you a break, and you’re throwing a tantrum. I gave you 9 whole hours out of 24.”
“……Where are we going? There won’t be any places open at this hour.”
“Just get ready and come out.”
“I just need to wash my face and wear a hat.”
Kang Woo sighed and gave a hollow laugh. Judging by Se Ah’s blurry eyes and the sluggish tone in her voice, it was hard to find excitement. Unlike myself, who had been excited since last night.

“Go ahead. If I save time, it benefits me too.”
“……Please wait for a moment.”
“Come out with the ring I gave you. As promised.”
Without a reply agreeing, Se Ah closed the bedroom door. Kang Woo also went to the dressing room and sequentially put on the knit and black jeans he had looked at yesterday, even the watch.

Kang Woo, who had finished getting ready first, went back to the bedroom.

“Did it take you long? I wonder why it takes so long to wash your face and put on a hat.”
Sounds of rummaging came continuously from inside.

“I’m done. Just a moment.”
“Come to the parking lot. I’ll be there first.”
“……Yes.”

((()))((()))((()))

Entering the car, Kang Woo started the engine and turned the heater on low.

It was only December, but the weather was cold. Therefore, he had to preheat the car.

Se Ah seemed to be particularly sensitive to the cold. Whenever she dozed off before going to work, even in the middle of summer, she was always covered with a blanket up to her head.

Looking at Se Ah reflected in the rearview mirror, Kang Woo stepped out of the car.

“I’m sorry. On my way out, I suddenly worried about the gas valve, whether the veranda door was closed properly. I was late because I was checking on things, worrying about this and that.”
Kang Woo gazed at Se Ah, who was awkwardly making excuses. My woman, who always apologizes when she feels sorry, even though we’re just a showwindow couple.

She had said that she’d just wash her face and put on a hat. But she was wearing a cobalt blue turtle neck knit dress, a black cashmere coat over it, and even a small handbag. She looked like a cute, wellbred lady.

Feeling awkward after a long silence, Se Ah quickly turned her eyes.

“It’s really strange.”
Kang Woo muttered to himself.

“Is……is it strange? My mother said it suits me well……”
As she guiltily tilted her head to the side, Kang Woo lightly brushed her long hair.

Looking fascinated at Se Ah, who unusually didn’t dodge his gaze or rashly push away his hand.

“Se Ah.”
“Yes?”
Kang Woo called her name again softly. Since he kept calling her name without saying anything, Se Ah glanced at him.

“Se Ah.”
A cycle of relief at his single word followed by despair again.

A strange emotion that can’t be simply divided into ‘good or bad’ is growing with my heartbeat.

This might be the love you mentioned.

lu lu lo la ▪️ net (lululola.net)