As he headed to the dressing room, Se Ah followed with quick steps. The sound of her following showed how much his situation had improved. He pretended not to notice and opened the dress wardrobe.

“What about dinner? And what’s in that box?”

“If we were just a show window couple, you wouldn’t be curious. But as a woman, if you ask, I’ll answer.”

“Don’t tell me. I’m not that curious.”

Seeing Se Ah’s slightly pouting lips, Kang Woo knew the time to draw his sword had come.

After her shower, Se Ah returned to the bedroom. Usually, she wore a slip when sleeping with him, but since they started sleeping in separate rooms, she reverted to her old preference of light pink cotton pajamas.

As she dried her hair and lay down in bed, she thought of Do Jun and how to explain things to him. Reality hit, and her head began to ache slightly.

“Wow!”

Startled by the sudden opening of the bedroom door, Se Ah let out a small cry.

Without heeding her reaction, Kang Woo, dressed in a robe, entered the bedroom nonchalantly and went to the dressing table to grab his skincare products.

Se Ah sat up, eyes wide, and crossed her legs in a sitting position.

“What are you doing? Why are you in here?”

“Why not? I came to sleep in the bedroom. Or do you have something else in mind?”
As Kang Woo skillfully feigned ignorance, Se Ah couldn’t help but find the situation absurd. One of her cheeks puffed out in response.

“Sleeping here when your mother isn’t around is a breach of contract.”

“Let it go, everything. What about the kiss last time? How much was that a violation?”

Kang Woo undressed his gown and got into bed, showing off his muscular upper body. He slightly turned towards Se Ah’s pillow.

“Just lie down. I feel like I’ve been waiting forever.”

“Waiting for what?”

“Waiting to lie down together.”

“I told you yesterday…”

“I remember clearly. It’s against my pride as a man to hear it again.”

Hesitantly, Se Ah laid her head down on the pillow. Kang Woo, performing the bedtime ritual, pulled the blanket over her, covering up to her slender neck, and then turned off the bedside lamp.

“It feels unfair… It’s like everything just flows the way you want, like I’m being played with.”

“Do you dislike it? Would you prefer if I did nothing, just waited, hoping you’d forgive me someday?”

Se Ah didn’t want to say something she didn’t mean out of pride. She admitted to herself that she hoped he would show sincerity and waited for the day he would confess his love.

“You don’t have to feel wronged.”

Se Ah turned her head towards him as his voice softened. The same warmth that she felt on her forehead yesterday evening spread gently.

“Spending nights like this is harder for me.”

“Why?”

“It’s more disadvantageous for me.”

With gentle eyes and a smile, Kang Woo tenderly patted Se Ah’s back.

The warm body heat he emanated, the strong nape of his neck exuding a heavy woody scent, and the sound of his steady heartbeat eventually lulled Se Ah into sleep, pretending she didn’t long for his embrace.

Monday was the busiest day, like for most working people.

Se Ah scanned her emails and printed the work sheets she worked on over the weekend. After a meeting, she shared details with the main writer and then went back to her writing room to work on the mid-section of the story. By the time she finished, it was lunchtime.

She headed to a café a little distance from her company to meet Do Jun.

Do Jun was sitting by the window, scribbling with a tablet pen, looking frustrated. His face was dark, occasionally furrowing his brows, making it hard to start a conversation.

“Do Jun.”

“Writer Ji? You’re here?”

Putting away his tablet, Do Jun greeted her with a bright smile, a relief to Se Ah who awkwardly narrowed her eyes and sat across him.

“Want something to drink?”

“No, I have to go back soon.”

“Because of the director?”

Do Jun leaned forward, pulling up the sleeves of his loose-fitting knit sweater. Se Ah fiddled with her interlocked fingers, waiting for what he had to say next.
“Do Jun, I heard from the director. He said he unilaterally likes you.”

Dropping the guise of mere colleagues, Do Jun spoke comfortably.

“Is that true?”

“What does that have to do with you, Do Jun?”

“I like you.”

Seeing Se Ah’s eyes widen, Do Jun smiled awkwardly.

“I know. It’s a bit sudden and startling.”

“…”

“It’s not out of the blue. I’ve had feelings for you since before, but they grew stronger after we met again.”

“But back then, I was a high school student and you were a college student. Why?”

“And did you start liking the director after becoming an adult?”

Se Ah hoped her flushed cheeks would cool down on their own. She was troubled, not knowing how much of her past Do Jun was aware of.

“I’m not saying this to hold your weakness against you. I want to say that my feelings for you back then were as pure as your feelings for the director.”

“…”

“Do Jun, he’s a divorced man, isn’t he?”

Se Ah was dumbfounded. What was this about? She felt bombarded with revelations, one after another, without a moment’s respite. The confusion was amplified by not knowing what Kang Woo had said.

Do Jun scanned Se Ah’s expression, revealing his own confusion.

“If he’s not divorced, that’s even more problematic.”

Murmuring to himself, Do Jun picked up his mug. While he sipped, Se Ah maintained her composure.

“I’ll be precise. I’m not trying to pry into someone’s personal life with malicious intent.”

“Okay.”

“Do Jun, he claims he’s a divorced man and that he unilaterally likes you. Is it true?”