“I’ve never said no…”

“?”

“to what you want.”

Expectation surged up. However, Jiho tried hard to hold onto reason.

“If Lajin says so, I might misunderstand.”

“Misunderstand?”

“Thinking that we share the same feelings.”

Her soft breath escaped with a sigh. Then, she immediately hid in Jiho’s neck.

“Ji… um.”

“I didn’t hear it well. What did you say?”

“Jiho’s feelings are my feelings.”

“Is it true?”

Her forehead nodded against his, and Jiho’s mind went blank.

The patience that had reached its limit quickly rushed to a dead end.

Her permission, the wildly leaping heart—please, control it appropriately, the scolding came out automatically.

“At this moment, I’ll cherish it.”
Jiho tried to calm his surging desire and took a deep breath. Then, he gently patted her tender back.

“I love you, Lajin.”

Jiho lowered his head and kissed every part of Lajin’s body that his lips could reach.

Slowly, tenderly, gently, and yet swiftly. The night was long anyway, and their time had just begun. Jiho’s black pupils turned pitch black with passion.

An unfamiliar room, a bed neither hard nor soft.

The white blanket smelled of fabric softener, and the soft pillow had a faint scent of shampoo. The end of one side of the bed shook and soon tilted lightly. Even though she knew who it was, Lajin turned her body to find warmth.

‘Citrus scent.’

Whether he had just taken a shower or not, Lajin’s mouth curled up at the refreshing fragrance.

In her heart, she wanted to make eye contact with him, exchange sweet greetings, but her body, which had recently fallen asleep, couldn’t move at all.

“Lajin.”

Still standing on the blurry boundary of a dream, Jiho cupped her head. Whether he had already finished preparing for work, there was a rustling sound every time he moved.

“I said there’s a shoot in the morning.”

At the tiny, whispering voice, Lajin’s eyelashes trembled.

“I’m sorry I didn’t wake you up much.”

His lips descended onto Lajin’s white shoulder.

“I don’t want to wake you up.”

The voice that murmured from the end of his shoulder gradually rose towards his neck. Suppressing the ticklish sensation, Lajin tightly held onto his arm.

“I’m sorry I have to wake you up.”

Why is this man so sweet?

Anyway, the man without moderation was harmful to Lajin’s heart from the morning. When the pulsating, rhythmic beats resonated in her ears, he gently pulled Lajin’s shoulders towards him.

“Haeun will be here soon.”

Despite his affectionate words urging her to get up, she wanted to throw a tantrum and stay a little longer.

“I can’t get up.”

“No.”

“Where does it hurt?”

If it’s going to be like this, if it’s going to be so hard to get up, why did he approach so unreservedly? When she remembered what happened just a few hours ago, Lajin’s face blushed.

Unable to face him, Lajin pulled the blanket up to her head.

“Why are you like this?”

“…….”

“Show me your face.”

“It’s embarrassing.”

“What is?”

The words, ‘Just, because,’ resonated in the blanket. Then, he picked her up like a cocoon and hugged her.

“How can you not find this beautiful?”

“I’m not pretty.”

As she added that she hadn’t even washed her face, his body, pressed against hers, shook finely.

“It’s not because I bothered you too much, right?”

“If so?”

“Apologize until Lajin feels better and somehow change her mind.”

“We’re not allowed to say sorry between us.”

As if playing around, he chuckled, and his chest shook greatly.

“Then instead of saying sorry, I’ll say I love you.”

“That’s fine.”
She met the eyes of a man darker than the night, shining moistly. The closer the distance, the more special their relationship seemed to become.

“I’d like to take you anywhere you want to go. But I can’t do it myself… I love you.”

“Again?”

“I want to have breakfast together. Making you eat alone makes me love you even more.”

Because they both knew that their realities were not easy, his expression of love, substituting for an apology, was incredibly appreciated.

“Is your body okay?”

“A little tired.”

“Making you tired, huh. I really love you.”

Lajin, with only her eyes visible, nodded slightly.

“You can’t rest today?”

As if he had forced it unnecessarily, Jiho frowned as if he were a sinner.

“I can’t shoot in your place. Do you have a lot of shooting today?”

“No. Five scenes for reminiscence. It’ll probably be over around lunch.”

Whether it’s five scenes or fifty scenes, standing in front of the camera is not an ordinary thing. He once again replaced his remorse with love.

“Where is the shooting location?”

“Why?”

“I want to send something to eat.”

As if sending something like this worried him, he reflected on his mistakes and continued his long and heartfelt confession of love.

Unlike the vivid memories that came to mind, he didn’t know what to do like a gentle puppy. Even though he was right in front of her, Lajin’s heart trembled at the sight.

“Next time. Today, I’ll just accept your heart.”

“Then next time, I’ll definitely take you to the shooting location.”

“Really?”

Even if it’s still just a promise, it was enough. He was a person who kept his promises.

“The special investigation period is not much left. When the prosecution is over, I’ll come out without any regrets.”

“When you come out?”

“I’ll enjoy all the dates I couldn’t do until now. Only with Lajin.”

The dreamlike story was as sweet as honey.

“I feel reassured now.”

“I have many more reassuring words to tell you. I have to go before Haeun comes.”

He added that he needed to go now if he wanted to follow Mihang, who was diligently heading to the company.

“By the time Lajin returns to Korea, Mihang will be gone.”

“I believe you.”

“Just wait until then.”

“I will.”

“I love you, and I love you again.”

He kissed her as if his breath would stop. Not light at all. Lajin absorbed into his sincerity.