Gaeul cautiously turned the doorknob, careful not to make her presence known.

“Mr. President…”

As she entered his room, he was leaning against the back of the sofa with his eyes closed. He seemed a bit tired, even placing the documents he had been looking at down. Lines of fatigue were evident on his forehead.

Gaeul felt perplexed. Although she needed to wake him up, she couldn’t bring herself to disturb his deep sleep.

‘He mentioned being short on sleep these days.’

“You need to wake up…”

Even as she said that, Gaeul found herself drawn to him as if mesmerized. It was intriguing to see him in a state she had never witnessed before.

Then, he gently turned his head.

‘Is something bothering him?’

Surprised that he seemed to be awake, Gaeul hesitated, and he called her with a soft voice.

“Uncomfortable?”

Caught off guard by his sudden awakening, Gaeul cautiously reached out to tuck away the strands of hair that had fallen across his face. He quickly drifted back into a deep slumber.

‘Han Gitae.’

The impulse to touch his skin, as translucent as her own, made her want to put her hand against his. The strong lines that formed his robust face drew attention even with his eyes closed.

However, with closed eyes, he appeared somewhat childlike and gentle. A small laugh escaped from Gaeul’s lips. “Gentle” didn’t quite suit him.

Tick, Gaeul’s hand confirmed his peaceful sleep. It was quite an impulsive action.

Her heart, which had been pounding since earlier, didn’t seem to stop, beating even more vigorously.

Whenever he appeared, her gaze was always fixed on him. In the same space, if they happened to be close, she would always feel excited and thrilled.

Even if she couldn’t meet his eyes and had to direct her gaze elsewhere, she found herself stealing glances at him.

When he was busy and didn’t appear in front of her, she felt a great sense of disappointment.

As they got involved with gallery work, the distance between them narrowed. In no time, the ten years seemed to pass quickly, and since receiving her father’s painting, her heart hadn’t been under her control.

‘Just once.’

Thump, thump…

Gaeul felt her heart pounding violently beneath her throat.

As she stood still, fascinated, in the distance where their breaths touched, Gaeul hesitated before pressing her lips to his.

Touch.

It was a light contact, as if it barely grazed, not bearing any significant weight.

Gaeul felt her heart, which had been steadily rising, suddenly surge. In the impulsive moment, she decided to bury her feelings.

‘I shouldn’t fall for the president…’

This impulsive plea, unplanned and unexpected, was supposed to end with today’s kiss. However, the first and last kiss felt too tender, and Gaeul’s pupils trembled with sorrow.

Trying to pretend nothing had happened, she attempted to step back. However, her eyes met his suddenly, and Gaeul had no choice but to cover her lips with both hands.

“……!”

“…….”.

Her legs went weak, and without saying a word, the hands around her waist supported her. However, it only made Gaeul’s complexion paler.

‘When did he wake up?’

Was it just now? Or…
“When did I kiss you?”

My heart started to beat roughly in my ears. I was afraid of what he might say.

Unlike the Dining Room where he had smiled, his gaze, now more sensitive, felt sharp.

As cold and indifferent as when I first saw him, his piercing gaze.

Wanting to discern his intentions, Gaeul reluctantly met his eyes, but there was nothing she could figure out.

“Uh, that…?”

Gitae abruptly pulled Gaeul closer by her waist. The remaining distance between them was barely an inch.

The low-set eyes had a type of hostility Gaeul had never seen before. The cracked voice was filled with anger, making her shoulders involuntarily shrink.

“You, this… What does it mean?”

It must have been unpleasant. Gaeul, as if about to shed tears, opened her mouth with a pitiful look.

“That… I mean…”

“……”

“…I’m really sorry… Hup!”

The two lips that were babbling were blocked.

Sudden confinement in his broad arms made Gaeul widen her eyes.

The face that suddenly appeared close, and the deep-set gaze, felt unfamiliar. Her eyelids, awkwardly rolling in all directions, soon closed.

Gitae pressed his lips against Gaeul’s a little more. As a result, Gaeul’s eyelashes trembled.

Chewing and digging into her lips, he began to turn her whole mind upside down. Breathless, she didn’t think of anything.

The increasingly rapid and heavy breath blurred her mind completely. The hand on her waist felt so warm that it seemed to melt. Gaeul felt dizzy, as if she might faint.

‘I can’t breathe…’

Unconsciously, with the short breath, Gaeul lightly tapped his chest. Taking advantage of the gap, she breathed in all the air she had been holding.

“…Haa. Ha.”

Gaeul’s trembling body shook endlessly. When she raised her eyes again, looking at him in fear, his irritated voice sharply pierced through.

“You started it, Yoon Gaeul.”

Directly attached to her lips again, Gaeul was astonished, but soon closed her eyes again.