After a while, the two of them left the coffee shop.

When they entered, their hands were not held, but when they left, their hands were tightly clasped.

To be precise, since they interlocked fingers earlier, Juwon did not let go of Ina’s hand even once.

He talked with Ina while holding her hand, and occasionally stroked her little finger with a smile. Each time, Ina’s heart felt electrified and tingling.

Going outside, it had already gotten dark and streetlights were lit here and there.

The Han River at 7 pm was creating a scene that looked like jewels were scattered due to all kinds of lighting reflected from buildings.

Ina’s heart looking at that sparkling river was also shining as much as the river.

At this moment, this wonderful man tightly holding her hand was more precious and beautiful than any jewel in this world.

As Ina looked up at Juwon with a blushing smile, overwhelmed with emotion, Juwon also looked down at Ina with a sweet smile.

The two of them walked to the parking lot with the same smile.

When they arrived at the car, Juwon opened the passenger door, and only then let go of Ina’s hand that he had been holding the whole time.

At the moment their hands parted, Ina felt a little sad, but thinking that she would hold it endlessly from now on, she smiled shyly.

After going around to the driver’s side, Juwon got in the car and reached out to grab Ina’s hand as she was trying to fasten her seat belt, then swiftly leaned his upper body down.

Suddenly, at the distance that rapidly closed in, Ina momentarily stopped breathing.

Juwon, who came right in front of Ina’s rounded eyes, smiled and stared into her eyes as he pulled the passenger seat belt.

“I want to fasten it for you.”

Then click, he fastened the belt.

As Ina made a startled Shih Tzu-like expression without even breathing, Juwon laughed and tapped Ina’s cheek with his finger.

After that, as Juwon turned his body back to the driver’s side, Ina finally let out the breath she had been holding.

“Phew…”

It seemed like Ina’s life expectancy had shortened by a few years today.

“We should eat dinner, right?”

Juwon asked as he fastened his own seat belt.

“Aren’t you tired? Shouldn’t you go in and rest now?”

“How can I be tired when I’m with you?”

“…”

Seeing Juwon, who was fearlessly displaying the aspect of a lover as soon as they realized each other’s feelings, Ina made a blank expression.

“Why?”

“Huh? Ah, it’s nothing.”

Ina’s cheeks turned red as she turned her head.

“Still… I’d like you to just eat dinner simply and go in early to rest.”

Ina was worried about how tired Juwon would be due to consecutive overtime work.

And Juwon, who read Ina’s worried heart, nodded his head, saying he understood.

“Okay. I got it. Then let’s eat simply today and go in early. We’ll have many dates in the future anyway.”

At the direct word ‘date’, Ina’s heart pounded.

As she realized that she started dating Juwon, one side of her chest tingled.

“Then let’s go to your neighborhood and eat something simple.”

Juwon reached out his right hand to hold Ina’s hand, and interlocked their fingers one by one again.

Thump thump. Thump thump.

At the sensation of Juwon’s large hand that she held again, Ina’s heart pounded again without rest.

A little later, the two of them had a simple meal near Ina’s neighborhood and headed to the villa.

As Juwon’s car stopped in front of the villa, Ina felt sad.

Although she was the one who told him to go in quickly and rest, now that she thought they had to part, she felt regretful.

But thinking of the tired Juwon, she thought they should go in for today and opened her mouth.

“Well then, drive safely and rest well.”

As Ina mumbled regretfully, Juwon unfastened his seat belt and turned his body towards Ina.

Then, putting his hand on the passenger seat belt buckle, he asked,

“Can I hug you?”

“Huh?”

At the sudden words, Ina’s eyes widened.

Click.

Juwon unfastened the passenger seat belt.

Then, grabbing Ina’s shoulders, he made her turn to face him.

“Since it’s the first day, I’ll politely ask today. Can I hug you?”

The surprised Ina blinked her eyelids at a fast pace.

Juwon looked at Ina, who was blinking her eyes in succession like a fluorescent light that had lost power, with a smiling face.

“Why, no?”

At Juwon’s question, Ina’s blinking eyelids stopped for a moment.

“Ah. No, it’s not that you can’t, what I mean is, that, that… You can!”

Ina, who was stammering, suddenly shouted the ending word ‘You can!’ loudly.

And at her own shouting that suddenly popped out, Ina’s face turned bright red.

At the moment when Ina’s eyes were about to pop out from bewilderment and embarrassment, Juwon reached out his right hand and pulled Ina’s slender waist.

Then, wrapping Ina’s small head with his left hand, he guided Ina into his broad embrace.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

The moment she was perfectly embraced in Juwon’s broad arms, Ina’s heart raced crazily and she even felt dizzy for a moment.

Ah, my heart will be shattered today at this rate.

As she was barely holding on to her dazed mind with her eyes tightly closed, a subtle citrus scent wafted from Juwon.

Even in a daze, Ina mobilized her sense of smell and inhaled Juwon’s scent to her heart’s content.

Ah, even this scent is charming, man. What should I do with you?

As Ina trembled, suffocated by Juwon’s charm, Juwon finally loosened his arms a little and let Ina go slightly.

Looking down at Ina, she seemed to have a dreamy look in her eyes, as if intoxicated by the dizziness.

“Are you okay?”

Juwon asked, looking down at Ina’s eyes.

Although she wanted to ask, ‘Would you be okay if you were me?’, Ina gently bit her lip and nodded.

“…Yes. I’m okay.”

Juwon smiled and caressed Ina’s cheek.

“It may sound cliché, but… I’ll treat you well.”

At Juwon’s words delivered kindly, Ina looked into his eyes and answered,

“I, I’ll treat you well too.”

Then Juwon raised the corners of his mouth and asked,

“Really? How are you going to treat me well?”

At the unexpected question, Ina’s pupils dilated.

“Uh? Uh… Well, that is, um.”

As Ina swallowed her saliva and thought about what answer she should give to satisfy Juwon, he burst into laughter.

As Ina tilted her head and looked at Juwon, who suddenly laughed, he smiled and stroked her cheek.

“I’m kidding. You can just stay still. I’ll do well for your share too.”

Ina’s mouth opened slightly.

How… can every single word that comes out of his mouth dig into my heart like this?

As Ina looked at Juwon with a blushing cheek, he smiled and said,

“Now go on in. Sleep well and have a good day at work tomorrow.”

“Okay. You drive safely too and see you on Wednesday.”

“Yeah. If I happen to finish early tomorrow, I’ll call you.”

“Okay. Got it.”

Juwon stroked Ina’s cheek regretfully and told her to go in quickly.

Although Ina felt the same regret, she couldn’t keep holding onto the tired Juwon.

As Ina got out of the passenger seat and waved her hand, Juwon smiled and told her to go in quickly.

Ina’s footsteps felt like a thousand pounds as she turned around, but she went into the front gate right away.

Only after confirming that Ina had gone up and the light on the 3rd floor was turned on did Juwon depart.

Ina, who came into the house, sat on the sofa with a blank face.

Even though she was with Juwon until just before, she couldn’t believe what happened all day today.

Ina raised her hand and looked at it.

It seemed like Juwon’s warmth that she had been holding until a little while ago still remained.

When she brought her hand to her cheek, Juwon’s scent was permeated.

Ah, it’s Juwon’s smell.

With a pounding heart, Ina flopped down on the sofa.

As she was looking at the ceiling with a blank gaze, Juwon’s face suddenly popped up.

His sculptured face was looking down at Ina with a smile.

Looking at that face, Ina’s mouth also opened wide.

This handsome man… is my boyfriend now?

Thump thump.

Ina’s heart started pounding again.

As she was looking up at Juwon’s face with a happy expression, what Juwon said at the coffee shop earlier came to mind.

‘Let’s do it! Dating! Not with this guy, but with me!’

Ina sat up with a start and repeated what Juwon had said.

“Let’s do it! Dating! Not with this guy, but with me!”

Ina, who repeated it in a tone that wouldn’t be ashamed of a tough male actor, flopped down and kicked her legs in the air.

“Aack! Doesn’t this sound like lines from a drama?!”

After kicking for a while, Ina finally calmed down and fell into thought.

If Juwon and I date… what happens to me and Juhee?

Do, do we become family?

At the word ‘family’, Ina’s eyes opened wide.

Then she kicked her legs in the air again.

“Aack! What am I saying? Lee Juwon said let’s date. Did he say let’s get married? Why are you discussing human relations by yourself? Seo Ina. Are you crazy?”

As Ina was flailing about in embarrassment, her cell phone rang.

Thinking it might be Juwon, she quickly looked at her phone, but it was Siwoo.

“Ah…”

Seeing Siwoo’s name, her floating heart suddenly sank.

It was just yesterday that Siwoo confessed his feelings to her…

She felt so sorry to Siwoo for reaching this conclusion in just a day.

With a heavy heart, Ina took a deep breath and answered the phone.

“Hello?”

-Oh. Ina. Were you sleeping by any chance?

“Huh? No. I just got home and was resting.”

-Ah. I see. I called earlier, but.

“Oh. I’m sorry. I had it on silent earlier, so I couldn’t answer.”

Lying made Ina feel even more guilty.

-I see. Ah, the reason I called was to ask if you’re free around Thursday?

“Thursday?”

-Yeah. I was thinking the three of us could have a meal with Hyunju.

“Ah…”

-If you don’t have time, we can eat next time.

Now that she had made up her mind, it seemed like telling Siwoo quickly was the way for his sake.

“No. I think I’ll have time. Let’s eat together, the three of us.”

-Really? Then see you on Thursday.

“Okay. See you on Thursday.”

Ina, who hung up the phone, let out another long sigh.

* * *

As Juwon worked late into the night, Monday passed without them meeting, and it became Tuesday.

-Did you sleep well? Have a good day at work and don’t drink too much later. I’ll pick you up at the right time.

Ina, who woke up in the morning, saw Juwon’s text and smiled brightly.

Although it had only been two days since they started dating, Ina couldn’t help but smile at Juwon’s text that came yesterday morning and this morning as well.

-Okay. I’ll try to drink just a little. You have a good day at work too.

Ina, who was writing the text, hesitated for a moment and added a heart emoticon at the end.

Then she closed her eyes tightly and sent the text.

A little later, a ‘ding’ sound came with a text right away.

-Okay. You too♡

Although it was just an emoticon, Ina’s heart started fluttering again at the heart shape that came from Juwon.

Touching her reddened cheeks, Ina went into the bathroom.