Date Me! - Chapter 34

After drinking for about two hours, the three people left the pub.

“Shall we go for a coffee somewhere?”

At Siwoo’s words, Hyunju glanced at Ina and raised her hand, saying,

“Well, I have to stop by my boyfriend’s place, so I should get going.”

“Oh really? That’s too bad. It would’ve been nice to have coffee together.”

But Hyunju, who had read 5% disappointment and 95% excitement in Siwoo’s eyes, looked at him with a pitiful expression.

‘Poor Siwoo. Now is not the time for you to be happy about having coffee alone with Ina. Later, your excitement will be shattered… This elder sister can’t bear to watch. Sob.’

Hyunju swallowed a bitter sigh inwardly and waved to Siwoo and Ina.

“Well then, I’ll go first, so you two have coffee and then head home.”

“Alright. Get home safely, and let’s meet again soon.”

“Okay. Take care.”

After giving Ina a silent encouragement, Hyunju turned and walked away.

Siwoo, who had been watching Hyunju’s retreating figure, turned his head to look at Ina.

“Where shall we go for coffee?”

“Hm? Well, anywhere is fine with me.”

“Then shall we walk around a bit and look?”

“Sure. Let’s do that.”

The two walked for a while before entering a quiet coffee shop that wasn’t too crowded.

After sitting at a window seat, Siwoo went to get the coffee when the buzzer vibrated.

As Ina wrapped both hands around the warm coffee cup, her heart started to pound.

She had come out intending to tell Siwoo today, but now that they were alone, she was at a loss for how to bring it up.

“Is there really nothing wrong?”

Siwoo carefully spoke first.

“Huh?”

“You’ve seemed a bit off since earlier.”

Ina hesitated, then took a deep breath and spoke with difficulty.

“Siwoo. Actually… about what you said to me on Saturday… I want to give you an answer to that now.”

Siwoo’s eyes widened.

“I didn’t expect to hear an answer so… quickly.”

A sad smile spread across Siwoo’s face, as if he already knew what the answer would be.

“I’m sorry. I… have someone I like.”

After saying this, Ina bowed her head, unable to look at Siwoo’s face.

After a moment of silence, Siwoo opened his mouth.

“You mean that friend who came to pick you up that time, right?”

“…Yeah.”

After another period of silence, Siwoo spoke.

“Ina. It’s okay, so lift your head.”

But Ina didn’t have the courage to meet Siwoo’s eyes out of guilt.

“I said it’s okay, didn’t I? You didn’t commit a crime. You can look up.”

Ina felt a lump in her throat at Siwoo’s voice, which remained infinitely gentle even in this situation.

When Ina cautiously raised her eyes to look at Siwoo, he was smiling.

Even though his eyes were so full of sadness that it seemed like it would overflow at any moment, he was smiling.

Ina’s heart ached at that painfully beautiful smile.

What am I to deserve…

“That friend’s gaze when he looked at you that time was quite intense… Have you decided to date him?”

“…Yeah.”

“I see.”

Siwoo fiddled with his coffee cup, wearing a bitter smile.

“They say love is about timing… I guess that saying is really true.”

As Ina gently bit her lip, unable to say anything, Siwoo spoke with a faint smile.

“You two already like each other… I threw down a challenge too thoughtlessly.”

“…”

“But, if I had met you before him… could I have been the one you like now?”

Ina’s heart ached at those words, which sounded like a sorrowful monologue.

Looking at Siwoo’s eyes filled with sadness now, she felt like she might cry.

“…I hope he’s a good person. That guy.”

At Siwoo’s words, Ina quietly raised her head and looked at him.

“I hope he’s someone who will make you very happy. So you don’t lose that beautiful smile.”

Ina’s chest ached at the sight of Siwoo wearing his trademark half-moon smile.

Siwoo was the one with a warm heart and a good person, so why did he have to like me…

Ina swallowed those painful words that she couldn’t bring herself to say out loud.

The two silently drank the rest of their coffee.

Why did the coffee taste so bitter today of all days?

Siwoo’s coffee probably tasted even more bitter.

After some time passed like that, Siwoo smiled and said,

“Shall we get up now? You must be tired, you should go home and rest.”

“…Yeah. Okay.”

Ina quietly picked up her handbag.

After leaving the coffee shop, Siwoo checked the time on his watch.

“I’d like to take you home, but I guess that’s not okay now, right?”

As Ina was at a loss for how to respond, Siwoo held out his hand.

When Ina looked at the suddenly extended hand with puzzled eyes, Siwoo smiled and said,

“I just realized I didn’t even congratulate you earlier. Congratulations, Ina.”

“Th-thanks.”

Ina quietly reached out her hand and took Siwoo’s.

Siwoo enveloped Ina’s hand with warm warmth.

“We can still remain friends, right?”

“Huh? Yeah. Of course.”

“Good. Then let’s have meals together with Hyunju sometimes. Like today.”

“Yeah. Let’s do that.”

“Well then, get home safely. I’ll go that way.”

“Okay. You… get home safely too.”

Siwoo grinned and gestured for her to go first.

Ina nodded and turned her steps.

She couldn’t even begin to fathom how painful Siwoo’s heart must be, left behind.

As she walked to the subway station, Ina’s steps felt as heavy as a water-soaked cotton ball.

Giving your heart to one side while taking away hope from the other was a crueler thing than she had thought.

As she sighed and went down the subway stairs, her phone rang. It was Juwon.

“Hello?”

−Where are you?

“Me? I’m going down to take the subway now.”

−I told you to call me.

“No, it’s fine. It’ll be quick if I take the subway, I’ll come to your neighborhood.”

Juwon was silent for a moment, then sighed briefly and answered.

−Then come out of exit 10 at Jamsil Station. I’ll be waiting outside.

“Okay. Got it.”

Ina got on the subway and leaned against the door with a blank expression until she reached Jamsil Station.

Shortly after, Ina got off the subway and trudged towards exit 10.

As she rode the escalator up, she saw Juwon standing in the distance.

Juwon’s appearance in a black jersey tracksuit and sneakers looked unfamiliar.

As Ina got off the escalator, Juwon strode over.

Juwon came close and quietly examined Ina’s face.

Although Ina tried to smile, Juwon read the gloom that had settled on her face.

Juwon gently pulled Ina in and hugged her.

People who were just getting off the escalator glanced at the two of them.

As a flustered Ina tried to pull away from his embrace, Juwon raised his right hand and stroked the back of her head.

“Our kind Ina, you must be feeling down, huh?”

Ina’s heart welled up at Juwon’s words, comforting her with gentle words as if he had read her mind.

“Seeing you this upset, I guess that friend must have been quite a good person. Right?”

Ina felt grateful towards Juwon, who was now speaking so kindly when he had glared at her like a mortal enemy before.

Juwon released Ina from his embrace and lowered himself to meet her eye level.

“But it can’t be helped, right? Seo Ina is now Lee Juwon’s.”

“…”

Ina’s mouth opened slightly at Juwon’s grinning expression.

Wow… now that we’ve decided to date, his behavior has become completely uninhibited. Totally uninhibited!

Seeing Ina in a daze, Juwon chuckled and then placed his hand on her waist, pulling her close.

“Let’s go.”

“Wh-where are we going?”

“Since our Ina must be feeling down, let’s go get some fresh air.”

“Fresh air?”

“Yeah. Let’s go see the Han River night view. It’ll make you feel a bit better.”

“Aren’t you tired?”

At Ina’s words, Juwon lightly tapped the bridge of her nose and said,

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

“…”

As Ina’s face flushed, Juwon grinned and tightened his grip on her waist.

“I parked the car up ahead. Let’s go.”

Ina followed Juwon to the car with a reddened face.

* * *

A sweet pop song was playing inside the car as it drove across the Han River Bridge.

Ina had been stealing glances at Juwon’s profile for a while now.

Why did Juwon’s side profile look so handsome as he gripped the steering wheel with one hand and held her hand tightly with the other…

‘Isn’t it cheating to look this handsome even in a tracksuit? Lee Juwon would probably look handsome even wearing a sackcloth. To think that such a man is my man…’

Overwhelmed by the sudden emotion, Ina took a deep breath.

“Ina. You’ll get cross-eyed if you keep that up.”

Juwon suddenly spoke while focusing on driving.

“Huh?”

Ina flinched in surprise and looked at Juwon.

“Why do you keep stealing glances from the side?”

Juwon asked in a playful voice.

“What? Wh-when did I steal glances?”

“I keep feeling a hot gaze on the right side of my face?”

At those words, Ina cleared her throat unnecessarily and quickly turned her gaze away.

“Wait just a bit. I’ll let you look all you want soon.”

“Wh-what are you saying? Geez.”

Ina looked out the window in disbelief, but her cheeks were bright red.

Juwon glanced at Ina like that and chuckled.

Soon after, Juwon’s car entered Han River Park.

After parking the car at the end of the parking lot, Juwon unbuckled his seatbelt and turned his body towards Ina.

“There. Now look all you want.”

“Wh-what do you mean look?”

Ina asked in surprise as Juwon’s face suddenly came close.

“My face.”

As Juwon brought his face even closer, Ina’s brown eyes widened.

“Well, my side profile is handsome too, but the front is even more of a masterpiece, so go ahead. Look all you want.”

What… why has Lee Juwon suddenly become so shameless?

Is this Lee Juwon in front of me really the Lee Juwon I knew?

Or was he always the world’s biggest narcissist and I just didn’t know?

Juwon grabbed Ina’s cheeks and made her look at him.

“I told you to look at me, what are you thinking about?”

Ina gazed intently at the sculpture-like face in front of her, so close it seemed like it would touch her at any moment.

Looking at the thick eyebrows that seemed drawn with a brush, the deep and profound eyes with double eyelids, and the handsome straight nose bridge below them, Ina gently raised her hand and touched Juwon’s cheek.

“Okay, I admit it. You really are… too handsome.”

As Ina murmured, Juwon gently took her hand that was on his cheek.

“You’re pretty too.”

Juwon smiled softly and said, as if responding.

“So pretty it’s a problem.”

Ina’s mouth opened slightly at Juwon’s continued words.

“Why?”

“It’s a bit… overwhelming.”

“What is?”

“Suddenly only sweet words are coming out of your mouth… it feels strange.”

Juwon smiled, curling up the corners of his mouth, and touched Ina’s cheek as he spoke.

“What’s strange about me being sweet to what’s mine?”