Looking at Suji throwing the paper towel in the trash with a smile, Ina blinked.

‘What’s this? This way of speaking?’

For a moment, Ina felt a chill at the nuance that seemed to suggest it was fortunate they hadn’t been dating long.

‘Could this woman… like Juwon?’

Just as an unpleasant premonition was about to arise, suddenly Suji extended her hand to Ina.

When Ina looked at that hand with a puzzled expression, Suji smiled and said:

“I couldn’t introduce myself in detail earlier, right? I’m Min Suji. I graduated from the same university’s business department as Juwon.”

“Ah… I’m Seo Ina.”

Ina shook Suji’s hand quietly, still feeling uneasy.

After a light handshake, Suji asked with eyes full of curiosity:

“But how did you meet Juwon? He wouldn’t have done something like a blind date with his personality…”

At the tone implying she knew Juwon well, something stirred in Ina’s heart.

Though she didn’t feel the need to answer, Ina smiled and replied:

“It wasn’t a blind date, I’ve known Juwon since we were in 9th grade.”

“9th grade?”

Suji asked with her eyes wide open in surprise.

“Yes.”

Suji blinked, looking at Ina, and then smiled.

“You’ve… known each other for quite a long time, haven’t you?”

“Well, I suppose you could say that.”

“I’m curious. What Juwon was like in 9th grade.”

Seeing Suji smiling pleasantly as if imagining Juwon from that time, Ina’s heart stirred even more.

“Juwon was probably… as charming then as he is now, right?”

Suji’s provocation, disguised as curiosity, flew straight and pierced Ina’s heart.

At this, the smile that had been on Ina’s lips quietly disappeared.

Ah… The chill I felt earlier wasn’t my imagination.

Though her heart felt cold, Ina forced a calm smile and answered:

“What’s the point of saying? It’ll only tire my mouth.”

Surprised by the unexpectedly bold answer, Suji looked startled for a moment before smirking.

“Is that so? But… I’m a bit curious why you’re only dating now after knowing such a charming Juwon for so long?”

Suji asked with a smile on her lips, but Ina detected the sharpness underlying the words “only now.”

This time, Ina smirked and asked Suji:

“I’m a bit confused right now… Are you close friends with Juwon? Or… are you very interested in our Juwon?”

Ina’s words “our Juwon” pierced Suji’s heart.

Suji bit the inside of her lip before smiling again and answering:

“Well, if lingering feelings for an ex-boyfriend can be called interest… then yes, it’s interest.”

Ina’s eyes widened.

“What? What did you just say…”

“I dated Juwon for a year and a half.”

At those words, Ina’s heart sank to the bottom somewhere.

As Ina was speechless with surprise, Suji smiled and said:

“You seem very surprised?”

Ina gathered her thoughts and looked straight at Suji, asking:

“When did you date?”

“Three years ago.”

Three years ago…

Trying hard to think it was just a fragment of Juwon’s past that she didn’t know, Ina asked:

“So? Why are you telling me this now?”

Suji smiled enigmatically, then said with strength in her eyes:

“I met Juwon last week at a reunion after three years. I wondered how I’d feel seeing him after three years… He was still charming. Enough to want back.”

At Suji’s voice emphasizing the last “want back,” Ina’s eyes froze.

As her heart started pounding, Ina’s phone rang. It was Juwon.

Ina tried to compose herself and answered the phone.

“Hello?”

– Oh. The ceremony’s over now, are you still in the bathroom?

“No, I’m about to leave. Yeah. Wait there.”

Hiding her trembling, Ina spoke affectionately before hanging up and staring at Suji, saying:

“I think you’re misunderstanding something…”

At Ina’s chilly voice, Suji looked at her straight on.

“Was Lee Juwon such a flimsy person… that he could be taken back just because you want him back?”

This time, Suji’s eyes widened.

The woman before her was completely different from herself, a petite and cute style of beauty.

Suji couldn’t help but be surprised by the unexpectedly cold words coming from such a cute woman’s mouth.

“You dated for a year and a half, but you still haven’t figured out Juwon’s personality?”

Suji stared at Ina with a stiff expression.

“I know better than anyone how charming my man is, so I’d appreciate it if you didn’t mention our Juwon’s name again.”

Suji glared at Ina, biting her lip.

“Well then, I’ll go first. Our Juwon is waiting.”

Ina nodded with an expressionless face, then opened the door and left.

As Ina left, Suji clenched her fist, her bitten lips trembling.

As she walked towards Juwon standing in the distance, Ina’s hands began to shake.

Ina quickly clenched her fists and managed her expression.

As she stood next to Juwon, a female classmate standing beside Hojun asked Ina:

“We’re going to a cafe for coffee, do you want to join us, Ina?”

“Ah…”

As Ina was about to answer, Juwon took her hand and said to his classmate:

“Sorry, we have plans.”

At Juwon’s words, Ina looked at him.

We don’t have any plans… Did Juwon notice my mood?

“Oh, is that so? Can’t be helped then. Well, Ina, let’s meet again when we have the chance.”

Ina smiled and nodded at the classmate’s words.

“Yes. Let’s definitely meet again next time.”

“Then we’ll go first.”

Juwon nodded goodbye to Hojun and his classmates before moving his feet.

Somehow, Juwon was silent during the walk to the parking lot.

He only gently stroked Ina’s hand that he was holding tightly.

Finally, as they stopped in front of the car, Juwon opened the passenger door.

“Thank you.”

As Ina got in, Juwon slowly went around to the driver’s seat and got in the car.

As Ina quietly fastened her seatbelt, Juwon turned towards her.

“Ina.”

At that gentle voice calling her, Ina looked at Juwon.

Juwon reached out and brushed Ina’s hair aside, saying:

“Are you feeling okay right now?”

“Huh? Um… I’m fine?”

As Ina answered evasively, Juwon looked at her quietly before asking:

“Was Min Suji in the bathroom by any chance?”

Ina’s eyes widened.

“Huh? How… did you know that?”

As Ina asked with surprised eyes, Juwon let out a short sigh and held Ina’s hand tightly.

“I’m sorry.”

Ina’s eyes widened further at the sudden apology.

“I didn’t think I’d have to tell you this… but seeing your expression now, I think I should.”

As Ina looked at Juwon with a tense expression, he squeezed her hand and said:

“Min Suji and I dated for about a year and a half three years ago.”

Even though she had already heard this from Min Suji, hearing it again from Juwon’s mouth had a greater impact than expected.

It felt like her heart was dropping to her feet.

“But I ended it without any lingering feelings then, so there’s not a single bit of emotion left.”

Ina swallowed hard.

“I hadn’t seen her since it ended three years ago until I saw her at last week’s reunion. But that’s all. There’s nothing more or less to say. And I didn’t know Min Suji would come to today’s wedding. Well, even if I had known, I would have come to the wedding with you. Because I have no feelings left.”

Ina could feel the sincerity underlying Juwon’s calm voice.

Juwon reached out and touched Ina’s cheek.

“Still… I’m sorry for putting you in an uncomfortable situation. I’m sorry I didn’t predict this situation would happen.”

Ina raised her hand and held Juwon’s large hand touching her cheek.

“No. Why are you sorry? You didn’t know this situation would happen either. So don’t be sorry.”

Juwon looked at Ina with an affectionate expression.

“Did Min Suji say anything in the bathroom?”

“Huh?”

“I feel like she must have said something.”

Ina hesitated for a moment before opening her mouth.

“Well… she said she dated you for a year and a half.”

Juwon let out a short sigh and looked at Ina.

“And what else?”

“Um…”

“Tell me everything.”

“She said after meeting you again after three years, you were still…”

“Still?”

“Too charming, she said.”

Juwon squeezed his eyes shut.

Then Ina took Juwon’s hand and said:

“But, well, it’s true, isn’t it?”

At Ina’s words, Juwon’s eyes opened wide.

Ina reached out and caressed Juwon’s handsome face.

“Where else in the world is there such a fatally charming man?”

“…”

When there was no response from Juwon, Ina grinned and said:

“I actually felt proud hearing that? I thought, how charming must he be for even such a beautiful woman to still not be over him?”

Somehow her smiling face looked sad, and Juwon silently looked at Ina before reaching out.

Then he took Ina’s hand and brought it to his heart.

As Ina felt Juwon’s heart beating strongly, her own heart started racing.

“Ina.”

Juwon called Ina’s name with sincerity rising from deep within his chest.

“Yes?”

“Now and in the future… my heart will always be filled only with you.”

Juwon’s dark eyes looking at Ina were full of love.

“Seo Ina, it will be filled only with you.”

Ina’s heart swelled at Juwon’s sincerity as he repeated his words like a pledge.

“Me too… my heart will also be filled only with you, Lee Juwon.”

As Ina spoke with a trembling voice, Juwon smiled and looked at her.

Then he gently pulled Ina into his arms.

As she was embraced in Juwon’s broad, warm arms, Ina felt Juwon’s heart beating strongly, announcing its presence.

Ina closed her eyes tight and listened to that powerful beating sound.

A little later, the two drove to the mall and enjoyed a leisurely date.

After eating a delicious dinner, they went to a nice cafe and had coffee at a relaxed pace.

As they talked about this and that, it was past 10 o’clock, and only then did the two get up.

Around 11:30 PM, Juwon’s car pulled up in front of Ina’s villa.

“You must be tired, so go up quickly. Sleep well and meet your mother well tomorrow.”

Tomorrow, Sunday, Ina’s mother was supposed to come up to Seoul early in the morning for a relative’s wedding.

“Okay. You go home safely too and sleep well.”

“I will. Go in quickly.”

As Juwon kissed Ina lightly on the cheek, Ina smiled and got out of the car.

After Ina waved and entered the villa, Juwon confirmed that the light on the third floor turned on.

Then Juwon slowly put his hands on the steering wheel and started the car.

With cold eyes looking straight ahead.