There was no contact from Si Heon all weekend. Even knowing they weren’t in a position to contact each other, I endlessly waited for his call.

If it’s going to be like this, he shouldn’t have kissed me.

Knowing it wasn’t a real relationship, I laughed at myself for foolishly hoping.

I don’t know how many times I wrote and erased messages, thinking at least a morning greeting would be okay. The words “don’t expect” stuck like a scab in my mouth.

In the end, So Yi spent the whole weekend tapping her innocent phone.

For the first time, I was glad it was Monday, expecting to see his face after the weekend.

Usually we ran into each other so often, but for days I couldn’t even see Si Heon’s face.

‘Maybe… he doesn’t need me anymore…?’

I became anxious that he might say the contract is over because he no longer needs me.

This relationship could end with just one word saying the contract is over. Why did I let my feelings grow this much, hoping for what?

The empty feeling gradually turned into self-reproach. Shadows fell over So Yi’s once lively eyes. The reality of suffering from an unrequited love that can never be fulfilled becomes clearer day by day.

In the end, there was no contact all day. It was just as So Yi finished showering after returning home.

Bzzt.

Her phone vibrated.

[Come out for a bit. I’ll go to your house. Let’s go for a drive.]

It was a message from Si Heon after days. So Yi’s downcast face quickly curved into a smile.

[Okay, I understand.]

Even just sending this short reply made So Yi’s heart pound.

[This is the timeline separator]

Si Heon was feeling what it meant to have his blood run dry.

All weekend, he picked up and put down his phone countless times.

‘I’ll forget about the kiss just now. I’ll think of it as just acting.’

Acting, he says.

‘We’ve even spent a night together, I won’t cling to just a mere kiss.’

Just a mere kiss, he says.

The more he thought about it, the more ridiculous it seemed. He was so angry he could burst, feeling foolish for getting all worked up on his own.

Meanwhile, his expression brightened upon seeing Choi Ji Wook’s call. If that’s how it is, why did you say you liked me and that you liked me from the start?

His mood twisted arbitrarily. He worried if he could manage his expression well if they ran into each other at the company.

Fortunately, after the weekend, Si Heon had overlapping external schedules and headquarters meetings. Even while frantically managing his schedule, thoughts of So Yi kept popping up, making it hard to breathe.

It should be something to just let go, but he couldn’t understand why it was grating on his nerves so much.

Si Heon roughly loosened his tie after returning home.

Bzzt, another call came from Ji Wook. He had been avoiding contact for days, but Ji Wook persistently called him.

This time too, without answering the phone, he was about to get a beer when ding dong, the bell of Si Heon’s guest room rang.

It was Ji Wook.

“Why did you come?”

“Why are you avoiding me?”

As Si Heon opened the door, Ji Wook entered the room with a bright expression.

“When did I avoid you?”

Si Heon answered in a nonchalant voice and headed to the mini bar.

“Beer? Wine?”

“I’ll pass on the alcohol. I just came out briefly during filming, so I have to go back soon.”

Ji Wook, who had barged in unannounced, asked for water and pulled up a chair at the island countertop.

“Seeing how desperately you’ve been avoiding my calls, I guess you’ve got some idea?”

“What idea?”

“I gave you so many hints, you still haven’t caught on?”

Ji Wook received the glass of water Si Heon handed him and chuckled, “Kup.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You still haven’t realized? After all the stimulation I gave you?”

Si Heon’s hand stopped as he was opening a bottle of carbonated water after handing water to Ji Wook.

“No way…”

Chik, the sound of carbonation escaping was heard as he forcefully twisted open the cap.

“Ah, you love idiot.”

Ji Wook shook his head and drank his water.

“So. Did you get it or not?”

“You bastard…!”

“You don’t think I’d go after my friend’s girlfriend even if it’s a contract relationship, do you!?”

Si Heon let out a laugh, finally grasping the situation.

“It’s so obvious you’re distracted, what fake relationship? Don’t regret it later, be true to your feelings now.”

“It’s not like that.”

Si Heon brought the carbonated water to his mouth. He swallowed the cool, refreshing carbonation down his throat.

“What do you mean it’s not? Get your head straight. Don’t roll around crying and wailing later.”

“Who’s rolling around?”

“Don’t waste effort digging in the air without realizing your own feelings.”

Ji Wook spoke as if lecturing, but Si Heon just smirked.

“Men should be straightforward. Don’t do that push and pull thing.”

“Push and pull?”

“You know, pretending you don’t like someone when you do. Then acting like you like them again. That kind of thing.”

“Why would anyone do that?”

“There’s pride involved. Maybe not wanting to give your heart away all at once easily. If a woman tries to do push and pull, just go along with it. Don’t push her away.”

Ji Wook said he had to go now and stood up. As they faced each other at the entrance, he patted Si Heon’s shoulder and smiled gently.

“Cha Si Heon in love. I can’t believe it, but congratulations anyway.”

Even as he was leaving, Ji Wook sighed that a guy who doesn’t even know what dating is couldn’t possibly date properly.

The word ‘dating’ sounded strange. A novel feeling washed over him as his emotions finally seemed to take a definite shape.

After Ji Wook left, Si Heon rubbed his mouth with a perplexed expression.

Push and pull…

‘I’ll forget about the kiss just now. I’ll think of it as just acting.’

So Yi’s words suddenly flashed through his mind.

She said she liked him. That she liked him from the start. He couldn’t understand why she would say she’d forget the kiss right away.

Was that push and pull? Saying she liked him and then quickly pretending she didn’t.

“Haah… if that’s what it was, I totally fell for it.”

When asked if he could easily like just anyone, he said yes. He said giving up was easy too.

He even said kissing would be possible with someone else.

He didn’t know how much his blood boiled hearing those words.

A wry laugh escaped at the thought that she tried to do push and pull with him. Even so, saying she could kiss another man. As his insides churned again, Ji Wook’s words came back to him.

‘If a woman tries to do push and pull, just go along with it. Don’t push her away.’

Si Heon took a deep breath and picked up his phone.

[Come out for a bit. I’ll go to your house. Let’s go for a drive.]

If you like it, you like it. If you don’t, you don’t. Why is this so difficult?

Si Heon ran his hand through his hair a few times and entered the dressing room.

[This is the timeline separator]

So Yi chose one of the outfits Si Heon had bought her. It was a mint-colored dress.

As soon as she put on the dress, her heart started pounding again.

Even knowing it was a fake date, she couldn’t help feeling excited.

So this is why people suffer from unrequited love. Whenever reality hit, her heart stung.

Bzzt.

There was still about 30 minutes left until her meeting time with Si Heon when her phone rang.

“Oh? Do Hun, what’s up?”

− Are you home?

“Yeah, I’m about to go out soon though. Why?”

− Mom told me to bring you some side dishes, so I brought them. I’m in front of your house.

“Okay, wait just a moment.”

So Yi quickly hung up and headed down to the first floor.

“Please tell her I’m very grateful.”

So Yi smiled brightly after bringing the side dishes she received from Do Hun into the house. They had been close friends since high school, so Do Hun’s family often prepared side dishes for So Yi.

“Were you on your way somewhere?”

“I was supposed to meet the CEO, but there’s still some time left.”

There seemed to be about 20 minutes left until her meeting with Si Heon.

So Yi felt bad about sending Do Hun away right after he came to deliver side dishes, so she handed him some orange juice she had brought from home. The two sat on a bench in the park in front of the house.

“Are you still seeing him?”

“Huh?”

“That person. I’m asking if you’re still seeing him.”

“Oh… yeah.”

So Yi smiled awkwardly, then smiled even more brightly.

“Don’t worry. We’re doing well.”

She smiled even more brightly, afraid he might notice her pain.

“So Yi. Can’t you just not see him?”

“Why are you like this again?”

“You know too. That it won’t last long anyway.”

So Yi lowered her head and laughed.

“Okay, if I feel it’s not working out, I’ll end it quickly.”

“Don’t do that, end it now.”

“I’ll take care of it myself.”

“What’s with these clothes, dress warmly.”

“Ayu, you’re starting to nag again. It’s almost time for my appointment now. Hurry and go.”

So Yi quickly stood up and pushed Do Hun’s back.

“It’s winter now. You’ll catch a cold.”

“Okay, okay. Hurry and go.”

After sending away Do Hun, who nagged until the end, So Yi sat back on the bench to wait for Si Heon.

That’s right. It is a bit chilly.

As she was looking at the dress slightly exposed under her coat, thinking she should have worn a thicker coat, a large shadow fell over So Yi’s feet.

“Oh? CEO?”

So Yi looked up at Si Heon.

Her chest, which had felt heavy until just moments ago, fluttered softly.

She had missed him. The moment she saw his face, countless thoughts vanished like smoke.

Just because she liked him. Even the scent of his cologne carried by the wind made her heart swell with joy.

“I missed you.”

She blurted out without realizing. That she had missed him.

How many times she had thought of him and trembled over just two days, there was no way to explain all those feelings, so the words just tumbled out of her mouth on their own.

Si Heon smirked and slowly leaned down, placing his hands on either side of the bench where So Yi sat.

“You said you missed me.”

Si Heon’s face came closer and closer until it was right in front of So Yi’s nose.

“Did you smile so prettily at another guy like that?”

So Yi’s back pressed against the bench backrest as she was pushed further back.

“Wearing the clothes I bought you, smiling face to face with another guy.”

So Yi, with nowhere left to retreat, gulped dryly.

“Saying you missed me is cheating.”

Si Heon’s face drew near, almost touching. So Yi clenched her small fists resting on her knees.