“Try and you’ll find out. If it’s a misconception or not.”

In Joo’s wide open eyes, the image of Do Hyun’s half-closed eyelids closing was captured.

Do Hyun’s thumb was placed on the tip of her closed chin, and the force of his hand created a gap between Joo’s lips.

As something unfamiliar pushed through the parted teeth, her fingertips and toes tingled.

It was as if a siren went off in her head, flashing red lights and making beeping sounds. It was an emergency situation.

Joo was unable to push Do Hyun away, the sensation making her head spin.

Kiss, kiss, this was a kiss.

Her chest, her heart was pounding unbearably, incomparable to before.

Do Hyun slowly pulled away from Joo, who hadn’t blinked once the whole time.

Do Hyun wiped the smeared lipstick on the corner of Joo’s lips with his thumb.

His gentle voice spread faintly like moonlight.

“I don’t know about anything else, but it does feel good.”

Just until now, she had vowed to never fall for Nam Do Hyun again.

But with just one kiss, just one measly kiss.

My resolution, my regret turned into bubbles and disappeared.

“Wh, what did you just do?”

When he should be apologizing profusely right now, he just suddenly kissed her and acted nonchalant.

Isn’t there supposed to be a proper order in relationships between people?

He had just confessed his feelings, and then kissed her without permission, she was so surprised that she wasn’t even angry.

“I just paid you back for the kiss you gave me before.”

“How long ago was that for you to pay it back now!”

“You paid back something from over 7 years ago, you should let this slide.”

The beach where Joo had kissed Do Hyun was right in front of them to pretend not to know.

Feeling wronged but having nothing to refute with, Joo just mumbled whatever came to mind.

“This is pure coercion, coercion!”

“Yeah. It’s an excuse.”

Do Hyun readily admitted it.

“I just wanted to do it right now.”

She couldn’t hit her chest with her fist, or get angry like before.

Do Hyun’s honesty actually shut Joo up.

It was a moment of letting her guard down. Do Hyun’s large hands cupped her cheeks.

Her eyes widened at the warmth on her face, and her shoulders rose as their lips met again.

With a playful smacking sound, Do Hyun’s lips pulled away.

Still with a leisurely smile on his lips, Do Hyun put on an act that anyone could tell was awkward.

“Ahh. I did it once more.”

Do Hyun laughed, his eyes crinkling comfortably.

So this is where the saying “getting your nose broken with your eyes wide open” comes from.

Joo, having fallen for it twice, blankly looked up at Do Hyun.

He looked so happy for some reason, his face constantly smiling.

“If you feel wronged, pay me back again.”

“……”

“I welcome it anytime.”

This, this!

That th-thief!

***

Returning to Seoul from Yeosu, it was almost 3 AM.

The one fortunate thing was that it was Saturday, the start of the weekend, so she didn’t have to go to work.

The unfortunate thing was that she couldn’t sleep a wink due to the traces of Do Hyun left on her lips.

She didn’t want to be swayed at all, but it felt like her heart was being uprooted in a whirlpool.

Not wanting to get swept up by Do Hyun, she fled to the nursing home where Jung Hye was to avoid him.

She managed to evade him well for two days, but starting Monday morning, she had to face Do Hyun.

There had been clattering noises outside for a while now, and it turned out Do Hyun was preparing breakfast.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Ah, yes.”

Do Hyun, in a white shirt and navy necktie, ladled the egg soup into a bowl.

Joo gave a rough answer to his offhand remark, her eyes drifting to Do Hyun’s forearms.

Her gaze lingered for a long time on the firm arms visible past the rolled-up sleeves.

Fine muscles divided delicately with the movement of his wrists, veins protruding.

‘What’s wrong with me.’

It’s not like it’s the first time seeing a man’s arms.

Joo quickly averted her eyes and tried to pass by the kitchen.

As Do Hyun filled Joo’s portion of rice and soup on the table, he spoke.

“Have breakfast before going to work.”

Having finished preparing the meal, Do Hyun sat in front of the neatly arranged table.

Drawn by Do Hyun’s words, Joo took a step towards him but quickly backtracked.

“You eat. I’m not going to.”

“You usually eat breakfast though.”

“I don’t feel like eating today.”

Do Hyun stood up, pushing back his chair and leaving the well-prepared meal.

“Let’s go to the office together. I’ll give you a ride.”

“It’s so close I could fall and touch it with my nose, you don’t need to drive me. And you have to~ finish eating all that before leaving.”

Thinking Do Hyun might follow her out, Joo quickly crossed her legs and slipped out of the house.

Tightly shutting the front door, Joo puckered her lips.

‘He usually says he doesn’t eat breakfast.’

Did he make it because of me?

Hmph. Does he think I’ll happily accept it just because of that?

You can call me petty, but I’m going to pay back everything I received without missing a thing.

Just like how Do Hyun rejected Joo’s kindness back then, she paid him back the exact same way.

She thought it would feel refreshing, but she didn’t feel all that great.

***

“Wow. Joo, did the CEO send you flowers again?”

Again, again it was.

Do Hyun had sent Joo, who was working in the same building, a bouquet of flowers for no reason.

Who would have thought the breakfast he prepared a week ago was the start of a serious courtship.

For that whole week, Do Hyun had been delivering breakfast and bouquets to Joo without fail.

Joo’s desk was already filled with the flowers Do Hyun had given her.

She couldn’t even count how many vases she had to buy because of these flowers.

“I’m jealous. I can’t even remember the last time my husband gave me flowers.”

Yang Mi, who had been married for 10 years, couldn’t hide her envious tone.

The female employees swarmed like bees next to Joo, who familiarly received the bouquet from the delivery man.

“How does he send them every single day without fail?”

“He’s really sincere towards you, Joo.”

“Did you two have a fight by any chance? Is he continuing to send them to make up with you?”

To the employee making wrong guesses, Joo let out a deep sigh and confessed.

“The opposite. I’m the one getting punished.”

Nam Do Hyun always put Joo in difficult positions.

Just because she didn’t accept his confession once, he sends flowers to the office, not even home.

‘Does he think I’ll accept his confession if he showers me with gifts?’

Absolutely not accepting it.

Joo fiddled with the hydrangea petals that looked like blue butterfly wings.

“Did I ever say I like hydrangeas?”

It was quite amazing how he picked out only the hydrangeas that she liked out of so many flowers.

Because of that, she couldn’t throw them away and had no choice but to keep them preciously.

That evening, as she was leaving the building mixed in with the PR team employees, she spotted a car prominently parked in front of the main gate.

Since all the employees definitely knew Do Hyun’s expensive car, they focused their gazes on Joo as one.

As if he had spotted Joo, Do Hyun got out of the driver’s seat and stood in front of the passenger door.

He kindly opened the passenger door and gestured inside with his eyes. Telling her to get in quickly.

She couldn’t refuse to get in since the employees were there. Perhaps Do Hyun had aimed for that.

“Hurry and go, the CEO is waiting for you.”

“We were supposed to have dinner together tonight. I want to eat meat too.”

She tried sending pleading looks, but the employees pushed Joo’s back instead.

“You can eat with us later. Spend some good time with your husband.”

“That’s right. Wouldn’t it taste better eating with your husband than with us?”

No. I’m super uncomfortable with my husband.

I’d rather happily eat with you all than force myself to eat with my husband.

The employees personally dragged the sluggish Joo in front of Do Hyun. Then, after exchanging brief eye contact with Do Hyun, they tactfully made way.

“I’ll walk.”

“I know it’s close enough to fall and touch with your nose, but get in. There are a lot of watching eyes.”

“And you parked in front of the main gate where there are a lot of watching eyes on purpose.”

She knew that if she refused while pretending to be a married couple, it would look strange.

Knowing all that, Do Hyun had prominently parked the car he kept underground in front of the main gate.

“You know very well. Get in. The light changed.”

It happened to be rush hour, so employees were pouring out of the building, leaving Joo no choice but to get in the car as Do Hyun planned.

Do Hyun, who returned to the driver’s seat, fastened his seat belt and started the car.

Joo opened her mouth without giving Do Hyun a single glance.

“Please stop sending me flowers now.”

“You don’t like flowers? Most women like flowers though.”

Guess the women he’s met like flowers?

So that’s how he knew to prepare flowers that suit my taste.

“I do like them, but I have nowhere to put them anymore.”

Joo’s desk was literally a flower garden.

Employees even asked if she was running a flower business.

“Looks like you didn’t throw them out.”

“Why would I throw out flowers? I may hate you but I don’t hate the flowers.”

“Then I’ll send an appropriate amount.”

She thought he would have understood, but Do Hyun tried to find a compromise.

Joo turned her upper body towards Do Hyun, fidgeting.

“I’m not saying to send an appropriate amount, I’d prefer if you don’t send any at all.”

“Is it burdensome?”

Joo answered immediately as if she had been waiting.

“Yes. It’s very burdensome.”

“But I still caught your attention, so I half succeeded.”

“Wow, how can you be so optimistic?”

No matter how hard she tried to defend, Joo ended up getting hit by Do Hyun’s continuous attacks.

“What. Surprised that I’m shameless?”

“Yes.”

“You’ll be surprised a lot. I plan on continuing to be shameless.”

“Ha.”

A dry laugh, or perhaps a real laugh, slipped out.

Just how far is he going to go?

He really was unrivaled in rendering her speechless.

Joo shook her head from side to side and turned her gaze out the window.

Cozy air circulated inside, cut off from the cold outside air.

She thought it would be awkward being together in a small space after the kiss in Yeosu, but it was unexpectedly comfortable.

No, was it actually nice?

I don’t know myself either.

When he rejected my confession and said he liked me, I hated him so much.

But I couldn’t strongly push away Do Hyun when he expressed his affection.

Because it was love I was receiving after a long time, love I had been waiting for.

I guess I wanted to live like a child being loved too.

‘Let’s enjoy it a little, whatever.’

It’s not bad to enjoy it.