As Do Hyun stepped into the entrance, he paused upon seeing the darkened living room.

Although he had dropped off Ji Eun at the hotel and come straight home, the house was sunk in darkness, as if Joo had already gone to bed.

He regretted not giving Ji Eun some cash, even if she might have cursed him for being heartless, if he had known it would be like this.

As Do Hyun took off his shoes at the entrance and walked down the hallway, a welcoming voice came from the kitchen.

“You’re late again today.”

Joo, who had just closed the refrigerator door, walked towards Do Hyun.

Do Hyun’s face lit up with joy upon seeing Joo awake.

“I had a lot of work, so I’m a bit late. You’re still up?”

“I was thirsty, so I just had some water. I was about to go to bed.”

“People are so greedy. Just a moment ago, I was hoping you’d be awake, but now I’m disappointed you didn’t say you were waiting for me.”

It seems I was hoping to hear from your pretty lips that you were waiting for me.

Whatever it was, all I wanted was to see your face even for a moment, but I was feeling so disappointed that I realized I’ve always been this petty.

“Senior… it seems you’re the type who likes to hear rather obvious things.”

How could I not have waited?

Like a sick chicken, I had been nodding off trying to see Do Hyun come home, but fearing I might fall asleep without seeing his face, I came out for some cold water and ran into him.

“Then I should say it, right?”

The embarrassment was brief; since he wanted it, I gave it to him wholeheartedly.

“I was thinking about calling you dozens of times when you didn’t come home even after 10 PM, despite putting aside your busy work to come straight home. I almost pressed the call button, but I couldn’t because I was worried I might be bothering you while you’re busy.”

“…”

“I’ve been waiting for you all day, senior.”

Only then did a satisfied smile spread across Do Hyun’s face.

As if falsely accused, her passionate explanation made something deep in his chest tickle.

An indescribable emotion filled him so full that even breathing became laborious.

Do Hyun closed the remaining distance and grabbed Joo’s hand, pulling her in. Joo, barely half his size, fell into his embrace.

“How can I be so happy that you’ve been waiting for me all day?”

Pat pat.

Joo’s small hand patted Do Hyun’s broad back.

It was a gesture that seemed to say, “You’ve worked hard today.”

This is a problem, a real problem. How much work will I have to cram into a short time tomorrow to feel this touch again?

Do Hyun felt he could handle his work even with a shortened lunch break if it meant he could hold Joo like this.

“I missed you so much, Shin Joo.”

I really missed you.

While eating, working, on my way to meet you. I couldn’t think of anything but you.

“Someone might think I’ve been away on a long trip if they heard you.”

Pshh, Joo’s feather-light laughter spilled onto Do Hyun’s chest.

Do Hyun gently pulled Joo away from his embrace to look at her face that he had missed so much.

“If you don’t have any plans tomorrow evening, let’s watch a movie together.”

“A movie?”

“Yes. I’ll make the reservations.”

While watching a movie together would be nice, Joo was more concerned about Do Hyun’s well-being.

“You’ve been so busy lately, wouldn’t it be better to rest at home? Or we could just have a simple dinner together.”

“Being with you is resting for me.”

“Hmm. Alright. Let’s watch a movie together tomorrow. And have dinner too.”

Joo took a step back and gently pushed Do Hyun’s back.

“You must be tired, go in and sleep.”

“Seeing your face made me not tired anymore.”

“Still, go in, wash up, and sleep. You have to go to work tomorrow too.”

Joo wanted to chat more with Do Hyun too, but it was already well past 11 o’clock.

Despite Do Hyun’s protests that he was fine, Joo pushed him into the bedroom herself before returning to her room.

Joo’s face, which had been sullen while waiting for Do Hyun at home, now had a beaming sun rising on it.

She couldn’t be happier even though they had only seen each other briefly and exchanged a few words.

Lying on the bed, Joo stared at the ceiling with wide-awake eyes.

‘So tomorrow is our first date then.’

Date, date. Just thinking about it made her head feel like it was turning pink.

While she had been fighting sleep earlier waiting for Do Hyun at home, now sleep had completely fled.

What should I wear tomorrow? What should we eat for dinner? As she lay unable to sleep with various worries, there was a knock at the door.

Knock knock. As the door cracked open with the sound of knocking, the light from the floor lamp left on in the living room flowed into the room.

As she raised her upper body, her eyes met with Do Hyun’s, whom she thought had gone to sleep.

“Are you asleep?”

“No? Not yet. Why?”

“Let’s sleep together.”

“What?”

Before she could even answer, Do Hyun strode into the room.

Her eyes, which had been rolling in confusion in the darkness, fixed on Do Hyun as he sat on the edge of the bed.

As if he had made up his mind, Do Hyun already had a pillow tucked under his arm.

“Why do you suddenly want to sleep together?”

“I had a scary dream. Let’s sleep together.”

What nonsense is this from someone who could easily beat up a ghost?

Joo shook her head vigorously and pushed Do Hyun’s back with both hands.

“No. The bed is too narrow.”

The bed in Joo’s room was a single bed, comfortable for one person. It was inevitably too small to accommodate his large frame.

Despite Joo’s strong protests, Do Hyun’s face showed no sign of seeing any problem.

“It’s good for people like us. We can sleep close together.”

Oh my.

“Lie down. Let’s sleep.”

Look how natural he’s being.

Do Hyun lay down comfortably as if it were his own bed.

Not stopping there, he even patted the mattress, signaling her to lie down quickly.

The bed, already filled with his large body, was packed with no space left.

“You really want to sleep together?”

“Why? Don’t you want to just sleep together? Should we do something else?”

“How can you say such things?”

“It’s not like we can’t say it.”

Unlike Joo, who was flustered and at a loss, Do Hyun was completely at ease.

Do Hyun grabbed Joo’s hand as she neither lay down nor moved away from the bed.

Even with the slight pull, Joo’s upper body was drawn towards Do Hyun. As Joo’s long hair fell forward, Do Hyun slowly tucked it behind her ear.

“I’ll just stay by your side until you fall asleep.”

“…”

“Please understand. I just want to see your sleeping face, at least.”

Do Hyun already knew well. That if he pleaded earnestly, she couldn’t drive him away.

A silence close to permission followed. Do Hyun’s hand, which had brushed her earlobe, cradled the back of her head and slowly brought it to his chest.

Joo lay down, resting her head on Do Hyun’s outstretched arm.

Even though he had just finished showering, his heavy scent remained beneath the fresh body wash fragrance.

Joo’s body seemed to warm up with the enveloping warmth of his temperature.

She buried her face in Do Hyun’s chest as if burrowing into deep snow.

As Do Hyun wrapped his remaining arm around Joo’s waist, she was completely hidden in his embrace.

Being held like this made her newly aware of their difference in build. His broad chest with room to spare and his long legs reaching her feet made her feel that way.

She looked up at Do Hyun with sleepy eyes.

Do Hyun’s gaze, clear as a bright light, met hers, as if he had been watching for some time.

Do Hyun’s gaze seemed to gently caress Joo’s eyes, nose, and lips in turn, like a touch.

Finally, with the dry rustling sound of the blanket, Do Hyun’s upper body gently pressed down on Joo’s body.

Do Hyun’s tilted head was about to come down when Joo’s palm blocked the space between them.

“W-wait! No skinship on the bed!”

Her cheeks flushed hot.

It wasn’t that she disliked kissing him. Rather, she liked it. It was a problem because she liked it too much.

She always lacked self-control when she was with Do Hyun. She was worried that she might get caught up in the mood and do something.

“Where else would we do this important thing if not on the bed?”

How can he say such lustful words with such a calm face?

As Do Hyun pulled down the hand she had put up, Joo hastily replied.

“Senior, don’t misunderstand. I let you be my boyfriend because I wanted to be something to you. Not your wife.”

“What should I do? I can do everything even as a boyfriend.”

Do Hyun’s leg overlapped with her bare leg, and his full weight pressed down on Joo.

Whether it was due to the pressure on her chest, her breath escaping through her teeth gradually quickened.

Do Hyun’s lips touched her reddened eyelids once, her heated cheeks once.

As soon as Joo’s finely trembling gaze lowered, Do Hyun captured her lips.

He gently explored inside, then sucked strongly as if to take everything away.

Do Hyun, who had been kissing her lips endlessly until her mind became hazy, pulled away.

No sooner had Joo lifted her eyelids than his lips descended on her collarbone exposed beyond her disheveled collar.

As he mischievously bit the fair skin, a bright red mark like a flower petal immediately appeared.

Joo frowned and narrowed the space between her legs as she moaned.

“S-senior.”

Joo’s hands, which had been holding Do Hyun’s waist, were now desperately clutching his collar.

Joo was looking up at Do Hyun pleadingly with eyes full of moist moisture.

Unable to steady her trembling breath, Joo spoke in a wet voice.

“If you push me like this… I can’t think straight.”

It’s too fast. This is too early.

But unlike her mind, her body couldn’t reject Do Hyun at all.

“It’s the same for me.”

Do Hyun was equally afraid of himself.

A kiss. That’s all he intended to do. But now he wanted more than that.

“I can’t think of anything right now.”

He could only see Joo.

“And I don’t want to think.”

He wanted to kiss every inch of her trembling skin. He wanted to mark her as his own for all to see.

Dangerous thoughts took over his entire body, momentarily pushing aside his consideration for Joo.

Once again their breaths intertwined, and their lips collided more passionately than before.

“No skinship on the bed.”

I should have really done as you said.

It was torture to hold back, it was agony.

Above all, I didn’t want to hold back.