I ordered coffee and sat by the window, watching passersby. Strangers whose faces I didn’t know. Anonymity. The aggressiveness that anonymity gives. Various words randomly came to mind.
It was different from the rumors that go around mouth-to-mouth. The feeling of being exposed and hanging somewhere was hard to shake off.
I had to stop thinking.
I took out my phone from the bag that Ji Seo Joon had gifted me a while ago.
[I’m feeling sick today, so I left work early. Can I be at your studio apartment?]I texted Ji Seo Joon. Then, sipping coffee through a straw, I once again looked at the people passing by.
The phone on the table vibrated, making a low humming sound.
[Where are you? Are you very sick? Wouldn’t it be better to go home?]A slight laugh escaped my lips at Ji Seo Joon’s text. He asked too many questions at once. As I was pondering which question to answer first, another message arrived.
[No, go ahead. I’ll buy medicine and come over as soon as possible.]
Seems I fell asleep, intoxicated by the familiar scent. I opened my eyes to find Ji Seo Joon tenderly brushing my bangs away, his face filled with worry.
“When did you get here?”
“Just now. Where does it hurt? You don’t seem to have a fever.”
I sat up in bed and tightly hugged Ji Seo Joon.
“What happened?”
Truthfully, I didn’t want to talk about it. It was nothing. Just like in high school, I would overcome it. But then…
“Are you keeping it a secret from your boyfriend?”
The words the Team Leader said earlier came to mind. If Ji Seo Joon had kept something difficult from me and I found out later…
Yes. Let’s talk.
“Do you know where our company’s most gossip-filled forum is?”
At my non-sequitur, Ji Seo Joon, who was tightly pressed against me, pulled back to meet my eyes.
“What?”
“There’s a forum where you can post anonymously. It wasn’t originally made for that purpose, but someone posted a weird article there.”
“…”
I picked up my phone next to me and showed Ji Seo Joon the article posted on the forum.
“…”
Reading the article multiple times, Ji Seo Joon’s hand tensed up.
“If you break my phone, you’ll have to buy me a new one.”
“You’re joking in this situation…”
“Should I cry, then?”
Ji Seo Joon, who had been crouching down to my eye level, abruptly stood up and nervously ran his fingers through his hair.
“Just let’s make it clear that we’re a couple.”
“I knew you’d say that.”
I snatched my phone out of Ji Seo Joon’s hand.
“Just let it be? This malicious post?”
“Should I write a counter-comment then? Saying, ‘It’s not that J, but another J is my boyfriend!’ Like that?”
As I spoke in the brightest tone I could muster, Ji Seo Joon, who had been subtly looking down on me, sat on the bed and matched my eye level.
“Don’t force yourself to be okay.”
“As expected, I can’t fool Ji Seo Joon.”
Ji Seo Joon pulled me into his arms.
“I saw the post earlier… something about being closest to you… That Baek, what’s her name, is it her?”
“Baek In Ha? Nah, she’s not like that.”
“How would you know?”
“I supervise In Ha, okay? She doesn’t have that kind of personality.”
I envisioned her big bunny eyes and her laughing while typing on the keyboard.
Nah, there’s no way she would.
“Plus, if it were In Ha, she wouldn’t have used the term ‘closest.’ How many close people do I have?”
“…”
Ji Seo Joon, whose arms still held me tightly, pulled me even deeper into his embrace.
“Still, it feels like I can live on, thanks to your consolation.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Why are you sorry?”
“Just… just sorry for everything.”
“You’re too kind for your own good.”
I barely managed to escape Ji Seo Joon’s embrace and grabbed his face with both hands.
“The rumors will disappear soon. Yes. They will. It will be tough, but it will be okay. Because you’re here.”
Ji Seo Joon frowned, dissatisfied with something.
“By the way, I feel a bit sorry for Researcher Jung Chan Hyung.”
“Why?”
Ji Seo Joon asked, his face turning even more fierce.
“I mean, we got into another scandal. It was really just a meal. I feel bad for no reason.”
“What’s there to feel bad about? Why did you even eat with him…”
I covered Ji Seo Joon’s mouth with my hand. His words were muffled against my palm.
“You only find me pretty. Honestly, what does Researcher Jung Chan Hyung lack to be with me?”
“…”
Ji Seo Joon, who had been glaring at me, finally lowered my hand and opened his mouth.
“I wish Moon Da Yul looked ugly to everyone else in the world.”
What the heck? I raised my hand to cover his mouth again, but Ji Seo Joon blocked it.
“If you only looked pretty in my eyes, I wouldn’t feel this insecure.”
Insecure? What’s making him…
“Don’t forget. I’m your boyfriend.”
“…How could I forget that?”
“Run to me first if you’re struggling. Got it?”
I nodded, my face slightly flushed.
“Sigh… I feel so anxious. I just want to keep you beside me, really.”
Ji Seo Joon, who had been washing his hands, extended one toward me.
“Hand me your phone.”
When I just stood there, staring blankly, Ji Seo Joon took my phone, easily unlocked it, and dialed a number.
“Hey. What are you doing right now…”
“Ah. Ma’am. It’s Seo Joon.”
My… mom?
“Yes. Have you been well? Yes, we are together right now.”
Ji Seo Joon glanced at me while talking on the phone. I tried to snatch the phone back, but Ji Seo Joon easily fended me off with one hand.
“Yes. We’re together at the officetel. She’s not feeling well. Yes. So, can I take care of her today?”
I was floored by Ji Seo Joon’s unexpected words.
“Yes. Yes. Don’t worry. I’ll give her medicine and take good care of her. Yes. Yes. Thank you. Yes. Take care.”
Could it be, they approved my night out? Still blinking in disbelief, I looked at Ji Seo Joon. He forcibly closed my gaping mouth and spoke.
“Go wash up. Rest for a bit. I’ll prepare your clothes.”
“What did Mom say?”
As Ji Seo Joon was about to head to the dressing room, I grabbed his arm to stop him. Holding my hand, which was gripping his clothes, he kissed me and then said,
“She said to be careful, it would hurt if you kicked me in your sleep.”
An Indifferent Woman is the One Men Desire the Most
One-line summary: The female lead is actually cold-hearted and extremely rational. She has stage-by-stage relationships and won’t two-time, but there will always be someone who secretly likes her.
This novel has the following triggers, so if you’re sensitive to these, please don’t read:
1. The female lead has had many relationships, but she treated each one seriously and broke up properly.
It’s just that the men unilaterally pestered her incessantly. For the female lead, when she doesn’t like someone anymore, she simply doesn’t like them.
(This applies to her relationships with Male Lead 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well, but she’s loyal in each 1-on-1 relationship!)
2. In this novel, Male Lead 2 and the female lead kiss in a car, and Male Lead 1 sees it and beats up Male Lead 2.
The female lead calls the police and sends both Male Lead 1 and 2 to the police station! Male Lead 1 begs the female lead not to break up with him.
3. Male Lead 1 has a gentle appearance but an obsessive personality.
Male Lead 2 has a delicate and soft appearance, slightly green tea-like (two-faced).
Male Lead 3 is a youthful college student and a smart person who has secretly liked the female lead for a long time.
Male Lead 4 is the female lead’s father’s special assistant, a business elite with deep, hidden thoughts.
4. At the beginning of this novel, the female lead has already broken up with Male Lead 1 (Chapter 4) and gotten back together with Male Lead 2 (ex-boyfriend).
5. Enter with caution if you have triggers!!!
