“I’m sorry, Yool.”

With a soft click, indirect lighting installed on the ceiling illuminated the room. Kwon Yool, accustomed to darkness, furrowed his brow and used his hand to create shadows.

“It must have been stifling in the dark, right? I didn’t expect it to take this long.”

Seo Yeon approached Kwon Yool, who was leaning against the wall.

Then, she reached out and took his hand.

Although her body was completely powerless, just pulling his heavy arm caused Seo Yeon’s body to sway back and forth.

“If I had known, I would have told Ho Jin that you were with Yool.”

Seo Yeon’s pupils were busy scanning his expression.

Kwon Yool, who had risen from his seat without a word, remained silent.
He was lost in thought, as if wandering through the foggy mist where nothing was visible in front of him.

What… should I do?

What kind of person should I become, to stand shoulder to shoulder with those impressive men?

Kwon Yool didn’t want to let go of Seo Yeon, nor did he want to lose her.

“Are you feeling down?”

It wasn’t exactly cheerful, but it wasn’t because of her.

“No, it’s nothing.”

Seo Yeon didn’t seem reassured by his words, so she led him to the small sofa by the bedroom window.

“What Ho Jin said earlier…”

Seo Yeon wanted to explain, not to make excuses.

It was something that could easily be misunderstood.
“Don’t worry. I’ll pretend I didn’t hear about Ho Jin and Seo Hee’s story.”

“I knew in advance, but I couldn’t talk about a friend’s private life.”

Kwon Yool nodded in agreement.

It wasn’t the most important thing. There was something else he wanted to tell her, something much more important.

But the hidden truth was holding him back.

He couldn’t confidently reveal himself, questioning whether he had the right to talk about what was truly important.

Kwon Yool felt so pathetic that he let out a heavy sigh.

Should he just spill everything here and wait for the consequences?

A heavy sense of guilt overwhelmed him.

“It seems like our Yool isn’t feeling too great.”
Seo Yeon tilted her head and met his eyes.

Then, with a deeply apologetic expression, she spoke, “If it’s okay with Yool, I’m thinking of talking to Ho Jin about us.”

Her small hand slipped gently, interlocking their fingers.

“I… I’m not sure.”

As the soft, delicate touch of her skin pressed against his, he found himself wanting to delay the inevitable.

“What do you think would happen if Ho Jin started dating Seo Hee?”

Seo Yeon raised her finger, lightly brushing her lips against Kwon Yool’s hand.

At that moment, Kwon Yool’s pent-up feelings of anxiety and fear seemed to explode.

“Seo Yeon… I’m sorry. I was just… I mean…”
As if to say, “Yes, it’s now,” Kwon Yool’s lips moved on their own.

“I hope Seo Yeon stays right here, so my selfishness doesn’t ruin everything,” he said, his anxious face leaning down towards Seo Yeon’s neck.

But then, Seo Yeon’s lightly lifted shoulders found their way back to their original position.

Kwon Yool took a slow breath and thought about what to say next.

Unaware of Kwon Yool’s bittersweet feelings, the sweet scent of peaches emanated from Seo Yeon’s shoulder.

“Yool.”

Still not releasing her interlocked fingers, Seo Yeon rested her cheek on Kwon Yool’s hand.

“I did see the sun a bit. My mom kept pestering me. But I won’t go on any blind dates.”
It was the words he had been longing to hear.

“We still have 8 more dates to go, and I’ve only received one letter from Yool, and also…”

As these words of gratitude reached Kwon Yool’s ears, he lifted his head.

“You know, Seo Yeon. There’s something I must say.”

Now, he really had to say it. He no longer had the heart to deceive Seo Yeon.

She hadn’t asked, but he should have told the truth from the beginning.

There had been several opportunities, and perhaps this was the best one yet…

“From the day we first met, I’ve been thinking about it every day.”

He recalled the day they first met in the hotel parking lot two years ago.
The image of Seo Yeon turning away in frustration continued to replay in Kwon Yool’s mind.

“At first, I wanted to give up, and then I didn’t have the courage. So… I couldn’t be honest.”

He struggled to bring out those words that had been circling in his mouth.

“I think I know what’s in Yool’s heart.”

Seo Yeon pressed her lips against Kwon Yool’s serious ones.

Though it wasn’t the ideal time, scolding him wouldn’t change the fact that their second kiss had shaken Kwon Yool’s heart.

Looking into Kwon Yool’s widened eyes, Seo Yeon continued speaking.

“Truth be told, I couldn’t be honest either. I didn’t know if my feelings were right.”
After taking a long break from dating, Seo Yeon mentioned that expressing her feelings felt awkward.

“But, you know, Yool, our meetings… It’s like looking forward to a gift like a child.”

“I feel the same way.”

This time, it was Kwon Yool who gently kissed Seo Yeon’s lips, a bit more deeply.

The words they had originally intended to say vanished in the sweet kiss, and in the end, the truth remained hidden beyond.