After the whirlwind of morning work hours passed, inside the office wrapping up the morning.

Unlike his usual stiff posture, Ki Yeon was leaning back in his chair lazily while looking at documents.

These days, Ki Yeon had been in quite a good mood.

It was partly because there was nothing work-related bothering him, but even more so because there was someone who had suddenly reclaimed the top priority that had been maintained for a long time recently.

When thinking of that person, his sensitivity dulled a bit, and when hearing their voice, his sharpness was completely stolen away.

As a result, he was spending such peaceful days, but that tranquility did not last very long.

Woo-woo-woong-.

The cellphone carelessly tossed on top of the pile of documents rang briefly.

Ki Yeon, who shifted his gaze to check the notification, instantly furrowed his smooth brow.

[Director. I’m sorry but I think I’ll have to postpone tomorrow’s appointment. I’m sorry. I’ll contact you again later.]

Tomorrow, he was supposed to have dinner with that person. With a previous record of being postponed once by the other party.

And now, another message of refusal had arrived.

“Huh… look at this.”

Ki Yeon’s face hardened coldly as he let out a disbelieving snort.

He had understood and let it go once, thinking it could happen. But if it was repeated, there was no need to overlook it anymore.

He had clearly warned not to run away, but it seemed the timid Nam Yoo In didn’t understand properly.

[Why?]

After sending the simple question, he forced the words on the documents that weren’t registering into his mind.

But soon he tossed the papers onto the desk, scattering them, and picked up his phone.

Nam Yoo In’s awaited reply did not come.

“I told you to follow along well, but you don’t listen.”

A dry smile spread across Ki Yeon’s lips as he looked at the empty screen.

How should he teach this innocent, puppy-like Nam Yoo In? That saying not to run away meant the same thing as saying she absolutely could not escape.

Ki Yeon briefly recalled a recent memory along with his contemplation.

Nam Yoo In soaked by rain. The bewildered expression at the words “I like you”. The red flush scattered on pale white skin. Cheeks hot and soft with fever.

The way those clear, untainted eyes blinked.

Creeak-.

The large leather chair was pushed back as Ki Yeon stood up.

Standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows with bright sunlight pouring in, the gray cityscape of buildings spread out clearly at Ki Yeon’s feet.

Until now, Ki Yeon’s life had been one of strict meritocracy. He had goals to obtain what he wanted, and he always got the results he desired.

He had never miscalculated, and of course, had never tasted failure.

Perhaps that’s why. He now yearned and longed for Nam Yoo In, who tried to escape like sand slipping through his fingers no matter how tightly he grasped, more than anything else he had ever wanted before.

It kept provoking a fierce greed, and a strange possessiveness he had never felt before grew twisted.

He didn’t want those moist eyes to look elsewhere, and he didn’t want that pure, clear smile to be shown to anyone else.

He wanted to possess her all to himself, and was crazily covetous.

“…”

His cold downcast eyes indifferently surveyed the scenery below, then suddenly he turned and approached the desk, picking up the still-silent phone.

And he set a trap for the other party who hadn’t fully grasped the situation, giving no chance for refusal.

[Then let’s meet briefly today. Should I go to your school? Or in front of your house?]

Then, the nape of the one who had been running away in the distance was firmly grasped, and a head peeked out timidly.

[Today?]

Unable to wait any longer, Ki Yeon pressed the call button.

Trrrr- trrrr- After a series of boring dial tones, just before the voicemail was about to start, the awaited voice was heard along with noisy background sounds.

-Director?

Ki Yeon forced down the corners of his mouth that tried to rise weakly at the soft voice calling him, and asked gruffly.

“Are your classes over?”

-Yes… just now.

“So have you decided?”

Only faint breathing could be heard, as if hesitating to answer the question.

Ki Yeon’s question was not to hear Yoo In’s answer. It was more like setting the stage before making an announcement.

He had already finished rationalizing that since he gave a chance but Nam Yoo In refused, there was no choice.

“All your lectures are done today, right? Then we can meet now.”

-Yes, yes? No, so suddenly… You’re busy, Director. I think it would be better to meet another time.

“Don’t worry about my circumstances. Let’s just have lunch together.”

-…

“Wait for me at your school.”

-…Director.

“Understood?”

After waiting a few seconds, he heard a small “yes” in response. Ki Yeon hung up with a mocking smirk.

The casual way he tossed the phone showed the composure of someone who knew this would happen.

And there was one more important thing Ki Yeon realized.

That Nam Yoo In might try to run away from him, but could not refuse him.

****

In front of the serene Sunhyun University under a clear sky with a cream-like cloud floating and a gentle breeze blowing.

The university, said to have been carved out of a mountain, stood majestically on a high hill as if showing off its fame and renown.

Looking at the grand main gate exuding dignity, Ki Yeon felt a strange sensation of a place that seemed like he would never come to becoming familiar yet special at the same time as he got out of his parked car.

Groups of students, freed by the pleasant spring weather and lunchtime, passed by in twos and threes through the main gate.

“Not here yet.”

His intended target was not yet visible among them even after looking around thoroughly.

Ki Yeon put his hands in his pants pockets as he walked towards the row of street trees, intending to wait, expertly ignoring the curious gazes and interest showered on him.

How much time passed like that?

A slender white figure began to appear faintly in the distance from the main gate.

Ki Yeon, who had started to move forward with sudden gladness, abruptly stopped in his tracks.

“…”

The moment he discovered that Nam Yoo In coming towards him was not alone, an unimaginable displeasure struck the back of Ki Yeon’s head.

A cold sneer formed on Ki Yeon’s face as he narrowed his eyes to confirm the large lump attached to her side.

How far was this brazen act intended?

The two who seemed close chatted amiably the whole way, and when they reached the main gate, the annoying boy patted Nam Yoo In’s head. Nam Yoo In smiled docilely and greeted him.

Ki Yeon, who had witnessed the entire scene, chuckled mockingly and pressed his sizzling eyelids that were boiling up.

And a moment later, a thin but clear voice was heard.

“Director.”

Ki Yeon removed his hand and raised his head.

As his blurry vision cleared, Nam Yoo In’s white face with a hint of worry appeared on his retina under the sunlight filtering sparsely through the leaves.

“Director?”

When Ki Yeon just stared down at her face expressionlessly, she blinked her large eyes and tilted her head innocently.

“Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”

Exercising patience to suppress the rising irritation, Ki Yeon fixed his gaze on Yoo In’s hair where another’s hand had rested and said coldly.

“No.”

“…But your expression doesn’t look good.”

Ki Yeon laughed briefly in despair at Yoo In’s actions as she frowned slightly and examined him.

This is all because of whom?

Although her naive reaction showed that this was not her intention, Ki Yeon’s mood remained murky like muddy water, and he spoke in a rather sharp tone.

“When you come to me, you should come alone. Why did you bring someone?”

“Ah… did you see?”

“I saw it very well. As if you were trying to show it on purpose.”

Yoo In shook her head gently, seemingly unable to find the exact meaning in his words.

“Why would I do it on purpose? It’s the friend you saw at the hotel last time. Don’t you remember?”

How could I not remember? Rather, it’s a problem that I remember too well. To the point of feeling sick.

However, Ki Yeon was very annoyed at the mere thought of voicing the fact that he had been constantly keeping their behavior just now, as well as what he saw at the restaurant, in his mind and paying attention to it.

“Ah. That friend who was pining next to Nam Yoo In?”

As a result of his childish sarcasm, Ki Yeon received Yoo In’s puzzled and suspicious gaze, and he raised his eyebrow mischievously.

Yoo In then slightly furrowed her eyes that had been blinking innocently.

“What do you mean pining?”

“I wouldn’t know.”

As he kept saying incomprehensible things, Yoo In looked up at Ki Yeon with an expression that seemed to wonder why on earth he was acting this way.

Although the owner of those innocent eyes that had made him rush here so suddenly was looking only at him, it wasn’t enough to dissipate his irritation.

Moreover, his throat felt parched as if he was thirsty. How could he resolve this immediately and improve his mood?

“That friend seemed quite free-spirited in his actions.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“He was like that in the SJ Hotel lobby too, and he was touching you again today.”

Ki Yeon reached out his hand and stroked and touched the small head thoroughly, as if trying to erase the touch that had caused him displeasure earlier.

Yoo In, who was momentarily flustered by the arbitrarily initiated touch, quietly looked up at Ki Yeon as his fingers, which had felt rough at first, gradually became calmer.

Ki Yeon knew that his actions were childishly petty, but he didn’t want to stop.

It really felt like the unpleasant traces were being washed away. And the feeling of the thin, soft hair flowing between his fingers wasn’t bad at all.

No, it was good. What wouldn’t be good about touching Nam Yoo In? But this definitely felt good.

However, separate from that, spite sprouted from his mouth.

“It seems anyone can touch Nam Yoo In’s head. You’re just staying still like this.”

Yoo In immediately frowned with displeasure and pushed away Ki Yeon’s arm.

“That’s not true.”

“If it’s not.”

“Who likes being touched by just anyone? Of course I don’t like it.”

“Then. You’re saying you don’t dislike it now.”

This time, Ki Yeon didn’t yield and wasn’t pushed away. He gently stroked from the crown of her head to the nape of her neck as he asked again.

“Is that right?”

Instead of answering, Yoo In’s round eyes, still not free of displeasure, wandered here and there.

Even though she hadn’t explicitly said she liked it, Ki Yeon’s stiff lips loosened hopelessly.

Ki Yeon clicked his tongue inwardly. What was he doing, softening up like this already?

When he tapped her puffed-up cheeks with his index finger, her clear eyes like green foliage rose upwards.

Ki Yeon pulled up the corners of his mouth further as he said.

“Let’s go. I’ll buy you something delicious.”

Yoo In, who had been sighing lightly as if displeased, nodded and said okay.

Seeing Yoo In following reluctantly, an indescribable voice whispered from deep inside.

That just receiving such gazes was no longer enough.

That he wanted to embrace her with explosively welling possessiveness, pour out his burning affection, and caress her to his heart’s content.