As they headed to the parking lot, the thickening dark clouds sprinkled drizzling droplets.

Yoo In couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that Ji Han seemed off somehow, and she turned back to look several times.

Though she had left her friend behind of her own will, it didn’t mean she wasn’t worried.

As Yoo In looked over her shoulder at Ji Han still standing there, something was draped over her head.

“Stop looking back already.”

Along with the low voice, a refreshing breeze-like scent that calmed her mind gently stimulated her sense of smell.

What covered her vision was a deep gray jacket resembling the rainy sky. The man’s body heat remaining in the silk lining warmly enveloped her back.

Yoo In lifted the jacket slightly with her left hand that wasn’t held by Ki Yeon.

“Sir, why did you act like that to Ji Han earlier?”

“Like what.”

“Getting angry and looking like you were going to fight Ji Han… And what was that about being clingy? What did you mean by that?”

Ki Yeon glanced sideways with a disinterested look, as if it wasn’t his business.

“If you’re that curious, ask your friend later.”

“Why should I ask Ji Han about what you said? Just tell me.”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Hmm. Because.”

Leaving the sentence unfinished, Ki Yeon pulled Yoo In’s shoulder close and held her. A strong, fresh scent wafted close amidst the raindrops.

“Because I don’t want Nam Yoo In to hate me.”

His hot whispering breath caressed her cold cheek and ear.

Yoo In shrank her neck to avoid the unfamiliarly chilling sensation and frantically rubbed her ear where the leisurely low voice had entered.

“Ah! Really, stop it.”

“Stop what?”

“Don’t do things like this.”

“Like what?”

His relaxed smiling face clung to Yoo In’s earlobe without giving her a chance to refuse. She knew what the soft sensation that brushed lightly as he pronounced “this?” was without having to look.

“Sir!”

Her voice rose an octave, filled with complaint. Yoo In glared sharply at Ki Yeon as she pulled away from his embrace and moved away.

But she only made it a few meters before being caught by Ki Yeon again and had to walk to the sedan in an awkward posture, almost embraced.

Sulking, teasing, doing exactly what he was told not to do. That’s how most of Ki Yeon’s actions toward Yoo In were. It was puzzling why he said he didn’t want to be hated while acting like this.

“Sorry for letting you get rained on. Nam Yoo In doesn’t like rain.”

As soon as they got in the car, Ki Yeon frowned as if displeased, then smiled slightly.

His suit and hair were even more soaked as he said that.

While she had been shielded by the expensive jacket Ki Yeon had covered her with, Ki Yeon had taken the falling rain head-on with his bare body.

His neatly styled hair was now damp and disheveled, and droplets falling from it left stains on his pants.

Should I wipe it off, her arm twitched. As Yoo In hesitated, a faint water mark trickled down his cheek.

“You got much wetter than me, sir…”

“I’m your umbrella, aren’t I? It’s only right that I get wet.”

His arm stretched flexibly behind him, pulling out a familiar blanket and roughly wiping his face and hair.

“Right?”

The power of his words is remarkable. They’re always filled with such conviction and confidence that they make it impossible to refute or oppose.

So all you can do is nod and agree that he’s right about everything.

When Yoo In weakly nodded, Ki Yeon smiled, his pitch-black eyes gleaming with satisfaction, and gently stroked her head for a while as if praising her.

Then he snatched his wet jacket that Yoo In was still holding and tossed it behind the seat.

“Now, shall we go for the gift presentation ceremony?”

He speaks proudly as if it were some medal awarding ceremony. Realizing the “gift” was what he meant to give, Yoo In couldn’t help but laugh. “Pfft.”

Ki Yeon didn’t say where the presentation ceremony would be held, and Yoo In didn’t bother to ask.

On the surface, it was because all the places he had taken her so far had been excellent in decor, service, and food, with nothing to fault.

But more accurately, she didn’t feel the need to ask. She knew the fingers tapping on the steering wheel, the concave eyes that occasionally turned to her, the charming smile when their eyes met, were harmless.

Looking at his perfect side profile, she impulsively called out to him.

“Sir.”

He glanced over and naturally raised the corners of his mouth.

“What is it.”

There’s no formality in his casual speech. If anything, it’s more playful. Suddenly the thought occurs that he’s probably the only one who can speak like that.

“Don’t get angry.”

Feeling awkward and embarrassed by the words she blurted out, Yoo In bit her lip. Self-reproach for the impulse being too deep made her hang her head.

Ki Yeon stared intently at Yoo In with a strange expression. As if trying to gauge what thought process led to that conclusion.

After squinting his eyes and rubbing his distinct jawline, Ki Yeon seemed to make a decision and opened his mouth.

“Alright. But in return, Nam Yoo In has to do what I want.”

“…”

“From now on, don’t meet that friend alone.”

“What? You mean Ji Han?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s…”

Ki Yeon made a “hmm” sound in his throat. His languid, lowered eyes glanced at Yoo In briefly.

For a moment, the look in his eyes that flashed by seemed to silently reproach her hesitation, unlike the harmless person from before.

He truly has an innate talent for overwhelming and subduing others.

No, even so, isn’t it going too far to ask her not to meet her best friend when they’re not even dating? She should ask why he wants such a thing… Huh?

Yoo In blinked her wide eyes and turned to look at Ki Yeon.

“…Don’t tell me.”

“Don’t tell you what?”

“It’s not… jealousy or something, is it?”

Ki Yeon wrinkled one eye and smiled playfully.

“It probably is.”

Ah. Now she understood it all. Ki Yeon’s behavior towards Ji Han had been too aggressive to just be anger over being late and not answering calls.

Her mouth opened and closed, about to argue that he was being too nonchalant and brazen, but soon gave up. Fine, that’s just how this man is. But then why did Yoon Ji Han act that way?

Ji Han had been the one to abruptly ask him to move aside in a confrontational manner first. He’s definitely not the type to do that. Was the important talk that urgent? Or was there some other reason…

Yoo In’s suspicions were cut short by Ki Yeon’s hand stroking her now-dry, frizzy hair.

“So, are you going to meet him or not?”

The cool hand, slightly lower than normal body temperature, was quickly withdrawn. Her gaze was drawn to his fingertips, moving past the driver’s seat.

His elegant fingers tapped the steering wheel rhythmically.

“Are you serious?”

“Yeah. I told you I’m jealous.”

“…Ji Han is my closest friend, and I can’t just decide whether to meet him or not so simply. He’d be really hurt too…”

“So he’s not allowed to feel hurt. Then what about me?”

Yoo In’s mouth gaped open, speechless, staring at Ki Yeon.

“Am I allowed to feel hurt by Nam Yoo In?”

“…”

“No answer, huh.”

His tone conveyed disappointment. His dancing fingers on the steering wheel also stopped.

He seemed unsatisfied with her inability to choose either option, and was hoping for a clear answer, even if it meant being forceful.

Mom or Dad? Him or me? It’s childish, but a good way to corner someone into making a binary choice.

Yoo In pressed her thumb against the hem of her still slightly damp dress, then let out a heavy sigh.

So much for not wanting to be disliked.

“…I’ll think about it.”

“…”

Yoo In stole a glance at the silent man.

His emotionless gaze was fixed on the road, and his hand propped on the window frame covered his mouth.

What was he unhappy about? But there’s nothing she can do. The long time and years that boy has given her are by no means insignificant.

To Yoo In, he holds as much, if not more, meaning as Ki Yeon does. Both Han Jae Hee and Yoon Ji Han.

She shouldn’t easily discard them, she definitely shouldn’t. So why does she feel regretful and anxious about not being able to do as he wants?

“Our Nam Yoo In.”

Her eyelashes, which had lowered weakly, slowly opened at his voice, and her eyes rolled towards Ki Yeon.

“Is so busy. Having to study, having to think. When will you come to me, being this busy?”

“…”

“Hm? When will you come?”

His monotone voice, laced with urging and reproach, pierced right through the center of Yoo In’s heart.

Anxiety swelled to fill the empty space, and pebbles in the shape of disappointment lodged themselves inside.

“…What happened to saying you’d wait?”

After saying he wouldn’t do things she told him not to, now has he grown tired of waiting?

It seemed like petulant words telling her not to wait anymore would come out from between his pursed lips. Even though that’s not what he wanted.

Yoo In turned her body completely to the opposite side. She had counted about thirty raindrops falling on the window.

“Nam Yoo In.”

When Yoo In ignored him, a large hand enveloped the back of her head that gave no answer. Then it patted as if to soothe her.

“Are you sulking?”

“Why would I be sulking?”

“Then look at me.”

“…I don’t want to.”

“So you are sulking.”

“I said I’m not.”

“‘I said I’m not’ is informal speech, Yoo In.”

Yoo In snorted with a “huh”. Then Ki Yeon’s hand, which seemed about to leave her head, forcibly grabbed her shoulder and turned her around.

Facing Ki Yeon as she turned, he was gazing at her with eyes lowered, half-smiling.

“Why do you look like that? Makes me want to hug you.”

“…What’s wrong with my expression?”

Ki Yeon quietly stroked Yoo In’s eyes gently. Yoo In closed her eyes and let him do as he pleased.

After touching both eyelids and moving to her cheeks, slowly moving, he suddenly poked the tip of her nose. Her eyes flew open.

The ungentle touch was quite painful.

“That hurts.”

“That’s why I did it.”

At Ki Yeon’s words, Yoo In’s round eyes turned triangular as she glared at him. To this, Ki Yeon somehow looked relieved and chuckled.

Yoo In shook her head at the strange man who seemed to like being glared at, and was rubbing her still sore nose while looking out the window where quite a lot of rain was falling, when it happened.

A loud vibration sound shook the entire leather seat.

Instead of the driving man, Yoo In found the ringing phone in the discarded jacket and handed it to him. Ki Yeon immediately frowned.

“Yes.”

Ki Yeon answered the phone dryly, just listening silently before letting out a long sigh.

Seeming annoyed, he ended the call with a brief “understood”.

“…Did something happen?”

Yoo In asked, but the man tapping the steering wheel irritably was silent for a moment.

After a while, he spoke in a voice faster and lower than usual.

“Yoo In. We need to change the location for the gift presentation. Is that okay?”

Yoo In nodded slightly to the man smiling with crinkled eyes, and he jerked the steering wheel so hard it made the car sway.