Her thin shoulders instantly froze.

Her long eyes, neatly closed and giving off an ascetic atmosphere in her wide-open eyes, the warmth of his body temperature, and the smell of smoke mixed with a refreshing scent all rushed in at once.

Amidst the complex sensations overwhelming her, an electric current starting from her toes struck the back of her neck along her spine. The temperature of another person touching her sensitive area was so thrilling.

It was an unfamiliarity incomparable to the feeling that had once touched her earlobe.

While she stood stiff, not knowing what to do with her tingling body, there was a soft sound and his face moved slightly away.

“…Yoo In.”

His husky voice, scratching his throat, sounded stimulating.

She barely opened her trembling lips at the languid breath felt close by.

“…Yes.”

Standing with her back to the streetlight, she couldn’t make out his expression. The man with dark shadows added seemed to hesitate for a moment without speaking.

He, offering a quiet stillness, intently watched her clear eyes trapped behind eyelashes fluttering lightly like spring butterflies.

Because of the man pouring out a heated gaze that seemed to dry her up, Yoo In’s throat felt parched and tight, but feeling she shouldn’t show even the slightest movement, she stiffened her whole body.

“Haa. I’m going crazy.”

A murmur mixed with a warm sigh brushed against Yoo In’s lips. Ki Yeon, furrowing his brow deeply as if enduring the rising desire, closed his eyes tightly then opened them and exhaled a shallow breath.

Startled by the sudden breath, Yoo In unconsciously licked her lips, and Ki Yeon’s lips urgently approached, gently holding her lower lip before quickly withdrawing.

Then, as if he really couldn’t take it, he grabbed Yoo In’s arms and pushed her away slightly, resting his forehead heavily on her white neck.

“Nam Yoo In.”

“……”

“Yoo In.”

“……”

“Puppy.”

“……”

“…Why aren’t you answering.”

Yoo In tried to retrieve her soul that had fallen to a dizzying place deep inside, listening to the heavy bass tone spreading over the thin cotton she was wearing.

Whether knowing Yoo In’s state or not, Ki Yeon, seemingly dissatisfied with her lack of response, wrapped his arms around her slender waist and pulled her close.

“What are you thinking about in front of me.”

It was both a rebuke not to fill her mind with anything but him in his presence, and a clear possessiveness.

Yoo In unknowingly reached out and grasped the hem of his snow-white shirt.

“…No, I’m not thinking anything.”

“If you’re not thinking anything, why are you stuttering?”

“…That’s.”

“……”

“Because I’m nervous.”

The man paused for a moment at the answer given in a faltering voice. Soon he laughed lowly, making a languid sound.

Then, removing Yoo In’s hand that was awkwardly holding him and properly wrapping it around his waist, Ki Yeon embraced her more deeply as if cradling a lovable life.

Yoo In, not minding this, was strangely finding stability bit by bit in the arms of the man who had placed her on a precarious tightrope.

A moment of silence enveloped the two embracing like one body layer by layer. The one who first burst the droplet-like stillness was Ki Yeon.

“Our Yoo In. You were very upset today, weren’t you? I was going to take you somewhere nice.”

“…It’s okay.”

At that, Ki Yeon rumbled his throat as if it wasn’t funny at all.

“Let me tell you one thing. You’re not the type to be good at lying, so it’s better to be honest at times like this.”

Yoo In, who had been listening to the calm heartbeat enveloping her ears in a steady tempo, lifted her head from where it was buried in Ki Yeon’s shirt, chewing on a slightly rebellious feeling.

“What about you, Director? Can’t you pretend not to know?”

“No. I can’t.”

“Why not?”

A mischievous playfulness shadowed the half-lowered black pupils looking at Yoo In.

“I have to see you getting all worked up like this. It’s cute.”

“Wow… Director, your taste is really weird. You know that, right?”

“I’ve never thought about it that way. If I’m weird, then you’re weird too. Is that okay?”

“How did it turn into that?”

“Because I see you’re dying to like me with my weird taste.”

The white face that instantly turned bright red couldn’t refute and once again entered Ki Yeon’s embrace, fidgeting.

The man’s lips curved smoothly upward at the sight. Gently patting her bony back with his large palm, he opened his mouth.

“If you’re dying to like me, I’m about to faint from liking you, so don’t be too embarrassed.”

“…You comfort in a really weird way too.”

“It’s not comfort. It’s sincere.”

“……”

“I feel like I’m going to die from liking you so much, and I’m busy getting used to my unfamiliar self that’s anxious and angry. This is how I am these days, to this extent.”

His low voice, which had now settled seriously, created ripples in the night air where only the sound of insects lingered.

“So stop making me desire more.”

“……”

“Because even I’m scared of how far I’ll go because of you.”

“…What desire?”

“You.”

The man who compressed who knows what meaning into that one word and concluded, carefully raised the thin body nestled in his arms.

After meeting her gaze steadily as if to reassure her, he slowly lowered his head and gently kissed Yoo In’s red lips.

Then, playfully rubbing his straight nose bridge against Yoo In’s small nostrils, he said.

“Don’t go anywhere. Just stick by my side. Only look at me, only feel me.”

The voice pouring out intimately right in front of her nose encouraged a strange confidence that had been postponed.

Could he have deliberately created this situation? To make her reveal all her inner thoughts. If it’s this man, it seems he could make such a plan without hesitation.

Yoo In, helplessly conquered by Ki Yeon’s attack, bit down hard on the ticklish spot where he had touched and then released it, speaking clearly.

“I’ll stay only by your side, Director. I absolutely won’t go anywhere.”

While making this simple yet not brief pledge to him, the tips of her fingers gripping his forearm tensed up as if making a solemn vow.

In response, Ki Yeon, instead of replying, smiled softly with his eyes curving smoothly, and left a sweet kiss on her forehead as if rewarding Yoo In’s small courage.

Yoo In held her breath, afraid her trembling breathing would be noticed, and lifted her eyelids at the sign of him moving away.

The neat features close enough to take in at a glance were looking down at Yoo In with a gentle warmth.

“What are you doing tomorrow, our puppy?”

“Tomorrow… I don’t know.”

When she answered honestly to the sudden question, Ki Yeon smiled slightly and pulled her hand that was holding his waist, intertwining their fingers and leading her forward.

It was an action telling her that now, it was really time to part.

“Then shall we do tomorrow what we couldn’t do today? How about it?”

“Aren’t you busy tomorrow?”

“No matter how busy, I have to make time. To appease my sulking lover.”

“…I’m not sulking. Oh, was that urgent matter from earlier resolved well?”

When she asked the question she had been curious about, Ki Yeon twitched one eyebrow with a slightly stiff face and just nodded.

At his reaction, her heart, which had been comfortable in the gentle atmosphere, suddenly stumbled as if hitting a rock.

Ki Yeon quickly changed the subject.

“Let’s have lunch together tomorrow. What do you want to eat? Ah, should I choose something to help with the hangover?”

Yoo In, who had been carefully meeting his usual smiling lips and characteristic gleaming eyes, eventually chimed in instead of asking again.

“I’m already over the alcohol. There’s no more alcohol left to recover from.”

“Okay. Let’s say that’s the case, so what would you like to eat?”

“Hmm. I can’t think of anything. You choose whatever, Director.”

The man who lowered his head to look mischievous grinned and then lightly kissed her with a soft sound.

Then he pushed Yoo In’s back towards the entrance door, who reflexively rolled her lips inward and bit them. Along with a fresh goodbye of “See you tomorrow.”

Yoo In waved her hand lightly, turning her body only halfway while pressing hard on the tender flesh where the warm afterglow remained.

Then, the man standing as if he had been guarding that spot for a very long time returned a very handsome smile.

****

“Ah…”

Wasn’t the mending of the misaligned rift finished yesterday? Yoo In dejectedly dropped her arm that had been tying up her long hair.

A regretful sigh that could be felt even without seeing her emotions was conveyed through the receiver to the man on the other side.

Ki Yeon called her name in a troubled, subdued tone.

-Um, Yoo In.

Having called her, he seems unable to continue, thinking he has nothing more to say.

That’s understandable, as the man who said he would buy her anything she wanted to eat had once again notified Yoo In of a cancellation 30 minutes before their promised time.

The reason was that the aforementioned ‘urgent matter’ had not been properly concluded, and since it was none other than company business, Yoo In couldn’t let the gloomy rainwater pooling dejectedly and bitterly flow freely.

Moreover, remembering his reluctant face when talking about that matter, Yoo In, who had been quietly staring at the call screen connected to the speakerphone, decided to offer resignation first.

“I understand. We’ll see each other next time.”

-Yoo In.

“I’m fine, so don’t worry about me and focus on your work. I’ll hang up now.”

Not wanting to reveal her childishly disappointed appearance any further, she hurriedly tries to press the end call button, but he calls out “Nam Yoo In” quite urgently.

“Yes?”

-Hah. Can I ask for an even more sorry favor while I’m already sorry?

“What is it?”

What could be a sorrier act than this? As Yoo In, who had already given up hope with the planned events falling through, was pulling down the zipper of the dress she was wearing–

-Would Yoo In come up to my office? I feel like I could finish faster and go out on a date if I see your face and get energized.

“Your office…?”

-Yeah. Is that not okay?

Of course, she should have immediately reacted with refusal, but for some reason, she couldn’t readily do so.

Although stepping into that company was still uncomfortable, the feeling of wanting to see Ki Yeon kept calling forth waves that were hard to refuse.

Ah, what should I do? As she bit her lip, delaying her answer, Ki Yeon poked her side once more.

-I miss you so much. My Nam Yoo In.

The possessive term of endearment rang in her ear like tinnitus.

This must be what they call telepathy. So what could she do?

Haa. Sighing deeply enough to sink into the ground, Yoo In squeezed her eyes shut and pulled the zipper she had been fiddling with back up.