My Perfectly Flawed (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 16

The whirlwind morning work hours passed, and the office settled into the calm that closed out the morning.

Unlike his usual rigid, upright posture, Ki Yeon lounged lazily in his chair, flipping through documents.

Lately, Ki Yeon had been in a remarkably good mood.

Partly because nothing at work had been grating on his nerves—but even more so because someone had abruptly reclaimed a priority that had long remained unchanged.

Whenever he thought of that certain someone, his usual sharp sensitivity dulled, and hearing their voice sapped him of all alertness.

As a result, he’d been enjoying this peaceful daily routine—but such tranquility wouldn’t last long.

Wooooong—

His phone, carelessly tossed atop a stack of papers, buzzed briefly.

Ki Yeon shifted his gaze to check the notification—and instantly scrunched his otherwise smooth brow.

[Director. Sorry, but I think I’ll have to postpone our meeting tomorrow. I’m really sorry. I’ll get back to you another time.]

He’d been scheduled to have dinner with that someone tomorrow—a plan already postponed once before by the other party.

And now, another rejection message had arrived.

“Tch… Look at this.”

Ki Yeon let out an incredulous scoff, his face hardening into cold displeasure.

He’d understood and let it slide the first time—but if it kept happening, there was no reason to tolerate it anymore.

He’d clearly warned Nam Yu In not to run away, yet the timid girl apparently hadn’t taken it to heart.

[Why?]

He sent a brief question and forced himself to focus on the unreadable characters in front of him.

But soon enough, he flung the papers across his desk and grabbed his phone again.

Nam Yu In’s reply never came.

“You never listen, even when I tell you to follow me properly.”

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

How should he make it clear to this innocent, puppy-like Nam Yu In that “don’t run away” meant, quite literally, that she couldn’t possibly escape?

With that thought, Ki Yeon briefly recalled a recent memory.

Nam Yu In, drenched in rain. Her flustered expression when he confessed his feelings. Crimson fever-blossoms scattered across her pale skin. Her cheeks—warm, soft, flushed with heat.

Her clear, untouched eyes blinking innocently.

Creeeak—

The large leather chair scraped backward as Ki Yeon stood up.

Standing before the floor-to-ceiling window bathed in bright daylight, the gray cityscape sprawled beneath his feet.

Ki Yeon’s life had always been one of strict meritocracy. Whenever he set a goal, he pursued it relentlessly—and always obtained exactly what he wanted.

He’d never been wrong in his predictions, and of course, never experienced failure.

Perhaps that was why Nam Yu In—slipping through his fingers like grains of sand no matter how tightly he grasped—had become the object of his fiercest longing, surpassing everything he’d ever desired before.

She kept stoking his simmering greed, and an unfamiliar, twisted possessiveness grew inside him.

He couldn’t bear the thought of those damp eyes looking anywhere but at him, or that refreshingly pure smile being shown to anyone else.

He wanted her all to himself—and craved her madly.

“…”

His cold, downcast eyes scanned the scenery below with indifference—then suddenly, he turned sharply toward his desk, picked up his still-silent phone,

and laid a trap from which the confused recipient would have no chance to refuse.

[Then let’s meet briefly today. Should I come to your school? Or your place?]

Immediately, the one who’d been fleeing far away peeked her head back out, as if yanked by the scruff of her neck.

[Today?]

Ki Yeon couldn’t hold back any longer and pressed the call button.

Tru-tru-tru-tru— The monotonous ringing dragged on, and just before the voicemail prompt was about to kick in, her awaited voice finally came through, accompanied by a noisy background murmur.

-Director?

Hearing that lovely voice calling his name, Ki Yeon tensed the corners of his lips—which had instinctively begun to rise—and asked flatly,

“Looks like your class just ended.”

-Yes… just now.

“So, have you decided?”

Only a faint, hesitant breath answered his question.

Ki Yeon hadn’t asked because he wanted an answer—it felt more like placing a strategic move before delivering a notice.

He’d already gone through the whole internal justification: he’d given her a chance, and since she’d refused, it couldn’t be helped.

“You’re done with lectures for today, right? Then we can meet now.”

-Yes, wait—what? No, so suddenly… Aren’t you busy, Director? Maybe it’s better to meet another time.

“Don’t worry about my schedule, Nam Yu In. Let’s just grab lunch together.”

-…

“I’ll wait for you at your school.”

-…Director.

“Understood?”

After a few seconds of silence, he heard a tiny, reluctant “Yes”—and Ki Yeon clicked off the call with a mocking chuckle.

There was an air of calm certainty in the way he tossed the phone aside, as if he’d known exactly how it would turn out.

And now, Ki Yeon had realized one more crucial thing:

Nam Yu In might run from him—but she couldn’t refuse him.

****

Above the clear blue sky floated a dollop of cream-like cloud, and a gentle breeze blew peacefully in front of Seonhyeon University.

Built by carving into an entire mountainside, the university stood proudly atop a high hill, as if to flaunt its prestige and fame.

Gazing at the grand university gate, Ki Yeon stepped out of his parked car, feeling a strange sensation—this place, which he’d never imagined visiting, now felt oddly familiar and yet uniquely special.

Bathed in the warmth of spring and the freedom of lunchtime, students strolled out the main gate in cheerful groups of three or five.

“Still not here?”

He scanned the crowd, but his target was nowhere in sight.

As Ki Yeon walked toward the line of roadside trees to wait, curious and interested glances naturally followed him—but he ignored them with practiced ease, shoving his hands into his trouser pockets.

How much time passed like this?

Then, far from the main gate, a slender, pale figure finally came into view.

Gladness surged within Ki Yeon, prompting him to step forward—yet he abruptly halted.

“…”

The moment he realized Nam Yu In wasn’t alone, an unexpected wave of displeasure slammed into the back of his head.

His eyes narrowed as he spotted the large “blemish” beside her—and a cold sneer formed on his lips.

Just how deliberate was that foolish act?

The two of them, appearing intimately close, chatted amicably as they approached the gate—until that irritating boy casually ruffled Nam Yu In’s hair. In response, she smiled demurely and greeted him.

Ki Yeon watched the entire scene unfold, letting out a derisive snort as he pressed hard against his burning temples.

Then, after a brief pause, a soft but clear voice reached him.

“Director.”

Ki Yeon lowered his hand and lifted his head.

His momentarily hazy vision cleared—and under dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves, Nam Yu In’s pale face, tinged with faint worry, imprinted itself upon his retina.

“Director?”

Since Ki Yeon only stared down at her expressionlessly, she blinked her big eyes and tilted her head innocently.

“Are you feeling unwell?”

Exerting all his patience to suppress the irritation rising within him, Ki Yeon fixed his gaze on the hair that had just been touched by someone else—and replied flatly,

“No.”

“…But you look unwell.”

Her gentle frown and concerned scrutiny struck him as so amusing that he let out a brief, hollow laugh.

And whose fault was this, really?

Though her clueless reaction proved she hadn’t intended it, Ki Yeon’s mood remained soured—and he couldn’t stop his voice from turning sharp.

“When coming to see me, you should come alone. Who did you bring with you?”

“Oh… You saw that?”

“It was all too visible—almost as if you were doing it on purpose to show me.”

Nam Yu In shook her head slightly, seemingly unable to grasp his exact meaning.

“On purpose? Why would I? He’s the friend you saw at the hotel last time. Don’t you remember?”

As if he could forget—on the contrary, it was etched too clearly in his mind, making his insides churn.

Yet Ki Yeon found it deeply annoying even having to voice aloud the fact that he’d been bothered by their behavior ever since he’d first seen them together at that restaurant.

“Oh, you mean that friend who was so anxiously hovering around you, Nam Yu In?”

His childish sarcasm earned him a puzzled, suspicious look from Nam Yu In—and Ki Yeon responded by raising an eyebrow impudently.

Nam Yu In’s previously clear, blinking eyes instantly narrowed in slight annoyance.

“What do you mean, ‘hovering’?”

“How should I know?”

Faced with his cryptic responses, Nam Yu In looked up at him, bewildered—why was he acting like this?

Though the owner of those innocent eyes now looked only at him, it still wasn’t enough to soothe his irritation.

In fact, his throat felt parched, as if he suddenly had a burning thirst. What could he possibly do right now to ease this frustration and improve his mood?

“That friend of yours sure is… free-spirited with his actions.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

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

Ki Yeon reached out and began vigorously stroking her hair, as if trying to erase the unpleasant touch from moments before.

Startled at first by the sudden contact, Nam Yu In gradually stilled as Ki Yeon’s initially rough fingers grew gentler—and she simply looked up at him quietly.

Ki Yeon knew his behavior was utterly childish—but he didn’t want to stop.

It genuinely felt as though the unpleasant residue was being washed away. And the sensation of her fine, soft hair slipping between his fingers wasn’t unpleasant at all.

No—it was good. Truthfully, anything involving Nam Yu In felt good—but this was undeniably, specifically pleasant.

Yet, entirely separate from that feeling, his tone turned petulant.

“So I guess anyone can touch Nam Yu In’s hair, huh? You just stay so still like that.”

Nam Yu In immediately frowned in displeasure and pushed his arm away.

“That’s not true.”

“If it’s not true…”

“Who would like just anyone touching them? Of course I dislike it.”

“Then… you don’t dislike it right now.”

This time, Ki Yeon didn’t yield or pull away. Instead, he gently stroked her from the crown of her head down to her nape and asked,

“Right?”

Nam Yu In didn’t answer directly—only her round eyes, still brimming with unresolved dissatisfaction, darted restlessly.

She hadn’t even said “yes,” yet Ki Yeon’s previously tight lips inexplicably softened.

Internally, he clicked his tongue. Was he really going to back down this easily?

He lightly tapped her puffed-up cheek with his index finger—and her eyes, as clear as fresh green foliage, lifted upward to meet his.

Ki Yeon tugged the corner of his mouth up further and said,

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

Nam Yu In let out a faint sigh, seemingly reluctant—but nodded in agreement.

As he watched her follow him, an indistinct inner voice whispered from deep within:

Simply receiving her attention like this was no longer enough.

He wanted to wrap her completely in his explosive possessiveness, pour scorching affection over her, and touch her greedily to his heart’s content.