The next day, Tae In woke up at dawn.

She stared at the ceiling that had turned blue with the dawn light for a long time, then checked inside the blanket upon feeling a cool touch.

‘Why am I only in my underwear, not in my pajamas……?’
She tried to recall why she hadn’t changed into her pajamas, Tae In sifted through her memories of yesterday.

‘Ah, we kissed.’
The memory of Nok Hyun, who had drunk whiskey and kissed her after she refused due to the smell of alcohol, came to her mind and her heart began to pound foolishly again.

Nok Hyun always shook Tae In like this, unexpectedly.

He would wait, then the moment she let down her guard, when even a small gap appeared, he would take that opportunity to come in.

No matter how hard she tried to push him away, there was nothing she could do.

Or did she even try to push him away.

After retrieving her memory, it felt like she had been led around.

Could this also be part of his plan, it was meticulously calculated to that extent.

Tae In took a quick look to her side. Nok Hyun was still asleep.

She couldn’t help but recall their encounter in Gapyeong as she was staring at his handsome face.

The desire to distance herself and the emotion to get close so that someone couldn’t drop it coexisted.

She even questioned if she was this emotional.

Tae In slowly raised her hand, tracing Nok Hyun’s forehead and sharp nose as if drawing it.

Suddenly, Nok Hyun pulled Tae In into his arms.

And then, Tae In realized. Nok Hyun had taken off his shirt.

Her heart felt like it would come out of her mouth at the warmth and touch of the bare skin.

‘Why on earth were we sleeping like this?’
Could it be.

That the kiss was not the end.

The touch on her waist felt strange.

What kind of lascivious sleep habits did he have?

The feel of his hard body against her lower abdomen was so vivid that Tae In had no choice but to hold her breath.

‘If it’s come to this, shouldn’t I be allowed to touch a little too?’
Tae In lightly touched his distinct muscles.

Her heart trembled as if it had moved to her fingertips.

“I did tell you that it won’t end with just touching.”
His low, languid voice reached her ears.

“You were the one who hugged first.”
“But you touched me before that.”
So he wasn’t asleep.

When Tae In, who had her mouth firmly shut, tried to remove her hand, Nok Hyun caught her wrist.

“Touch me all you want, as much as you want.”
“……Is this your revenge?”
“You won’t be able to touch me anyway.”
Nok Hyun spoke as if he knew Tae In’s thoughts completely.

When she stayed still, rigid despite his permission, he spread all of Tae In’s fingers and placed them on his left chest.

Thump thump, the heartbeat was conveyed. At a speed as fast as Tae In’s.

And at that moment, Nok Hyun slowly opened his eyes.

When his desirous gaze directly collided with hers, Tae In wanted to hide somewhere.

Yet, conflicted within the contradictory emotions of wanting to face him, she soon averted her eyes.

Nok Hyun had said he would wait.

But for how long will he wait, would he become cold again like before if she hesitated, would he become a stranger.

Could we really become strangers.

Nok Hyun gently pressed his lips against Tae In’s forehead. As if to end her worries.

“Let’s sleep a bit more.”
I don’t know if I can sleep though.

With a playful remark, Tae In gave a faint smile and closed her eyes.

I want to lean on tenderness.

Even if this peaceful daily life ultimately ruins me.

How long did I sleep? When I opened my eyes again, everyone except Tae In was awake.

Tae In held her aching head from the hangover and washed herself with hot water.

It felt like the alcohol was slightly wearing off after the shower.

“Are you awake?”
Nok Hyun looked like he had already prepared for work.

“……Yes, sorry about last night.”
Because of the drunkenness, and because of the heavy drinking.

I swallowed all the embarrassing words and sat down in front of the island table.

Food was already prepared. My hunger aroused at the sight of the steaming hangover soup.

“Try it, the seasoning should be right.”
Upon Nok Hyun’s words, Tae In as if waiting, picked up the bowl and gulped down.

It wasn’t just the aroma that was good, but the taste as well. It felt like my stomach was settling.

“How is it?”
“It’s delicious!”
Seeing Tae In’s thumbsup, Nok Hyun smiled as if satisfied.

“Ah, sister, did you sleep well?”
Arin, who was doodling in a sketchbook, asked as she sat next to Tae In.

Her face was clean, maybe she washed it.

“You look better than me.”
“Hehe.”
Arin scooped up the soup with a yellow spoon and ate it.

“De, delicious, brotherinlaw!”
“How delicious is it?”
Nok Hyun approached Arin and asked.

Arin rolled her eyes here and there.

“The soup is deep, umami, and makes me feel wa, warm inside.”
What an, eloquent kid.

Where did she learn to express taste like that.

“I have to learn from Arin.”
“……True, she’s better than me in many ways.”
Tae In said that and rolled her rice in the soup.