Long Arm opened the unlocked door. As Tae Hong slowly approached Hae Jin step by step, her steps moved backward. One step, two steps, finally both feet entered the room.

Thud, the slowly moving room door closed. Tae Hong gradually closed the distance between them. The more he did so, the more helpless her trembling eyes became.

Hae Jin’s heels touched the wall. In the dark room, the only light was where the two of them stood.

Maybe darkness would have been better. Hae Jin’s once-wavering eyes trembled finely, unable to find their place even more.

“Assistant Manager Jung Hae Jin.”

Tae Hong’s face under the lit light was more serious than ever. His gaze focused only on Hae Jin was even more intense than usual.

“I’ll give you an answer.”

Thump thump.

Hae Jin’s heart malfunctioned and beat wildly. His quietly murmured voice was stimulating.

It felt like he was tightly wrapping her from head to toe without a single gap. Otherwise, how could she not move?

“Te-Team Leader.”

Hae Jin’s voice trembled, and her heart trembled. She was surprised at her own unusual behavior.

“So, so.”

She knew what he wanted. Knowing made her unable to move even more. Why?

Her heart beating fiercely as if it had been waiting for this moment of receiving Tae Hong’s gaze fully was proof.

Perhaps, she had the same feelings as him? She had waited, so she provoked, and as a result, had she been waiting for this moment?

Tae Hong’s eyes were always directed at her. From when he was already looking in the same direction as her, no, even before that. He had imagined this moment.

And he waited. He just decided to bring forward this moment that would come someday.

Now, at this moment, Hae Jin was in front of him, and her trembling eyes reflected in the light spoke for her. He placed his finger on her lips, which couldn’t finish speaking.

Startled, she shuddered her shoulders and could neither close nor open her surprised lips further, leaving it to Tae Hong.

Tae Hong slightly pressed her plump lower lip and moved along the line of her lips.

Hae Jin, listen well, I’ll give you my answer now.

“Your lips are.”

Tae Hong’s touch was heavy. It was just the right intensity for Hae Jin to feel fully.

“Warm and.”

Moving a little more to the side, he touched the plumpest part of her lips. When he pressed a little harder, Hae Jin’s shoulders trembled.

“Soft and.”

His finger touched the opposite end of her lip again. While all her nerves were focused on her lips, he looked down at Hae Jin steadily. The light above her head illuminated her dazzling face.

“Moist.”

He wanted to tell her it wasn’t a mistake, that he was embarrassed too. And he wanted to say he wanted to do it again, that he wanted to quench his thirst on her lips.

Without taking his hand off Hae Jin’s lips, he looked down as if asking for permission. Their gazes intertwined tightly.

The light illuminating them went out. Darkness came. They couldn’t see each other, but their breaths touched hotly at close distance.

Maybe I was waiting for this moment too. He said they had clapped together. He let her know it wasn’t one-sided, but mutual.

Not a mistake, but wanted.

Hae Jin’s back, which had been against the wall, detached. The light sensing her movement came on again.

Hae Jin’s hands lightly pulled Tae Hong’s knit. He was helplessly drawn in and swallowed her lips just like that.

He delved relentlessly into the place he had said was warm, soft, and moist.

Her back that had detached touched the wall again, and his large, warm palm cupped the back of her head as if protecting it.

It wasn’t the first time, but it felt new like the first time, the start of this kiss.

She was overwhelmed by the rhythm that was infinitely gentle at times, then intensely pulling at others. The light above their heads blinked on and off repeatedly.

The hands that had been gripping his clothes were now wrapped around his neck. As if not allowing even an inch of gap, he grabbed her waist and fiercely rushed in.

Throughout accepting him, no thoughts entered Hae Jin’s mind. Only this moment was being imprinted on her.

How long had it been, no, how long had they been touching?

The sensation felt from his lips still touching her pervaded her entire body. The feeling dominated by those small lips was beyond imagination.

She could feel the strength entering the hands wrapped around her waist. The encircling hands felt like they wanted to move elsewhere.

But Hae Jin couldn’t think beyond this. This was as far as she could accept.

“Wa-Wait.”

Trying somehow to speak against his rushing lips, a muffled pronunciation barely flowed out.

They were busy filling the space between their separated lips with rough breaths. His regretful eyes were still on Hae Jin’s swollen lips. Even waiting for her words seemed burdensome.

But she had to stop him. Hae Jin detached him from herself. Their lips separated, and the arms embracing him fell away. At that moment, Tae Hong grabbed Hae Jin’s wrist.

It was a stubborn expression that he didn’t want this moment to end.

“No more, we can’t.”

Hae Jin couldn’t look into Tae Hong’s eyes. If she looked, it was obvious it would ignite again. Then she really couldn’t guarantee how far they would go.

“What can’t we do?”

Tae Hong’s voice was rough. Hae Jin detached her grabbed hand herself.

“The kiss, or beyond that?”

What should she choose from the given options? How could she persuade him? That they should stop now, that the one-night play should end here, that it was just a kiss.

“Both.”

Hae Jin’s head finally lifted. Tae Hong’s eyebrows furrowed instantly then smoothed out.

“Any more would be a mistake.”

It had to be. Even if some unknown emotion had colored her towards him, what shouldn’t be, shouldn’t be. Neither emotions nor mistakes should cross the line any further.

“I don’t want to make mistakes.”

“A mistake.”

Tae Hong stepped back half a step. But contrary to his backward step, his hand moved towards Hae Jin’s lips again. The gesture of wiping the saliva from her lips, calm and natural, was strangely affectionate.

“Is it because we came here after drinking? Is that why you’re calling it a mistake? Or are you saying you don’t want to make an emotional mistake?”

It was both, and it was neither. We had many days to spend together in the future. But if we went further here, I wouldn’t have the confidence to face him. Because then, a Jung Hae Jin overwhelmed by emotions would be standing there.

She hated herself for not being able to be upright about her emotions.

“I understand.”

Before Hae Jin could answer, Tae Hong stepped back. He cleanly stopped his actions and showed the manners of even wiping her lips.

“But you know.”

Her nodding head stopped at his words that were still not finished.

“I didn’t make any mistake.”

As soon as the words ended, he once again narrowed the distance towards Hae Jin. It was closer than before, but there was nowhere to avoid.

“But, if you’re not ready yet, I’ll wait.”

Wa-wait? The head that had been avoiding him lifted hurriedly.

She met Tae Hong’s eyes that she had never seen before. There was a man, Moon Tae Hong, who was sincere and craving affection.

That sight began to scratch her heart.

“Tell me anytime when you’re ready. I’m always ready.”

It means he has no intention of backing down. It also means don’t even think about running away.

“And Hae Jin.”

Hae Jin’s shoulders trembled finely. He called her name again. As if her name was a signal, her heart responded quickly to the name he called.

Focusing on her beating heart, she didn’t immediately notice his hand stroking her hair.

“If we did it for over an hour, it’s not a mistake.”

It looked as if he was trying to awaken Hae Jin’s emotions.

“Your lips are already proof of that.”

He said from the beginning it wasn’t a mistake. He was saying that there was never a mistake between you and me, only emotions.

He embraced Hae Jin. His hand still stroked her hair.

At times like this, what on earth should one say?

It’s an unfamiliar situation for Hae Jin. It was also an unexpected situation. Her mind went blank on what answer to give.

Tae Hong, as if he had read her thoughts, embraced her a little more tightly. In his arms, Hae Jin occasionally felt the scent he had emitted.

“Team Leader.”

Instead of looking at Hae Jin, Tae Hong hugged her tighter. It seemed like a signal not to say unnecessary things.

“It seems too late.”

Tae Hong’s eyes, which changed in an instant, turned towards Hae Jin faster than anyone.

“Are you telling me to stay overnight?”

“Your lodging is just a stone’s throw away, Team Leader.”

She quickly escaped from the crumpled embrace. Hae Jin returned to being Jung Hae Jin, Tae Hong’s subordinate.

“If I’m to knock on your door at 6 AM tomorrow, you should go back now.”

He had no choice but to let her go with a face full of dissatisfaction. Hae Jin didn’t miss his expression filled with regret.

“If you don’t want to.”

Hae Jin’s mouth curved slightly.

“You can cancel the 6 AM wake-up call.”

“Then, can I stay here longer?”

But soon she realized again that he was the formidable Moon Tae Hong.

“That’s not allowed.”

She opened the room door and slightly moved her body to the side. She only didn’t gesture, but she let him know it was really time to go now.

“You’re really amazing, Jung Hae Jin.”

What’s so amazing? Hae Jin’s head tilted.

“A handsome face, a well-built body, excellent at kissing. There’s nothing lacking about me.”

In the end, it was your boast. Without listening anymore, she pushed his back. Whether he had more to say or lingering feelings, Tae Hong resisted but finally came out.

“Tomorrow at 6 AM, I will gently knock on your room door, Team Leader.”

The 6 AM wake-up was Tae Hong’s instruction, so it ended up being a situation of reaping what he sowed.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Hae Jin bowed and closed the door.

Tae Hong, blankly staring at the closed door, was dumbfounded.

Just a few minutes ago, she was in his arms sharing an intimate skinship. But as soon as their lips parted, she returned to being Jung Hae Jin, his dedicated mark, as if nothing had happened.

Still unable to return to his room, looking at the firmly closed door, Tae Hong let out a self-deprecating laugh.

There was one line floating in Tae Hong’s mind.

You’re the first to treat me like this.

Tae Hong only then realized that it wasn’t just Hae Jin’s lips that were swollen.

What to do, Jung Hae Jin.

You’ve made a mess of my lips, so you’ll have to take some responsibility.