Yi Soo’s eyes widened in surprise.

‘Is he talking about when I collapsed in the elevator?’

She had been too embarrassed to even ask about it.

Ji Ho leaned his upper body towards Yi Soo, propping one arm on the floor behind her, and said,

“Let’s go out.”

Ji Ho took the glass from Yi Soo’s hand, set it on the floor, and stood up first.

He extended his hand towards Yi Soo as if telling her to take it and get up.

Everyone’s attention turned to Ji Ho as he suddenly stood up.

“Ji Ho, what’s wrong?”

“Yi Soo said she wants to get some fresh air. We’ll be back soon.”

“Just the two of you?”

Juhee asked with round eyes.

Her tone suggested she didn’t like the idea of Yi Soo and Ji Ho going out together.

“Why? Do you want to come along too?”

Yi Soo asked while staring directly at Juhee.

Juhee had been unusually welcoming since Ji Ho arrived and hadn’t left his side since.

Yi Soo found herself increasingly irritated by Juhee’s behavior without realizing it.

“Ah, no. That’s not what I…”

‘What reason is there that I can’t go out with Ji Ho?’

Feeling a strange sense of defiance at Juhee’s words, Yi Soo deliberately took Ji Ho’s hand and stood up.

Having been sitting for a while, her vision spun when she suddenly stood up.

As she staggered slightly, Ji Ho firmly gripped the hand he was holding.

Yi Soo ignored Juhee’s incredulous stare and went outside with Ji Ho.

**

As they passed by the foot volleyball court in front of the pension, they ran into Dong Woo, who was about to go inside after ending a phone call.

“Yi Soo, where are you going at this hour?”

Dong Woo asked as he approached Yi Soo.

“Oh, Dong Woo. I’m just going for a walk. To sober up a bit.”

Yi Soo smiled and answered Dong Woo, who had a puzzled expression.

Dong Woo’s gaze shifted to Ji Ho’s hand, which was tightly holding Yi Soo’s.

With a hardened expression, Dong Woo looked at Ji Ho.

“I also have something to talk about with Yi Soo.”

Ji Ho said with a relaxed smile.

“…”

Dong Woo’s fist clenched tightly.

He was also puzzled by Yi Soo, who seemed unbothered by holding hands with Ji Ho.

Even Dong Woo, who was close to Yi Soo, rarely held her hand.

A brief touch might be understandable, but he had never held Yi Soo’s hand like that.

‘What are these two doing right now?’

Noticing Dong Woo’s gaze lingering on their hands, Yi Soo finally pulled her hand away and said,

“Ah. He was just holding my hand because I was staggering. Dong Woo, go inside. I’ll be back soon.”

“Alright.”

Dong Woo reluctantly let Yi Soo go, but he couldn’t take his eyes off the two as they walked away.

**

Once they were away from the pension, Ji Ho took Yi Soo’s hand again.

“You don’t have to hold it.”

“You’re staggering, so I have to.”

Yi Soo was indeed swaying slightly from side to side as she walked.

The alcohol she had consumed made it difficult to steady her legs.

“Then, just until we get down there, please.”

Thinking it would be better than falling, Yi Soo didn’t completely reject Ji Ho’s hand.

It felt strange to be walking down a dark, quiet country road holding hands with Ji Ho.

Ji Ho’s large hand holding Yi Soo’s tightly was warm and soft.

It felt like electricity was crackling in her palm where his body heat transferred.

Just holding hands, but strangely, it felt like she was leaning her whole body against Ji Ho.

As the downhill path leading to the waterfront in front of the pension ended, a rocky pebble beach appeared.

Ji Ho led Yi Soo to a large, flat rock big enough for both of them to sit on.

There were no lights, but the bright full moon made the view clear.

“It feels nice and cool coming out here.”

“Aren’t you cold?”

The breeze from the Gapyeong Stream flowing into the North Han River blew coolly.

“No. This is just right to sober up.”

Yi Soo took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, as if expelling the alcohol.

“It’s refreshing and nice. It’s my first time sitting in a place like this on a night like this, and it’s really atmospheric. The sound of water is nice too. It feels like I’ve completely escaped from daily life.”

Yi Soo’s eyes curved into crescents as she smiled genuinely, feeling good.

“Sitting here, I really feel like I’m sobering up.”

Yi Soo grinned as she took deep breaths.

“Ji Ho, you don’t seem drunk at all. Have you ever been drunk?”

“Very rarely.”

Yi Soo nodded at Ji Ho’s answer and then looked up at the night sky.

“I thought when you come to places like this, stars would be pouring down at night, but maybe because the moon is so bright today, I can’t see them well.”

“Instead, the moon is so beautiful.”

The round, large full moon was shining brightly like a lamp.

Ji Ho looked at Yi Soo, who was tilting her head back and looking at the sky.

He felt he could look at her like this all night.

“I thought you weren’t coming today.”

Yi Soo said, still looking at the sky.

“I had some work. I was going to skip it because I thought I’d be late… but I came because I felt I’d regret it if I didn’t.”

“Regret?”

“Yeah. If I hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have been able to look at the moon with you like this.”

Yi Soo turned her head, feeling Ji Ho’s gaze on her.

The distance between them was very close, their shoulders almost touching.

Ji Ho’s face, bathed in moonlight, seemed to brighten everything around it.

The alcohol in her body suppressed Yi Soo’s shyness and gave her the courage to stare openly at Ji Ho’s face.

It wasn’t the first time, but his face was breathtaking every time she looked at it.

“What?”

Ji Ho asked Yi Soo, who was staring at him as if entranced.

“You’re so handsome. Your face seems to shine brighter than the moon.”

Ji Ho burst out laughing at Yi Soo’s serious tone, without even a hint of a smile.

“Are you serious? I thought you didn’t find my face attractive.”

“How could that be? That’s impossible.”

Yi Soo shook her head emphatically.

“I was almost hurt thinking you didn’t appreciate it, but I’m glad you finally recognize it.”

Ji Ho said with a smile still lingering on his face.

“But you didn’t even remember me at first.”

“On the plane? That day, my eyes were swollen from crying so much, and I was too embarrassed to look up properly. It’s not that I didn’t remember you after seeing you. Instead, I remembered your scent, didn’t I?”

Ji Ho recalled Yi Soo’s face, which had been full of traces of tears, all red and puffy.

“You saw me crying that day?”

She hadn’t expected to bring this up first, but now that Ji Ho had seen even more, she didn’t feel embarrassed anymore.

“Yeah. You cried all night, didn’t you?”

“So you saw it all. You must have thought I was a strange woman.”

“I was curious. Why she was crying like that.”

“I’ve cried three times this year, and strangely, you were there every time.”

Yi Soo said with a slightly embarrassed smile.

“I’ll be there for you in the future too.”

“I’m not going to cry anymore.”

Yi Soo said as if making a promise.

Whether it was because she wasn’t conscious of her complex emotions or because of the alcohol, Yi Soo felt comfortable being with Ji Ho.

“Did your exam go well?”

“Yes.”

“Wow. You must have done really well. I deliberately didn’t contact you so I wouldn’t disturb you. It was worth it.”

“How about you? Did you do well?”

“So-so.”

Yi Soo and Ji Ho spent a long time exchanging small talk about everyday life.

“Shall we go in now? I think I’ve sobered up a lot.”

“No, let’s stay a little longer.”

Ji Ho felt reluctant to go in just yet. He also had something important to say.

“Yi Soo.”

“Yes?”

“Can I ask you one thing?”

Ji Ho grabbed Yi Soo’s shoulders and turned her to face him.

“…”

“Didn’t you miss me?”

Ji Ho asked in a low voice, looking into Yi Soo’s eyes.

“Don’t avoid my eyes. Answer me honestly.”

Ji Ho didn’t take his eyes off Yi Soo’s.

The comfortable and composed Yi Soo from earlier was nowhere to be seen.

Her body felt stiff, and her lips wouldn’t part easily.

A long silence followed, as if time had stopped.

When Yi Soo lowered her head, Ji Ho lifted her chin with his hand, making eye contact again.

Their faces were clearly reflected in each other’s eyes.

“I…”

Ji Ho spoke first.

“I missed you a lot.”

Yi Soo bit her inner lip hard.

She squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them again to find her vision filled entirely with Seo Ji Ho.

Her heart felt like it would burst.

Ji Ho, with no intention of backing down, stared intently at Yi Soo’s eyes and lips, as if determined to hear an answer.

“I…”

Yi Soo’s hesitant voice trembled slightly.

After a light deep breath, just as Yi Soo opened her mouth again, Ji Ho’s lips gently touched hers and then pulled away.

Yi Soo only blinked her surprised eyes, as if she could only move her eyes.

The sound of her pounding heart echoed in Yi Soo’s ears like a drum.

It felt as if the entire surroundings were filled with the sound of her heartbeat.

Ji Ho’s large hand cupped Yi Soo’s flushed cheek and then slid into her hair.

Unable to handle Ji Ho’s intense gaze, Yi Soo unconsciously closed her eyes.

She couldn’t move an inch.

Ji Ho tilted his head slightly and pressed his lips against Yi Soo’s again.

A warm breath and soft sensation invaded Yi Soo’s mouth, parting her lips.

Despite his surging emotions, Ji Ho moved slowly.

He kissed softly and tenderly, as if he would pull away at any moment if Yi Soo pushed him.

Then it gradually deepened and intensified.

Yi Soo felt like electricity was coursing through her from head to toe.

As Yi Soo’s lips parted, unable to find a moment to breathe, he delved deeper.

A shallow moan escaped through the parted gap.

An dizzying sensation enveloped Yi Soo, making it impossible to think.

“Haa.”

Their lips, which had briefly separated, met again at a different angle.

It was hard to come to her senses with this unfamiliar sensation.

Feeling as if she might be sucked in somewhere, Yi Soo clutched Ji Ho’s collar.

Their bodies pressed together without any gap.

Amidst the silence all around, the moist sound echoed in Yi Soo’s ears, making her face turn red.

Yi Soo couldn’t think of anything except how incredibly sweet it felt.

She felt like her whole body was melting.

Her heart felt like it would burst from the unbearable sensation.

“S-stop.”

Yi Soo’s voice, which had been continuously swallowed into Ji Ho’s mouth, leaked out through a brief gap.

Yi Soo gently pushed Ji Ho with both hands.

Although there wasn’t much strength in her hands, Ji Ho easily pulled back.

Their lips parted, creating a small gap just enough for their eyes to meet.

When Yi Soo’s rapid breathing began to settle, Ji Ho opened his mouth.

“Say it again. You… what?”

His eyes, slightly curved as he stared at Yi Soo until the end, were as gentle as his voice.

Ji Ho held Yi Soo’s small face with his large hands, preventing her from moving.

‘I guess I can’t avoid Ji Ho anymore.’

With that thought, Yi Soo slowly opened her mouth.

“I…”

Yi Soo looked at her own face reflected in Ji Ho’s clear eyes.

“…I missed you, but I held back.”

Yi Soo said with an expression that looked like she might cry.

Her emotions were complex and subtle.

She had tried so hard not to think about Ji Ho, but in the end, it was all in vain.

The moment she saw Ji Ho in front of her, Yi Soo’s resolve crumbled easily like a sandcastle.

“Now you’re not lying.”

Ji Ho smiled gently.

He stroked Yi Soo’s hair affectionately with his large hand, as if praising a good child.

“I told you not to draw lines and avoid me… Why did you hold back? If you missed me, you should have just said so.”

Ji Ho pulled Yi Soo tightly into his arms.

“Thank you for being honest. Don’t hold back from now on.”

Yi Soo stayed in Ji Ho’s embrace until her pounding heart calmed down.

In the quiet night, under the moonlight, there was only one shadow.