It took two hours of driving from Seoul to Inje.

As I turned right following the navigation near the destination, a three-story school building painted in colorful pastel colors came into view.

Ji Ho reduced his speed and entered the playground after passing the school’s main gate.

The clock in the car showed 8:30.

As soon as he entered the playground, he saw someone standing under the streetlight near the playground.

Ji Ho recognized the woman who briefly turned her head towards the car lights even from a distance.

It was Yi Soo.

He smiled with joy but his face immediately crumpled when he saw the man standing in front of her.

He instinctively thought, That must be Min Jae.

Ji Ho turned off the engine and rolled down the car window.

The distance was too far to hear their voices.

Ji Ho, sitting in the driver’s seat, gripped the steering wheel tightly.

Should I call? Or should I get out of the car?

For what reason were those two together at this time?

Curiosity rose up to his throat.

He wanted to run over and bring Yi Soo back right away, but Yi Soo must have a reason to be like that.

Ji Ho slowly exhaled his heated breath and silently waited for their conversation to end.

Leaning deep into the seat back, he kept his eyes fixed on the two.

After 10 minutes that felt like hours, the two started walking towards the school.

Ji Ho picked up his phone and called Yi Soo.

**

Although it was an empty playground, Yi Soo felt a rush of belated embarrassment as soon as their lips parted.

Lost in the sweetness, they might not have noticed if anyone was around.

Yi Soo buried her flushed face against Ji Ho’s chest, taking several deep breaths to calm her rapid breathing.

Ji Ho said nothing, just holding Yi Soo tightly for a long time.

Yi Soo spoke first.

“What are you thinking?”

Ji Ho answered, gently stroking Yi Soo’s hair.

“…Thoughts of you.”

Yi Soo chuckled.

“I really couldn’t imagine you’d come.”

Yi Soo looked up at Ji Ho with moist eyes and said.

A few hours ago during their call, Yi Soo had told Ji Ho she missed him a lot.

With those last words, Ji Ho, who said he’d call again soon, appeared before her eyes like a lie.

Ji Ho, who always did everything she said, always exceeded Yi Soo’s expectations.

“Are you touched that I came?”

Ji Ho asked with a gentle smile, tilting his head.

“Yes. Really, very much so.”

She wanted to use every expression possible to convey how touched she was.

Yet it still felt inadequate to fully express Yi Soo’s feelings.

Yi Soo looked at Ji Ho with an overwhelmed face and deep appreciation.

Ji Ho’s face was nonchalant, as if this was nothing special.

“Wow. I’m touched that you’re so happy.”

Yi Soo’s face, with her eyes curved into crescents and a bright smile, gave off a fresh feeling.

Ji Ho brushed back Yi Soo’s hair that had fallen over her face and said.

“Let’s get in the car.”

Ji Ho took Yi Soo’s hand and went back to the front of the car, opening the passenger door for her.

Yi Soo got in the car with a smile.

Ji Ho’s scent filled the car, which still retained some coolness.

Yi Soo watched Ji Ho return to the driver’s seat, then her gaze stopped at the playground in front.

‘He must have seen me with Min Jae earlier.’

In her joy at meeting Ji Ho, she had momentarily forgotten that she had just been with Min Jae.

“Whew.”

What incredible timing.

Meanwhile, Ji Ho got in the car.

“Is it hot? Should I turn on the air conditioning?”

“No, it’s fine.”

Ji Ho rolled up the open window.

“…Ji Ho.”

“Yes?”

Yi Soo let out a shallow sigh.

The words she had to say to Ji Ho weighed heavily on her heart.

‘There’s not enough time to just say nice things…’

Yi Soo turned her body to face Ji Ho.

It seemed they had talked for quite a while with Min Jae even after Ji Ho’s car had arrived.

She couldn’t remember well what she had said, being so shocked by Yoo Mi’s story.

Yi Soo looked at Ji Ho with a shrinking heart.

As she looked at Ji Ho smiling gently, Yi Soo opened her mouth.

“You saw me there earlier, right?”

Although Ji Ho hadn’t mentioned it first, she couldn’t pretend not to know.

Maybe he was waiting for her to say it first.

Yi Soo pointed to the playground with her fingertip.

“Yes.”

At Ji Ho’s brief answer, Yi Soo unconsciously sighed.

She hated having to tell a story that was no good to know, and then she felt angry at Yoo Mi again.

It felt like everything was Yoo Mi’s fault.

If it weren’t for Yoo Mi, Min Jae wouldn’t have said such things.

“You see, I only found out after coming here, when I met my friends before…”

“I know. You said it was Min Jae.”

“Huh?”

Yi Soo looked at Ji Ho with an expression of ‘how did you know?’

“I heard someone calling his name loudly earlier.”

“Ah…”

Yi Soo was momentarily at a loss for words, realizing Ji Ho already knew.

If he knew everything, why hadn’t he asked first?

‘Is he angry?’

Yi Soo carefully examined Ji Ho’s expression.

“If there’s something I absolutely need to know, tell me.”

Ji Ho had no intention of listening to every detail of a story Yi Soo didn’t want to tell.

After coming all this way with such feelings, he didn’t want to waste their time together talking about another guy.

It was just a powerless past anyway.

“Huh? Ah…”

Something he needs to know…

Thinking about it, there was nothing about Min Jae that Ji Ho needed to know.

It was already in the past.

‘He means there’s no need to talk about it.’

As she understood Ji Ho’s true meaning, Yi Soo felt a lump in her throat.

Feeling Ji Ho’s trust in her, her nose suddenly stung.

“Then I have nothing to say. Nothing at all.”

Ji Ho smiled gently at Yi Soo’s words.

“Okay. That’s fine then.”

A soft hand caressed Yi Soo’s face.

“Ji Ho, you’re really the only one for me.”

“I know. It seems that way.”

The moment Yi Soo rushed into Ji Ho’s arms and hugged him tightly, the jealousy that had been boiling up until then dissipated like a lie.

Yes, that’s all that matters.

When she’s so vividly in my arms like this, what is there to be jealous about?

He didn’t want to waste the time that was already too short for loving on useless things.

“Ah, there’s one thing I need to say.”

Yi Soo suddenly said.

Ji Ho nodded slightly as if to say go ahead.

“It seems Yoo Mi plotted something without my knowledge. She gave Min Jae my number and told him a lot of nonsensical things. Actually, that caused some misunderstandings.”

“Ah… I see. No wonder.”

Ji Ho shook his head with an incredulous smile.

It felt like all the questions he had were being answered at once.

More than anything, Ji Ho had found it strange that Yoo Mi knew Min Jae, and he had wondered how Min Jae knew to come here today.

But if this was all Yoo Mi’s doing, it was possible.

“I guess she still hasn’t given up on you.”

Yi Soo let out a small sigh.

It must be hard to fold up feelings of over 10 years like a piece of paper in one go.

“Well, I do have irresistible charm…”

Ji Ho chuckled and shook his head.

Thinking of Yoo Mi made his anger rise, but getting angry here wouldn’t change anything.

Might as well laugh it off.

“What?”

Yi Soo burst out laughing at Ji Ho’s playfulness.

“I should have spoken more clearly, I guess. I thought I had said enough for her to understand… I didn’t know she still felt that way.”

Ji Ho said, his laughter fading.

“Seeing Yoo Mi do this even while knowing we’re together, she must be pretty upset.”

Yi Soo’s expression turned bitter.

“Should I talk to her again? I think that might be better than you saying something.”

Ji Ho worried that if Yi Soo stepped in, Yoo Mi might cause some trouble.

Seeing how she broke her promise and spoke carelessly about Yi Soo, it seemed she was capable of anything.

“Let’s think about that a bit more. I don’t think you need to step in just yet.”

Yi Soo didn’t like the idea of Ji Ho meeting Yoo Mi separately in any way.

“Okay.”

Ji Ho nodded obediently.

Time was now approaching 10 o’clock.

“Ji Ho, if you leave now, you’ll arrive home past midnight.”

“Then should I not go?”

Ji Ho stretched out his arm and pulled Yi Soo into an embrace.

“If you don’t go, will you spend the night here?”

“I’d be fine with that.”

Yi Soo just smiled softly, knowing that if she said so, Ji Ho would really do it.

“I really don’t want to go.”

Yi Soo found it hard to tell Ji Ho to leave first, hearing his voice full of reluctance.

As time passed, the regret only grew larger.

Pat pat.

Yi Soo gently patted Ji Ho’s back and said.

“Go back for today, and instead I’ll come see you tomorrow. You came today, so.”

Ji Ho pulled back and straightened up.

“Really?”

“Yes. I’ll stop by home after work and come right away. I should be able to get there before dinner.”

Yi Soo smiled brightly, seeing Ji Ho’s face light up.

“Why don’t I come pick you up tomorrow instead? So we can go together right away.”

Yi Soo shook her head.

“Why go through the trouble? Just wait quietly at home. Okay?”

Yi Soo raised her hand and lightly tapped Ji Ho’s cheek.

“Yes.”

Yi Soo burst out laughing seeing Ji Ho suddenly answer politely like an obedient child.

“You’re cute.”

“Me?”

Ji Ho chuckled with an incredulous expression.

As Yi Soo nodded, still smiling, Ji Ho suddenly leaned in and captured Yi Soo’s lips.

In an instant, Yi Soo’s lips were deeply sucked into Ji Ho’s mouth.

With a wet sound, their lips parted slightly and Ji Ho said.

“I don’t really like being cute.”

Their lips met again as Ji Ho dove in, tilting Yi Soo’s neck back.

Strong arms around her waist. Large hands tangled in Yi Soo’s hair, pulling her nape close. Yi Soo felt dizzy from the storm-like kiss that left her breathless.

Ji Ho’s body leaned more than halfway towards Yi Soo.

Ji Ho persistently pushed forward until Yi Soo was cornered against the window with nowhere else to go.

The car interior, which had retained some coolness, was instantly filled with hot passion.

Wait, even when Yi Soo pushed against Ji Ho’s chest to breathe, his rock-solid chest didn’t budge at all.

Instead, he held her tighter, sucking in every last bit of Yi Soo’s breath.

Just when the tingling sensation spreading to her toes became unbearable, their lips finally parted.

“Do you still think I’m cute?”

Ji Ho asked with downcast eyes, his lips barely apart.

Yi Soo slowly shook her head, breathing heavily.

Her heart was pounding as if it would burst.

Ji Ho smiled and gave her one more light kiss before straightening up.

His saliva-wet lips glistened.

“Let’s go. I’ll walk you to the front.”

Ji Ho opened the driver’s side door with a click and got out.

By the time Yi Soo caught her breath, the passenger door opened.

The humid summer night air rushed in.

“Get out.”

Ji Ho held Yi Soo’s hand and walked around the playground to the first floor entrance.

“Sleep well, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

As Yi Soo nodded, warm lips touched her forehead and then pulled away.

“Drive carefully.”

At Ji Ho’s urging to go in first, Yi Soo reluctantly went inside.

Yi Soo stood at the window going up to the second floor, watching until Ji Ho’s car completely left the playground, then went up to the third floor.

It was a night full of deep emotion.