At the unexpected words, So Eun blinked and looked at Tae Min.

“……”

When there was no response from So Eun, Tae Min swallowed dryly once again.

Just as he thought, “Did I overdo it again?”, So Eun opened her mouth.

“A meal?”

“Yes.”

Tae Min, who answered immediately, quickly added his next words.

“I just thought it would be nice to have a meal with you. I can treat you.”

But as Tae Min was thinking of an alternative in case So Eun might refuse, So Eun replied.

“Yes. Okay. Then I’ll treat you to a meal. When is convenient for you?”

“Wow!”

Tae Min inadvertently let out an exclamation of joy.

But soon he felt embarrassed, thinking he might have unfilteredly revealed his excited feelings.

As So Eun looked at Tae Min with puzzled eyes, he said with an awkward smile.

“Ah, I didn’t think you would accept. I was so happy that I just…”

Is having a meal with me such a joyous thing?

Feeling somewhat embarrassed, So Eun couldn’t say anything, and Tae Min spoke.

“Then, So Eun, I’m free anytime next week, so I’ll match your schedule. Where is your company?”

“I’m in Samseong-dong.”

“Ah. Really? I’m in Seolleung, it’s very close. We?”

“Ah. That’s right.”

“What time do you usually get off work?”

“I get off at 7.”

“Oh? Then I finish at 6:30, so I can come to your company area after I’m done. Shall we do that?”

“Yes. That should work.”

“Then, which day is convenient for you?”

“Hmm, Wednesday should be fine.”

“Wednesday? That’s good for me too.”

At the thought of seeing So Eun again on Wednesday, Tae Min wanted to shout with joy.

But afraid of startling So Eun, Tae Min only shouted in his heart and said to So Eun with a joyful smile.

“Then let’s plan to meet on Wednesday, and you should go in now. You must be very tired today.”

“Don’t you need to call the driver again?”

“Yes. I should.”

“Then I’ll go in after seeing the driver arrive.”

“……”

Surprised by the unexpected words, Tae Min’s eyes widened, but soon he smiled and nodded.

“Okay. Then I’ll call the driver.”

After calling to summon the driver, the two stood silently.

Although they stood without saying anything, Tae Min’s heart was overflowing with boundless joy.

Thinking that if they keep meeting like this, someday there might come a day when he could appeal his feelings.

After standing like that for a while, the driver arrived, and Tae Min greeted So Eun once again.

“So Eun, go in and rest well. We’ll see each other on Wednesday.”

“Okay. Get home safely.”

Tae Min smiled brightly as he got into the passenger seat.

Tae Min lowered the window and waved his big hand before the car departed.

After watching the departing car, So Eun slowly headed towards the villa’s main entrance.

* * *

In the car on the way back, Tae Min leaned his head against the window, recalling the blessed day.

When he drove to the villa where So Eun lived after work, Tae Min felt excited for no reason, as if he were going to pick up his girlfriend.

And when he saw So Eun in an outfit similar to his own, he felt excited again with the pleasant illusion of wearing couple outfits.

When they went to the Han River together and drank beer under the warm sunlight, So Eun before his eyes seemed like a dream, and when he unknowingly wiped the water that splashed on So Eun’s cheek in front of the fountain, his heart raced madly at the soft touch of her cheek.

In his 26 years of life, had he ever been so deeply infatuated with someone?

And in such a short time.

It was probably the first time.

That his heart reacted so crazily to someone.

And when he saw that trash standing in front of the villa, he got so angry that he wondered if he even had this kind of anger inside him.

Tae Min, who had a gentle personality and rarely had any reason to fight with anyone in his life, momentarily thought of punching that bastard’s face.

Fortunately, before such a situation could unfold, So Eun resolved the situation and that guy left with a resentful expression.

His heart sank at the thought that if So Eun had been alone, she might have been harmed by that guy.

“…Sigh.”

Tae Min sighed and ran his hand through his hair as he looked out the window.

The car was driving over the Hangang Bridge, and as Tae Min looked at the surging Han River, the words So Eun had said earlier came to his mind.

‘But I’m different from you, I keep the morals that people should maintain. At least I only give my heart to one person at a time.’

As soon as he recalled those words, one side of Tae Min’s chest tingled.

At the thought that he wanted to be that one person…

Tae Min, with a troubled heart, leaned his head against the car window and sighed deeply.

* * *

Time passed, and Wednesday arrived.

While preparing for work, So Eun honestly told Ji Ye, who was asking if they should order pork hocks for dinner, that she had plans to have dinner with Tae Min, to which Ji Ye’s eyes widened.

“What? What’s this about? Did you two already become that close?”

Surprised by So Eun’s uncharacteristic initiative, Ji Ye asked with wide eyes, and So Eun had no choice but to talk about what happened on Saturday night.

As expected, as soon as she heard the story, Ji Ye jumped up, excited to go kill Jung Hyuk right away, and So Eun barely managed to calm her down and make her sit again.

“He really won’t come again now. If he does, I’ll really call the police this time.”

“Seriously, does this crazy X have no shame? He comes back again after being cursed at like that by me? What should we really do about this?”

“He really won’t appear again, so don’t worry.”

But Ji Ye still seemed unsatisfied and snorted for a while before finally calming down and turning to look at So Eun.

“Really, it’s fortunate that Sweetie was there with you then, if you had been alone, who knows what that bastard might have done with his eyes rolled back? Ah, the more I think about it, the more upset I get?”

Ji Ye snorted to herself for a while, then asked So Eun with a glint in her eyes.

“So, Sweetie said he’d treat you to a meal because he’s grateful to you?”

“Yes.”

“Wow, this Sweetie, he’s quite a fox? His skill at seizing opportunities is no joke?”

“It’s not like that.”

“How is it not? It’s exactly like that?”

When So Eun didn’t respond, Ji Ye stared at her for a moment before speaking with a serious expression.

“Hey. Ji So Eun. I know how you feel. If I were you, I wouldn’t want to meet anyone right now because of that Jung Hyuk bastard. I completely understand that feeling. I understand, but… I hope you won’t stop a good person from approaching you. Jun Ho oppa says that Tae Min is really kind and a good person. Even to my eyes, he seems very bright and pure.”

When So Eun remained silent, Ji Ye continued.

“Well, I’m not saying you should do anything with Sweetie right away. You know what I mean, right? I’m just saying that Sweetie seems like a good person, so try to see him slowly. You said you’re having dinner together today, right? If you meet casually like that often… Who knows? Sweetie might find a place in your heart? So don’t think about rejecting him outright. Understood?”

At Ji Ye’s words, So Eun chuckled and said.

“Tae Min hasn’t done anything to me, so what am I rejecting? You know you’re totally overreacting, right?”

Ji Ye also chuckled.

“Well, that’s true. But you never know when Sweetie might draw his sword, you know.”

Ji Ye shrugged and then picked up her bag and stood up.

“Anyway, eat something delicious with Sweetie and talk a lot. Next time, let’s have a meal together, the four of us. Okay?”

“We’ll see about that.”

“Geez, this girl. Well then, I’m heading to work first.”

Ji Ye waved her hand and opened the front door to leave.

* * *

When So Eun returned after getting approval from the department head, it was just 6:30 PM.

As she sat at her desk organizing documents, her phone vibrated.

It was Tae Min.

So Eun took her phone and headed to the pantry.

“Hello?”

-Ah. So Eun, hello? This is Tae Min.

It was So Eun’s first time talking on the phone with Tae Min, so she felt very unfamiliar and awkward.

“Yes. Hello, Tae Min.”

-But what should I do? I’m so sorry. I was originally planning to leave work on time today, but just now an urgent request for a work revision came in. It’ll take about an hour to revise this, what should we do?

Tae Min’s voice over the phone was full of apology and anxiety.

“It’s okay. Should I go to your company area and wait?”

-What? No, you don’t need to come. Would you like to have a cup of coffee near your company? I’ll come as soon as I finish.

“Yes. Let’s do that then.”

-Then So Eun, I’ll come as fast as I can! With my eyebrows flying, so when you get to the coffee shop, could you send me the location by text? I’ll come straight to the coffee shop.

“Okay. I’ll do that.”

-Then see you later, So Eun.

“Yes.”

After hanging up, So Eun couldn’t help but smile at Tae Min’s words “with my eyebrows flying”.

And as she was about to return to her seat, her phone vibrated again.

Huh? Did Tae Min call again?

As she tilted her head and looked at her phone, it was an unfamiliar number.

So Eun stared at the number for a moment before pressing reject without hesitation.

She had a strong feeling it might be Jung Hyuk.

As she sighed and was about to leave the pantry, this time a text message arrived.

So Eun’s eyes widened as she picked up her phone and looked at the message.