“It’s a special request from the Chairman.”

As Jeho’s eye corners curved like a bow while gazing at her intently, Yuri felt a sudden pain in her chest and quickly inhaled.

What’s the big deal about a mere eye smile… Yuri was more annoyed at herself for not defending properly than at the opponent suddenly coming at her. As Yuri just stood still with a cold expression, Jeho continued speaking.

“If you’re feeling burdened, don’t worry. I’m doing this because I want to as well.”

“Why?”

Yuri frowned, not readily understanding his words.

“…Hmm.”

Instead of answering right away, Jeho gently pulled up the corners of his mouth. Then he bent his upper body to match Yuri’s eye level.

“Are you really asking because you don’t know?”

“Yes, I don’t know.”

“Oh my, I’m disappointed. I thought I was being courageous in my own way by saying it… Have you already forgotten?”

“What are you…?”

Yuri glanced at Jeho as if bewildered. She didn’t like his attitude of throwing out cryptic words and then watching for a reaction. But suddenly, she recalled what Jeho had said before.

—I can’t let a woman who keeps catching my eye and occupying my thoughts walk alone at night.

Surely, he doesn’t mean that’s the reason?

That was just a mischievous joke made under the influence of alcohol.

Jeho’s mouth corners slowly rose as he looked at her as if he had seen through her inner thoughts.

“That’s right. What you’re thinking now, that’s it.”

“…What do you mean by ‘that’?”

“Because you keep catching my eye and occupying my thoughts.”

Jeho approached one step closer, slowly uttering the words as if savoring them. Yuri reflexively stepped back.

“Then of course…”

Pausing briefly, he exhaled shortly and stared into Yuri’s eyes while leisurely continuing his next words.

“I come to want it.”

The intent of the question had subtly changed by now. The “want” he was talking about now didn’t seem to mean just wanting to design her house. His deep gaze directed at Yuri flickered sharply, containing ambiguous emotions.

“Haven’t you ever wanted something desperately? To the point you can’t sleep?”

What if someone hears!

Flustered, Yuri quickly looked around. Fortunately, everyone seemed to have left by then, as only Yuri and Jeho remained in the office.

Is he deliberately teasing me, knowing no one else is here?

Yuri took a deep breath and tightly gripped the strap of the bag on her shoulder.

“Anyway, let’s forget about the newlywed house design job. I’ll speak to the Chairman separately about it.”

After quickly finishing her words, she immediately turned around and left the office. It might be rude behavior, but she didn’t care. If she lingered even a little longer, she would end up getting entangled with him.

Although they would have to face each other again tomorrow, for now, she just wanted to get away from him. Yuri, who had left the office as if fleeing, ran straight towards the elevator. Fortunately, as she approached, the doors opened immediately.

Only after the elevator started descending did Yuri breathe a sigh of relief and lean her back against the wall. Her pale face was reflected in the mirror installed on the opposite side.

It was an expression that looked frightened, as if being chased by someone. Honestly, she was scared. But she was more afraid of herself, wavering, than of Jeho. She didn’t know how to react.

Without even knowing exactly what he meant by “want,” her mind went blank, and her heart rate became uncontrollably fast. To make matters worse, even her face was about to turn red.

“You, I really don’t like you.”

Yuri bit her lower lip, scolding her foolish self. She was angry at herself for constantly wavering in front of Jeho.

Why can’t I stand up to him confidently? Because he’s my first love?

Yuri shook her head with a bitter smile. Then she looked into her reflection in the mirror again. The woman in the mirror looked extremely anxious, as if afraid that a hidden truth might be revealed.

Ten years ago, and now…

The very uncomfortable truth that she was still attracted to the man named Kwon Jeho.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Haa.”

Yuri sighed deeply and leaned back weakly in the driver’s seat. She had tried starting the engine several times, but it wouldn’t start. For some reason, nothing seemed to go right today. She couldn’t understand why the car that had been fine when she came to work was suddenly acting up.

She tried one last time, but it was the same. Left with no choice, Yuri opened the door and got out of the car. She had tried to leave before Jeho came down, but sadly, she seemed to be a step too late. The elevator opened and Jeho stepped into the underground parking lot.

“What’s the matter?”

He approached with quick steps. She could have made up an excuse that it was nothing, but perhaps due to being tense all day, Yuri was drained of energy? She simply explained the situation.

“The car won’t start.”

“May I take a look for a moment?”

Instead of answering, Yuri stepped back to let him get in the car. After sitting in the driver’s seat and briefly examining the dashboard, Jeho pressed the service button installed in the car. With a beep sound, the connection to the service center was made, and a kind voice flowed from the speaker.

[This is the 24-hour emergency service center. How may I assist you?]

“The engine suddenly won’t start. Is it possible to diagnose the current state of the car?”

[Yes, please wait a moment.]

While conversing with the service center staff about the car’s condition, Jeho lowered the window and asked Yuri.

“The car needs to be taken to the service center, but they say the tow truck can only come in an hour. Shall we wait until then? Or should we have them come tomorrow morning?”

“Let’s forget about today and have them come tomorrow morning.”

Jeho nodded and finished the conversation with the service center staff before getting out of the car.

“They’ll come to tow at 8:30 tomorrow morning.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Yuri smiled awkwardly and locked the car door with the smart key.

Fool, why didn’t you think to press the service button?

She felt ridiculous for wasting time fumbling around instead of taking proper measures. Usually, she would have handled it calmly, but today she ended up messing up by rushing in a hurry.

She tried to slip out of the parking lot before he could offer to drive her home, but before she could take a few steps, he grabbed her arm.

“Not that way, this way.”

Jeho pointed with a nod towards where his car was parked.

“It’s okay, I can take a taxi.”

“Is there any need for that? We’re going in the same direction anyway.”

Finding it difficult to refuse further, Yuri nodded and followed Jeho to where his car was parked. As she got in the car, she could smell a subtle and calm male cologne. A moment later, he opened the car door and got into the driver’s seat.

Strangely, the atmosphere felt somehow different when he drove her car and when she rode in his car.

Like the difference between a home game and an away game?

Still, why is her heart pounding over something as trivial as getting a ride…

Yuri quietly steadied her breath, trying not to show it. But while she waited for the car to start, for some reason nothing happened.

Yuri turned her head to the side with a puzzled expression. At the same time, he leaned his upper body towards her.

“…!”

For a fleeting moment, she felt a warm breath on her lips. Startled, Yuri unconsciously flinched and closed her eyes.

“Huh.”

A soft laugh like a sigh flowed into her ear, followed by the sound of the seatbelt buckle clicking into place. When she carefully opened her eyes, he had already returned to the driver’s seat.

“No matter how long I waited, you didn’t put on your seatbelt…”

So his words meant he had kindly fastened her seatbelt for her. But because she turned her head…

Yuri glanced at Jeho’s profile with a confused expression. She thought their lips had touched for a moment, but it was such a brief instant that she wasn’t sure.

Seeing his nonchalant expression, it seemed like it hadn’t happened…

“Next time.”

Just then, a low voice flowed into Yuri’s ears as her mind was in turmoil.

“Don’t close your eyes like that. It might lead to misunderstandings.”

“What?”

Yuri opened her mouth with a dumbfounded face. Jeho paused his motion of starting the engine and turned his head towards her.

“Oh, sorry. Was it not a misunderstanding? Did you want it too? My, I was so oblivious.”

He said teasingly as he started the car.

Instead of snapping back ‘What do you mean want?’, Yuri kept her mouth tightly shut and turned her head towards the window. If she responded in this state, she would end up getting entangled with him.

The two didn’t exchange a single word until they arrived at her house. Jeho drove silently, and Yuri just stared out the window, tightly gripping the innocent strap of her bag.

When the car stopped, Yuri hurriedly unfastened her seatbelt, worried he might try to undo it for her first.

“Thank you for today. Take care on your way back.”

After a hasty greeting, she got out of the car and quickly closed the door without waiting for Jeho’s response.

As Jeho watched Yuri’s retreating figure rushing into the house, a dry smile crept onto his lips.

Once she had completely disappeared from view, he slowly rubbed his thumb across his lips. They still felt tingly, as if burned.

Because although it was extremely brief, it was an intensely powerful sensation.

An unbelievably sweet pair of lips.

“Huh.”

A bitter laugh escaped Jeho’s mouth as he stared intently at the tightly closed front gate. He shook his head with a dark expression and slowly drove away.

[This is the timeline separator]

That night, Yuri couldn’t easily fall asleep because her heart was pounding too hard. It seemed she barely managed to close her eyes when dawn was nearly breaking.

Skipping breakfast, Yuri headed to the company early, had her car towed by the service center staff, and went up to the office. Thanks to everything proceeding smoothly, she wasn’t late for work, but she was exhausted before even starting her day.

Still, if there was a silver lining, it was that Jeho left her alone today without bothering her.

She had worried all night that their lips might have accidentally touched, but judging from Jeho’s nonchalant reaction, it seems it was just their cheeks brushing slightly rather than their lips. If their lips had touched, he wouldn’t have stayed this quiet. He would have surely made some mischievous comment.

“Did you get the car towed well this morning?”

Only when it was time to leave work did Jeho speak to her. Yuri quickly tidied up her desk, afraid he might offer to drive her home.

“Yes, thanks to you it was towed well. I talked with the service center staff earlier, and they said there’s a problem with the engine so repairs will take about a week. See you tomorrow then.”

Finishing her words like rapid-fire without giving him a chance to respond, Yuri grabbed her bag and left the office, heading straight for the elevator. Fortunately, as she approached the elevator today, the doors opened immediately. Yuri got on the elevator hurriedly, looking back anxiously. As the doors closed slowly, she pressed the close button repeatedly.

It might seem cowardly, but she had no choice. Her condition was at its worst right now. After getting enough sleep and returning to normal condition, she wouldn’t need to run away from tomorrow.

“Right, running away is only for today.”

Yuri muttered to herself, trying to reassure herself.

[This is the timeline separator]

“…Huh?”

Suddenly, the bright elevator lights started flickering. Yuri looked up at the ceiling lights with a puzzled face. For some reason, she had a bad feeling. Surely it wouldn’t stop midway?

Just then, the elevator doors slid open as it arrived at the underground parking lot. Yuri breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly headed towards the doors. But…

“…!”

Yuri stopped in her tracks as she saw Jeho standing in front of the doors.

She had clearly left the office first, but somehow Jeho was already down in the underground parking lot.

Before she could step out, he strode into the elevator first.

“Are you going to keep pretending not to know until the end?”

There was a deep darkness in Jeho’s eyes as he looked at Yuri.