Liking someone was also an overwhelming moment.

And when that moment became reality.

An indescribable flood of emotions rushes in.

“Do you like me that much?”

Jae I nodded while lying on the sofa.

How did I end up in this situation with him?

Just two months ago, he was an executive I couldn’t even look at.

He was just someone I secretly glimpsed from afar.

Still, I didn’t want to miss this opportunity.

A moment that will never come again in Han Jae I’s life.

“Han Jae I. Shall we cross the line?”

Jae I’s eyes widened. Her pupils trembled as if an earthquake had occurred.

“I’m saying this because I think it would be fun to cross the line rather than just imagining it.”

It was a completely unexpected proposal from Executive Cha Geon Hak, whom she had been secretly in love with for two years.

* * *

Two months ago.

Even with the 6 o’clock alarm, Jae I couldn’t wake up from her dream.

When someone in the dream tried to grab her, Jae I’s eyes suddenly opened wide and her body jerked upright.

“Haa……”

Jae I’s back was damp with sweat from the nightmare, her T-shirt clinging to her. Jae I cradled her face, stained with cold sweat.

“Haa…… That dream again.”

The dream she invariably has on days when she’s not feeling well.

As tears welled up in Jae I’s large eyes, she rubbed them vigorously with the back of her hand.

“It’s okay. Everything’s okay, Jae I.”

Jae I comforted herself and first turned off the loudly ringing alarm.

After taking a few steps from the bed, Jae I arrived right in front of the refrigerator door and took out cool spring water. Drinking the water instantly refreshed her dry throat.

Jae I put down the half-empty bottle of water on the table.

“Sigh, I wonder if something bad will happen today.”

A studio apartment of about 7 pyeong.

It was a precious nest she had bought by recklessly borrowing money and saving tenaciously for 5 years.

Ding. As the phone alarm rang, Jae I touched the screen.

“I’m not feeling well… Should I not go? No, no.”

Jae I shook her head.

Though she doesn’t like crowded places much, the reason she still attends.

It was because Executive Cha Geon Hak, whom she had secretly loved for 2 years, would be there.

* * *

Despite the clear weather without a single cloud, Cha Geon Hak’s expression was full of fatigue as he leaned on the terrace railing.

“I’m dead tired. Coming all the way down to Buyeo to watch an employee team building event, now I’m getting irritated. The chairman dumped this kind of work on me and went abroad living the good life. Right, Secretary Kim?”

As if used to Geon Hak’s irritated voice, Do Yoon replied.

“This is the last team, sir.”

Geon Hak’s voice flowed out languidly.

“Sigh. They’re all eagerly participating even though they’re giving up their weekend rest day for team building, so the chairman is even more enthusiastic.”

Unlike the negative Geon Hak, the satisfaction of the employees participating in the team building was quite high.

It was standard to give participation prizes to everyone, and the gifts for those who won each game were enormous. That’s why the employees were so passionate even on weekends.

However, his interest was solely elsewhere.

He looked at Do Yoon while pressing the back of his neck.

“So, did you find her?”

“We haven’t found her yet.”

Geon Hak slowly closed his eyes and opened them again.

“I wonder where Yoon Su Ah, who would even pretend to die at her parents’ words, has disappeared to. Is she really trying to get married this time, not just engaged? Or is she testing me again?”

“What’s certain is that she had a big fight with the chairman last night and left home.”

“That’s not the first time.”

‘I’m going to marry you. You know, Geon Hak. I love you the most.’

He let out a dry laugh.

What’s so pretty about her when she even got engaged to another man? Is he still believing her words?

Even though he wasn’t sure whether to believe her or not anymore, he was willing to take Yoon Su Ah back anytime if she returned. Come to think of it, old feelings are really scary.

To Geon Hak, she was sometimes a friend and family. And she was also the lifesaver who saved his life in childhood.

As he tilted his head slightly while leaning on the railing, he saw lots of documents scattered on the table.

“Sigh, this is so annoying.”

As the murmuring sounds grew louder, Geon Hak’s head turned downwards.

Geon Hak, who had been working on the lower floor, now looked at the employees arriving one by one. Most people were happy even though they came out on the weekend for team building.

What could be so good about it?

Before he knew it, Geon Hak’s gaze turned to a woman sitting alone on a bench.

While other employees were gathered in groups of three or five, taking pictures and chatting in front of the resort, she alone was quiet.

As if she had come to a different world.

Above all, no one approached her first to talk.

“She’s bothersome every time.”

She was a woman who always lingered around Geon Hak noticeably.

A woman who would blush and freeze with her head bowed low whenever he looked at her. Yet she would still peek at him.

Perhaps bothered by the noise around her, she lifted her head with her eyes closed.

Her long neckline caught his eye.

Long arms and legs, and hair roughly tied up with a rubber band. Her bothersome bangs always covering her eyes, so he couldn’t remember properly making eye contact.

Does she have a scar on her forehead or eyes?

Whoosh―

As the wind blew where she was sitting, her bangs swayed in the breeze. The scene looked like a slow-motion movie scene.

As the bangs covering her eyes disappeared, neatly arranged eyebrows and a plump forehead came into view. She had distinct features on her snow-white face.

“Not bad.”

Jae I slowly opened her eyes to fix her bangs blown by the wind.

At that moment, her eyes met with Cha Geon Hak looking down from above.

Jae I’s pupils suddenly grew larger, and she abruptly stood up from the bench. Her actions were impressively fast. Then she bowed her head deeply.

Thump thump, thump thump.

Jae I’s heart started pounding as if doing jumps.

What should I do…

Just making eye contact with Cha Geon Hak once. But her heart was already racing.

The executive is looking at me. What should I do?

Jae I’s head, which had been bowed for a while, slowly rose.

…Huh?

Jae I’s head started moving here and there.

She definitely made eye contact with him up there, but Geon Hak’s figure had disappeared without a trace.

* * *

― The Cha Myung Group Athletic Team Building Event will begin soon, so we ask all employees to gather in the seminar hall. We are announcing this again.

Hearing the announcement echoing through the resort, Jae I changed into comfortable clothes and started walking.

Unlike people sharing rooms in pairs or groups of four, Jae I had a room to herself. But she wasn’t sad or lonely being alone.

Rather, this was more familiar.

Since her school days, Jae I hadn’t been able to get along with people around her.

No matter how hard she tried, most people avoided her, saying they disliked her gloomy facial expression.

It wasn’t like that from the beginning. She had a bright personality until elementary school. But after entering middle school, Jae I became even darker. Perhaps it was after her mother’s remarriage.

Suddenly reminded of the past, Jae I shook her head to erase the memory.

As Jae I was about to enter the seminar hall, Manager Im Jin Seop blocked her way.

“Han team leader.”

“Yes, Manager.”

“I feel so bad about this.”

Jin Seop said, scratching the back of his head.

“The room you’re using. I think we need to give it up.”

Give it up? Why?

“You haven’t heard?”

Jae I looked at him with a face that knew nothing.

“They say there aren’t enough rooms left because teams from other affiliates are coming here too. So I think you, who are using a room alone, need to move to Park Min Ju deputy’s room.”

Jae I’s expression darkened at the thought of moving to Deputy Park’s room, who dislikes her even normally.

“Okay. I’ll do that.”

Grateful that Jae I agreed right away, he grinned and went inside first.

If only it were a different room, it would have been better.

Jae I moved her steps and entered the seminar hall.

The seminar hall was already packed full of many employees. Everyone around looked excited, but Jae I just waited for this time to end quickly.

* * *

As time passed, the atmosphere grew more and more heightened.

Everyone participated with smiles, but Jae I, who was uncomfortable in such gatherings, grew more and more restless.

“Now, please pair up in twos.”

Ah…

The paired dodgeball game that Jae I hated the most was starting again this time.

At the host’s words, people were already moving to pair up. They passed by her as if she were invisible.

This is why I didn’t want to come. Alone again.

Jae I looked around.

Other people were already paired up, laughing and chatting.

Yeah, let’s secretly slip out of this game.

No one will notice anyway.

Jae I lowered her head and started walking. As she tried to move as inconspicuously as possible, a pair of black loafers blocked her path.

Jae I’s head slowly rose.

Uh… Huh?

She heard murmuring sounds around, but nothing else was audible.

It felt like time had stopped.

Jae I just blankly stared at Executive Cha Geon Hak standing in front of her.

“Han Jae I.”

Am I hearing things because I like him too much?

“If it’s okay, would you like to do it with me?”

That voice was so surreal. Not only did Cha Geon Hak call her name, but he was standing right in front of her.

“Han Jae I?”

I didn’t hear wrong.

Jae I’s lips slowly parted, and finally a sound came out.

“Huaat……”

He looked at Jae I with a gentle smile.

“Do it with me.”

Her heart felt like it would burst.

The murmuring of people around grew louder at Cha Geon Hak’s sudden action. Jae I’s earlobes already felt like they would burst, and her fingertips were cold.

“You can refuse if you don’t want to. Do you dislike it?”

“Th-there’s no way! I like it… very much.”

I like it as much as if I’m dreaming.

“Then that’s good. Let’s do it together.”

A faint smile spread across Cha Geon Hak’s lips.

His mouth was smiling, but Geon Hak himself was also puzzled why he had stepped forward directly. Even Do Yoon behind him had a clearly bewildered look on his face at Geon Hak’s sudden action.

Right, you must be surprised. Even I am, doing this.

Sigh, Cha Geon Hak. Why did you.

Geon Hak looked at Han Jae I in front of him. He saw her blushing and turning her head this way and that, seemingly embarrassed.

Strangely, he was concerned about her.

Her gaze that kept looking at him, and the sight of her secretly trying to leave this place alone again, made him feel sorry.

Right, just for that reason.