“Four years’ worth of interest must have added up quite a bit, right?”

Seo Jun, having successfully persuaded Eom So Yeon, twinkled his black eyes. It was a sign that his real intention was about to unfold.

“What are you talking about? You need to speak clearly so I can understand…”

“It’s like an unfinished calculation. Previously, it was Eom So Yeon who needed to receive something, but now, it’s my turn to be compensated.”

“….?”

Unfinished calculation? Compensation? What debt? Do I owe this man something? A loan shark?

Startled, So Yeon’s brown irises, surrounded by her hazel eyes, visibly widened as if she had been struck by lightning from a clear sky.

What on earth is this man trying to say? Naturally anxious because of her hidden secret, she consciously straightened her hunched chest and steadied her nervous gaze.

“I don’t have anything like that.”

“Really now?”

Seo Jun stroked his chin with his index finger, narrowing his eyes and slightly lifting the corner of his mouth in a proud, enigmatic smile. Knowing well how charming his expression was, he could skillfully use his unreal beauty as a weapon.

“Who was the one who left me after sucking all the juice out of me like a chewed gum, disappearing without a trace?”

“Juice? What are you talking about?”

She had been face to face with him for over two months, but they never talked about that one night, except once at the villa. But that was supposed to be the end of it, so why bring it up now?

“It was here. The place where we were together that night. I was feeling down and drank a lot, and Eom So Yeon seduced me. Don’t you remember?”

“Me, I, how could I…”

So Yeon’s lips barely moved in the cold wave creeping up her feet.

He surely wasn’t drunk that night. If anyone drank more, it was her. So if anyone was drunk enough to claim they were not, it would be her.

And the other way around, was Seo Jun a man who could be drained of juice, sweet or bitter?

“Maybe you played with me?”

“What, what did you say?”

Did I hear that right?

Chills ran down So Yeon’s spine, feeling as if Seo Jun’s menacing performance from the movie “The Cursed Sword” had leapt off the screen into reality.

“I might have been forward, but it was you who pounced on me!”

“That’s what Eom So Yeon thinks. The memory of the one who suffered is clearer.”

As much as she thought about that day, it only brought feelings of injustice for So Yeon. Her temples quivered slightly, as did her lush eyelashes.

This is nothing but a false accusation.

That morning, she did flee before Seo Jun woke up, not brave enough to face him, but his memory seemed utterly whimsical. It was a string of outrageous statements, leaving So Yeon’s eyes constantly trembling.

What is this strange sensation of being entangled?

If he said so, it seemed true. Yet, she was not one to be swept away so easily. Doubts like ‘Did I really do that?’ dug deep into her mind. At that moment, So Yeon tightened her vigilance and put strength into her voice.
“The first thing we did when we met was kiss. We slept together driven purely by the moment’s attraction, with no promises for the future. Was there ever a next day for us? Did we even say we’d meet again? No! We implicitly agreed that that day, that night was all there was! Why are you, of all people, being so unreasonable now! Why are you doing this to me suddenly?”

“…….”

Her calm voice gradually rose in volume.

Seo Jun, amused by this unexpected reaction, chuckled lightly. The image of Eom So Yeon faltering as she spoke intrigued him. He had only imagined how she would react vehemently to his words, and the anticipation was quite enjoyable.

Maybe he wanted to shake her up more, perhaps to counterbalance the shock he received from her earlier.

Seo Jun playfully twisted his words, a mix of jest and truth.

“Actually, I’m not into playing it cool. I prefer to cling, and I can’t just give myself to any woman. If it was just for one night, I wouldn’t have spent it with you. Do you think I could have forgotten about Eom So Yeon? As time passes, I find myself thinking about you more and more.”

Although it wasn’t a heartfelt confession of affection, it sounded like he did miss her a bit. So Yeon was unexpectedly moved by this common ground they shared, but she didn’t want to show her emotions.

“So, what are you going to do about it?”

Composing herself, her voice dropped a tone as she asked, and Seo Jun uncrossed his legs and leaned forward, his voice heavy.

“Guess what I’m going to say.”

“So, now…”

Easy when it was just one night, but now that there’s a child, does it seem hopelessly easy? Is that it? Were you always this kind of person?

To So Yeon, Seo Jun appeared like a cold mannequin, devoid of warmth or human emotion. The Seo Jun she knew was not someone who would blatantly make such demands. Her brown eyes trembled with this realization. Seo Jun leaned back, exacerbating the tension in her already nervous heart.

“No, not that. I’ve got a lot built up because of Eom So Yeon. I’m not asking for much, just stick with me for a few days.”

“What nonsense!”