Hye-yoon closed her belatedly opened mouth. She quickly pressed her lips together and even swallowed nervously, trying to dispel the unnecessary awkwardness. She wanted to convey a neatly wrapped response, but that light word didn’t come out willingly.
The words “It’s okay” were crushed inside her mouth. Now, in its current state, the once comforting phrase felt damp and uneasy. Ji-ho was silently observing that uncomfortable feeling.
“Should I not do it?”
The tone that gently stroked her angry emotions made his smile warm.
“Ah…”
So Hye-yoon hated herself. Even when the opportunity came again, she couldn’t deliver the prepared response. The only time she could erase the feeling of revealing her ugly temper was when Ji-ho firmly held her hand.
She had momentarily forgotten that they were holding hands. Her gaze was directed toward him, conveying a conviction like a force. Then Ji-ho, as if waiting, conveyed his feelings.
“If you don’t want it, I don’t either.”
Hye-yoon bit her lip tightly. She never thought that a refusal could sound so good. The six erased letters behind that word seemed to echo in her ears.
‘Whatever it is,’ something like that.
In truth, she didn’t dislike it; she lacked confidence. Whether it was a friend, family, or someone she liked, she had never experienced not seeing them for almost a whole season. She hadn’t imagined it.
“When is the shoot? Next month?”
“No way. It’s still a long way off. If it happens, it will be around autumn.”
“…I see.”
“Yeah. Later… after work, I’ll go to your house. Until then, think about it slowly.”
Her timid gestures were much smaller. In that moment, the headlights brightly illuminated the two people. Simultaneously, they faced each other. A car parked a few steps ahead was shining on both of them.
From the driver’s seat window, Bong-gi’s face suddenly popped out.
“Why are you shooting not just photos but also a movie?”
Seemingly guarding the two who did not get into the car, Bong-gi looked on. When his eyes met Hye-yoon’s while he was making an annoying remark, he stuck out his thumb. Then, the words she had heard from Bong-gi about three times today replayed in her mind.
‘Hey, today, the writer is…!’ Even though everything was omitted, the admiration that made her feel everything was palpable.
Bong-gi nodded toward Ji-ho. Since he had the next schedule, Ji-ho also responded with a nod. At that moment, the warmth slipping away from Ji-ho’s grip. When she turned her head, Hye-yoon’s hand had already slipped away.
“Let’s talk on the phone when work is done. Actually, I can answer now… I just want to hear Ji-ho’s voice as an excuse.”
Ji-ho lightly clasped the empty hand. Feeling the lingering warmth in his hand, her eyes were also fixed on the owner of that warmth.
Unlike usual, her elegantly made-up face was graceful, but her amber eyes remained the same. Whether it was moisture or tenderness that had welled up, her eyes were still the same. As if emphasizing the owner of that warmth with clear, innocent eyes, it made her seem like a child, even more so like a sister.
“You must be tired. Don’t come and call me. Got it?”
Hye-yoon made an adult-like plea.
So Ji-ho held her small hand again. To wake up the sleeping child inside her. In the car returning alone, he advised her not to engage in adult play. He felt the need to quickly bring back the girl from a moment ago who wanted to show off her prettied-up face.
There was a sudden injustice in Ji-ho’s voice.
“I’m also going to see your face as an excuse. If I come without a reason, you won’t meet me well for no reason…”
“Wow! If you say that with that expression, it really seems real!”
Hye-yoon’s mouth opened wide at the grumbling that seemed to mimic my eyes. Beep beep. Ji-ho also stopped acting when she raised her voice like a child. The big hand that was firmly holding the small hand was now resting on her head.
The soothing touch comforted her for the few hours when the stroking hand was missing.
“Hehe. See you later.”
Two people exchanging small emotions. And someone unintentionally involved in this conversation. That someone expressed dissatisfaction.
“…Stop it.”
“Uh, I’m sorry.”
Bong-gi was grinding his teeth and breaking the news. He had been listening to their conversation since lowering the window.
Hye-yoon gently pushed Ji-ho’s body. Until the last moment when she went to her car, she pretended to make a phone call with her hand. Don’t come, just call. Ji-ho smiled at her cute gesture.
But as soon as he got into the car, the smile was wiped away. In their respective cars, they both had the same expression. The same thoughts.
11 PM. Ji-ho, who had finished all the meetings, was driving his car. For the most important last schedule.
Like darkness descending on the road, there was only silence on the piece-like face. Ji-ho even turned off the radio that had been faintly vibrating. It was because everything felt chaotic.
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
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