It was a moment as I was walking to the hospital room humming a tune. Seeing a familiar back in front of the room, a smile spread across Eun Jae’s face.

How can even a backside be so handsome?

Recognizing Sun Woo just from his back in a white coat, Eun Jae took a step closer to him, feeling proud of herself. That’s when it happened.

“What’s this?”

There was someone standing in front of Sun Woo. Focused on the man in her excitement, Eun Jae belatedly noticed the woman standing in front.

Who was that?

Taking a step back and pressing herself against the wall, Eun Jae peeked out.

The woman standing in front of the man looked cheerful. She was smiling brightly as if they were sharing an amusing conversation. Feeling like she made eye contact with the woman, Eun Jae hid behind the wall again.

Ah, I remember now.

Dr. Joo Hye Ji, Mom’s attending physician and the teacher’s college classmate.

The image of the two standing together in front of the hospital room lingered in her mind for a long time. She let out an involuntary sigh.

I wonder if they’re still there.

After spending some time behind the wall, Eun Jae peeked out again to look at her mother’s hospital room. Fortunately, the two were no longer in sight.

Hiding behind the wall again, Eun Jae pouted.

“Why am I hiding?”

It’s not like I did anything wrong.

She didn’t want to create an awkward situation for the man. After all, they were in a contract relationship, and she felt the need to maintain appropriate boundaries.

Of course, things didn’t go as planned. Even hidden behind the wall, the image of the two together kept haunting her. With personal feelings mixed into their contract relationship, she found herself overly conscious of the man’s every move.

Her heart, wanting to cross the line, and her head, trying to maintain it, were in chaotic conflict.

Lost in these thoughts, with a complicated expression, she was about to step out when-

“What are you doing here?”

“Ah, you startled me.”

Surprised by Sun Woo’s sudden appearance before her, Eun Jae froze in place.

“Why, why are you here?”

Isn’t your office on the other side?

Looking at Eun Jae, Sun Woo silently laughed and placed his hand on top of the lunch bag he was holding.

“Give it here.”

As their hands overlapped, a flustered Eun Jae let go of the bag. The man, looking at her as if she was cute, whispered softly.

“Ji Eun Jae, you’ve been waiting, haven’t you?”

[This is the timeline separator]

Seemingly enjoying the taste, Mi Ran’s chopsticks, which had barely touched food before, now moved busily back and forth.

Watching Mi Ran, Eun Jae felt rewarded for her early morning efforts.

“Did you really make this, Eun Jae?”

“Yes. How is it? Is it tasty? The last time I visited the teacher’s house…”

As soon as the word ‘teacher’ left Eun Jae’s mouth, Mi Ran narrowed her eyes and glared at her.

‘I get it… Please stop looking at me like that.’

Receiving Mi Ran’s fierce glare, Eun Jae lowered her head and reluctantly corrected her way of address as Mi Ran wished.

“…I got the recipe from Sun Woo’s house.”

Seeing this, Sun Woo chuckled and looked at Eun Jae. She frowned and shot him a warning glance as if to say, ‘Don’t laugh.’

Sun Woo gazed at her intently, then raised his eyebrows as if in understanding. The smile on his lips was as bright as the spring sun.

As she quietly looked at him, a single strand of disheveled hair caught her eye again.

She had momentarily forgotten, but it had been drawing her attention since earlier.

I want to touch it too, I want to comb it neatly.

Her hand didn’t move as easily as she had imagined. She kept clenching and unclenching her fist, unable to decide.

The image of the woman confidently reaching out to touch the man’s hair flashed in her mind again. Just recalling that scene was painful enough for Eun Jae to squeeze her eyes shut.

The two of them together looked unexpectedly good, and that made her feel jealous without realizing it.

What seemed so difficult for her appeared effortless for that woman.

With all her attention focused on the man’s hair, she couldn’t taste any of the food entering her mouth.

Time passed relentlessly despite her resentment. Lunch hour was drawing to a close.

As if sensing Eun Jae’s gaze, Sun Woo set down his chopsticks and asked,

“What’s wrong? Do you have something to say?”

“What? No, nothing.”

Flustered at the thought of her true feelings being discovered, Eun Jae stammered. The man chuckled silently.

“Nothing? You’ve been staring at my face the whole time.”

How can someone usually so neat be so unkempt with his hair today…

Oh, whatever.

“Don’t you look in the mirror?”

“What mirror?”

“Your hair. There’s a strand sticking out.”

Eun Jae demonstrated by pulling up a strand of her own hair.

Such a simple thing. After saying it, she felt like a weight had been lifted. She felt much more at ease. Now that his hair would be tidied, she wouldn’t have to keep staring.

As if trying to hold back a laugh that was about to escape, the man rested his chin on the table, twitching the corners of his mouth.

“Where?”

“…Right there.”

I already showed you. As Eun Jae pointed to the spot with her finger, the man made a puzzled expression.

With his gaze fixed on Eun Jae, the man’s face gradually drew closer.

“What, why, why are you…”

A startled Eun Jae leaned back. Undeterred, the man’s actions didn’t stop as he slowly closed the distance between them.

“Do it for me.”

“What? Me?”

“Who else would do it?”

“You should do it yourself.”

Mi Ran, who had been moistening her lips after finishing her meal, finally spoke sharply to Eun Jae after witnessing this scene.

“Ji Eun Jae.”

It was just three syllables of her name, but it felt like a thousand scoldings.

‘Mom. This person is just acting!’

Unaware of the circumstances, Mi Ran simply frowned at Eun Jae.

Now that she was actually about to touch the man’s hair, she felt shy. Eun Jae deliberately furrowed her brow and made a displeased expression to hide her raw emotions.

Eun Jae slowly reached out towards the man’s hair.

The man, now close, emitted the same scent she had smelled at dawn. The hair felt soft under her fingertips.

Eun Jae gently picked up the man’s hair and smoothed it down carefully. Due to its softness, the hair fell into place with just one touch.

Eun Jae’s reluctant hand lingered on the man’s hair for a long time. She touched, smoothed, and stroked the man’s hair, which was already neatly arranged.

Mi Ran, who had been watching the two with a pleased smile, turned her gaze to the window as if to give them privacy.

“It’ll wear out.”

The man’s large hand slipped seamlessly between Eun Jae’s fingers as he whispered in a voice tinged with laughter.

“We’ll do the rest at home.”

Blushing at the man’s last words, Eun Jae finally realized the nature of the emotion she had been feeling until just now.

It was jealousy.

Walking side by side with Sun Woo across the skybridge, Eun Jae suddenly lowered her head to check her watch. There were about 10 minutes left of the lunch break.

Shouldn’t you be heading back?

Though she knew he could handle it himself, Eun Jae couldn’t help but worry. She tugged on her eco bag, which was in the man’s hand, and asked,

“I can go alone.”

“Let’s just go together.”

“There’s only 10 minutes left. You should go back, sir. I can manage on my own.”

“There’s still plenty of time. And-”

The man stopped abruptly on the skybridge and slowly looked down at Eun Jae.

Cherry blossom petals fluttered behind him.

The man’s appearance and background, far from reality, seemed like a scene from a movie.

“No more ‘mister,’ no more ‘sir.’ Call me by my name from now on.”

“…”

“Before I tell you to call me ‘honey.'”

[This is the timeline separator]

Sitting on a bench at the bus stop waiting for the bus, Eun Jae suddenly slapped her knee as if remembering something.

“Ah, my bag.”

Look at me. My wallet and everything are in there.

It was the eco bag she had brought the lunchbox in. The bag that wasn’t even that heavy, which the man had snatched away saying he’d carry it for her.

She only now remembered its existence, having quickly said goodbye and fled when the elevator doors opened at the end of the skybridge, thoroughly flustered by the man’s last words.

If she had stayed there a moment longer, she might have shown her face, as red as a strawberry.

She thought it would be better to be seen running away than to show that face, but now she sighed at the thought of having to face the man again, making her hasty retreat seem pointless.

“Ah, if only it wasn’t for the wallet!”

Though her voice was grumbling, her expression was bright. She could see the man once more like this…

“Oh my, what am I thinking?”

Have I really fallen in love?

Getting excited about seeing a face she’d be sick of seeing in a few hours anyway.

Thinking of the man makes her face flush and her heart race. Her heartbeat becomes irregular and her ears grow hot.

To feel jealousy and love in this ridiculous relationship. It was truly absurd.

Her heart, already grown too big to control, now tells her it can’t stop.

It’s okay. I know.

If only I could win his heart too, that would be even better.

Eun Jae’s steps towards the hospital were noticeably excited.

Just as she was about to reach the man’s office.

That woman was standing in front of the man again, and once more, I had no choice but to hide.

I couldn’t hear much of their conversation, but the woman’s pleased laughter kept coming from beyond the wall where I was hiding.

Disliking that laughter, Eun Jae covered her ears.

“Sun Woo… No, Professor Yoon is also an old friend of mine.”

She recalled what the woman had said when they met recently.

Deliberately calling the man’s name affectionately and adding that they were classmates, as if to emphasize an even closer relationship, despite knowing they were engaged.

Now that her feelings for the man had changed, things that had meant nothing before now struck like daggers.

Her own excited behavior from just moments ago now seemed so foolish.

I shouldn’t have come. It would have been better if I hadn’t seen. It would have been easier if I didn’t know.

If only it wasn’t for the wallet.

Eun Jae remembered the route she had always taken by bus. She slowly walked the path the bus would have taken.

She couldn’t possibly face the man in this state. No, she didn’t want to see him.

After reassuring me that he would do his best not to make me regret my choice, how could he do this?

I’m upset.

Giving my heart recklessly, then getting hurt by unrequited feelings.

It’s laughable.

Eun Jae let out a bitter laugh and quickened her slowed pace.

After walking for about 10 minutes, her phone rang in her pocket. It was Ye Rim. Eun Jae looked down at the screen and smiled wryly.

“It’s like she’s psychic.”

There’s never any contact when things are peaceful, but without fail, she calls exactly when I’m feeling down.

Eun Jae cleared her throat a couple of times before pressing the call button.

Because Ye Rim knows her best after her mother.

“Hello, Ye Rim.”

[Is everything okay?]

“Everything… What do you mean?”

There was a moment of silence. Eun Jae replayed her own voice from just now. Was the pause in the middle noticeable?

Sure enough, Ye Rim’s resolute voice came through.

[Where are you? Let’s meet right now.] [This is the timeline separator]

A bustling pub. On the round table sat half-eaten chicken and two empty beer glasses.

Unlike the seemingly sober Ye Rim, Eun Jae, who had turned as red as a strawberry after just 500cc of beer, was already starting to slur her words.

“…Hah, it’s ridiculous.”

“Hey, Ji Eun Jae. Stop drinking.”

When Ye Rim asked if something had happened, Eun Jae kept downing beer without answering, and now she was in this state.

A sigh escaped through Ye Rim’s teeth.

She had forgotten about her alcohol tolerance. Wasn’t she the type to get drunk on just one can of beer?

The phone on the table had been ringing loudly for a while.

“Your phone’s ringing.”

“Tch, I’m not answering.”

Eun Jae seemed to check the screen, but then frowned and flipped the phone over.

“You think I’ll answer? No way, you try being stood up once!”

“Hey, am I going to get in trouble with your fiancé?”

With her eyes completely glazed over, trying to speak each word clearly with slurred pronunciation, it was both cute and funny.

Ye Rim chuckled as she filled her empty glass with beer.

“Ye Rim… Should I tell you a secret?”

[This is the timeline separator]

The hour and minute hands pointed to exactly 9 o’clock. When he returned home after work, the woman wasn’t there.

There was only one day left before the deadline. Although it was a schedule he had pushed forward himself, he couldn’t delay any longer and had to talk to her today.

He thought she might have just stepped out for a moment, but as one hour passed, then two, Sun Woo started to worry.

She had never stayed out this late before, and she always contacted him wherever she went.

Sun Woo, who had been sitting on the sofa with a serious face, picked up his car keys and jacket and rose without hesitation.

Coming out in front of the officetel, Sun Woo scanned the path the woman might walk along.

Looking down at the phone that wouldn’t connect, he let out a deep sigh.

Come to think of it, he didn’t know anything about the woman. Not even a friend to contact at times like this.

The cool breeze brushed against his long-sleeved shirt. The night air with its large temperature difference was quite chilly. He recalled Eun Jae in her thin knit outfit when they ate lunch together.

“She must be cold.”

Gripping the jacket tucked at his waist, Sun Woo expanded his search radius outside the officetel.

As Sun Woo was slowly running his hand through his hair, his pocket rang. Checking the caller, he hurriedly pressed the answer button.

“Ji Eun Jae, where are you right now?”

Sun Woo’s voice was agitated. At first glance, it might have sounded angry. In reality, it was a voice full of worry.

[This is Lee Ye Rim, Eun Jae’s friend.]

Surprised by the unfamiliar voice, what followed was even more shocking.

[Eun Jae is a bit drunk.]

While Sun Woo was at a loss for words as if his thoughts had stopped, Eun Jae’s friend’s voice was heard again.

[No, she’s very drunk.]

“Drunk? You mean she drank alcohol?”

The woman’s labored breathing could be heard intermittently, as if she was being supported.

After asking if he wanted to come pick her up, Ye Rim quickly continued before Sun Woo could answer.