Of course, he didn’t care. He shook his head with his hands stuck in his pants pockets. For a moment, Eun Chae absentmindedly observed his distinct side profile. As he exhaled, his breath waved in the air like smoke from a cigarette.

She had a ridiculous thought that the unusually low night sky might swallow him up if he wasn’t careful.

Did I get drunk on just one 500ml beer?

Eun Chae brought her cool hand to her heated face. When she took a deep breath, it seemed as if she could smell the strong scent of alcohol.

Bothered by her anxiety, Eun Chae sniffed at her own body’s scent. Then, she quickly stepped back. Kwon Ki Joo, who had been dropping his head down, suddenly approached.

The sound of Eun Chae stepping back, the sound of him coming closer, quietly overlapped. The distance closed to the point where their breaths could touch was a matter of moments.

Her eyes, which had been glaring up at him defiantly, trembled for a moment. It was because Kwon Ki Joo had knelt on one knee in front of her.

Eun Chae looked down at him a beat late. He was bent over, focusing on something.

His large frame obscured what he was doing. Eun Chae tossed her loose hair behind her ear and turned her neck to see.

Kwon Ki Joo was holding the loosened strap of her flat shoe in his big hand. It seemed he was trying to tie it for her.

Eun Chae was enveloped in surprise for a moment. Her feelings were revealed as she awkwardly moved her foot back. Consequently, the strap that was about to be knotted came undone again.

His hand stopped in midair. As if time had frozen.

Should I apologize?

Why should I?

Feeling confused, Eun Chae covered her lower face with her hand. It was then that he opened his mouth.

“I’m sorry.”

After saying that, Ki Joo reached out his hand again. He picked up the strap that had fallen to the floor and began to tie it again.

Eun Chae simply stood there, stiffened.

“I made you change your mind.”

His low voice echoed in her ears. At his words, the strength that had been building in her body was drained away.

After tying the strap into a bow, he stood up.

Eun Chae’s head followed his movement.

You’re the one who messed up. Why do you look so sad?

Her heart churned at his indifferent face. As if she was really upset.

“It’s over. What’s the point now?”

Eun Chae drew a line. She even nitpicked.

“Why don’t you wear the gift I gave you today? Even a secondhand one would be okay. Did your lateblooming pride get hurt?”

Into Eun Chae’s accusing eyes entered a familiar car from afar.

She bit her lower lip and muttered a word.

“If you’re really sorry.”

“……”

“This time, don’t run away.”

“……”

“No matter what humiliation or shame you have to endure, bear with it. It’s courtesy for me.”

At those words, Ki Joo looked at her. Eun Chae met his gaze with her glasslike eyes, but when the car parked in front of her, she turned her head. Then she opened the backseat door with a nonchalant face and got in.

((())) ((())) ((()))

Eun Chae frowned at the sunlight piercing through the curtain. She breathed in deeply with annoyance and wriggled her body.

With her hand, she groped under the pillow and gripped her phone. She pressed the side button to turn on the screen. Then, with her dried, barely opened eyes, she checked the time.

AM 10:03

Eun Chae sighed, covering her forehead with her dry, rough hand. She had slept in, thanks to the alcohol. The hangover rising from her stomach did not allow her to deny this fact. At least, she was thankful it was a weekend.

With a body heavy as a watersoaked sponge, Eun Chae managed to get out of bed. Wearing her silky homewear, she approached the mirror. Her swollen eyes, nose, and even lips provoked a hollow laugh as she gazed at her puffy face.

“I guess I’m not built for alcohol,” she thought, as she tied up her long hair. Then, she went into the bathroom, quickly washed her face, brushed her teeth, and left her room. As she stretched and headed downstairs, Mrs. Ham An looked at her with a distasteful glance.

“Why do you keep drinking, knowing you can’t handle it?”

“Because I wanted to alleviate the hangover?”

Eun Chae answered back playfully while sitting on a dining chair. She also laughed heartily. Mrs. Ham An, not too irritated, rolled her eyes and put the pot on the stove.

Eun Chae then called to the passing housemaid.

“I’m going swimming in 30 minutes. Please pass the message.”

The maid nodded without hesitation, understanding that the message was for Kwon Ki Joo, her personal bodyguard.

“Yes.”

Eun Chae usually went swimming on leisurely weekend mornings. It was one of the few activities she could enjoy freely. She indulged in the freedom she was given to the fullest.

Soon, Mrs. Ham An brought a bowl of egg soup to the table. Eun Chae preferred to alleviate her hangover with egg soup rather than bukkuksu or bean sprout soup. There was no particular reason; it just felt clean.

After emptying a bowl of egg soup without rice, she prepared to go to the swimming pool. Mrs. Ham An, who accompanied her to the gate, put a banana milk into her bag and said,

“You will be exhausted after swimming. Don’t ignore this, make sure to eat.”

Eun Chae responded to Mrs. Ham An’s warmth, treating her like a child left at the water’s edge, with a smile. She then stepped outside. Instead of the silhouette she expected, a different one was waiting.

Eun Chae squinted her eyes against the sun shining diagonally from the direction she was facing. Then, she stared at the bodyguard who was waiting, his forehead wrinkled. The faint smile remaining on her lips soon disappeared.

“You said you’re going swimming. Let’s go. I’ve arranged for the car.”

Eun Chae saw a hand take her bag, which contained her swimsuit and other items, and give a courteous smile.

It was not Kwon Ki Joo. There had been times when he had skipped reporting out of convenience, but considering the incident yesterday, it felt awkward.

After recognizing that fact, Eun Chae extended her legs. The grass under her feet, the stone steps, all felt similar.

It’s quite warm today. It’s been a while since you last swam, right? The bodyguard babbled on, but his words sounded faint, like they were coming from afar.

The bodyguard, checking her mood, opened the gate. He quickly descended the few steps and opened the rear seat door of the car.

Eun Chae got into the car without a word. Then, she watched the back of the head of the bodyguard as he swiftly climbed into the driver’s seat.

Soon, the car began to move.

Eun Chae raised her voice, her throat parched and cracked.

“Where’s team leader Kwon Ki Joo?”

“I’m not sure. Actually, the team leader was on duty last night, but I haven’t seen him around. The chairman turned our quarters upside down this morning.”

The bodyguard said, as if possessed by a ghost.

“He must have made the chairman angry with his whims again.”

Murmuring, he checked her expression in the rearview mirror hastily.

Eun Chae was expressionlessly looking out of the window.

Soon, the car stopped at a red light. Leaning against the back of the hard seat, she thought.

Indeed, Kwon Ki Joo was rude. No wonder her gut was churning.