Seeing an action he couldn’t bring himself to do even after hundreds of considerations filled his stomach with bitterness.

It was painful. It seemed that it wouldn’t be as painful even if he was nailed all over his body.

The situation without any given rights was simply harsh.
“Stop joking.”
For some reason, it seemed like Ji An should shake off Ha Jun’s arm.
“If you’re done, should I take you home? I didn’t drink.”
“You can drink wine next time, so do as you please, Ms. Seo Ji An.”
Kang Hyun, who turned around first, took a heavy step.

If it wasn’t for this evasion, there was no telling what the obsession twisted long ago would have done.

Rather than hurting you, it’s better to hurt me.

With gradual practice, perhaps one day I could completely let go.

With every passing step, unfulfilled regret trickled down, but never did it stop.
“Executive Director.”
A hand approached casually as the corridor was coming to an end, seizing Kang Hyun’s limp arm.
“Let’s go together.”
Frozen on the spot, Kang Hyun stared at the fingers squirming at the edge of his arm.

The shiny nails, slender knuckles, and white skin all belonged to Seo Yoon.

Why on earth couldn’t I distinguish you?

The growing guilt of finding Seo Yoon in Ji An fuelled his selfloathing.
“Aren’t you going? If you’re tired…”
“No, I’m going.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
Ji An, who hastily withdrew her hand caught in Kang Hyun’s gaze, gave an awkward smile.
“You can hold on to it, whenever you want.”
“Are you trying to repay me for borrowing my hand earlier?”
“That wouldn’t be bad either.”
Ji An, who was walking after Kang Hyun after leaving the restaurant, unknowingly shrugged her shoulders.

It had been pouring rain all day yesterday, and the wind was quite chilly.

Despite the humid weather, the chill in the air was just like Kang Hyun.

Even though they were getting along much better than when they first met, his lack of expressions meant that the atmosphere he exuded was still cool.
“Bring a cardigan each time you go out.”
You might catch a cold.

Kang Hyun, who looked displeased at Ji An’s thin attire, took off his suit jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

A warm scent that did not suit him tickled her nose.
“…Executive Director, you are really strange.”
Ji An buried the rushing questions and muttered grumpily.
“Tell me whenever I do something uncomfortable.”
“It’s not that.”
If only it was uncomfortable.

She did not feel any aversion to Kang Hyun, who was vaguely seeking her as a substitute for his lover.

To call it compassion, born out of watching him at close quarters, seemed an overstatement.

At first, she just wished he could eat warm, delicious food, not the cold seaweed soup.

Then, she started to wish for him to smile, little by little, and now she hoped for his long sorrow and longing to lessen.

Her judgment of right and wrong seemed to have been numbed a little, and she wanted to comfort him and give him what he wanted.

I’m not Han Seo Yoon.

She was worried about the end of this bizarrely progressing abnormal relationship.

The problem was also her heart, which felt strange when she saw Kang Hyun, like a pebble had gotten stuck in it. It was also fluttering like she had just finished running.

If her gaze and feelings kept going and growing, what would come next…

What happens next?
“The friend you went to the hospital with last time, is that the same friend you mentioned earlier?”
“Eh? Ah, Ha Jun. Yes, that’s correct.”
Glancing at Kang Hyun, Ji An, who was sinking into deep thoughts, suddenly came to his senses.
“You seem close.”
“He’s a high school classmate. He might seem immature, but he’s a detective in the metropolitan investigation team.”
“The detective seems lighthanded.”
That was the man who got out of the car, holding Ji An in his arms, in front of the apartment. Seeing how easily he accepted the wandering touches, it seemed to be a habit formed over the past 4 years.

How much of that can I bear in the future?

I might wish to be blind rather than see it. But if I’m blind, I won’t be able to see you.

The difficulty of the patience test was extreme.
“You probably see each other frequently.”
“That’s right, he often comes over to my house.”
“What if I come over.”
“What? Ah!”
Kang Hyun, regretting the words he impulsively spat out, stumbled and caught Ji An, who was teetering forward.

It was a naturally flowing response.
“It must be uncomfortable.”
After straightening up Ji An and fixing his ruffled jacket, Kang Hyun put his hand in his pants pocket and slowly walked ahead.

I should tell him to come, I need to tell him.
“This is serious, Seo Ji An.”
Looking at the retreating silhouette, Ji An sighed deeply and took a step forward again.

From the signboard with only a white full moon painted on it, it was unusual. When the bell was rung at the entrance, a man came out from inside and asked for membership verification.
“It’s Tae Kang Hyun.”
“Ah, yes! I will guide you.”
The employee who seemed slightly surprised soon collected himself and continued escorting.

Quiet classical music flowed through the corridor we passed after briefly looking around the main hall.
“Please prepare a simple meal.”
As soon as the door was closed, even the sound of music was completely blocked. The room, filled with warm colors, was comfortable but not small.

While Ji An was looking at the paintings hung on the wall, Kang Hyun opened the wine cellar that occupied one side and took out a bottle of red wine after some consideration.
“Can you just open it like that?”
“It’s mine.”
“What?”
“It’s a private cellar.”
“……Yes.”
There was a good wine bar nearby with a private room equipped with a private cellar. As expected, there was nothing ordinary.
“Can I open it?”
While fiddling with the cork, Kang Hyun, who was hesitating, extended an opener and a bottle of wine as if he had been waiting.
“Oppa, I want to do it!”
A weak laugh slipped out.
“Have you done it before?”
“I don’t remember ever doing it. Is it difficult?”
“No, you just screw the screw into the cork.”
Kang Hyun, who had his chin over the table, made a light gesture.
“Insert the screw a little deeper.”
“Like this?”

Ji An showed the wine bottle tilted to Kang Hyun who was sitting across from her, like a student handing over a test paper to the teacher.
“When you’re alone, use a different opener, an electric one would be better. This one is here because I find it convenient, but the sawtooth part can be dangerous. I’ll hold it for you, so lift the handle on that side.”
With four hands going up and down for a single wine bottle, the fingers got slightly tangled and the cork slowly revealed itself.

The sound of the wooden stopper coming out, apart from the small breathing sounds, was the only noise in the room.

What’s the big deal, cold sweat formed on Ji An’s palm. She avoided the gaze she felt close to her and swallowed dry saliva several times while lifting the handle.

It was an inexplicable thing why the short time it took to lift the opener was so slow.

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