* * *

A wedding garter adorned with light blue flowers, low heels, and a white ribbon trailing down the back of the neck — the look was reminiscent of a gift, enticing yet delicate.

The slim curve of the waist drew my attention more than I intended.

As the camera approached, a hand appeared, slowly undoing the ribbon on the model’s neck.

Just as the knot began to loosen, the model turned around.

Though the upper face was obscured, the flushed cheeks hinted it was the same model.

The model smiled and, using a hand to block the camera, the screen faded to black.

“It wasn’t as…”

It wasn’t as provocative as I’d expected.

Though exposed, the scene was more endearing than arousing.

This was only the first ad.

Since I heard the second and third versions would be different, I clicked on the next video.

The start was similar.

Skimming through, I stopped when a hotel room appeared.

There, in the same room, was a slightly different model from the back.

A white veil fell to the floor, revealing light blue lace lingerie beneath, barely covering the curves.

A garter belt and thigh-high stockings, both in the same shade, exposed soft skin underneath.

The intricate straps crisscrossed over the upper back, converging at the neck.

It gave off a languid, sensual vibe, more delicate than restrictive.

Unlike the previous model, this one wasn’t wearing any shoes.

I played the last video.

The camera panned out, showing the previous model before the screen split in two.

The two models in the hotel room turned toward each other and ran forward.

As one model crossed the screen, a bouquet of purple hydrangeas was thrown into the air, scattering into a rain of petals.

When the camera refocused, the outfits had swapped.

The model in lingerie was now dressed in a sharp wedding suit, while the model on the cliff wore revealing lingerie.

With faces obscured above the eyes, they exchanged shy smiles.

As they leaned closer, nearly kissing, multiple screens layered over each other.

Images of couples kissing — young, old, male, female, and non-binary — flashed quickly.

The scene continued as the two models’ lips barely touched, noses grazing each other.

It was tender, like a couple just married.

With gender and status unclear, the last scene showed people passing by, and finally, the word “BOTH” appeared in white, with no typical brand logo or tagline.

Though I knew the mesSeonyul behind it, I couldn’t be sure others would interpret it the same way.

Anxiously, I rewatched the clips, before getting up to change.

I threw on a loose sweatshirt, yawning.

At the start of filming, the morning sun was rising, but now the sky was filled with the colors of dusk.

“Hey, relax. We did our best. If it doesn’t catch on, it just doesn’t.”

“That would be… really bad.”

“Do you know how rattled I was when I heard the news yesterday? Anyway, we did everything we could. Get some rest, Seonyul.”

Hoyeon muttered, glancing at the tablet I handed him before collapsing onto the seat next to me.

I closed my eyes, glancing at the exhausted Hoyeon.

Rest was all I could manage; I didn’t have energy for anything else.

It felt like only a moment, but I awoke to a darkened room.

I shifted uncomfortably, letting out a yawn.

“Hey… Hoyeon, couldn’t you have woken me? I think I drooled…”

I’d been sleeping deeply, completely relaxed.

As I stood, wiping my mouth, a familiar scent reached me.

Rosewood — unmistakably him.

I turned, and instead of Hoyeon, a larger figure was beside me.

In the faint glow of a streetlamp, I could make out his silhouette.

“CEO…?”

“We agreed not to use that title anymore.”

“…Doha.”

At my hesitant call, Doha lifted his head and turned toward me.

“Are you tired? How are you feeling? Sorry I couldn’t be there more. My work finally wrapped up…”

I realized, suddenly, that I was in ridiculous underwear in front of him with no makeup on.

I froze, pressing myself against the door, gripping the handle, ready to bolt if necessary.

I’d known he’d seen me in this state, but facing him directly like this felt different.

Knowledge was one thing; experience, another.

“I’m resigning.”

“Do it.”

“I’ll leave without any handover.”

“Go ahead.”

“If you sue, I won’t sit still.”

“That’s fine.”

Doha chuckled, his low voice making it sound as if he didn’t care if I left this instant.

A thick silence settled.

I felt overwhelmed, as if I’d be swallowed by the quiet.

When I finally spoke, Doha spoke at the same time.

“There’s something I wanted to say once I returned.”

“Please, don’t.”

“Yul-ah, I…”

“Please, don’t. Just… don’t say anything.”

Coming closer, he gently released his pheromones as he took hold of my wrist.

His grip was light enough for me to pull away at any moment, a warmth radiating through me — the warmth I had replayed in my memory so many times while we were apart.

Why?

Why are you doing this?

I deceived you.

I even dared to get mad, so why are you staying silent?

My lips trembled.

He leaned in and whispered, his lips lightly brushing mine.

“It’s okay. Just breathe, and stay calm.”

“But… just… don’t say anything, please. Just… for a moment.”

“Okay, it’s fine. Everything’s fine. Yul-ah, everything’s okay.”

He held me close, his hand soothingly patting my shoulder, drawing me in slightly.

“We’ll talk later, after we go to the hospital.”

My heart skipped.

The word “hospital” tugged at my mind, a thousand questions surfacing.

If we went, my identity would be revealed, undoing all I’d worked to hide.

He knew this — why then…?

My gaze flickered, fraught with worry.

“I… I resolved it. This is about my resignation, isn’t it? But I… I don’t need to resign, I did everything right. Hoyeon said the article was pulled… didn’t I handle it well? What more do I need to do? Or is this about the resignation? Director, I’ll do better, please don’t… not the hospital…”

As I spoke, I stopped abruptly.

What’s the point?

The man in front of me held power over my life, and I was no more than an expendable worker.

“It’s okay. I was going to talk to you after everything was settled. You just need to come with me to the hospital.”

As soon as the word “hospital” came up again, I grabbed the handle with tense fingers and pulled it open, throwing myself to the ground in a roll.

I could hear Doha calling my name frantically behind me, but I stood up and ran forward, every step a desperate attempt to escape him.

Why did he look so relieved, as if he’d been freed from something?

Was I no longer useful to him?

And why should I even be thinking this way?

Just yesterday, I’d been screaming at him, unleashing my anger.

Whatever he had to say about me, I should have accepted it. But I didn’t want to hear it.

Objectively speaking, Doha had his reasons for acting the way he did.

His actions were justified simply because he considered my feelings.

But me?

I deceived him for my own gain.

“Shit, stupid Seonyul.”

A coward.

My throat felt tight, like the tears welling up in my eyes could spill at any moment, blurring my vision.

I realized I had stopped running only when I noticed there was no one following me.

I’d sprinted mindlessly until I found myself on a neon-lit boulevard.

I exhaled heavily, scanning my surroundings, wondering where I could go next.

I noticed the traffic light flashing, counting down from around twelve seconds, and hurriedly moved across the street.

Once on the other side, I caught my breath, muttering insults at myself.

“Idiot, coward, fool, moron…”

As I repeated the words to myself, my breathing gradually slowed, and I turned around.

There, across eight lanes of traffic, I saw Doha, panting, his gaze fixed on me.

Instinctively, I turned my body, wanting to run again.

I had only turned halfway when his loud voice stopped me.

“Seonyul!”

He narrowed his eyes as he looked in my direction, his gaze shifting as if to read something in me, then his lips moved, silently forming the words.

Come here—

Though it was only lip movements, I could almost hear it clearly, like he was whispering right into my ear.

Amid the murmuring crowds, his voice stood out, sharp and vivid.

His extended hand trembled slightly, beckoning me like one would comfort a child, his expression fraught with impatience.

Meanwhile, amidst the crowd, I sensed an unfamiliar presence walking slowly, with a measured, unnerving pace, unlike Doha’s urgency.

* * *