* * *
“Seo Inh… no, what exactly are you so interested in about me?”
“Hmm…”
Now that I said it, it sounded kind of weird, but Woo Jaehyun didn’t seem to mind.
He slowly rubbed his lips.
It wasn’t even a difficult question, yet it took him quite a while to answer.
“There used to be just one thing, but lately… I find myself interested in you in more ways than one.”
That answer only made me more curious.
So what kind of interest was he talking about, exactly?
I almost pressed him further without thinking—but suddenly, I lost my words.
The air around us had shifted.
Woo Jaehyun’s gaze, which now carried an almost obsessive quality, trailed slowly down from my nape to my shoulders, and then to my waist.
Earlier it had just felt like I was being mentally stripped bare—but now, it was like his eyes were biting into my skin wherever they landed.
A chill ran down my neck on instinct, and my shoulders tensed up.
This must be how prey feels in front of a predator.
The vibe was strangely familiar.
That same kind of tension I’d felt back in the cave dungeon.
He wasn’t even saying anything—just staring at me like that.
And yet I felt like this.
Was I just overly sensitive these days?
I quickly lifted my wine glass to moisten my dry mouth.
“C-Come on now, really. Is this how you treat everyone you’re interested in?”
“I don’t know… I’m only interested in you, hyung.”
Thankfully, the tension eased quickly.
Woo Jaehyun slumped over the table with a sorrowful look on his face.
He tapped his fingers lightly against the wine glass, and for some reason I found myself worried it might break.
“I was spoiled growing up… So when I want something, I have to have it.”
…Why does that sound so familiar?
I tried to trace back the memory, but gave up halfway and downed the rest of my wine in one go.
Maybe I drank it too fast.
I was starting to feel tipsy, and focusing on the conversation became harder.
Normally, I wasn’t much of a drinker.
But ever since I got a taste, I kept reaching for the bottle.
The wine didn’t seem drugged or anything.
Maybe it was just Seo Inho’s body finally letting loose.
“Drink slower, hyung.”
His words jolted me to my senses, and I quickly pushed my empty glass aside.
No way was I going to turn into an alcoholic in this world, of all places.
Seriously, get a grip.
I slapped my cheeks to clear my head—but Woo Jaehyun gently caught my wrist.
“Don’t do that.”
“…Okay.”
God, what kind of mess am I making in front of my junior?
Feeling a little embarrassed, I tried to pull my wrist back, but he pulled it toward him instead—holding it tightly with both hands.
Then, with that same pained look, he gazed up at me.
“So… are you forgiving me?”
“……”
Is this how the female lead in a movie feels?
Seeing those desperate eyes looking up at me stirred up some strange, indescribable emotion.
In any case, I had no intention of dragging that issue out any further, so I slowly nodded.
“Just don’t do it again.”
…Or so I thought.
But apparently I was the only one who thought so, because the little bird that had been hiding under the covers suddenly flew out and started pecking at Woo Jaehyun’s hand.
As if telling him to let go, the bird bit down firmly on the hand gripping my wrist.
But of course, its tiny beak didn’t even leave a scratch.
Chirp!
Woo Jaehyun looked down at the bird with mild annoyance and then casually tossed it back toward the bed.
Watching it tumble helplessly across the sheets, I stood up reflexively.
“Hey! Why’d you do that to the poor thing?”
While I comforted the pitifully crying bird, my eyes landed on his slumped shoulders.
His whole posture drooped.
All I did was scold him once, and he looked so sulky—like a puppy who just got told off by its owner.
That look made me laugh without meaning to.
I covered my mouth quickly, but he’d already heard it.
Woo Jaehyun shot me an annoyed glance.
Moments like this, he actually looked his age.
“What’s so funny?”
“Ah, sorry if it bothered you. It’s just…”
“…”
“…You’re kind of cute.”
Guess I really was drunk.
That cringey line just slipped out of my mouth.
I even reached out and tapped his cheek lightly—just like he once did to me.
Woo Jaehyun froze.
For the first time, he looked away awkwardly, a strange expression on his face.
He seemed startled… maybe even a little confused.
I hadn’t expected that kind of reaction, either.
Feeling thrown off, I plopped back down into my chair.
But then I noticed the side of his face turning noticeably red.
Honestly, it was about as red as Cha Rui’s hair.
This guy…
“You’re drunk, aren’t you? You’re the one who needs to slow down. Your face is completely flushed.”
He didn’t look the type, but one glass and his ears were already turning red.
Even if he was S-Class, I guess he was still young—and had a weak tolerance.
Kind of adorable, really.
Grinning to myself, I brought the glass I had pushed aside earlier and poured in just half.
I figured I’d finish that last drink and then kick Woo Jaehyun out of the room.
Yeah. That was the plan…
But when I came to my senses, another bottle had somehow appeared on the table.
And it was already more than halfway empty.
“Seriously though, are you ever going to tell me how you got me out of there?”
“Didn’t you already figure it out, hyung?”
“I’ve got a guess, yeah. You probably snuck me out… but how’d you avoid all those eyes?”
My tongue was already starting to slur as I babbled on nonstop.
I didn’t even realize how talkative I’d become.
Still, Woo Jaehyun just nodded along with a gentle expression.
Not once did he look annoyed.
He even answered all my questions and caught my wine glass before I knocked it over.
They say some people get more composed the drunker they get.
He seemed like one of them.
Aside from that initial blush, he’d stayed perfectly calm ever since.
I even poked at his eyelashes under the guise of brushing them away, but felt no heat at all.
Meanwhile, I felt like my own face was on fire.
“What about Pyeon Songgyeong? He must’ve been hard to get past.”
“Who’s Pyeon Songgyeong?”
His eyes sparkled under the light, genuinely curious.
And for some reason, that look completely killed any desire to explain.
Now that I thought about it…
I didn’t even know anything about that guy myself.
“Forget it…”
“Why? Tell me. Did that bastard hurt you? Was he the one who cut your finger?”
Nope.
That was someone else.
But that was all in the past now.
And frankly, I couldn’t be bothered to correct him.
I’d had enough wine, and sleep was starting to hit me hard.
I yawned wide, unable to hold back, and grabbed Woo Jaehyun’s hand as he shook my shoulder for an answer.
Somehow, it felt like a waste to fall asleep just yet.
I’d be back in Korea tomorrow.
Moments like this were rare.
“Jaehyun-ah, want to go swimming?”
The memory of that day at the beach came back to me, and the words slipped out without thinking.
I’d pretended it meant nothing, but truthfully…
I still thought about that day from time to time.
But belatedly, I realized something important: I didn’t even have a swimsuit.
The only clothes I had were bloodstained rags.
Not even a spare pair of underwear.
I couldn’t exactly jump into the hotel pool naked, so I quickly gave up on the idea.
“Never mind, I don’t even have a swimsuit…”
“Yes, let’s go.”
Just then, Woo Jaehyun suddenly stood up and pulled me by the arm—before I could react, he had slung me over his shoulder in one swift motion.
It happened so fast I didn’t even have time to respond—I just blinked in confusion.
“Urk…”
My head was already spinning, but being jostled around like that made me feel even more nauseous.
Chirpy, who had been whining nonstop, let out a big sigh and curled up on the bed like nothing had happened.
It was a clear signal: “I don’t care anymore.”
But whether he cared or not, Woo Jaehyun was already storming out the door, and I frantically patted his back.
“W-Wait a second!”
I grabbed at his clothes, trying to stop him—and that’s when I saw it.
His smooth, bare back was exposed as his shirt lifted slightly, and I realized the truth.
He was completely drunk.
His face looked weirdly composed, but his whole body was flushed red, radiating heat.
I slipped my hand inside his shirt—he was burning up.
“I’m not wearing anything underneath!”
“Even better.”
Is this guy insane?!
I flailed my legs in panic, but he seemed even stronger than usual—probably because he was drunk.
I clutched desperately at the robe that kept slipping off and glanced around in a panic.
It was the middle of the night, sure—but if anyone saw us like this, it’d be a disaster.
“What if someone sees us?!”
“Don’t worry. There’s no one else here but us.”
“What?”
No way… Did he seriously rent out the entire hotel?
Just for one night?
Only someone filthy rich would waste money like that.
Blood rushed to my face, and I swatted at his back in frustration—but of course, it only hurt my hand.
“Ugh!”
And he was fast, too—before I knew it, we were already at the rooftop pool.
Well, if this was happening anyway, I wasn’t going down alone.
I wrapped my arms tightly around his waist.
* * *
