Chapter 71. Lee Dohyun (1)

Most of the messages that had come in while her phone was off were just ads or spam. Only one held any meaning. After confirming the news about a college friend’s wedding—a friend she’d only kept in vague contact with since graduation—Eunkyo took a sip of the coffee Jaeheon had made for her.

‘Ah… this is good.’

She wondered how much better it would’ve tasted if she’d drunk it while it was still hot. Still, on a sweltering day like this, iced coffee was just right.

It was strange, really. How quickly a person’s mood could change. Usually, once she fell into a slump, it would drag on for days. Compared to that, this shift felt almost miraculous.

As she sipped her coffee, her gaze kept drifting toward the ceiling corner where the CCTV camera sat, making her cheeks flush.

‘Ugh, what’s Haeda going to say this time?’

She’d definitely be furious when she saw the footage of Eunkyo pulling Jaeheon into the supply room.

With a sigh, Eunkyo popped an ice cube into her mouth. She lifted her eyes to see Jaeheon outside, talking on the phone through the blinds.

Her phone had just come back on, and right after, Jaeheon’s phone had started ringing.

He’d declined the call multiple times, but whoever it was kept calling.

‘Who could it be? Family? A friend? A work contact?’

Watching his silhouette through the window, she forced herself to push down the dangerous flicker of curiosity.

It was best to keep things clean with Jaeheon. Just because she’d acknowledged some affection didn’t mean they were dating, and she had no intention of crossing the line recklessly.

It was the kind of relationship that should be easy to walk away from—but only if she was the one to end it. She didn’t know why she’d come to that conclusion, only that it felt necessary.

「We won’t have time after the wedding. There’s a reception the day after. You’re coming, right? You didn’t even come to my birthday. I’m hurt.」

As she washed out her empty cup and placed it upside down in the drying rack, another message came in from Seowoo—the one who had told her about the wedding earlier.

Eunkyo dried her hands and replied.

「Where is it? Also, I did get you a birthday gift. Let’s call it even.」

Her phone was sluggish, probably still recovering from the water damage.

‘Why did I even do that…’

She rubbed the screen in frustration—and just then, a call came in.

It was Seowoo.

“Hey, Seowoo.”

The moment she answered, she was met with a burst of background noise and Seowoo’s lively voice.

— “It’s at Continental Symphony in Cheongdam. That place is hot these days. It’s a hotel, so the food’s good, and I think they have a private party room. I’ve already been twice!”

“Oh… really?”

— “But what’s up with your phone? The signal sucks.”

“I dropped it in water this morning. Is it really that bad? You sound fine to me…”

— “Ugh, so annoying. You should get it fixed.”

“I probably should. But… I’m not really close to Jaehee. Do I have to go?”

— “That’s what you think. Jaehee specifically told me to bring you. Where are you now? At home?”

“Yeah, I’m home. Anyway… got it. I’ll call you when I get to the hotel. Let’s go in together.”

Through the window, Jaeheon’s shadow shifted. Feeling suddenly flustered, Eunkyo ended the call with a vague excuse.

Right then, the door opened and Jaeheon walked in. His shoulders were damp from the rain as he stepped up to the counter across from her.

“Figure out what you want to do yet?”

He leaned in against the counter, asking casually.

“Hmm… I guess we should eat first?”

“And after that?”

“Sorry. I haven’t really thought about it. It’s been so long since I’ve done anything like a proper date.”

“Then let’s just do what normal people do.”

“What do normal people do on dates?”

“Usually? Eat, watch a movie, maybe check out an exhibit. Then they make plans for the next one. And sometimes, if things go a certain way… they end up at a motel or something, ruining the rest of the day.”

“Oh… yeah, I guess that tracks.”

It sounded strangely accurate, and she found herself laughing. At her laughter, Jaeheon reached out and gently brushed her cheek.

“I think we’ve got a pretty high chance of ending up like that too.”

Her heart sank for a moment.

The way he smiled, talking about what came after, looked so genuinely happy. As if he’d gladly give her not just the next moment, but all that followed.

‘I almost said it… That I was happy too… Almost smiled like I meant it… Shamelessly, just like that.’

***