Chapter 5
It had been two days since Eunbin had avoided Jihyeok’s contact.
Or, more precisely, just a little over a day. Ever since she had dodged his message that day, he hadn’t reached out again.
Yet, this quiet only fueled her anxiety.
It would have been easier to deal with if he had been angry or impatient…
Instead, her heart jumped every time her phone vibrated, as if a thief’s hand were shaking it from somewhere.
After finishing her night shift, Eunbin trudged out and plopped down onto the bench at the bus stop in front of her company.
The streets were quiet; the last bus was nearly due.
Her gaze, wandering absentmindedly, landed on the sign of a franchise café—a place she and O Jin-seok had frequented.
“The stamps I’ve saved there must have added up by now.”
A wry laugh escaped her at the thought.
After seven years, the end of a relationship boiled down to a few café stamps.
She recalled how they had always ordered the cheapest coffee to save money, even asking if it could be refilled. She had endured those pitiful little moments, believing it was love.
No tears came. No lingering feelings remained.
Only the bitter realization that her vibrant twenties had evaporated into emptiness lingered.
“You bastard. And you had the nerve to pick a fight over a transfer.”
Eunbin shivered at the cowardice of her ex-boyfriend, who hadn’t even offered an apology, adjusting the scarf around her neck.
A scarf in the middle of summer.
It might have looked stylish to others, but she had no choice.
It was to cover the red marks Jihyeok had left on her neck and collarbone.
The physical traces were fading, but ironically, the memory of that night had only grown more vivid: the harsh breaths, the heat of his body, the languid gaze he had cast upon her.
It was confusing, as if seven years of dating had been eclipsed by a single night of intensity.
Buzz—.
Her phone vibrated in her hand. Startled, Eunbin glanced at the screen. The caller ID read ‘Oppa.’ Not Jihyeok—but Woojin.
She exhaled in relief and pressed the call button.
“Uh, Oppa.”
“Eunbin! Where are you? Finished work yet?”
“Yeah, I’m about to catch the bus. Why?”
“Perfect! Come straight to the YN Hotel lounge.”
Hearing ‘YN Hotel,’ her mind flashed back to that heated night a few days ago.
“…What? Why there?”
A bad premonition struck.
“Jihyeok’s back in the country! He’s even in town. I’m with him now. Come meet him—it’s been ten years!”
Woojin’s excited tone clashed with the pallor on Eunbin’s face.
Was he really asking her to walk straight into a tiger’s den?
And with her clueless older brother present, no less. Facing him now would be nothing short of suicidal.
“I… I can’t go! I had overtime, and I look a mess. I’m exhausted.”
“You should at least see him. He’s buying something delicious too.”
“Next time! I’ll see him next time! Hang up!”
Eunbin tried to cut the call in a panic, but Woojin persisted.
“Ah, wait! Jihyeok wants to talk to you.”
“No! I’m busy! I can’t take it!”
She refused in alarm, yet through the line, a rustle was heard, followed by a voice both unfamiliar and yet far too familiar.
Low, smooth, and unmistakably his—it scratched against her ears.
“You’re busy, huh.”
It was Jihyeok. Calm, languid, dangerous in its ease.
Frozen, Eunbin couldn’t breathe.
“I guess I’ll have to tell Woojin. I brought a gift for you.”
“…!”
A gift? In that instant, a lightning bolt of realization struck her mind.
The earrings.
The very earrings she had left under the bed that morning.
“Oh, a gift? What is it? I’ll take it and bring it to you.”
She could hear Woojin’s naive, willing voice.
Eunbin’s vision darkened. If Jihyeok handed those earrings to her brother—if he opened the box—everything would be ruined.
The earrings were something she wore daily, familiar even to Woojin.
‘Huh? Aren’t these the ones you always wear? You haven’t had them on these past few days… could it be…’
Worst-case scenarios spiraled endlessly. There was no way to explain.
Jihyeok was holding the earrings hostage, silently threatening: come, or they go to your brother.
“…I’ll go.”
Eunbin’s voice trembled as she said it.
“Really? You said you couldn’t before.”
Woojin asked, puzzled. Eunbin bit her lip and, as if forcing herself to be heard, said clearly:
“I’ll go! I just got a taxi! So don’t accept anything! Don’t take a thing!”
She hung up, waving toward the road through tears.
Flagging down a passing taxi, she thought:
I’ve completely fallen into his trap.
A short while later, at the YN Hotel VIP lounge.
Under the soft lighting, two men sat, each exuding a completely different temperature.
One radiated a sharp chill, like it could cut upon contact. The other wore a warm, sunlit smile.
Eunbin hesitated unconsciously at the mismatched pair.
Woojin noticed her first.
“Oh, Eunbin! You’re here?”
Jihyeok, legs crossed, swirling a glass of wine, leisurely watched Eunbin approach as if observing a rabbit caught in his own trap.
“Ah… yeah…”
Eunbin hesitated, staying close to Woojin and avoiding Jihyeok’s gaze. She needed the shield her older brother provided.
“Wow, you’re sweating. Did you run here?”
Woojin immediately touched her forehead, fussing.
“Why’s your face so red? Fever? You’ve been pushing yourself too hard lately… are you sick?”
“Ah, no… I’m just… hot.”
“Hot? With the AC blasting like this? Are you breaking into a sweat? You should go to the doctor before it gets worse.”
Woojin was so focused on her welfare that he seemed to forget Jihyeok was right there.
Eunbin felt mortified. To be treated like a child by her brother in front of Jihyeok…
Yet Jihyeok only rested his chin on his hand, watching her with mild amusement.
“You’re still like that,” he murmured softly.
“Looking out for your little sister.”
“Ah, old habits die hard. You know she’s fragile; if I don’t watch over her, something bad happens.”
Woojin tried to lighten the mood.
“By the way… how’s that guy you were seeing? Hopefully, he’s not bragging to you about passing his exam.”
At the sudden mention of her ex, Eunbin flinched. Woojin had always disapproved of her seeing O Jin-seok, but now he was just making sure.
After a pause, she whispered:
“…We broke up.”
“What? Really? That’s great! I told you from the start, his aura wasn’t right for you. He would’ve only caused trouble.”
Woojin clapped his knees in satisfaction, then turned to Jihyeok with a determined look.
“Hey, Jihyeok. That’s good. You know any decent guys? Introduce one to my sister.”
“…!”
“Eunbin’s sweet and beautiful. She deserves someone who won’t hurt her. You can be trusted to pick someone like that.”
Eunbin choked, mortified. Introducing her to Jihyeok was like leaving a fish with a cat.
“Introduce? Hmm.”
Jihyeok lifted his wine glass to his lips, studying Eunbin over the rim. For a moment, a cold glint passed through his eyes.
“Need to know the standards before I introduce someone. What’s your type?”
“Well…”
Woojin prodded, oblivious.
“Tell me! This oppa will filter everyone and bring the right one.”
Eunbin murmured, wishing she could hide in a mouse hole.
“Someone… kind…”
“Kind?”
“Someone who… looks only at me…”
Jihyeok’s lips curved smoothly.
“Kind, huh.”
He murmured lazily, “Hard to find… I’ll have to try.”
“…!”
Eunbin’s heart sank. His words sounded like a vow to become the kind of man who met her standards.
Woojin, however, interpreted it differently, thinking Jihyeok meant he would make an effort to find someone who met Eunbin’s conditions.
“Oh, Yeon Jihyeok even making an effort? I’m honored!”
Woojin smiled broadly and patted Jihyeok’s shoulder.
“Yeah, pick well. I know you’re picky. If you pick someone, I can trust him. But if he’s no good, you’ll pay too. No mercy if my sister ends up in tears.”
“Understood.”
Jihyeok’s eyes curved toward Eunbin, a smile so tender it was terrifying.
“I won’t make her cry.”
Only Woojin didn’t know who that vow was really for.
Eunbin bit her lip, bowing her head, silently praying this suffocating performance would end quickly.
And the opportunity came sooner than expected.
“Ah, wait. The manager’s calling. Seems like it’s about the corporate lawsuit from earlier. I’ll take it quickly.”
Woojin hurriedly stood, leaving Eunbin with no time to stop him, disappearing out of the lounge.
…Could this really be an opportunity?
In an instant, only the two of them were left at the table.
As soon as Woojin left, Jihyeok’s warm smile faded. He leaned over the table, closing the distance between them. The familiar, intoxicating scent hit her.
The same scent she had inhaled that night until it made her dizzy.
“You ignored my messages, yet you run at Oppa’s call.”
His low voice brushed her ear.
He wasn’t angry. Just… a little unsettled.
“Disappointed. You called my name so loudly that night, and now you won’t even meet my eyes.”
