~Chapter 14~
Lee Yeon looked down at the car keys in her hand.
Even with a light press, a sophisticated ‘beep’ sounded for the unlock.
It was Attorney Choi’s sudden request, so it was hard to refuse outright.
She tried hard to reassure herself that it would be fine, but she couldn’t stop the worry from seeping onto her face.
‘I have a license, but I’ve hardly ever driven…’
Moreover, it was an expensive foreign car. What if she accidentally scratched it?
But since she had already accepted the request to ‘just move it a little,’ she couldn’t back out now.
Lee Yeon let out a sigh and steadied her resolve.
‘During my driving lessons, they said I was good… This should be okay, right.’
Having made her decision, Lee Yeon boldly approached the driver’s seat.
She carefully opened the car door and sat down, the soft feel of the leather seats enveloping her body.
“To start it, you press the brake and then the button, right?”
With slightly nervous fingers, she pressed the ignition button.
The engine purred smoothly to life, and her heart jumped at the sound.
“Okay, now forward a little…”
Lee Yeon slowly moved the gear shift. But her fingers slipped微妙하게 for a moment.
In that instant, the gear shifted to the opposite direction: reverse.
“Uh, wait…”
The car rolled back slightly.
Startled, Lee Yeon slammed on the brake.
Her body lurched forward, bumping lightly against the dashboard.
“Ouch…”
Tension rushed over her all at once.
‘Should I not have done this?’
Regretting her choice, Lee Yeon rested her forehead on the steering wheel and bowed her head deeply.
Just as the air inside the car began to feel stifling, she heard someone knocking on the driver’s side window.
Lee Yeon turned her head in surprise.
Beyond the window, Woo-gyung was looking down at her, his head tilted slightly.
With a bewildered expression, Lee Yeon rolled down the window.
“When did you get here…?”
Woo-gyung let out a sigh and said firmly.
“Get out.”
“Huh?”
“Get out. Right there, right now.”
Despite his firm tone, what she felt first wasn’t rejection but relief, as if she was saved.
Lee Yeon scrambled to open the car door and get out.
Without a word, Woo-gyung took possession of the driver’s seat.
He smoothly turned the steering wheel and slowly moved the car forward.
The car moved as if gliding, seamlessly.
In just a few seconds, it was parked perfectly within the lines.
Woo-gyung engaged the parking brake, opened the door, and got out.
“But what’s with that expression?”
“What expression?”
“You look like you’re worried about getting scolded.”
Lee Yeon pouted her lips slightly, sticking them out.
“It’s not like I did anything worth getting scolded for.”
“Right.”
Woo-gyung chuckled and pulled his own car keys from his pocket.
“I was just worried.”
“Worried?”
“I didn’t know Yoo Yeon would start her first driving practice with someone else’s car right in front of me.”
Lee Yeon looked startled.
“Ah, that’s because Attorney Choi said it was urgent…”
“That guy’s always like that.”
Woo-gyung let out a short sigh.
“If he’s in a hurry, he’ll ask anyone around.”
Lee Yeon gave an awkward smile.
“Well, since we’re here anyway, why not use this for practice?”
Woo-gyung spun his own car key casually on his fingertip.
“Huh?”
At the completely unexpected words, Lee Yeon’s eyes widened automatically.
“Huh?”
“Use this one, even if the door gets dented or the bumper breaks.”
Lee Yeon asked cautiously, as if she couldn’t believe it.
“Are you serious?”
Woo-gyung shrugged and replied.
“You have to learn how to drive someday anyway. I’ll give you a one-hour lesson.”
“Right now?”
“Yeah.”
The corners of Woo-gyung’s mouth slowly curled up.
“Well? Aren’t you getting in?”
Stunned by Woo-gyung’s sudden declaration, Lee Yeon stood there blankly for a moment, still holding the keys.
***
“But, I really might not be able to do it.”
“It’s fine. Don’t be scared, just start the engine first.”
Lee Yeon pressed the button, and the engine purred to life again.
Hearing the sound, Woo-gyung, sitting in the passenger seat, leaned his head back against the headrest and spoke.
“Good. Now, press the brake and shift the gear.”
“Like this, right?”
“That’s it. You’re smart, as expected.”
“But I don’t know if it’s because I’m nervous… My foot is trembling.”
“It’s okay. I’m here.”
“Can you take responsibility for those words?”
“Taking responsibility is my specialty.”
Looking at Woo-gyung’s brazen face, Lee Yeon, feeling as if some courage had sprung up within her, carefully moved the car.
The driving lesson that started like that continued for just over an hour. By the end of the road practice, Lee Yeon’s driving skills had become much more stable compared to the beginning.
Her shoulders, which had been stiff with tension, had now relaxed naturally.
Woo-gyung, sitting in the passenger seat, looked at her leisurely with his arms crossed.
“You’ve gotten pretty proficient now.”
“Really?”
The moment Lee Yeon laughed brightly, her pale cheeks flushed rosy and shook quietly.
Finding that sight suddenly cute, Woo-gyung burst out laughing.
“At first, your face turned pale just starting the engine, but now you’re almost at a veteran level.”
Even though she knew it was a joke, Lee Yeon, who had unknowingly loosened up, burst out laughing.
“At this level, it would probably be fine for just the two of us to go on a trip.”
At that casually thrown remark, Lee Yeon’s eyes widened, and her hands gripping the steering wheel stiffened slightly.
“Huh?”
“Why are you so surprised? I was just talking about a trip, literally.”
It wasn’t that she didn’t understand it was about a trip; she was surprised by the words ‘just the two of us.’
But unaware of Lee Yeon’s feelings, Woo-gyung’s composure continued.
“I thought it might be nice to go somewhere suitable and just relax quietly.”
Lee Yeon tapped the edge of the steering wheel with her fingertips for no reason.
“Staying overnight wouldn’t be bad either.”
At those words, Lee Yeon’s foot, unable to ease the pressure on the accelerator, momentarily sped up significantly.
“Wait, that’s too fast.”
“S-sorry. I was surprised for a second…”
“What were you expecting so much?”
“E-expecting?!”
As she regained her composure and continued driving, only Lee Yeon’s cheeks quietly turned red.
Lee Yeon secretly took a deep breath, but her fingertips on the steering wheel were still trembling. However, that tremor was no longer from nervousness but, strangely, closer to a pounding heartbeat.
“We’ll be arriving soon.”
Just as she finally calmed her mind and the car was gliding into the underground parking lot, Lee Yeon tried to park with the most nonchalant face possible.
“The parking is perfect too. Good job.”
Woo-gyung said with a satisfied look, his arms still crossed.
“Thank you.”
Feeling relieved that it ended safely, Lee Yeon gave a faint smile.
“That’s a relief, though.”
Woo-gyung said as he opened the passenger door.
“What is?”
“That there’s nowhere that needs repairing.”
Lee Yeon, momentarily finding him annoying, narrowed her eyes and glared at Woo-gyung.
“Do you have to say it like that?”
“It’s a compliment. Congratulations on no accidents.”
Woo-gyung got out of the car with a sly smile.
But the problem came after getting out of the car.
Perhaps because she was absorbed in tension the whole time driving?
As she stood in front of the elevator, rubbing her sore shoulders, the door opened, and coincidentally, no one was inside.
Only Lee Yeon and Woo-gyung stood quietly in the elevator they boarded, accompanied by an awkward silence.
But that silence didn’t last long.
After passing a few floors, the elevator stopped and the door opened.
A crowd of people rushed in. Their shoulders and bags instantly filled the narrow space, as if they were late for a meeting.
“Wait, please move back a little!”
“Ah, you stepped on my foot!”
Amidst the crowd, angry shouts erupted. Lee Yeon pressed herself against the wall as much as possible, but she lost her balance against the wave of people pushing in.
“Oof.”
As her body was pushed, Lee Yeon unintentionally stepped back, and at that moment, something solid supported her back.
Lifting her head, she saw Woo-gyung’s broad shoulders right in front of her eyes. Lee Yeon almost stopped breathing. The distance between them was so close that even their breaths could mingle. Moreover, his arm was instinctively wrapped around her waist, holding her.
“Are you okay?”
Lee Yeon tried hard to smile, but she could feel her face burning red.
“Yes… I’m fine.”
Lee Yeon averted her gaze, her face feeling hot for no reason. Shortly after, the elevator arrived at the floor where the law firm office was.
As the door opened, Woo-gyung naturally turned his body sideways.
He slightly moved his arm through the narrow doorway, making a path.
He had carefully created a space between himself and the wall so Lee Yeon wouldn’t bump into anyone.
For a moment, a subtle warmth brushed past her in that close distance.
Passing through the gap where even a single breath could reach, Lee Yeon bowed her head as if nervous and lightly stepped out.
Only after confirming that Lee Yeon had completely gotten off did Woo-gyung slowly follow her out.
“Thank you.”
But Lee Yeon had no time to feel the strange sense of security his presence provided.
Even before the elevator door closed, someone walked out from the direction of the office entrance.
With each click of the woman’s high heels against the floor, the silhouette flowing beneath her neat jacket swayed softly.
“Cha Woo-gyung, long time no see.”
She waved her hand brightly and familiarly towards Woo-gyung.
