Chapter 64. This Is Me

Haeyoung walked into the station, glancing around nervously.

“So, Cha Haeyoung—how have you been?”

“I—I have a train to catch, okay? Gotta go!”

She didn’t want to answer Taeseong’s question, so she quickly walked away.

She had booked a morning train, but it wasn’t so urgent that she had to run off like that.

Still, in that moment, it was the only excuse she could think of.

“Ugh, why did we have to run into each other here of all places?”

Blaming fate, she pulled out her phone to double-check her ticket.

Then she blinked, confused.

“Wait… what?”

Her dry eyes blinked again and again. Maybe it was just dry eye syndrome, but… why did everything look flipped?

The departure and arrival stations were reversed.

“Wait, why is it departing from Seoul…?”

Once she realized it wasn’t just a glitch, she refreshed the app.

Sure enough, for January 1st, the ticket showed departure: Seoul; arrival: Pohang.

“Oh no. I booked it backwards.”

Haeyoung’s face turned pale.

She had to get to Seoul by tonight to work early the next morning.

She opened the app again and checked for any remaining tickets—but they were all sold out. Even the last train.

She calmly went to the ticket counter to ask if any standing tickets were left, but those were sold out too.

She quickly opened a bus app, but all buses were sold out as well.

She returned to the counter and pleaded with the clerk.

“Is there really no way? I absolutely have to get to Seoul today!”

“Sorry, there’s nothing available right now.”

As the clerk gave a firm answer, a familiar voice called from behind her.

“What, you ditched me because you said you had a train? Something go wrong?”

Haeyoung turned around.

There stood Taeseong, with that same smug grin from the first time they met—so annoying, yet familiar.

In the end, Haeyoung accepted a ride from Taeseong and sat stiffly in the passenger seat, staring straight ahead.

Taeseong glanced at her, then back to the road.

“Traffic’s bad. It’ll take a while. You’re gonna sit all stiff the whole time?”

“It’s my choice.”

“Geez. I’m trying to be nice here.”

He clicked his tongue quietly.

“If your back starts aching tomorrow, it’s your loss.”

He spoke gently again, but Haeyoung didn’t move.

For her, sitting up straight was a kind of defense. If she let her guard down, the little embers in her heart might reignite.

“Just ride with me. It’s fine.”

“No.”

“Didn’t you say you had to get to Seoul today?”

Silence filled the car.

Taeseong didn’t bother turning on the radio or any music. He enjoyed the quiet.

Or more precisely—he enjoyed the subtle sounds Haeyoung made.

The rustling of her coat when she shifted, the way she fidgeted slightly…

He smiled faintly, steering the car with one hand.

Then, suddenly, the car’s Bluetooth rang loudly.

“Secretary Park”

He checked the monitor and answered.

“Hey, Secretary Park.”

[“Sir, do you remember it’s time for your medication?”]

“Do I look like a kid? You’re calling me just to remind me of that?”

[“You’re acting like a kid. Please take it on time—otherwise, it won’t help at all!”]

“Pfft—!”

Suddenly, Haeyoung burst out laughing in the passenger seat.

Taeseong turned his head.

She was covering her mouth, trying her best not to laugh.

Meanwhile, Secretary Park kept complaining.

[“I really don’t want to nag you on New Year’s Day! But if your stomach ulcers get worse, the Chairman will blame me! So take your medicine!”]

“Fine, I’ll take it. I’ll take it. Bye.”

He hung up quickly.

Haeyoung’s little giggles floated through the air.

Taeseong frowned. His cool image had just been ruined.

Just perfect—he had meant to look sharp and impressive, but now she saw him being nagged over medicine.

Secretary Park, we need to talk.

As he tried to calm himself, Haeyoung spoke first.

“You don’t take your meds?”

“……”

“What if your stomach bursts?”

She had precisely pointed out what embarrassed him the most.

He sighed.

“It’s in the glove compartment. Can you grab it?”

Haeyoung nodded and opened the compartment, pulling out a small pill container.

“Take out two for me.”

While he cruised down the highway, Haeyoung opened the bottle and shook two pills into her palm.

“Here.”

She moved to hand them to him—but he made a bold request.

“Feed me.”

“What?!”

“Why not?”

“Just take them from my hand. You can do that yourself—”

“It’s dangerous while driving.”

“……”

“You heard Secretary Park. I have to take them now. If something happens to my stomach, you’re partly responsible.”

Now that his image was already broken, he shamelessly pushed his luck.

“…Unbelievable. You’re still the same jerk.”

Grumbling, Haeyoung held the pills near his mouth.

She wanted to get it over with quickly—there was no way her hand could brush his lips.

But then, Taeseong caught her wrist.

He slowly pulled her hand toward his mouth and deliberately let her palm brush his lips.

His lips softly grazed her hand as he took the pills.

It was warm—too warm.

Was this him taking medicine… or kissing her hand?

It was such a strange, blurry moment that Haeyoung froze, unable to speak.

Eventually, she snapped back and yanked her hand away, her face red.

“W-what was that?!”

Taeseong casually swallowed the pills without water and smirked.

“What do you mean? I’m just taking my medicine.”

His eyes twinkled mischievously—seductive, somehow.

Annoying, but so handsome.

That calm, adult charm made her heart thump for just a moment.

Trying not to let it show, Haeyoung turned away and glared at him.

“What, staring because I’m good-looking?”

“…Still such a narcissist.”

“Thanks for the compliment.”

“Still shameless too.”

Despite her snide words, her eyes kept drifting back to him.

He’d always been handsome, but now he had this whole new presence.

His gentle eyes had become a bit sharper, and with his baby fat gone, his nose looked even more prominent.

And that jawline… like a perfectly carved sculpture.

He looked better than ever—and that calm, confident aura made him even more attractive.

Even the way he drove was mature and steady.

Yes—Joo Taeseong had become an even more perfect man than she had imagined.

Once, they were just two high schoolers riding the bus together.

Now, the years between them felt so real.

And somehow, that made her relax.

Someone as amazing as him probably just sees me as an old friend, she thought.

Sure, he might’ve been a little upset when she ghosted him. But now, it was probably just nostalgia.

Him giving her a ride back to Seoul—it was just kindness. Nothing more.

Thinking that, her eyelids grew heavy.

Her straight back slowly relaxed, and she leaned against the seat.

Eventually, her head tilted, and she began to breathe softly in her sleep.

When he noticed she had fallen asleep, Taeseong’s eyes softened.

“You’re sleeping… even though I’m sitting right here?”

His quiet voice was filled with longing.

“My heart’s racing… just because you’re next to me.”

With a gentle heart, he kept driving—careful not to wake her.

The next morning, after arriving safely in Seoul in Taeseong’s car, Haeyoung showed up for work at 6 a.m. as usual.

She worked at a small café in Yeoksam, a busy office district.

The café was busiest before work and at lunch, mostly for takeout.

After serving a rush of customers, she washed the dishes and picked up the mop to clean during the quiet hour.

Then she restocked supplies.

If she had extra time and no customers, she would write—thanks to her cool boss who ran the café more as a hobby.

Haeyoung brought the mop to the center of the café and started cleaning.

As she mopped energetically, she called out to the café manager in a loud voice:

“Dohyun! What should we eat for lunch? Wanna get tteokbokki?”

“Oki! Spicy rice cakes are perfect for a new year meal.”

His voice came from the kitchen, where he was baking cookies.

Haeyoung smiled and mopped with even more energy, thinking of food.

Just then, the soft sound of the entrance bell rang.

She stopped and stood up to greet the customer.

“Welcome—”

“Hi.”

Standing there, unlike yesterday, was Taeseong in a sharp suit.