Chapter 10: What I Want:
Bora and Kang Yoon stared at each other in silence for a long while.
“…Aren’t you coming?”
Bora was the first to speak.
Kang Yoon stood frozen for a moment, then took a step at the sound of her voice.
As he walked a few steps toward her, cherry blossom petals clung to the soles of his loafers.
“Let me see. Let’s check how well you took it.”
Kang Yoon handed over his phone obediently to Bora, who held out her palm with a pout.
“Wow…!”
The fully bloomed cherry blossom trees stretched on both sides like lush curtains.
Through the flurry of falling petals, Bora looked back, and even he thought she was incredibly beautiful.
“You take great photos. This is a perfect shot.”
Her eyes sparkled as she looked up at Kang Yoon.
His gaze, black and deep, met hers from above since she had to look up even with heels on.
Bora quickly returned his phone, her heart racing, and glanced around awkwardly.
“Ah, should we get some ice cream?”
“Sure. You said you wanted cherry blossom ice cream, right?”
“That’s right! There should be a place nearby.”
Looking around, most people were holding coffee or cotton candy, and some had pink ice cream cones.
“Maybe over there.”
Kang Yoon pointed to a shop with a long line stretching down the street.
“Where?”
Being taller, Kang Yoon immediately saw it, but Bora had to stretch her head to spot the place he was pointing at.
“There. There it is.”
“Wow.”
Bora’s words caught in her throat as Kang Yoon suddenly lifted her up by the waist.
“See it? The long line of people?”
“Yes… I see. Put me down, please.”
He was strong. Even though Bora was small and slim, lifting an adult woman in one go was surprising.
“Sit here for a moment. I’ll go get it.”
“Huh? I’ll go with you.”
“The line’s too long. Your feet will hurt. Sit and wait.”
Kang Yoon placed Bora on an empty bench and strode off toward the shop.
“Phew… what’s happening… this really feels like a date…”
Bora fanned her heated cheeks and caught her breath.
“My feet hurt… Mom, seriously. I should’ve worn flats.”
She slipped her feet out of her heels and finally felt some relief.
Taking out her phone from her handbag, Bora began taking photos of the cherry blossoms herself.
The pink and white blossoms were in full bloom, displaying their absolute splendor.
“So pretty. I’m glad I came.”
For the past few years, she had been too busy with work to enjoy cherry blossom or autumn leaf festivals.
Yet, due to the unexpected downturn in her family and business, she suddenly found herself at a cherry blossom festival.
Life was truly dynamic, she thought, never knowing what might happen when or where.
“See, I told you I have a keen eye.”
Bora looked up at the voice beside her.
“Uh, uh, uh?”
“I suggested we come see the cherry blossoms, but you were so resistant. Why are you sitting here alone?”
“How did you get here…?”
“What do you mean, ‘how’? I came to see the blossoms too. I happen to be a man who likes flowers.”
A shiver ran down Bora’s arm at Kang Moon’s smiling face.
“I was a bit shocked by the unexpected news, but as you know, Bora, I am the heir to the Kangsan Group.”
“So what?”
Bora stared blankly at Kang Moon.
“I’ve never failed to get what I wanted.”
Feeling uneasy, Bora took a step back from Kang Moon, who had sat down beside her.
“I heard your family requested a match with our house, so naturally, they would have asked me. It seems our mother made a mistake and sent my younger brother instead. Sorry about that.”
“…No. There’s no need to apologize.”
“Well, don’t worry about it. Bora, I’ll take care of everything. You don’t need to worry.”
“Take care of what?”
“What else? You don’t have to meet Kang Yoon forcibly. Let’s cancel that match.”
“What do you mean? Cancel it?”
“Instead, come see me again. For that same match.”
“Did you really come all the way here just to spout nonsense?”
Before Bora could voice her disbelief, Kang Yoon appeared, holding two pink cherry blossom ice cream cones.
“Kang Yoon!”
“Here, take this. And you, get up.”
Kang Yoon’s cold voice was unfamiliar.
Bora held the ice cream cones, glancing between Kang Yoon and Kang Moon.
“I saw you following my car.”
“Oh… I tried to hide it…”
“Do you think a bright red car can be hidden?”
Kang Yoon chuckled, taking a bite of the ice cream.
The sweet, cold cream cooled the heat that had surged through her head.
“Anyway, I think our mother misunderstood. That match was originally mine—with Bora.”
“Your grandmother said that? It’s different from what she told me.”
“My mother’s thoughts don’t matter. You know that, right? I decide everything.”
“So far, yes. You know, I’ve always yielded.”
Kang Moon looked down at Kang Yoon with a calm expression, glaring fiercely.
Throughout his 36 years, Kang Yoon had always been beneath him in the household hierarchy.
Born to the same father but a different mother, Kang Yoon had always been second in command.
Thus, Kang Moon believed that Kang Yoon would never defeat him or take what was his—certainly not a woman like Bora.
He had to secure her first. Even if he later grew tired of her, as long as Kang Yoon didn’t get her first, it was fine.
“You… have some nerve. Don’t you understand the situation?”
“You have some nerve too. Completely oblivious, aren’t you?”
After finishing his ice cream, Kang Yoon neatly wiped his lips with his thumb.
“Bora Yoon and I are going to get married.”
“What?”
Furious, Kang Moon swung a fist at Kang Yoon.
But Kang Yoon blocked it with his hand and pushed Kang Moon away.
“Ah… ugh…!”
Kang Moon stumbled to the ground and yelled at the onlookers.
“What are you staring at? Never seen anyone before? Move along!”
The shouting startled the crowd, and people scattered.
Bora, still holding her half-eaten ice cream, adjusted her heels and stood.
“Kang Yoon, are you okay?”
“I’m fine. A bit embarrassed to show you this, though.”
“…Kang Moon, I’m going to marry Kang Yoon. So please, don’t act so rude again.”
“Bora!”
“Don’t call me. I won’t pick up. Let’s go, Kang Yoon.”
Bora slipped her arm through Kang Yoon’s and strode in the opposite direction.
“Bora! I’m better than that guy!”
Kang Yoon shot a cold glance at Kang Moon, who ground his teeth, mouthed ‘we’ll see at home,’ and stomped away.
Frowning, Bora walked briskly until she could no longer hear him, then slowed down.
“Wow… I didn’t expect the representative to be like that…”
“That’s ‘like that’?”
Kang Yoon looked down at Bora, arm in arm with him, amused.
“I didn’t think he’d act so pathetic.”
“Hahaha!”
Bora blushed a little at Kang Yoon laughing so heartily, bending at the waist.
“Well, it’s true. He even called the other day.”
“Oh. ‘Pathetic’ fits perfectly. Truly pathetic.”
“You’re not going to fight at home, right?”
“Don’t know. I’ve never fought him before.”
“Oh. You two get along well?”
“Not exactly. I’ve never beaten him before. Until now.”
Bora gazed quietly at Kang Yoon.
Cherry blossom petals drifted down onto his head and shoulders as they walked.
Bora reached out and gently removed the petals from his head.
Watching her, Kang Yoon pulled her slender waist closer.
“Until now, yes. But this is the first time I’m trying to take what my brother wants.”
His low, deep voice whispered into her ear.
Bora felt her heart race and swallowed hard.
“You… am I the first thing you want, Kang Yoon?”
Her trembling, delicate voice made him nod.
“Yes. Bora Yoon, you’re the first. I dare to… try for you.”
The soft spring breeze tickled their faces as they walked.
Bora stared at his deep eyes for a long moment.
Suddenly, like an uncontrollable sneeze, the words inside her heart burst out.
“From now on, I’ll give you everything you want. I’ll help you. I’ll make it happen.”
