Chapter#5
7 a.m.
Yulhee opened her eyes out of habit and blankly stared at the unfamiliar sight in front of her. Instead of a ceiling, something warm and skin-toned filled her vision.
It’s warm…
She liked the soft warmth and unconsciously nuzzled into it. It wrapped around her more tightly.
As she lay there, she suddenly noticed faint breathing and gentle movement—and snapped awake.
Her vision slowly focused. She could see faint veins and muscle beneath the skin.
When she raised her head, she saw Si-hyuk’s face, still asleep.
Only then did she realize she had been resting against his chest.
What have I done…!
Memories of last night flashed through her mind, and she let out a silent scream.
Sleeping with her direct junior—who had just joined yesterday—was something she never imagined.
Her pounding headache wasn’t just from a hangover.
I need to leave first.
She carefully tried to slip out of his arms before he woke up. But as she moved, her body ached all over.
Considering everything that happened the night before, it wasn’t surprising.
She looked around the messy room—clothes scattered everywhere.
I should just get out of here.
She picked up her clothes one by one and got dressed.
Looking in the mirror, she sighed. There were visible marks on her neck.
I’m definitely going to be late.
After roughly fixing her hair, she quietly opened the door and left the hotel room.
Click.
As the door shut, Si-hyuk—who had been lying still—suddenly opened his eyes.
*
“Wait…!”
Yulhee barely caught the elevator before it closed. The people inside looked at her with annoyance.
She bowed apologetically, pressed the button for the 8th floor, and stood in the corner, leaning her head against the wall.
She had only managed to go home and change clothes before rushing out—and was already late.
She looked at her reflection and applied lipstick to her pale lips.
But her expression remained tense.
As the elevator went up, her heart tightened.
How should I face him?
Should she act normal? Pretend nothing happened? Or ignore him?
Her thoughts were a mess.
The elevator reached the 8th floor.
After hesitating for a moment, she finally entered the office.
“Good morning.”
Si-hyuk greeted her casually.
Yulhee, who had considered taking a day off just to avoid him, nodded awkwardly.
“Oh wow, after drinking like that, you still came to work?”
Yooncheol mocked her.
Only then did she remember what happened at the dinner—she had thrown up on Byungjoo.
Byungjoo glared at her from across the room. Knowing how particular he was, it must have been unforgettable for him.
Oddly, that made her feel a bit better.
But what bothered her more—
Si-hyuk was acting completely normal.
Does he not remember?
Or maybe he just had no intention of bringing it up.
Maybe this kind of thing isn’t new to him…
That thought brought both relief and a strange sadness.
She pretended to turn on her computer, lowering her head to hide her expression.
So she didn’t notice—
the intense way Si-hyuk was watching her.
*
In the afternoon, her nerves calmed a little. But she was exhausted from lack of sleep, so she went to the break room.
She poured three sticks of instant coffee into a mug.
Just then, Si-hyuk entered.
Startled, she quickly tried to leave.
As she passed him—
“What should I call you from now on?”
She stopped and turned.
She noticed he was staring at her neck, which she had tried to cover with a turtleneck.
“‘Yulhee’ sounds too informal… ‘sunbae’ is too stiff… or…”
He smiled lazily—the same kind of smile from the night before.
“How about… honey?”
