Chapter 5
Do It for Real
…Damn it. I can’t say it.
At a small café near the Seodo Group headquarters, Yeoul sat across from Geon-woo at a round two-person table.
She opened her mouth again and again, but the words crawled up her throat only to sink back down.
She had come here with a single purpose—to take revenge on Seung-tae—but now that she was face-to-face with Geon-woo, she realized just how insane her plan must sound from his point of view.
Luckily, he was the same as always—quiet, calm, composed.
Even his silence was a relief.
Still, the pressure made her anxious, and she took a long sip of iced Americano, the straw crackling between her lips.
When she set the cup down, Geon-woo finally spoke.
“You used to only drink hot coffee.”
“…Sorry?”
“You said you couldn’t stand the cold. Even in summer, you’d only drink something warm.”
“Oh… right.”
She blinked, surprised he even remembered that.
Even Seung-tae never noticed that.
She’d always thought Geon-woo was distant because he was quiet, but maybe he had always been paying attention.
It was strange how many new things she was learning about him today.
“You seem different,” he said.
“I’m trying to change.”
“Why? Did something happen?”
“No… I just want to.”
Yeoul dodged the question.
“You really liked Seung-tae… didn’t you?”
Geon-woo’s tone stretched, as if each word cost him effort.
And yet, the way he said it—like something he didn’t want to say—made her heart jolt.
She remembered Seung-tae once accusing Geon-woo of liking her. But she forced that thought away. Even if it was true, what difference would it make now?
“I thought I did.”
The light reply made Geon-woo’s brow twitch, and his eyes turned sharp.
He looked straight at her—as if he could see right through to the truth.
That stare… it unsettled her.
“What do you mean by that?”
“I know better now.”
Yeoul’s lips curled into a faint, bitter smile.
Seeing it, Geon-woo’s expression hardened.
“I was stupid,” she said.
“I disagree.”
He denied it immediately, without hesitation.
“You’ve always been smart.”
“…What?”
The unexpected praise caught her off guard.
He didn’t elaborate, and she didn’t ask. There were too many things she couldn’t tell him anyway.
“How’s the wedding prep going?” he asked suddenly, steering the conversation elsewhere.
“I’m not getting married.”
“What?”
For once, real surprise crossed his usually still face.
So he does have expressions after all.
She couldn’t help the small laugh that slipped out.
The Geon-woo she remembered had been expressionless, silent—a shadow on all their dates. She’d hated it.
But now, with that flicker of emotion, he felt oddly human.
“That’s why I came to see you,” she said. “I need a favor.”
“What kind of favor?”
“Tell Kim Seung-tae that you slept with me.”
“…I must’ve misheard.”
“No, you heard me right.”
“Why?”
“Huh?”
He was so calm it threw her off.
When she’d told him she wasn’t marrying, he’d looked like he’d been hit by lightning. Yet now—when she’d said something truly shocking—his tone didn’t waver.
“Why are you asking me to do that?” he repeated.
“Because I want to break up with him.”
“I’m not interested in lying.”
Of course.
She’d known he’d refuse, but hearing it still stung.
She’d hoped—just a little—that he might say yes.
So stupid, Yeoul.
She tried to smile, though it hurt.
“I understand.”
Even if revenge mattered more than anything, she couldn’t force him. He and Seung-tae were best friends, after all.
She stood, slinging her bag over her shoulder.
“Forget I said anything. Thanks for meeting me.”
She bowed slightly and turned to leave.
But—
Thud.
Her wrist was caught.
She froze, startled, and looked down at his hand gripping her arm. His gaze stayed straight ahead.
“I’m not done talking.”
“…What?”
His voice was low, clipped. The tension in it made her breath catch.
Then, slowly, he lifted his head and met her eyes.
Those dark irises locked with hers, deep and still—pulling her in like a whirlpool.
What… what is this?
Something dropped inside her chest, heavy and strange.
It felt like warmth blooming where coldness had lived for so long.
She tore her gaze away, panicked.
“I said, I don’t want to lie,” she muttered.
“And I said, I respect that.”
She couldn’t understand him.
His words sounded like rejection, yet his tone said otherwise.
“You and Seung-tae are best friends,” she said quietly. “It’s normal you’d refuse.”
“Yeah. Best friends.”
He gave a short laugh.
“Or maybe… were best friends. I guess that’s past tense now.”
Her eyes widened.
“What… why?”
Why would he say something like that?
He didn’t answer. Instead, he stood, still holding her wrist.
The change in his height made him tower over her now, his shadow falling across her face.
“I’m going to be the bad guy anyway,” he said evenly. “Might as well do it properly.”
“What are you talking about?”
Her voice trembled.
“Let’s do it for real.”
“…What?”
Her heart stopped.
She hadn’t misheard.
He said it so clearly—so coldly.
“Let’s do it for real. The thing you asked me to do.”
“That’s insane! You can’t be serious.”
“Your request wasn’t sane either.”
“That’s why I told you to forget it!”
“How can I pretend I didn’t hear it?”
“Then just call it a crazy idea!”
“I don’t want to.”
Her mouth fell open.
The calm, silent man she thought she knew—was gone.
“I’m not the kind of fool who ignores a chance when it comes,” he said quietly.
And just like that, the floor beneath her seemed to tilt.
