Chapter 10. Déjà Vu
Tae-woong gestured lightly for Eun-young to come in.
Eun-young stepped inside, clutching the shopping bag tightly in her hands.
He already knew she would come.
He had asked Madam Jeong to make up an excuse and have Teacher Myung send her on an errand.
He expected her to look flustered, but actually seeing her avert her eyes in embarrassment satisfied him even more.
Tae-woong walked further into the room.
He could hear Eun-young’s hesitant footsteps following him toward the living room.
“Aren’t you going to give me what you brought?”
Realizing her mistake, Eun-young made a small “Ah” sound and carried the shopping bag into the room.
Unlike the bright living room, the master bedroom was dim, lit softly behind blackout curtains.
The white cardigan she wore was tinged with a warm orange glow.
Tae-woong took the bag from her hand.
She lowered her head, clearly avoiding his eyes—her face flushed with discomfort.
He thought to himself, All this fuss over something so trivial.
“Wait outside.”
Eun-young nodded and quietly closed the door behind her.
Tae-woong began drying his damp hair with a hair dryer.
Outwardly calm, his mind was anything but.
The sight of Eun-young in simple clothes stirred something inside him—
a thin T-shirt, a white cardigan, and a long skirt.
Just standing there, outside the hotel room, she had ignited his desire.
He wanted to wrap his hand around that pale nape of hers.
Maybe now was the perfect moment to devour her.
He wanted to hold her right then and there.
Before he let her move in, she had always worn her hospital gown.
Just seeing her dressed differently was enough to rattle him.
Her scent, too, was intoxicating—
a faint mix of alcohol and warm skin.
He felt parched.
Watching her for so long, finally bringing her here—
the “live-in physician” was only a convenient pretext.
After getting dressed in the clothes she’d brought, Tae-woong opened the door.
Eun-young was sitting neatly by the kitchen island.
Completely unaware of the predator so close by.
He strode over to her.
Before she could react—
“What are you doing…!”
She reached out to push his chest, but her eyes caught on the water bottle in his hand.
“I’m just thirsty, Doctor.”
He smiled faintly and stepped back.
Twisting the cap, he drank a few gulps of water.
When he tilted the bottle toward her, silently asking if she wanted a sip, she shook her head.
“Pack your things.”
Eun-young’s heart dropped.
Was something wrong with Ji-woong? Or was she being fired?
“Ji-woong’s going to the villa to rest.”
He tossed the empty bottle into the trash.
“Ah… How long will we be staying?”
“Why? You don’t want to go?”
“No, I just meant I should know how much to pack.”
“If you need anything, ask Mr. Kim once we’re there. Just bring what’s necessary.”
He spoke casually, as if it were nothing at all.
“You’re being polite today.”
“I was polite a few days ago too.”
“I thought it was only because Ji-woong was around.”
“Why? Does it sound fake?”
“No. I just thought… maybe we got a bit closer.”
He chuckled, his face softening into a boyish grin—so different from his usual icy expression.
Eun-young frowned slightly, confused by his shifting moods.
“If you’re done talking, I’ll get going.”
She stood up, but Tae-woong caught her wrist.
“Take this.”
He placed the shopping bag back in her hand, then released her.
Eun-young quickly left the hotel room.
Her scent lingered in the air.
Tae-woong still felt a thirst that no amount of water could quench.
He imagined the villa—
if Ji-woong fell asleep under his medication,
if they were alone together,
if he just waited for the right moment.
He ran through every possible scenario—
the perfect timing to consume her whole.
“Teacher, you must’ve had a long trip.”
“It’s fine. You’ve worked harder than I have.”
Eun-young tucked the blanket over Ji-woong, checking the IV drip and his vitals.
“You should get some rest too.”
“Yeah. Sleep well, Ji-woong.”
The boy’s eyes were half closed from the medicine, and soon his soft breathing filled the room.
Eun-young slipped out quietly, careful not to wake him.
Following Mr. Kim’s directions, she went up to the second floor where her room was prepared.
There was a small living area and three bedrooms.
One was clearly hers; another, Tae-woong’s; and one was the shared bathroom.
Unlike the Seoul residence, each room didn’t have a private bath—but it didn’t matter.
He usually only came once or twice a week.
The housekeeper lived nearby and handled the meals.
Eun-young unpacked her modest luggage and changed into something comfortable.
When she stepped outside, she saw Tae-woong in the upstairs lounge.
He had just arrived, taking off his jacket.
“How did you get here?”
She had assumed he wouldn’t come—he’d mentioned a business trip to Jeju that morning.
“By plane. Then car.”
He said it so casually she couldn’t tell if it was a joke.
He looked tired, loosening his tie and unbuttoning his shirt.
“Sit.”
She hesitated before taking a seat at the far end of the small sofa.
It was already nearly filled by his broad frame.
She was about to refuse but decided he might have something important to say.
The moment she sat down, Tae-woong suddenly rested his head on her lap.
“What are you—!”
She tried to stand up, but he interrupted, pulling her back down.
“I’m just tired. Stay still for a bit, Doctor.”
Eun-young froze, then relaxed slightly as she saw his eyes closed in fatigue.
“Did you drink?”
“No. Just… not feeling great.”
She placed a hand on his forehead.
“No fever.”
“You really have a bad habit of touching people.”
Coming from the man who had laid his head on her lap, the comment was absurd.
She looked down at his face—handsome, but sharp from exhaustion.
Without realizing it, she studied him closely.
“Ji-woong’s asleep. The fever’s gone, lungs sound clear.”
“That’s good.”
“…And thank you—for lending money to my aunt.
She would’ve found some way to take it, even from me.”
Eun-young knew her aunt too well—she must’ve schemed to get money after seeing Tae-woong’s home.
She was annoyed that he hadn’t told her, but realistically, it was money that would’ve been taken anyway.
“I’ll repay you as soon as possible.”
At that, Tae-woong lifted his head and faced her—so close their faces nearly touched.
“With what?”
He brushed a strand of her hair between his fingers.
That dream from days ago flashed through her mind—
the nightmare she thought she’d escaped.
Her eyes drifted to his lips.
They looked soft… sweet.
Then she looked up—into his cold, piercing gaze.
It was déjà vu.
