Chapter 34
It was a moment whose beginning could not be traced.
“Ah…”
A soft sigh escaped as a large hand cupped her delicate cheek.
It was a strong hand—one that could easily harm her with the slightest force—but it touched her with an unbelievable gentleness as it drew near.
His eyes, unhidden by glasses, were perfectly clear. And because of that, the desire in his gaze, lingering just before her face, was unmistakably real.
The run without a starting point felt natural—there was no sense of resistance, no reason to stop.
The touch of his fingers, smooth and sensual beyond mere ticklishness, brushed along her skin and even stirred the fine hairs of her body.
Her head bowed and tilted forward as if guided. Their hands moved to rest on the back of his hand that held her neck and cheek.
Then, as he drew her closer by the waist, pressing their bodies tightly together, his heat enveloped her—and she finally let out a sound.
“Ha Yun-jae.”
The name left her lips, echoing in her head, sounding far too unreal.
No—this running, this moment without a beginning, being real would have been the true impossibility. Even knowing that, she stretched her legs and wrapped them around his waist.
Then, from where their lower bodies pressed close, a strange and unfamiliar tension stirred.
It was as if he were asking for permission—his heartbeat knocking softly against hers—so she wrapped her arms around his neck.
Splash.
It felt as if she had plunged into water. No, as if she wasn’t even alive.
She had no wings, but she was floating. No fins, yet she was swimming effortlessly through the depths.
She could go anywhere she wished, do anything she wanted—an inexplicable confidence bloomed within her chest. She cupped the back of Yun-jae’s head, bringing her nose close to his.
Tap.
Their noses brushed—his perfectly shaped one meeting hers. Her lips parted slightly several times, uncertain of what she sought.
Yun-jae’s eyes softened, curving gently as they gazed at her with warmth.
Beautiful.
Of all the moments she had ever witnessed, this could easily be counted among the most breathtaking.
It wasn’t a beauty that could be seen, but one felt with the heart—a dazzling brilliance that enthralled her until she completely embraced him, as though giving him her everything.
The soft wind tousled her hair, filling her breath with its lazy warmth. She savored the taste of Yun-jae, and he whispered in a voice as sweet as his gaze.
“□□□.”
He called her name, though the sound was faint and unclear.
Doesn’t matter.
If this was reality, maybe it would—but right now, none of that mattered. Only one thing did.
I want to touch you.
I want to hold you.
I want to have you.
I want to kiss you.
Desire overflowed—an ache to press her lips against his soft mouth and fill her heart with even greater joy.
Perhaps he sensed the meaning behind the wet gleam in her eyes.
“Do you really think so?”
His languid voice whispered the question, and she nodded.
Like a hungry child clutching its empty stomach, she wriggled the arms that held him tighter and blinked up.
“Do you… not want to?”
Her innocent question made Yun-jae chuckle.
With a faint smile, he clasped her slender arm wrapped around him, and the hand that had circled her waist slid upward, teasing along her body.
“…Ah.”
His deliberate, sensual movements made her breath quicken.
A shiver ran down her spine, and her waist arched as his lips drew slowly closer.
They were already so near, yet every fraction of the closing distance felt agonizingly slow. The faint scent of Ha Yun-jae filled the space, seeping into her entirely.
He consumed her—wildly, completely.
And in that moment when their bare bodies unknowingly tangled as one—
“…Hup!”
She woke up.
Bright sunlight streamed through the unclosed curtains, illuminating the wide bed. Her eyes flew open wide, unblinking, her body tightly curled.
Her lips were sealed, forcing her breath to escape sharply through her nose. The lingering masculine scent surrounding her made her freeze.
As if pulled by invisible strings, she sat up. Her hair was a mess, sticking up in every direction.
She had clearly slept deeply, judging by how disheveled she looked. Then she realized—she was clutching the blanket tightly enough for her knuckles to whiten.
“…I’m going crazy.”
It was Yun-jae’s blanket—the one she hadn’t returned for days.
She had borrowed it after asking for permission, but hadn’t managed to give it back. Despite its thickness, it was feather-light and soft, giving her the best sleep she’d had in ages.
She’d been waking up repeatedly from stress lately, but that night—no dreams, no interruptions—just pure rest.
[‘Can I borrow this blanket for a while?’]
She had asked him that, and though he’d given her a bewildered look, he hadn’t refused.
She’d even used it without washing it first—a fact that would probably horrify Yun-jae if he knew.
And yet, despite sleeping so soundly, a new problem arose—she had begun to have similar dreams every night.
The first few she barely remembered. Then came one where they hugged in the columbarium. And today…
“Ahhhh!”
She shook her already tangled hair wildly and shoved the blanket away.
“This thing’s cursed. Seriously cursed.”
It had to be the smell—the faint trace of Ha Yun-jae’s skin lotion lingering on the fabric.
She had only suspected it before, but after recognizing the exact same scent in her dream, she was sure.
“Just like its owner… even the blanket’s perverted. Coming into people’s dreams and all.”
Grumbling nonsense aloud since no one could hear, she rolled the blanket up and hugged it tightly.
She was on her way to toss it into the laundry when she stopped. She buried her nose into it again—his scent was still there, faint but intoxicating.
“…”
That was why, night after night, she found herself holding the blanket closer as she slept.
The fading scent calmed her nerves; inhaling it made all the tension in her body melt away.
It felt… like being protected by someone.
Seriously. Just like its owner.
If she’d known a man’s cologne could smell this good, maybe she would’ve bothered to date someone.
With a small, foolish sigh of regret, she rubbed her face against the soft fabric again.
Sniff, sniff.
She didn’t even realize she had stopped just in front of the kitchen—before reaching the laundry room.
And she certainly didn’t notice that the house’s owner, who always woke up earlier than her, was standing right there.
“…”
Yun-jae, who had been about to replace his breakfast with a cup of coffee as usual, froze mid-sip.
He was witnessing—in real time—someone wrapped in a blanket, mumbling to herself and sniffing it like a lunatic.
No matter how many surprises life threw at him, this was new. Too new.
“What… are you doing?”
“…!”
Her head jerked up, face flushing crimson.
“I—I’m not a pervert! It just smells nice, that’s all! Really!”
He swallowed back the urge to tell her that that’s exactly what perverts say, and instead quietly poured the rest of his coffee.
Somehow, asking further questions felt utterly meaningless.
She hurried to escape his sigh and dumped the blanket into the laundry room. Then, with cheeks still burning, she returned to the kitchen, fidgeting like a guilty thief.
“It’s just… I’ve been feeling stiff lately from staying home all day. I couldn’t sleep, but with that blanket I slept so well… I guess it must be the fabric softener or something—it smells so nice.”
“Enough.”
“I mean, it’s not like there was any other intention…”
Her best attempt at an excuse fell apart halfway through.
It was hard to claim “no other meaning” when she’d had that kind of dream—and the very man from it was standing right in front of her.
“…Right?”
Her conscience pricked painfully.
And the dream had been so vivid that looking at his handsome face that morning made her heartbeat go wild.
It’s just because of the dream. The dream.
Maybe she was just frustrated, who knew—but the strange morning had her gulping down cold water straight from the dispenser, praying that whatever heat her body emitted wouldn’t reach him.
Thankfully, Yun-jae didn’t press the issue. After finishing his coffee, he rinsed the cup and left the kitchen.
As she downed a second glass, her gaze followed him—and froze.
He was fully dressed. Perfectly neat.
It was obviously his work attire.
“You’re going to work? On the weekend?”
“Probably.”
He was always busy, so working weekends wasn’t unusual—but this early in the morning? That was rare.
She finished her water and thought about his assistant, Hong.
“Poor Manager Hong. Having to work weekends because of his boss.”
That struck a nerve.
Yun-jae shot her a cold look and replied curtly,
“Instead of talking nonsense, go wash your face.”
“Ugh.”
With a single, efficient line, he embarrassed her more than a lecture could.
He picked up his bag and car keys, sipping the last of his coffee as she wiped at her eyes with a paper towel. The faint jingle of keys caught her attention.
“Oh? You’re driving yourself?”
He didn’t answer, already heading to the door, so she hurried after him.
From experience, she knew—if Manager Hong wasn’t around, it was probably some errand related to Eun-se. And anything that made him leave the house early on a weekend was almost always an outside engagement.
“Ha Yun-jae, wait!”
She rushed forward, overtaking him, eyes gleaming with excitement.
“I’ll drive you.”
“…What?”
“I’m a great driver. Trust me.”
She didn’t realize it, but her bright, eager eyes hit him exactly where he was weakest. His brows drew together in mild discomfort, and she grew nervous.
How do I convince him? I really want to drive. I just want to do something.*
Driving was one of the few things she loved as much as exercise, and her fingers itched to hold a steering wheel again.
She didn’t know when she’d get another chance like this.
And then—a spark of inspiration.
That’s it.
Worried he might slip away, she clasped her hands before her chest, eyes wide and shining, and made what she thought was the perfect offer.
“If Manager Hong’s off today, then… how about you hire me for a day?”
Her eyes sparkled—innocent, playful, and unknowingly dangerous.
“I’ll be your secretary for today.”
“…”
“Cheap, too.”
