Chapter : 54
I thought I should pull my hand away, but my body wouldn’t obey.
Every time Taeshin’s warm breath brushed against my skin, a sweet shiver ran through me.
“Huh.”
When his lips touched the inside of my wrist, I let out a strange moan.
Desires I hadn’t even realized were inside me began to stir.
Being held in this man’s arms, kissing him, and doing things that felt even better than that…
I guess I’m slowly losing my mind.
Or maybe I’m already drunk from just a single glass of wine.
I pulled my hand away from his.
“I should go. See you at the pool later.”
When I returned to the room, my grandmother was already asleep.
I went into the bathroom, closed the door, and leaned against it for a moment to calm my excitement.
Just having my hand kissed sent shivers all over my body.
I even had the illusion that his lips were still lingering on the back and palm of my hand.
Even though we had kissed, why did my heart feel like it was fluttering so much?
I must be crazy.
Shaking off my dazed state, I washed my hands, brushed my teeth, and went down to the pool alone.
After buying a new swimsuit and changing, I stepped outside and saw that Taeshin was already there.
Since it was late, the infinity pool was nearly empty.
Only a young couple and an older married couple were there.
But no matter how crowded it was, I knew I could spot Taeshin immediately.
I dove into the water and swam toward him.
According to my mother, I had loved water so much as a child that I wouldn’t come out once I went in.
I surfaced right in front of Taeshin and our eyes met.
Her gaze reflected in his black eyes, shimmering with the pool lights.
Looking at this man made my chest ache softly.
“What’s wrong?”
Taeshin asked.
“My chest…”
His gaze slid down to my chest.
“Have you been holding your breath too long?”
I shook my head.
I could hold it longer.
“Come here.”
He pulled my waist close.
The moment his solid body touched mine, my heart raced uncontrollably.
“Take a deep breath. In… and out.”
I couldn’t admit it was because of him, so I followed his instructions.
“I’m okay now.”
Feeling like I’d be better if I moved away, I stepped back and splashed the water.
Taeshin, suddenly attacked, blinked in surprise.
I splashed water again and ran.
The game had begun.
Of course, I didn’t get far before he caught me, hugging me from behind.
My clear, refreshing laughter echoed through the pool.
He lifted me and dunked me in the water.
I swallowed water.
Every time our eyes met, sparks seemed to fly.
I tried to ignore them and enjoyed the moment.
I didn’t even remember the last time I laughed like this.
The pool closed at ten.
I wanted to stay longer with Taeshin, but I had no choice but to return to the room.
“Thank you for today. I had fun. Good night.”
I said my goodbyes at the door.
“Good night.”
Taeshin lowered his head as if to kiss me.
I had instinctively pursed my lips, and the touch on my cheek made me embarrassed.
Yes… I had said I didn’t want that to happen again.
And he had promised the same.
Even knowing I shouldn’t feel regret, I couldn’t help feeling a mix of longing and tenderness.
It seemed like a trace of regret also flickered in his eyes as he looked at me.
“Go in.”
I nodded and forced my reluctant feet to move.
“What are you doing awake?”
1:45 a.m.
Director Lee, drinking alone, stood up at the voice of Choi Muwang.
“You haven’t slept yet?”
“I was going to have a cigarette before going to bed.”
“I thought you quit smoking.”
His nerves about Yoon Isul must be making him crave nicotine.
Muwang, tapping as if to take out a cigarette, stared at the director for a long moment before speaking.
“You’re hiding something from me, aren’t you?”
The director’s head snapped up.
“You’re normally asleep by midnight. But here you are, awake, waiting for a call.”
His gaze landed on the director’s phone on the table.
The subordinates were supposed to kidnap Yoon Isul and bring her here.
By now, the operation should be done—but there’s no word.
Did something go wrong?
A call came in at just the right moment.
The director picked up.
“-Boss, Yoon Isul isn’t here. No one’s home.”
“What?”
“-It seems like she got away early. What should we do?”
Ha.
“Did you search everywhere?”
“-Of course. We checked every nearby place but she wasn’t there.”
“Alright, pull back for today.”
Muwang’s sharp eyes seemed to pierce the director.
“You were supposed to kidnap Yoon Isul and present her to the branch chief…!”
Before the explanation even finished, a fist struck his cheek.
Then his shin was hit.
My head spun and my body swayed.
My cheek burned.
I barely held myself up with my legs.
“I told you not to touch that woman! Did I not? How dare you disobey me!”
“It’s for your sake, boss.”
I don’t think I did anything wrong.
“Ha. What the hell do you mean by ‘for my sake’?”
Muwang, enraged, threw a chair.
“So, where did Yoon Isul go?”
“I don’t know.”
How could she have known our plan in advance?
Is there a spy inside our organization?
Impossible.
Yoon Isul doesn’t have the resources or audacity to plant a spy.
There must be someone backing her—someone with the power to get information and protect her.
The only ones who knew the plan were the subordinates in the office at that time.
“Boss, I think the office was compromised.”
“What do you mean?”
Dawn breaks.
Taeshin, sitting on the edge of the bed, stared at the window slowly brightening.
I can’t sleep anymore.
I can’t get the image of Isul smiling in her swimsuit and her refreshing laughter out of my head.
Her scent, her clear eyes, the way she goes blank when she stands in front of me—they all stir something inside me.
Dressed, he left the room.
Following the signs out of the resort, he reached a long boardwalk along the beach.
Unlike the city, the open sea and sky cleared the tightness in his chest.
He began to jog lightly, gradually increasing his speed until his breath caught at his chin.
The burning sensation in his lungs actually cleared his mind.
After running about three kilometers, he tried to pick up speed again and saw someone approaching—it was Isul.
Taeshin stopped and waited for her.
Seeing him, she froze in surprise and tightened her cardigan.
Her big eyes, without makeup, looked a little moist from lack of sleep.
Seeing her, his heart stirred again.
“What are you doing here?”
“I… couldn’t sleep. You woke up early too… jogging…!”
Seeing his serious expression, her words trailed off.
“Why can’t you sleep?”
“Just… a lot on my mind…” she mumbled, avoiding his gaze.
Taeshin took a step closer and asked directly.
Now, he wanted an answer.
“Were you thinking about me?”
Her eyes, meeting his, revealed a mix of surprise and embarrassment.
“Don’t dodge. Be honest. Were you unable to sleep because you were thinking about me?”
Her lips, ready to answer, closed, then set firmly as if deciding something.
“Yes. I couldn’t sleep thinking about you, Taeshin. Are you satisfied now that you got your answer?”
She turned, flustered and blushing, but he grabbed her.
“I’m far from satisfied. This is only the beginning.”
Holding her hand, he led her back along the path they had come.
She hurried along, asking,
“Where are we going?”
Along the way, they passed a small shed for snow removal tools.
Set a little off the path, it was hidden from view.
Few people jog at the resort in the morning, but you never know.
“Why… here?”
He pressed her gently against the back wall of the shed.
“Ask yourself why I’m running breathless at this hour.”
Isul swallowed hard.
