Episode 4
“Drink.”
“Cheers!”
Two glasses clinked lightly in the air.
Desperate for alcohol, Hana tilted the glass to her lips and downed it in one go.
The liquid slid smoothly down her throat, carrying a subtle floral fragrance.
Her eyes widened in surprise. No wonder people chase after good liquor.
“Wow, this is amazing.”
“Does it suit your taste?”
“Yeah. I feel like I could get nicely drunk on this.”
Hana held out her empty glass to Dokyung.
From that moment on, her glass never stayed empty for long.
She’d thought he might ask about Jinsang, but Dokyung just drank with her in silence, and she was truly grateful for that.
With little conversation, just the quiet clinking of glasses, they ended up drinking quite a lot.
Ah, I think I’m getting drunk.
It went down so easily that she hadn’t noticed at first, but the alcohol she’d gulped hastily was quickly taking effect.
Then, vividly, the image returned: Jinsang calling another woman “baby” and handing her a couple ring.
A sudden wave of emotion hit Hana. She leaned back on the sofa, laying down and covering her eyes with her arm to keep the tears from falling.
A moment later, Dokyung gently tapped her arm.
“Yu Hana. You asleep?”
She almost wished she were.
Even after seeing that scene, memories of Jinsang still wrapped around her heart, making it ache.
She had no intention of trying to win back a cheater’s heart—not even a little.
It just hurt remembering how happy she’d been back then.
And it hurt even more realizing how pathetic she must have looked, pretending not to notice the signs of breakup lately.
“Hey, Yu Hana.”
Unaware of anything, Dokyung nudged her again.
She decided it was better to pretend to be asleep and stayed perfectly still.
Click.
Then she heard the sound of Dokyung turning off the living room light.
Good.
She’d decided that once the drinking session ended, she’d cry a little alone and then sleep.
But right at that moment—
“Mommy!”
Hana’s body suddenly lifted into the air.
Her tightly shut eyes flew open, meeting Dokyung’s gaze head-on.
She’d been caught pretending to sleep, and now she was being carried princess-style—cold sweat broke out all over her.
“What are you doing? Put me down!”
It was embarrassing, but Dokyung ignored her protests.
He carried her straight to the bedroom.
“There’s a bathroom in this room too, so use it comfortably.”
With those words, he laid her gently on the bed.
As her back touched the bedding, the crisp rustle of fabric mingled with his familiar scent brushing her nose.
Maybe because of the alcohol, the room spun slightly. She faintly frowned, and Dokyung spoke.
“Feeling sick?”
He leaned down toward her again.
In that moment, thoughts and alcohol tangled wildly in her mind.
Even if we’re just friends, a man and a woman alone in a bedroom after drinking… if nothing happens, does that mean I have no appeal as a woman?
And that, she concluded, must be why Jinsang cheated.
“Where does it hurt?”
His voice cut in suddenly, and Hana stared straight at him.
He definitely said expensive liquor makes you drunk in a nice way.
His earlier words now felt ironic as a reckless decision formed.
“Let’s kiss.”
At the absurd suggestion, Dokyung fell silent for a moment before murmuring low.
“What exactly are you trying to confirm?”
As expected, he’d seen right through her again.
Thinking it was better than a strange misunderstanding, Hana laid her feelings bare even more honestly.
“I was wondering if he cheated because I’m just not attractive enough as a woman.”
Dokyung’s brows furrowed sharply.
“You want to kiss me just because of one worthless bastard?”
“It’s not that…”
She realized too late that she hadn’t considered how he might feel.
They’d always been just friends—not man and woman.
Of course he’d be uncomfortable.
It was entirely her fault.
She was about to say, Please pretend you didn’t hear that—when
…!
Dokyung’s lips pressed softly against hers.
The brief contact felt like the alcohol evaporated in an instant; her eyes snapped wide open.
It was truly just a short kiss, but the tickling sensation in her chest lingered for a long time.
It was only Dokyung—only a quick press of lips—yet the feeling was strangely profound.
“Confirmed?”
Dokyung, on the other hand, looked completely unfazed.
His calm expression made her wonder if the kiss had even happened.
She hadn’t confirmed whether she lacked appeal as a woman.
She’d only confirmed that she and Dokyung were truly just friends.
“Probably?”
She wanted to end it there, but Dokyung added one more line.
“If you’re going to do it, do it properly. If you ask me to use tongue, I will.”
His eyes looked ready to act any second as he pinned both her wrists with one hand.
The unexpected move startled her—she even felt a little scared.
“No, forget it. I was just drunk and talking nonsense. Go sleep.”
“…”
She quickly made excuses, but Dokyung didn’t let go.
In the dark room with just the two of them, an unfamiliar tension filled the air—something she’d never felt as friends.
Even blaming the alcohol, this awkward and uncomfortable moment was hard to bear.
She had created the situation, yet it was Hana who raised her voice.
“Hey, get out.”
Only then did Dokyung, half-leaning over the bed, slowly sit up.
“You seem really drunk, so don’t do anything stupid and just sleep.”
He left those words behind and walked out of the room.
Click. The door closed.
“Haa.”
A deep sigh escaped Hana’s lips.
What have I done?
A sharp, prickling pain spun inside her head.
She lay still for a long while, brows knitted, then slowly brought her hand to her lips.
“I’ve lost my mind.”
The sensation still lingered.
That unfamiliar feeling left her bewildered.
The next day, Dokyung prepared breakfast—even though it was late morning.
“Eat.”
A neat breakfast was set on the table.
Warm rice, rich dried pollack soup full of soft tofu, and several modest side dishes were beautifully arranged.
Hana let out a small exclamation at the plentiful spread.
“Do you always eat like this?”
“It’s hard to eat properly outside, so I try to take care of myself at home.”
I barely even eat the side dishes my mom sends.
She often skipped meals just to rest, so Dokyung seemed amazing to her.
“Thanks for making it. I’ll enjoy it.”
“Yeah.”
It had been so long since she’d had a proper home-cooked meal.
Hana picked up her spoon and tasted the pollack soup first.
“Wow.”
The moment the broth passed her throat, she couldn’t help but exclaim.
“Why is this so delicious?” You didn’t make this yourself, right? Did you buy it somewhere…
As she gushed over the food, her eyes landed on Dokyung’s lips.
Oh, right. Yesterday…
She would’ve preferred to forget completely, but the memory of the kiss came rushing back.
The sudden recollection made her face burn; she quickly lowered her head.
Why did I do that? I really lost my mind.
How was she supposed to face Cha Dokyung after pulling something like that?
She couldn’t understand her actions from last night at all.
Though, admittedly, yesterday had been a day that could drive anyone insane.
“How much did you lend him?”
Dokyung’s sudden question about the sensitive topic chased away her scattered thoughts.
Anger boiled up again as she remembered Jinsang bragging until the very end.
“Just a little. He said he was short on the deposit for his studio…”
In truth, it wasn’t “a little”—it was a full thirty million won.
“This place is closest to the office and I really like it, but I’m short on money, so I guess it won’t work.”
“True, it’s not the only option. Let’s look at others. There’ll definitely be something better.”
“I think this is the one for me. As a new employee I can’t get a proper loan, my parents don’t have spare cash… I’ll be getting a salary soon anyway, so I was thinking of borrowing from a third-tier lender if I have
