Episode 12
Youngin trudged toward the powder room between the bedroom and bathroom.
She wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry at how well she still remembered the layout of this house.
Standing before the mirror, her brows furrowed deeply. The disheveled woman staring back at her was not to her liking.
“What on earth are you doing here…?”
As absurd and ridiculous as it felt to be in her ex-boyfriend’s house like this, she wasn’t angry at Seonghyeok for bringing her here.
It wasn’t that she thought he’d done the right thing, but she couldn’t say he was entirely wrong either. Her feelings were complicated—somewhere between gratitude and discomfort.
With a sigh, Youngin straightened her messy hair and rumpled clothes, then stepped out of the bedroom.
As she walked down the hall and into the living room, a rush of nostalgia hit her hard.
This house, like its owner, hadn’t changed a bit.
She paused in the empty living room, then turned her head toward the kitchen.
There, the owner of the house was standing by the dining table, setting out delivery containers.
“I should get going.”
Seonghyeok glanced up briefly.
“Eat before you go.”
He added calmly:
“Don’t dismiss the effort of someone who spent time reading reviews just to find out which place had the best food for you.”
“…”
Youngin hesitated for a moment, then stepped toward the table. Pulling out a chair, she sat down and quietly watched him open the containers.
*I’m only doing this because I don’t want to ignore his effort. That’s all.*
She told herself firmly.
She decided not to acknowledge the small flicker of gratitude she felt toward him for giving her that excuse.
*Just for today.*
***
Youngin finished an entire bowl of warm soup.
The nausea in her stomach had eased, and the dryness in her mouth was replaced with a comforting softness.
When she set her spoon down, Seonghyeok—who had been watching her with quiet satisfaction—couldn’t help the disappointed look that crossed his face.
“You should’ve eaten some rice too.”
“I can’t. It won’t go down.”
“Fine. Forcing it might upset your stomach more.”
“I’ll clean up.”
“Please do.”
It wasn’t that Seonghyeok couldn’t clean up himself. He simply wanted an excuse to keep her there a little longer. Otherwise, she would leave right away.
As expected, the moment she finished tidying up, Youngin thanked him and said her goodbyes.
“Thank you. And sorry for troubling you.”
Seonghyeok frowned slightly, displeased. He hated these formalities that made her sound so distant. He’d have preferred she snap at him instead.
“You don’t need to say things like that to me. Don’t thank me. Don’t apologize either.”
“Then what *should* I say?”
“Let’s hang out. Let’s eat. I miss you. There’s plenty you *could* say.”
“…”
Youngin answered only with a sharp glare.
“Fine. We’ll save those for later. For now, try saying, ‘Can you give me a ride home?’”
“I’ll take a taxi.”
Seonghyeok responded smoothly, as if he’d expected that.
“With what money? Your wallet isn’t here.”
“I *do* have money.”
“Your wallet’s in your bag, isn’t it?”
“Oh, right. Where’s my bag?”
“Han Haeyoon took it to the office.”
She froze briefly but recovered quickly.
“That’s fine. I can pay with my phone. Who doesn’t have a credit card saved on their phone these days?”
Her lips curved into a small smile of triumph, proud that she’d blocked his little scheme so neatly. But that smile disappeared at his next question.
“And where’s your phone?”
“…”
Her eyes darted nervously. She remembered putting her phone into her bag back in the lounge bar.
“If you walk home now, you’ll probably be late for work. Are you okay with being late on your second day?”
Seonghyeok knew her too well.
He knew Chae Youngin was obsessively punctual, almost to the point of compulsion. There was no way she would let herself be late.
“I’ll go straight to the office from here, then. That solves it.”
Youngin tried to sound nonchalant as she squared her shoulders.
“I’ll shower and change at home before work.”
“And how will you get home?”
The amused curve of Seonghyeok’s lips practically said: *Just give in and ask me for a ride already.*
But Youngin wasn’t ready to surrender.
“Lend me some money, then.”
That earned her a small, knowing chuckle.
“They say you shouldn’t mix money and close relationships.”
“Then it’s fine for us. We’re not close.”
“With anyone else, maybe. But not with you.”
“You’re impossible…”
Seonghyeok watched her mutter to herself with arms folded leisurely, confident he’d won.
And finally, the words he’d been waiting for slipped from her lips.
“Fine. Please give me a ride home.”
A warm smile spread across his face.
“That’s the best thing you’ve said all day.”
To Youngin, however, it was the *worst* thing she’d said all day.
“Let’s go.”
Left with no choice, she followed him quietly.
***
They went down to the underground parking lot together.
As she settled into the passenger seat, Youngin asked cautiously:
“Did I get in the car by myself last night?”
“No. I carried you in and out.”
“Ah…”
Embarrassed, Youngin quickly fastened her seatbelt. She decided then and there that sometimes, *not knowing* really was bliss.
Thankfully, he kept quiet for the entire drive.
Or more precisely, he kept quiet until they were near her home—but stopped the car a few meters away from her front gate.
This was the same spot he used to drop her off three years ago. The spot she had insisted on.
“Thank y— Drive safely.”
She caught herself just in time, swapping out the “thank you” for a safer phrase.
Seonghyeok smiled, clearly pleased.
“Yeah. I’ll drive carefully.”
He couldn’t help but find her adorable—this fierce little wildcat who still, in crucial moments, followed his lead like an obedient kitten.
That was why, even when she didn’t want him to, he’d always done what she asked.
Though this time, he didn’t intend to grant every request. If he did, the first thing he’d have to do is disappear from her life—and that wasn’t happening.
“Oh, Youngin.”
Her hand froze on the door handle. That gentle way he said her name sent an unexpected flutter through her chest.
Fighting to keep her expression neutral, she turned back toward him.
“Beomjun doesn’t know I transferred to SL Entertainment. He definitely doesn’t know Hyesung was absorbed into SL. Tell him yourself before he hears it from someone else.”
Seonghyeok hated knowing Youngin was treated like the black sheep at home and hated even more that there was nothing he could do about it. But she didn’t want him to interfere, so he held himself back.
“Alright.”
She bit back the thank-you rising to her lips, got out of the car, and walked toward her house.
A few moments later, a car passed by the front gate with a low rumble.
Youngin paused, listening until the sound faded completely, before continuing through the gate.
***
As he drove off, Seonghyeok’s mind wandered to the words Youngin had slurred last night as he carried her home.
“If you were going to do this… why did you agree… when I said we should break up?”
Her question had caught him completely off guard.
So he threw back the same question he’d once asked himself.
“If I had said no… would we have stayed together?”
“No… we still would’ve broken up…”
Even though her answer meant he had nothing to regret, it brought no comfort.
But then, in the faintest whisper, she’d added:
“Still… it would’ve hurt… a little less…”
She had been drunk, but he was sure those were her truest words since they’d met again.
A drunken confession.
One as meaningful as the words *I love you.*
***
After a quick shower and a change of clothes, Youngin headed straight to the office.
Thankfully, she wasn’t late.
“Good morning.”
Here and there, she heard her coworkers groaning about how hungover they were after drinking too much.
Haeyoon, who had clearly been waiting for Youngin’s arrival, jumped out of her seat and hurried over.
“Team Leader, let’s grab a coffee!”
Before Youngin could say anything, Haeyoon grabbed her hand and pulled her back out of the office.
Naturally, Youngin spoke first.
“Did you get home okay last night?”
“Yeah. It was a hassle making sure all those voluntary drunks hopped up on expensive booze got home safe, though.”
Yesterday, Haeyoon had essentially taken on Youngin’s usual role.
“Did the CEO get you home alright?”
“Yeah, he did.”
Youngin avoided mentioning *his* house and forced a smile.
“Your bag’s on your desk.”
“Thanks. Was everything okay after I left?”
“Seungchan made a big fuss about why you left first, whining and complaining…”
Haeyoon’s brows knit at the memory, but her eyes quickly lit up.
“Team Leader, don’t you have something to tell me?”
“What do you mean?”
Youngin played dumb. She had no idea what, or how much, Haeyoon had picked up on, so she chose her words carefully.
“I heard the CEO is an old family friend and your college senior?”
Relief flickered briefly across Youngin’s face.
“Yeah.”
“That’s it?”
“…Yeah?”
Haeyoon smirked knowingly. Just the flicker of panic in Youngin’s eyes was enough of an answer.
“You know, the CEO totally went to that lounge bar yesterday on purpose.”
“He said his plans changed last minute and he remembered you calling it trendy, so he decided to check it out.”
“Ah, is that so…”
Haeyoon stretched out her words with a grin.
She decided to play along and not call out the obvious lie—for now.
Her lips itched to tell Youngin how well she and the CEO matched, but she bit back the urge.
“Haeyoon. Keep whatever you think you know about me and the CEO to yourself.”
Youngin could sense that Haeyoon had picked up on *something*. But she couldn’t bring herself to say they used to date.
“My lips are sealed… as long as there’s meat involved.”
“Fine. Let’s have beef for dinner tonight.”
“Now that’s what I’m talking about.”
The two women sealed the deal and stepped into the break room together.
(Continued…)
Comment