Chapter 17

"Most women who can't have the man they like tend to be aggressive, you see."

Da Hee smiled sweetly.

"You picked the wrong opponent."

Da Hee's gaze shifted to Woo Hyun.

"Mr. Woo Hyun, that luxury-brand woman wants to have you. In that case, I definitely can't let you go. Get up."

Da Hee, who had jumped up from her seat, looked at Seo Eun and said.

"Excuse me. Tonight seems like it's going to be a bit short."

Da Hee walked past Seo Eun.

"Oppa."

Seo Eun glared at Woo Hyun ferociously.

"What?"

"What does that woman mean by what she said?"

Seo Eun was clearly trying to speak calmly, barely suppressing her anger. Woo Hyun just smiled and walked past Seo Eun without a word.

The food they had ordered had just arrived, but Woo Hyun, seemingly unconcerned, pulled out his card from his wallet and handed it over.

~~~~~

Inside the café, with its sign lights off, a stand light found in the storage room barely illuminated a single table. On the table were beer, dried snacks, and chips.

After leaving the Italian restaurant, Da Hee had suggested.

"My appetite's gone. Want to have a drink at my place? I feel like I need a drink on a day like this."

Woo Hyun accepted, and so the drinking session was arranged. With no beer glasses, they used mug cups instead. The mugs were large enough that a bottle of beer disappeared in one go.

The soft moonlight deeply penetrated the shop, illuminating it brightly. Da Hee rested her chin in her hand and looked at Woo Hyun.

"That woman was the one you mentioned before, the one I had to have a 'power struggle' with, right?"

When Da Hee asked, Woo Hyun lightly nodded.

"I had planned to keep you from meeting her if possible, but you did meet her."

Woo Hyun frowned, still clearly annoyed at the thought.

Da Hee propped her chin in her hand and watched his furrowed brow.

Perhaps it was because of the moonlight, or the alcohol, but Woo Hyun, with his gaze lowered, looked strangely sexy.

"Just in case, are there more women I'll have to have a 'power struggle' with?"

"No."

"That's a relief."

"You were good at it, though."

Woo Hyun chuckled, pouring beer into Da Hee's empty glass.

Da Hee said 'Thanks for the compliment', then took a sip of beer.

"I have one question."

"What is it?"

"Why haven't you looked at me since we started drinking?"

"..."

Da Hee tilted her head. It was only after a long time had passed since the drinking began that Da Hee realized Woo Hyun wasn't looking at her at all.

Usually, Woo Hyun would sometimes stare at her intensely, almost startlingly. Even at the restaurant, he had suddenly stared at her lips so intently that she thought something was on them and had gone to the restroom to check. But now, that same Woo Hyun wasn't looking into her eyes at all.

"It's not like you suddenly became shy, right?"

"..."

"That doesn't seem like your personality either. Why are you acting like this?"

Da Hee asked. While she was worried, as it was unlike Woo Hyun, his averted gaze subtly bothered her. On a night like this, with beautiful moonlight and a pleasant buzz, she wanted to see Woo Hyun's eyes. His gaze, gentle and warm. She even wanted to see his lips, which felt sensual when he smiled. If possible, she even wanted to kiss him tonight.

"Just leave me alone."

Woo Hyun said in a low voice. That voice brought out a rare stubborn streak in Da Hee. Normally, she would have respected his opinion, but tonight, she was drunk.

"I don't want to. Will you look at me? Should I make you look at me?"

"Don't, unless you want to regret it."

"I'll regret it, so look at me."

Da Hee reached out her hand. Before it could touch Woo Hyun's cheek, he grabbed her hand. Their eyes met.

"I told you to leave me alone."

Woo Hyun's voice was low. Da Hee was speechless for a moment. Woo Hyun's eyes were clouded and murky. Da Hee knew what kind of 'regret' Woo Hyun was talking about. She tried to pull her hand away. Woo Hyun pulled Da Hee's hand, and rose from his seat. Da Hee's upper body was pulled along. With one hand on Da Hee's wrist and the other on the table, Woo Hyun kissed her lips. He gently sucked on her lips, then quickly parted them to enter her mouth.

Da Hee's eyes widened as she looked at Woo Hyun. The moonlight brightly illuminated the left side of Woo Hyun's face, while the right side was swallowed by darkness, appearing black. She had seen this face before. In the car with the sunroof open, Woo Hyun had worn such a strange and sensual expression. Woo Hyun's breath, the friction sound of their lips, mingled and gradually encroached upon the dark space.

After kissing Woo Hyun, fragmented thoughts came to her. It was the first time she had wanted to kiss again. And the second kiss felt even better than she had imagined.

~~~~~

Miel's Translations