F9

The way she dodged his question about dinner and turned it around to subtly assert herself impressed him. He had expected her carefully constructed facade to crumble under a little pressure. But her roots ran deeper than he thought.

“I’ve learned something new.”

Soobin breathed a sigh of relief inwardly as he buckled his seatbelt. Outwardly, she kept a disapproving expression on her face as she watched him. 

Soobin pretended to give in to his gaze, turning the wheel and following the directions he gave her. They arrived at a traditional Korean restaurant that looked quite elegant. Woohyeok, without asking Soobin’s opinion, ordered food after being shown to a quiet room at the back by a waiter.

“Do you come here often? You seem familiar with the place.”

“Occasionally. Butler Choi likes it here.”

“You’ve known Butler Choi for a long time?”

“He’s been working for my family since before I was born. I can’t remember, but technically we’ve known each other for thirty years.”

“You must know everything about each other.”

“Why? Are you going to ask him about me?”

“Do I have to ask Butler Choi about you? I think I have a pretty good idea of what kind of person you are.”

Soobin pouted, her eyes fixed on the table.

At moments like this, she looked every bit the young woman in her twenties.

“Stay the night.”

“What?”

Soobin looked up, startled, her eyes wide with surprise.

“Do you really think I’m that easy?”

“You’re definitely light. I’m not forcing you. It’s just… fascinating things happen when I’m with Soobin-ssi. I’m curious if it will happen again tonight. But I won’t force you if you don’t want to.”

“Fascinating things? Like what?”

“Are you curious?”

“……”

His expression was unreadable, making it hard to tell if he was joking or serious.

Woohyeok leaned closer, noticing the uncertainty in her eyes. He glanced around the private room, as if about to share a secret, then motioned for her with his finger. Soobin leaned forward slightly.

“You will know tomorrow morning when you wake up beside me. You’ll see what this fascinating thing is.” 

Soobin’s eyes flickered at his soft voice.

His smile, as if he enjoyed her confusion, was strangely mesmerizing. He was clearly mocking her, but it made her heart pound and her throat tighten.

It wasn’t the first time. Even when he was on top of her, treating her roughly, his smile had always made her heart race.

A man with such seductive charm…

“Can I have a drink?”

She needed alcohol to resist his advances. Unlike the last time, when she had been naive and unprepared, she now knew exactly how he operated.

She couldn’t bear the thought of enduring the humiliation of his rough touch sober. 

“I’m the type to drink to the end. Is that alright with you?”

“Do what you want. I’m just curious how well you drink.” 

Soobin snorted at the provocative remark.

Just then, the door opened and Woohyeok ordered drinks from the waiter who was setting the table. 

Soobin had never seen this kind of bottle before and couldn’t take her eyes off it until Woohyeok picked it up. 

“If you’re going to drink, you might as well drink something good. It’s high proof, but it’s tasty.” 

He poured her a glass, then raised his own. Soobin clinked her glass against his, then carefully inhaled the aroma. It was sharp, yet smooth.

Soobin glanced at Woohyeok as he downed the drink in one gulp. Then she raised the glass to her lips and took a slow sip. 

“Cough!“

The burning sensation in the back of her throat, so different from the smooth aroma, made her cough and her hand flew to her mouth. The strong aftertaste was intense, bringing tears to her eyes.

She looked at him, wiping away the tears as he chuckled softly.

“You’re too young for this kind of alcohol.”

He seemed to have anticipated this situation from the moment he ordered the drinks. 

Soobin watched as Woohyeok nonchalantly poured himself another drink, ignoring her glass. She downed the rest of the alcohol in her glass in one gulp and held her empty cup in front of her. 

“Don’t you dare treat me like a child again.” 

“That’s scary.”

“You’ll see how scary I can be.”

Woohyeok’s shoulders shook with exaggerated fear as he filled her glass to the brim, the alcohol spilling over the edge.

Ignoring the alcohol spilling onto her hand, Soobin drained the glass in one gulp. She tried to keep her composure, but the burning sensation in her chest and the tightness in her throat made her wince.

“I’m in the mood for a drink.”

Soobin, who had been swept away by Woohyeok, soon regretted asking for a drink. Her plan had been to just get a little tipsy, but she was already feeling dizzy from the alcohol. Even though she hadn’t had much, the high alcohol content had made her head spin.

Her dulled senses made it difficult to even hold her chopsticks.

She finally put them down, lifted her heavy head and squinted at Woohyeok’s blurry form.

“I think I should stand up now.” 

It was the first time she had been this drunk, and even sitting upright was a struggle. Every movement sent waves of nausea through her, a sharp pain in her stomach. All she could do was hold on to her mind, which was narrowing just as much as her vision.

Suddenly she felt herself being lifted into the air, her body limp and unresponsive. A feeling of floating washed over her as her senses continued to dull.

Instinctively, she curled up into the warmth that enveloped her. Then she lost consciousness and sank into the darkness.

“…….”

Woohyeok looked down at Soobin’s limp form in his arms. His smile was gone, his expression cold. He glanced at her parted lips, her breathing shallow, then shifted his grip, holding her tighter.

“What am I going to do with you?”

Her slight movement made him pause, his gaze lingering on her flushed, youthful face.

 

***

 

Soobin turned away from the blinding sunlight, trying to make herself comfortable. Her head was throbbing with pain and she was moaning, her face contorted in discomfort. 

Her body ached, heavy and unresponsive. She felt as if she were sinking into a bottomless pit.

She felt a warm presence against her cheek. It lingered for a moment, then moved to her lips.

Her lips parted slightly and a soft, sleepy voice escaped.

“Water…”

She felt the presence that had been nearby move away, and she managed to open her eyes, but everything was blurry. She couldn’t see anything clearly. 

She lifted her head slightly as a shadow approached, the sound of heavy footsteps echoing through the room. She instinctively licked her lips as something cool and wet brushed against them.

Her eyes flew open as warm lips pressed against hers and water poured into her mouth.

Soobin turned her head, her gaze falling on Woohyeok’s dark eyebrows, and she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

“What… are you doing?”

“What does it look like? You asked for water, so I’m giving it to you.”

Woohyeok sat down next to Soobin and the mattress sank slightly. Soobin’s body, slightly tilted, leaned against Woohyeok’s thigh.

He brushed a strand of hair from her forehead. His gaze lingered on her face, which was pale and lacking its usual vibrancy.

“I thought you could hold your alcohol.”

“Just how strong was the alcohol that you gave me to drink?”

“Strong? It was sweet. And Yoo Soobin-ssi was the one who asked for it. I didn’t give it to you.”

Soobin steeled her shoulders and managed to lift her torso slightly, her voice strained as she spoke. 

“And who gives someone water like that?”

“That is up to the giver. You were the one who received it.”

Soobin stared at the smirk that played on his lips, then raised her hand weakly.

“Help me… sit up.”

“Stay down. You don’t look well.”

She hadn’t taken off her make-up and had no idea how she’d slept. She didn’t want to imagine how dishevelled she looked.

“What time is it?”

“Ten.”

“Ten?”

Soobin bolted upright, then immediately regretted it as a wave of nausea washed over her. Her vision blurred, her hands and feet tingling. She felt disconnected from her own body.

Forcing herself to sit up, she looked around anxiously.

“Where’s my phone?”

She looked at Woohyeok, following his leisurely gaze.

She spotted her phone on the bedside table and grabbed it. Recognizing her surroundings, she rushed into the bathroom, locked the door behind her and took a deep breath.

After a few seconds of silence, she pressed the call button and backed into a corner.

-You’re late.

“I’m with him.”

-I know.

Click.

After the brief call, which lasted less than 5 seconds, Soobin sighed and sat down on the toilet.

Will this be the end of it, or will she threaten me again?

She checked the time – 10:06 – and clutched her throbbing head.

When the nausea subsided, she stood up and looked at herself in the mirror.

She didn’t look as bad as she’d feared. Her eyes were slightly puffy and her lips were dry, but she didn’t look completely dishevelled.

Soobin smoothed out her slightly wrinkled clothes and stepped out of the bathroom. Woo-hyeok, as if he had been waiting for her, held out a cup of coffee.