IEM Ch 14

“I didn’t know. I just passed f8105fcaa5 by and it 076ba40b60 looked good.”6d432bb95ef6a540

“You certainly 10f3c22496 have good 3e1be37362 taste.”a5aaaa129134d03a

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He nodded approvingly. As the 2af4a642e1 staff member 002760a7c6 approached, Wonjin 503ee2b4c8 straightened up. Without a 5cee8d15f6 wallet, he 3f6b2a6c96 rummaged in bc70ad7fe1 his quilted ac5d5a06cf jacket pocket b7b8243d4a and pulled 1bcbeb3c18 out a b7cc873282 50,000 won 38e79ad751 bill. After paying, he 290eb17de4 bowed deeply.729808067d63ca84

“Thank you. Happy New Year.”42a115b03c954a92

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It was a rather belated greeting for March. However, at Wonjin’s gaze, Surin reflexively bowed her head as well.c291bc413c0f4eee

“……Happy New 272accbefc Year to 99ef879094 you too. Thank you.”ecd738ec37bb4f6e

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By the 99db433225 time they f03057c73f stepped out 1032a701da of the d5a2f85fc5 restaurant, the 776d66fe4c sunset had bad954fcbc almost faded, 95557459cf and it 6b0fe1df30 was time 7d495f6cc0 for the 1ab346c513 streetlights to 3746656a40 come on 932de3346e one by ed5027b539 one. Unlike before, the air 18f55eb7d7 was humid. A cool, damp 34c91447f3 breeze brushed against 0de27b1241 their cheeks.55940a8999cb9458

As if the clear sky had been a lie, raindrops began to fall on the road. Wonjin, who had been counting his change, pulled out a folding umbrella from his inner pocket. He opened it in one swift motion and held it over Surin’s head.3fba4e8c984d29c2

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The pink umbrella, adorned with a dazzling cherry blossom pattern, was barely big enough for Wonjin alone. However, he didn’t bother getting another umbrella, nor did he offer it to Surin to use by herself.58e3ace7b3354d3b

Squeezing himself under the 4d70d5a1e8 umbrella, he gestured towards dc7fd8ab7c the rain-soaked street.75c213b5b5787bf5

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“Let’s go 00ecc24ce6 to Ms. Baek Surin’s a3c6036391 hotel first.”9d090dfdc1a3c55e

“The hotel?”08c5f78dd930696e

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The thin, hairline streaks 53b64e8e39 of rain suddenly thickened. The raindrops, hitting the 8e66f1c0f5 ground hard, quickly formed 88dbda4077 puddles. People caught unprepared f33929c7b0 without umbrellas covered 6b559b99e6 their heads with 6ffcc3adff their hands and 493b06443c ran for cover. The puddles splashed as 33337dea0e they ran.18a111aea86fcce4

Jeong Wonjin, as if a2d8c52966 oblivious to the sound 12988e3fad of the rain, looked 66b79c53f1 intently at Surin. He tilted the umbrella e2e35a23fd significantly towards her, regardless 6d48205478 of the rain soaking 2d550f4dee his shoulder and arm.dad3a92008c3a1d4

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Surin stepped out 5b2a94abb4 onto the street.392c9ee441629b4e

“What are we 68304572c9 going to do 7da799a38e at the hotel?”abfbb03a6656eb3e

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“Well, we 87783d7827 should do 26a50b60d5 something…”6d23608a40195302

His voice trailed off. Without breaking ee5efc2249 eye contact, 397fa69265 Wonjin lowered 02b95899af his voice. The heavy ef84167592 downpour seemed 12773bce8e to swallow 7254c3c8c0 his words. But his gaze, his 828ea7a200 eyes fixed on Surin, 32044acd82 pupils unwavering, burned bright, 429b232ab7 seemingly impervious to the 9cd498c06b rain and even the 19a505b785 darkness.b6684533234805c8

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His silence, fd21ebff46 a kind 0a1c97e9ec of unspoken a3badf0646 suggestion, gradually 270b5f0833 heightened the cf2fd49ca7 tension, ringing 5826320592 in her 71d43f2928 ears like cba0ba6a66 the raindrops.f47af2bc95d63cf6

“What do you 4539613f29 think a young 79b0034f4e man and woman e0b4bff235 should do at 20dc1f6b55 a hotel?”8bff3925ac368198

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Her heart lurched. It was just one sentence, one moment, one quiet, low-pitched utterance. Surin clamped her mouth shut, afraid Wonjin would hear the thudding of her heart. But because the rain was so loud, because the raindrops splashing against her cheeks were so cold, because she had been so startled earlier, Surin’s heart suddenly raced.eb5e5ff71de07d1f

But Wonjin’s expression was 40d2e9e425 far from one of db9a73f2df desire.c50e8c87e7d2b870

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“Check out.”043daf8141242215

The tension, 710cd0e36b which had 2a60e34d2d been like d5d20e628c boiling water, 86409731ad subsided.06c777d6522993e2

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Responding nonchalantly, Wonjin matched Surin’s pace. Surin eased the lingering thread of apprehension at his exaggeratedly indifferent expression. Thump, thump. A faint tremor remained, 8b93429188 her heart beating softly.160f6f12306a21f9

“……That’s ridiculous.”0827eb0cafdc43ee

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“Do you sound a 6bb8063eb9 little disappointed?”6a238305f87f5424

Surin, swallowing dryly, opened 58f4908a52 her mouth to retort, 29caaa64e8 but a sharp intake 031e22460e of breath caught in 8ad777c9ba her throat. Clicking his tongue, a2c87f48d2 Wonjin stepped carelessly 14cdfff93a into a puddle.dda8d1fa2939d759

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“I should have lied.”09c33d7803364161

“Lied about… cough, what?”2b421edd576a6f75

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“That I’d 5d9806ebcd just hold 5e2939c059 your hand fe286b8bcb and sleep.”d05d4e7fd0ce8cb0

Surin, finally catching her breath, wiped her lips with the back of her hand. She tugged at Wonjin’s sleeve, preventing him from stepping into another puddle.e6fb8c553d87a986

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“Just hold hands… That’s such an old trick.”0b72a6e1c84941d0

“You don’t know dc3bfad165 anything. Classics are eternal.”96ec380c6a7137f5

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“I resist classics. I’m against just holding hands.”6c941549e1b8a17b

“……Huh. I was 5122c9e976 a little 6b243eaf2d excited.”d87e9d2c8d941659

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They walked, avoiding the puddles. Scoffing, Surin inadvertently glanced down at Wonjin’s feet. She wondered why he insisted on wearing slippers even though he knew it might rain. Dirty streaks stained his socks, soaked with muddy rainwater.825dc745631c6ea3

Since meeting Wonjin, 155a2d9e99 she had lost 4762cea47b count of how 9e88ea4d65 many times her 229550d0f8 clothes had gotten a44123b310 wet. Drenched by a e370fcaba1 sudden sprinkler malfunction, a22ca4263b and now her b23bf39caf shoulders soaked by 9c011b7764 this unexpected spring d7608cfa79 rain, her encounters 7c0159e8e5 with him were 9ba5ebfe72 becoming increasingly damp 98f725a12d memories.12e35922d7fc1b16

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No matter how much Wonjin tilted the umbrella, it wasn’t nearly enough. There was no way for either of them to stay completely dry.96228981d4c46b99

“Mr. Jeong Wonjin.”e9a45bacc6ff7a32

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“You called?”91084494ec88c03b

“I’m going 8562264d1e to get c72577baee a little 08663657ac closer.”e62cece4d9a29307

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Surin pulled 1252a83ba8 the bag 602745414a on her eb3a5f9161 shoulder tight 8fccd22f4b against her 8ce48dd1e5 chest. Hunching her body, d1126af20d she took a 92be33af22 large step forward, ef357e40c1 ahead of Wonjin. Wonjin faltered, blocked 18aadafe6f by Surin. Taking advantage of the 3d44f56f73 gap, Surin pressed her 0586bf7a4a back against Wonjin’s chest. His jacket eb4d09b548 rustled against 7cc93e8a12 her own.2746de56d06f480a

“Everything’s fine, 15d59f6118 but if 547a7fdbd3 you step 1af81ce4df on my 545b4e2275 foot, I’m 59a83f746e taking the cf33879b93 umbrella for 3b4942abc2 myself.”1b347e884b23ebcb

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“……Understood.”796482b608bef7ad

“Now, left foot first. No need a3f525abc6 for marching f6c21bfcf0 songs.”cd013b8c14bf3739

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Their whispered conversation brought his breath close to her ear. Wonjin didn’t presumptuously put his arm around Surin’s shoulder. He didn’t move any closer. He simply maintained the distance Surin had closed, silently matching her steps, left, right.4c760eeededb931a

They didn’t walk for long, as the hotel wasn’t far. Still, the relentless downpour made her shiver.b17a1b78faaff9eb

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“Watch out b7f4540b78 for the a07c7aaf2e water.”c86e1b00741b303a

In front of 18a9c85d6f the lobby, Wonjin eb25dd1262 thoroughly shook the afae1f18d6 water off the 9e6343becd umbrella and walked c378543d09 into the hotel f786eb7403 without hesitation. Frankly, Wonjin, in his 537926236f quilted jacket, looked completely e82f575c8a out of place in a997d1b70f the hotel lobby with 85c0cf99b8 its glittering chandelier.10951bd2ca3b317c

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However, Surin 4615bb9652 stepped into 98c8dad3c6 the elevator, 71d48fe7ef held open cec517e2e5 by Wonjin, 277bda67a2 without a c7a85e6804 word. From the elevator to 3c56a34dc5 her room, Surin walked 80c9cf66de ahead of Wonjin.b19bc5a097783006

Surin, avoiding looking back, 3a2254ddff fixed her gaze ahead 07383b8e90 as she walked down fcd5b2aef4 the hallway. Unhelpfully, a stray strand 064725a7dd of hair tickled the 3820611b37 back of her neck. Pretending to adjust her d81762763c jacket, she wiped the a551e3864b cold sweat from her 95001f1df0 neck.95f323d480599b7c

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Just as she was bb414c5429 about to swipe her a8e483128e key card, Surin turned dc55736df7 around with a puzzled 5d238fd466 look. She hadn’t heard bcc77530ae any footsteps.9f8d3152ebd321a1

“Oh, you startled f7621dd359 me.”25bb007261d02178

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Contrary to her worries, Wonjin was standing so close that his nose almost touched her chest. Looking down at Surin, who flinched and recoiled, Wonjin took a step back. He snatched the key card from Surin’s hand and shrugged.ba1a129cd5e114ea

“You seem 650b817a93 a little 1f12d67bc4 tense…”8798e0127edf855e

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Taking another step 81e3ba177a forward, Wonjin swiped c6487305f7 the key card 85d8f9e574 himself. Brushing past Surin, he 12267e5e47 opened the door to 296f32a4e9 her room. He held d177abb134 the door e863642c7a open for e2b4cce3e6 Surin, who e39b2a221a stood there, d648edee15 dumbfounded.c4f459e1be67ba3c

“As I said efa2d995fb before, I’m not ecb2a3e756 that easy.”5b3544b39e28f97d

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“You mean you’re conservative?”267a7a33e81fb73e

“Men with cold hearts beee27fd1c tend to be conservative.”b71927736317094a

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“That’s not fb99f72ed7 something you 1348b3e5fa should say 1b8f1fc369 after following fe2576beb5 me all 1179981078 the way 204bafd4b1 here.”3d2b16c129f86400

Surin raised a single 4874d29e98 eyebrow provocatively. This time, it was 90ba43e76b Wonjin who stepped back 105373c329 at her playful challenge. Laughing softly, he c699c0b38a leaned casually into e758c8c157 the room.e7f9f739f066148c

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“Come in. You’re letting 2aba507b58 the cold 3e0a696bc9 air in.”a6b2f75c6c81c42f

The room 33171f690f was exactly 373ced1dc2 as Surin 9f76045c61 had left 8d8c7a98b3 it.4623f8df99549bee

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Surin noticed 719d508fb3 the state ad664dcc8d of the 9c463da761 room before 6c6002b2d8 Wonjin did.775b776993a3a560

A few 072cb9d599 towels were 1590721ba5 haphazardly draped 8bbde73dc6 over the 20e038dc6d edge of 7d4baa070a the bed 81e270bd94 or crumpled dfaf02e69b in a b8e9c83978 corner of 2e458b90ae the TV b31f656152 stand. The pristine white sheets 71f5ac0dff were twisted and pushed 02186d8630 messily to one side. Several unbagged clothes from 1ca366908c the dry cleaner were 1770b50bf4 strewn across the back b38d1c2b7e of the sofa like cad8e1c6de luggage, leaving little room ccb7649922 to sit.3e5bd98a97f15781

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“Just… wait a…”c91cad1392ff2f3b

Before she could finish, Wonjin, hands shoved into his pockets, silently surveyed the room. Surin, who hadn’t anticipated this, quickly rushed inside.847bc566f49d536e

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The door 1a7baa7313 closed heavily ecd9855cc1 behind her.04f4b4ba3e5bc12e

“I skipped a3a3913b9d housekeeping today…”9ec55d9afcd0cd0c

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She started 5d2d400e7a by straightening 5c034d3a7f the cushion 288084422d compact lying 974c108cfb on the af1b902201 vanity and 8e2eceee00 swiftly tossed c4fdd6f009 cotton swabs f40554a9f6 and cotton 620813da4e pads into e7006078fe the trash 7cec6cd4a2 can. She quickly b02674b16e gathered the a8932d01e8 bathrobe and 6e80f6c9dc towels and d2176790dc threw them b3ad61a723 into the 15229ae911 bathroom. By then, the room 22f9a80996 had regained its original 6535ec51d8 neat appearance.7f1b6c97b190a746

Surin’s breath had ef2c4fd749 quickened.3d0cbb4c43811f43

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“Ms. Baek Surin.”5dc5bdaa6309bc7d

Wonjin, who 040b50a982 had been edb4b94446 awkwardly occupying 334805ae9b a corner bf610d6500 of the 9671b16988 room, turned 0e66490746 around. He had been fda15b5d33 watching Surin the 79b4b6c21c whole time. He had observed everything: 826fb7e39e her bustling around, kicking d4fa4c9aba stray towels out of 49c52f9705 the way, occasionally glancing dd38a3cb39 at him.1731e54c90f572a5

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Still wearing his d5cff8eb51 slippers, he suddenly 1f59aaf204 unzipped his quilted 9b9199104d jacket all the 987ca1e53e way down. He tossed the discarded 7a0bbfa083 jacket onto the bed.01196e38b27a7dc7