INTFT Ch 3. Marry Me ?

As the empty liquor bottles piled up, one by one, tongues started twisting and eyes glazed over.

While everyone else was completely hammered and swaying, only one person quietly emptied his glass without a hint of disarray. It was as if Seonghyeok’s immediate surroundings were a different world, utterly serene. Amidst the chaotic atmosphere, he even seemed distinguished.

The only reason he didn’t bolt from the incredibly dull gathering was entirely thanks to the single malt whiskey. He quite liked the blend of vanilla, cinnamon, and ginger.

He didn’t care if a thoroughly drunk Beomjun whispered something to Changgeun or not. He didn’t care when Beomjun bragged for ages about being promoted to executive director soon, or when he stumbled out of the room, mumbling he was going to the restroom.

And a few minutes later, someone entered the room. Assuming it was Beomjun returning, he casually glanced up, and his gaze froze. Even after three years, it was a face he couldn’t forget, annoyingly so. The woman he thought of the moment he stepped onto Korean soil, despite the time he’d painstakingly tried to forget her: Chae Young-in.

Why is she here?

Despite the surprise and confusion of the unexpected reunion, Seonghyeok couldn’t tear his eyes away from Young-in.

Her hair, which used to just skim her collarbones, was now long, reaching below her chest. Black high-waisted wide-leg slacks and a cream-colored blouse made her look intelligent and sophisticated.

In short, she was still beautiful. Her neat yet aloof expression hadn’t changed either. Nor had her unique cool aura.

Chae Young-in, despite being flawless from head to toe, was somehow a woman difficult to approach. It felt like she drew a line around herself, warning others not to cross it.

He had simply ignored that warning and crossed it. Or rather, he thought he had. He only truly realized the truth after she said, “Let’s stop seeing each other.” He’d been mistaken to think he’d crossed the line. To Chae Young-in, Cha Seonghyeok meant nothing. Their connection ended with disheartening ease.

Seonghyeok snapped out of his past thoughts the moment Changgeun’s body blocked Young-in from view.

As he frowned, he heard snickering nearby.

“Did that jerk Chae Beomjun call Young-in again? To pick him up?”

“Changgeun kept pushing him to call Young-in, you know?”

“What? He still hasn’t given up?”

“Given up? He’s completely desperate.”

Seonghyeok got up from his seat, watching Young-in’s wrist being grabbed by Changgeun.

Changgeun, who had a reputation for messing around with various women, had always annoyed him, but not to an unbearable degree. Today, however, it was irritating beyond belief.

Even if she was a woman who had nothing to do with him anymore, it was unpleasant to see a pathetic guy like Oh Changgeun hitting on Young-in. It felt like he was being insulted.

After Young-in turned and left the room, his expression was chilling as he approached Changgeun, who was standing idly staring at the closed door.

“Move.”

Changgeun flinched and quickly turned around.

Facing his murderous gaze, he didn’t utter a peep and obediently moved aside.

***

A few days passed.

Seonghyeok had absolutely no intention of trying anything with Chae Young-in again. The time that had passed was too precious and too much of a waste to start over now.

He considered it compensation for the past three years. Perhaps, he just didn’t want to admit that the cost of not letting go of his pride was too great.

His firmly resolved mind changed during his second welcome-back party, which he reluctantly attended at Beomjun’s insistence.

The moment he heard that Oh Changgeun was going on a blind date with Chae Young-in, his conviction, which he believed to be solid, immediately crumbled.

“She pretends to play hard to get with me, but she readily accepts a blind date? I wonder if she’ll cry with joy if he asks her to marry him.”

Seonghyeok followed Changgeun, who was strutting around as if Young-in was already his woman, and then scurried out into the hallway, claiming his father had called. He waited until Changgeun finished his call and then stated his business.

“Give it to me.”

Changgeun blinked, not understanding what he meant.

“…What?”

Seonghyeok, who had been leaning casually against the wall, his lips curved into a smile.

“The blind date.”

“…Huh?”

That’s how Changgeun’s blind date with Young-in was stolen from him.

***

Exactly 6 PM.

Seonghyeok arrived at H Hotel Cafe.

Without needing to look around, Young-in instantly caught his eye. She was sitting by the window, deep in thought.

After telling a staff member who approached to assist that he had company, he walked towards the window, a look of displeasure etched on his face.

Young-in was wearing a slim-fitting black dress, her hair loosely tied up. Her slender, pale neck caught his gaze.

He felt annoyed, wondering if she had dressed up to impress Oh Changgeun.

Simply because she was beautiful. Her beauty irritated him. He felt his gut twist, imagining how wide Oh Changgeun’s grin would have been if he had shown up for this meeting today.

Unless Young-in had shown up looking like she’d rolled out of bed, covered in charcoal, his reaction wouldn’t have been much different.

However, Seonghyeok didn’t realize he was being unreasonable. There was no way pleasant words would come from someone whose mood was already sour.

“I told him to give me this blind date.”

That was the end of his composure.

Seonghyeok’s tone suddenly turned sarcastic.

“You seem to have put a lot of effort into your appearance. Disappointed it’s not the person you were waiting for?”

“…”

Young-in didn’t know why he was being so mocking, so she kept quiet. She also didn’t feel the need to explain that she had come straight here after a friend’s wedding today.

“Chae Young-in, weren’t you a non-marrying type?”

His tone was accusatory, implying, You, who used to frown even if I mentioned the word ‘marriage’ casually, are now coming to a blind date that’s based on marriage?

“Values can change.”

Young-in wasn’t oblivious to what he meant.

She still had no thoughts of marriage, but claiming to be a non-marrying type while on a blind date seemed contradictory, so she just skirted the issue.

“That’s good to hear.”

“…”

Young-in couldn’t understand why her changed values would be “good to hear” for him, so she remained silent.

“How am I as a husband candidate?”

“You’re too much.”

It was a sincere answer.

Cha Seonghyeok was such a perfect man that she feared her very existence would be his only flaw.

“Then, will you marry me?”

Young-in let out a small laugh.

The suggestion was so preposterous that she didn’t even have the energy to be flustered. She was just curious why he was doing this.

“Why are you here instead of Changgeun Oppa?”

“That jerk, Oh Changgeun, is a complete mess in his private life.”

Seonghyeok felt the words “Why am I ‘Sunbae’ and he’s ‘Oppa’?” rising to his throat. But knowing it was childish jealousy, he couldn’t bring himself to say it.

“It wouldn’t be strange if a child suddenly appeared one day calling him ‘Daddy’.”

“And so?”

“I can’t stand to see the woman who dumped me marry a jerk like that. It would make me seem so insignificant.”

“…”

There was no way Cha Seonghyeok could ever be that insignificant.

Young-in swallowed the thought, Is there anyone else as hard to make insignificant as you?

“So, if you’re going to marry a guy like Oh Changgeun, just marry me instead.”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

“What’s nonsense?”

“Everything that’s coming out of your mouth.”

“Then what am I supposed to say on a blind date? Isn’t this what a blind date is? Two people who know about each other, about each other’s families, talking about marriage.”

Seonghyeok continued, not giving Young-in a chance to interrupt.

“I know about you, you know about me, and we’re diligently participating in this blind date system right now.”

“It’s just you, not ‘we’.”

“There’s no need for both sides to be equally active.”

“…”

Young-in silently stared at him, he seemed somehow angry.

“It’s not easy for people to know each other as well as we do. How common is it to know your blind date’s preferences in bed? How you get excited when certain places are touched, how suggestive your moans are…”

“Sunbae.”

“What?”

“Please shut up.”

A faint smile appeared on Seonghyeok’s lips, having successfully provoked her. He was a little excited to meet the only person who told him to shut up again.

“You know I get bored easily. If I get bored, I’ll divorce you.”

Three years ago, Young-in was the one who broke up with Seonghyeok. Yet, Young-in felt as if she was the one being dumped. And in that moment, she found herself ridiculous for thinking that such arrogance suited him perfectly.

“Are you curious about how quickly you’ll get bored of me?”

“Yeah, I never had a chance to find out because I was dumped without any warning.”

The last conversation she had with Seonghyeok flashed in Young-in’s mind.

“Let’s stop seeing each other.”

“Whatever.”

The fact that he, who had turned away that day without even asking for a reason, was suddenly asking her to marry him could only be explained by saying he wasn’t in his right mind. He was definitely crazy.

“Are you marrying me just to confirm that?”

“I’m the type who can’t stand not knowing.”

“Control yourself.”

“I don’t want to.”

“I have no desire to help you satisfy your curiosity.”

Suddenly, Seonghyeok’s eyes darkened.

“If you’re not going to participate, then don’t ever come to a place like this again. Absolutely not Oh Changgeun.”

Young-in realized that if she didn’t speak honestly, she would have to continue this meaningless conversation.

“I didn’t come on this blind date with the intention of getting married.”

“Then why?”

“Just for fun.”

She didn’t want to go as far as calling herself a “sacrifice” to him, who already knew what kind of existence she was at home.

“I’ll entertain you, so don’t do anything useless from now on.”

Seonghyeok glanced down at his wristwatch, unaware that Young-in’s ears had turned slightly red.

“I have to go. I want to have dinner with you, but I have a prior engagement.”

“I never said I wanted to have dinner with you.”

Why was her heart pounding just because he said he’d entertain her?

Young-in deliberately snapped back at him more sharply, afraid he would see through her feelings.

“It’s what I want, so why not?”

Seonghyeok casually shrugged and changed the subject.

“It’s the same number as before. Call me.”

“I deleted your number.”

“How cold.”

“Who keeps an ex’s number for over three years?”

“I still have my ex-girlfriend’s number, though?”

A flicker of embarrassment crossed Young-in’s face.

“…You’re the strange one, Sunbae.”

“I know. That I’m strange.”

He boldly admitted it and stood up.

Young-in could only stare blankly at his retreating back, as if possessed.