WW | Chapter 45

It wasn’t easy to find a seat in the crowded coffee shop. After walking for a while, the two finally found a small coffee shop in a quieter area and sat down in one of the rare empty seats. Yoonjo ordered at the counter, brought a glass of water first, and handed it to her. He seemed to know her habit of always drinking water when she was thirsty or tired.

“Thanks. Now for the gift….”

She was about to tell him to open it, but he was already tearing off the wrapping paper. What came out was a plump, elongated pink rabbit doll.

“A doll?”

Yoonjo stared intently at the rabbit doll as he spoke.

“I wanted to give you something nice too, but honestly, it was out of my budget. Still, I picked this with care, so I hope you’ll understand my feelings.”

Buying a gift for Yoonjo had taken a lot of courage after a fierce internal debate. A few days ago, after receiving an expensive gift from him, Yul had felt uncharacteristically deflated. She wanted to give him something practical and meaningful, even if it wasn’t as extravagant. But finding the right gift was harder than expected.

As time passed and her mind settled, she realized something: Yoonjo gave his best, and Yul just needed to give her best.

The doll was something she had originally wanted for herself. It had been her dream to have a doll on her bed in her own room to hug while sleeping. She had spent hours wandering around last weekend before spotting this doll. She grabbed it instantly, feeling an unexplainable attachment to it. It was more expensive than expected, but she couldn’t let it go. Of course, whether Yoonjo would like it or not was another story.

“It’s cute. Thanks.”

Yoonjo set the rabbit doll upright so it faced him, then playfully wiggled its floppy ears. Seeing his subtle smile, Yul could tell he genuinely liked it.

“That’s me. I’ll always keep my eyes wide open, watching you. So, live honestly and don’t do anything bad.”

“Scary.”

Amused, Yoonjo chuckled softly at her words. His sharp eyes crinkled, and a charming smile formed on his lips. Who would’ve thought Kang Yoonjo could make such an expression? Yul, captivated by his unfamiliar look, found herself staring in a daze. To her, Yoonjo always seemed flawless, every moment radiating charm.

The more she got to know him, the more she admired not just his appearance but also his considerate nature. He knew so much about her yet subtly cared for her without showing off. It filled her with gratitude.

“Yoonjo, why are you so kind to me?”

Sometimes, she couldn’t help but wonder about his feelings. His kind gestures felt unusual, as if they weren’t things he’d typically do. Was it because he liked her? But then again, she’d never felt strongly that he had romantic feelings for her. Being kind and giving one’s heart were two different things.

He was thoughtful when they were together, but he rarely contacted her first when they were apart. He seldom answered her calls, and when he did, the conversations were brief. Texts were usually met with short replies. Naturally, there had been no confessions. Even when they held hands, she was the one to initiate. He didn’t act like other guys who would subtly send meaningful glances or flirt.

As enigmatic as he was, so were his actions.

As if her question was trivial, he simply replied, “Because you caught my eye.”

It was the same thing he’d said earlier about the cat. Not because he liked it, but because it caught his eye. Yul didn’t understand what “catching his eye” meant to him, but she decided not to press further. His feelings were his, and any sadness they caused was hers to bear.

“I like you.”

“What?”

“I said, I like you, Kang Yoonjo.”

Instead, Yul confessed her feelings. Although their relationship had started out of necessity, she had grown to like him. Seeing him made her heart race, talking to him made her flutter, and being apart made her miss him. She wasn’t confessing to hear him reciprocate, so her heart felt light.

“What’s with the suddenness?”

Caught off guard, Yoonjo’s face hardened as he stared at her. His once-relaxed gaze sharpened, scrutinizing her with intensity. His tightly closed lips felt like a door slammed shut to push her away. His cold stare seemed to scold her for speaking out of turn, and Yul shrank back.

“I’m kidding. Did your heart skip a beat? You fool.”

Yul laughed heartily, brushing it off as a joke. It stung a little, but she didn’t regret it. She had shown her feelings, even if disguised as a joke, so there was no lingering attachment.

Yoonjo, who had been staring at her with a bewildered expression, let out a breathy laugh. He then grabbed the rabbit doll’s ear and whispered to it as if speaking to her.

“You’re the fool, Seomun Yul.”

When they stepped outside, the world seemed slightly gloomier. They had tried to see a movie but failed to book tickets, leaving them feeling defeated. Neither of them was the type to plan outings often, and with no prior experience in dating, they hadn’t realized that a day like this required reservations.

“Do you want to go anywhere else?”

Since it was Yul who wanted to come here, Yoonjo handed the decision-making back to her.

“Hmm. I…”

Looking around at the surrounding shops, Yul’s eyes landed on something that caught her attention. Across the street, on the third floor of a building, was a sign that read “Movie Viewing Room.” It looked like a space where you could rent a room to watch movies. She had never been to one before.

“I want to check that place out.”

“There?”

Yoonjo frowned, clearly reluctant.

“Why?”

“Never mind. Let’s go.”

Quickly erasing his expression, Yoonjo grabbed her hand and led her across the street.

After taking the elevator to the third floor and entering the store, an employee briefly explained how to pick a movie and watch it in a private room. The two chose the movie Titanic and went into their room. Apparently, it was the longest-running movie, as the employee had suggested with a knowing smile.

“Wow, it feels just like a room.”

Stepping inside, Yul marveled at the setup. The space was small but cozy, designed for two people to watch comfortably. There was a sofa that was almost like a bed and a large screen for the movie. On one side, there was a coat rack and a small shelf for belongings. There were tissues and neatly folded blankets, showing attention to detail.

“I’ve never been to a place like this before. So this is what it’s like.”

Yul hung her coat on the rack and sat on the sofa, stretching her legs. The movement caused her skirt to ride up to her thighs. She quickly pulled it down and instinctively glanced at Yoonjo. Without a word, he grabbed a blanket and draped it over her legs.

“You were totally sneaking a look at my legs just now, weren’t you?”

“What?”

“I saw you!”

Even though she knew it was unintentional, Yul playfully teased him to ease the awkwardness. Scoffing, Yoonjo suddenly yanked the blanket off her legs, startling her.

“What are you doing?”

“It’s easier to look outright than to sneak peeks.”

With that, he blatantly let his eyes sweep over her legs in black stockings.

“They look great.”

“Hey!”

Yul grabbed the doll and smacked him in the face.

The lights dimmed, and the movie began. Despite the darkened room, the screen’s glow provided soft illumination. It was a famous movie, and while Yul vaguely knew the story, she couldn’t focus. Perhaps it was because she was in a confined space alone with Yoonjo.

The handsome male lead and the beautiful female lead captured her attention, especially when they gazed at each other and called each other’s names.

Yul glanced at Yoonjo, who was hugging the doll and seemingly engrossed in the movie. He was so still that she couldn’t tell whether he was genuinely watching or lost in thought. At least he wasn’t asleep, which was a relief.

Feeling bold, she subtly slipped her arm through his and rested her head on his shoulder. After all, they had held hands, linked arms, and even shared a light kiss. This much should be within bounds, right?

Wrong.

Without shifting his gaze from the screen, Yoonjo pushed her off with his shoulder and turned her face back toward the movie with his hand.

“Just watch the movie.”

With that single sentence, Yul’s pride crumbled. Pouting, she turned her attention back to the screen, where the lead characters were progressing their romantic storyline.

“When are you going to call me by my name?”

Startled by her sudden question, Yoonjo furrowed his brow. Yul leaned in closer, pressing him for an answer.

“Just my name. No last name.”

“Why?”

“Just do it.”

Narrowing his eyes, Yoonjo hesitated, then reluctantly muttered, “I’ve never called a girl by her first name before.”