MIS 13

“What’s wrong?”

The girl looked at Yoon-woo with a worried expression on her face. The two of them seemed oblivious to Tae-jun who was hidden in the shadows next to the wall.

“It’s my birthday today.”

“Happy birthday, Yoon-woo.”

Yoon-woo’s ears turned red and averted his gaze as he met the girl’s bright smile. His voice quavered as he spoke.

“I told you I wanted something from you for my birthday.”

Yoon-woo took a deep breath as if making up his mind.

“I want… as a gift…”

“Is there something you want?”

“Well, about us dating since high school… I want to continue…”

Tae-jun stifled a laugh.

‘Kang Yoon-woo, you’re putting on quite a show today.’

He thought it was a one-sided crush, but they were actually dating. He chuckled as he watched the two twenty year olds, heads down, looking nervous.

“What about you?”

Yoon-woo asked. The girl hesitated, unable to answer.

“Yoon-woo, I’m sorry, but I…”

Just then they heard someone calling Yoon-woo.

“Wait here. I’ll come back for your answer.”

Yoon-woo mumbled about the bad timing and left.

Originally, Tae-jun had no interest in other people’s business. But somehow he became interested. He saw Seo-hee passing by with a worried look on her face.

Didn’t Yoon-woo tell her to wait? Why did she run away?

Tae-jun extinguished his barely smoked cigarette with his long fingers.

“Come here.”

“M-Me?”

Seo-hee’s eyes widened in surprise. Perhaps she was startled by the voice calling from the shadows.

“If you’re here, they won’t be able to see well. It’s the perfect place to avoid people.”

Seo-hee stopped in her tracks. She saw Tae-jun, hidden in the dark shadows between the tall mansion and the wall. Her eyes trembled slightly, as if she hadn’t expected to see him here.

“…Hello.”

Why are you here?

Her large eyes seemed to ask. Tae-jun just stared at her without answering and Seo-hee quickly looked away.

Then she stood next to him with a slightly nervous expression on her face.

Am I that scary?

Tae-jun thought, but said nothing more.

The back of the mansion, where people rarely went, was quiet. As the night breeze blew past, only the sound of rustling leaves could be heard. Tae-jun found this awkward silence preferable to being surrounded by people all day.

“Did you see that earlier?”

“See what?”

“Oh, nothing.”

Was she talking about Yoon-woo’s almost confession?

Seo-hee’s cheeks flushed. Tae-jun hid a smile and asked casually, “Did you get home safely that day?”

“Thank you. I was grateful then.”

Silence fell again.

Tae-jun was fine with the awkward silence, but she seemed uncomfortable. He could see her lips moving as she searched for something to say. Her black hair was tied back neatly. Her voluminous forehead and narrow face framed her delicate features.

Tae-jun glanced at her briefly, then looked away.

“Aren’t you going in?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“I don’t want to.”

“Ah…”

She was silent for a moment, surprised by his unexpected answer. After a while, she murmured, “There are times like that.”

Why did she agree? It was just a casual remark.

Unaware of his thoughts, she nodded seriously.

“I feel that way sometimes too.”

Her composed voice momentarily touched him.

“Sometimes I really want to be alone.”

Tae-jun couldn’t help smiling. She looked like a sheltered rich girl who had never known hardship.

He dismissed her words as the naive complaints of a wealthy daughter.

He stared into space, finding her subtly amusing, when he felt her insistent gaze on him.

“You’ll wear me out.”

“Huh?”

“Staring at me like that will wear me out.”

“Oh, I’m sorry!”

Seo-hee’s face turned crimson, as if she had actually been staring at him.

There was no need to apologize.

Tae-jun was about to leave, thinking that Yoon-woo would be back soon. If only Seo-hee hadn’t started with a hesitant “If you don’t mind…”

“May I ask what happened today?”

Tae-jun looked at her. Their eyes met and Seo-hee’s lips trembled.

“You seem upset.”

“I’m always upset.”

Tae-jun’s eyes were guarded. He had never confided in anyone before.

He had been taught to always be rational, to socialize for connections, but never to reveal his true feelings. Most of the people who had asked him to open up had ulterior motives, trying to take advantage of his weaknesses.

Whether Seo-hee knew it or not, she flinched at his sharp gaze, but continued to speak with surprising firmness.

“If something’s bothering you, you can tell me.”

“Why should I?”

“Sometimes… well, it’s easier to tell a stranger things you can’t tell someone you know well.”

“….”

“We’ll probably never see each other again. And I’m not in a position to gossip.”

Her voice trailed off as she explained. She regretted speaking. It was written all over her innocent face.  

“You want to comfort me?”

“Yes? Yes.”

Tae-jun smiled. He watched her hesitate.

At first he was curious because she was Yoon-woo’s girlfriend, but he found her quite amusing.

Then he heard rustling nearby.

“Seo-hee!”

Yoon-woo was desperately searching for her. At that moment, Tae-jun was seized by an intense curiosity.

What would happen if he did something here? Something interesting.

Especially if it would hurt his half-brother.

Maybe his desire for revenge against Yoon-woo took a wrong turn.

He was always rational.

He should have just ignored Yoon-woo’s disrespectful remarks about his deceased mother.

But a strange impulse took hold of him.

Tae-jun didn’t understand this feeling. He just wanted to cause Yoon-woo and his stepmother the same pain they had caused him and his mother.

What would it be like? To be hurt by someone you love.

Wouldn’t hurting Yoon-woo here alleviate this unpleasant feeling?

It seemed to be the only way to release his pent-up anger.

“How are you going to comfort me?”

Tae-jun turned to Seo-hee. She looked up at him with clear eyes.

“Come closer.”

At that moment, Tae-jun pulled Seo-hee into his arms.

“Um…”

Seo-hee’s eyes widened. She didn’t resist. He could only feel her body trembling slightly.

“Don’t be afraid.”

Tae-jun pulled her closer and hugged her.

“It’s just a hug.”

Just then, the footsteps behind the mansion stopped. Seo-hee couldn’t see it, but Tae-jun met the gaze of the figure behind her. Then he whispered in her ear,

“What else can you do?”

She didn’t answer, seemingly tense. He hadn’t expected an answer anyway. Tae-jun cupped her head with his big hand and pulled back slightly.

“Can you do this too?”

Tae-jun pulled Seo-hee’s head towards him, cupped her face in his hand and kissed her lips. 

Whether it was because of the sudden kiss or because it was the first time, he could see her eyelashes tremble.

Her small hands were clenched nervously. It was a short kiss, their lips barely touching. Tae-jun pulled away first. He looked down at her slightly parted lips and warned, “Avoid it if you don’t like it.”

It was his way of asking for her approval. Seo-hee was speechless, frozen, but she didn’t pull away.

Tae-jun took her lack of response as consent and immediately captured her lips again.

He gently pressed her parted lips together. Seo-hee slowly closed her eyes, matching his rhythm.

He traced the soft inside of her mouth with the tip of his tongue. Then he skillfully entwined her hesitant tongue with his. His tongue danced against hers, teasing and tasting.

Tae-jun cupped her cheeks and tilted her head, deepening the kiss and their breaths mingled.

Totally captivated, Seo-hee held back a gasp.

Tae-jun continued the kiss, feeling Yoon-woo’s burning gaze on them. Then he pushed her against the wall of the mansion.

The wall light illuminated them like a spotlight on a stage.

Tae-jun deepened the kiss and raised his eyes. Yoon-woo’s shocked face was clearly visible.

My mother had the same expression… on the day you were born.

Tae-jun didn’t give her a chance to catch her breath, his touch became more demanding. Seo-hee clumsily followed his lead, gently gripping the fabric of his suit jacket. 

The reality of being held and kissed by Tae-jun in the middle of the night seemed surreal to Seo-hee. 

The kisses deepened, a strange atmosphere enveloped the two of them, where it wouldn’t be strange if they continued on to the next stage.

Yoon-woo was the first to turn away.

He stared blankly at the scene before turning and walking away. 

Tae-jun, who had imprinted Yoon-woo’s dejection in his mind, finally pulled away from Seo-hee.