"Shall we?" Lee Ju-hee's soft inquiry filled the room as she gracefully stepped inside, her footsteps resonating on the wooden floor.
Yoo Jin-ho's eyes swept across the master bedroom, taking in the modern design. "Not bad," he commented, closing the door behind him. "I half-expected you to invite me to your place, you know."
Lee Ju-hee arched an eyebrow, a glimmer of amusement in her eyes. "What gave you that idea?"
He shrugged casually. "I don't know. I just thought you were the type to prefer your privacy."
Dismissing his comment, she moved about the room, her movements exuding a sense of purpose.
The walls boasted a combination of white and beige hues, complemented by a solitary window adorned with dark brown curtains.
Positioned on the left wall, a double bed with inviting white sheets and cozy pillows beckoned. Bedside tables with elegant lamps stood on each side, while on the right, an open bathroom exuded a romantic ambiance through its dim lighting.
"I'll agree with you on this one! Not bad," she remarked, a note of satisfaction evident in her voice. "I thought you might appreciate the choice."
Yoo Jin-ho's gaze lingered on her as she neatly arranged her belongings at the foot of the mattress, delicately placing the keys on a nearby bedside table.
There was a captivating allure in her movements, the way she gracefully swayed her hips beneath her sweatpants. The action was ordinary, but it held a certain charm when she did it.
"Besides," Lee Ju-hee continued, driving him out of his daze. "I made it clear earlier, didn't I? I don't bring strangers home."
Yoo Jin-ho mockingly clutched his chest, feigning hurt. "Ouch, that stings. I thought we were past that stage already!"
A small smirk played on Lee Ju-hee's lips as she turned to face him. "I suppose we have."
Their seemingly innocent banter was affecting Yoo Jin-ho differently. To him, each word carried a weight that went beyond mere conversation. Yoo Jin-ho couldn't help but feel a magnetic pull, an unspoken connection forming between them.
Unaware of the effect she had on him, Lee Ju-hee walked toward the window to take in the view outside.
Despite the limited view due to the tall buildings, the nighttime in Seoul was vibrant and alive. The city adorned with sparkling lights, bustling restaurants, and throngs of people moving about like busy ants.
"Check-out time is at 09:00 AM tomorrow morning," she whispered softly, her voice sounding seductive. With the intimate ambiance of the room, it felt like she was enticing him to sin.
In a casual tone, she added, "I've already paid for tonight." Her words hinted that she was ready to leave.
Yoo Jin-ho, however, was too preoccupied to notice her subtle message. He was more concerned about the smell of beer and cigarettes on himself. He busied himself with getting ready for what was to come.
Then remembering something, she mentioned it in a flat tone while stealing a final glance outside. "Oh, and there's something else..."
As she turned to face him in mid-sentence, her eyes widened, taken aback by his completely naked state. A mix of confusion and embarrassment washed over her, and involuntarily, her gaze moved downward.
'Holy fuck! He's massive down there!' That was the first thing that came to mind when she saw his impressive physique.
Caught off guard, she struggled to find the right words and ended up stammering, "Seriously, can't you give me a heads up?"
Unfazed, he calmly observed her flushed cheeks and disheveled hair, responding with a hint of sarcasm, "I did warn you already! Looks like you weren't paying attention!"
His actions were intentional. Yet, he couldn't understand why he was the only one feeling bothered by the fact that they were both alone in a room. And her response was not what he had anticipated.
She seemed tense and stiff, with a slight sheen of sweat forming on her forehead and her cheeks turning red. But Yoo Jin-ho dismissed it as her being embarrassed.
Nervously stuttering and avoiding his gaze, she struggled to form a coherent sentence. "Sh-should I... come back later?"
After a brief consideration, he rejected her suggestion. "No, stay here and don't cause any trouble!"
His words sounded harsh, reminding her of their previous encounter in the alleyway. She wanted to object, but Yoo Jin-ho seemed unwilling to listen at the moment.
"Just sit with your back turned if you're embarrassed! I'll take care of you once I'm done showering!"
His words sent another shiver down her spine, although she doubted he meant what she feared.
"O-Okay," she responded, unsure of how to handle the situation. His advice didn't provide much comfort. The sound of the shower spray only heightened her awareness of the situation.
Her hands were sweaty and trembling, and a sense of unease washed over her. The comfort she had felt from Yoo Jin-ho earlier had dissipated.
His thoughtless actions had triggered waves of anxiety, fear, and suffocation that she had worked hard to suppress over the years.
Recalling Min-ho's advice, she hurriedly made her way to the bed and sat down, facing away from the bathroom. She covered her ears, closed her eyes, and focused on regulating her breathing to calm herself down.
After a few minutes, she began to regain composure. It then struck her that perhaps Jin-ho didn't mean anything of a sexual nature.
"Are you alright?" His sudden question and familiar voice caught her off guard, pulling her out of her thoughts.
Turning to face him, Lee Ju-hee realized that he had finished showering.
His body was adorned with glistening water droplets, tracing the contours of his muscles. Wrapped loosely around his waist was a white towel, revealing his well-defined abs and the enticing V-line that disappeared beneath the fabric.
He exuded both hotness and an intimidating presence.
Leaning against the steam-covered glass cabinet, he scowled deeply, his intense gaze fixated on her, as if trying to unravel her thoughts and emotions.
"I asked if you're okay," he repeated. She found herself fanning her face, feeling the sudden surge in temperature.
"Yes?" she responded, her confusion evident.
"Why? Why do you ask?"
"It's nothing," he muttered, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
"Just...?"
"Just... You seem quite nervous!"
She was well aware of how weird she must have seemed, but she wasn't about to make a fool out of herself, especially not to him.
All she wanted was to live a normal life, to blend in like she had been doing for the past few years. But this perfectly handsome stranger had to just storm in and disrupt everything she's ever worked on.
She wondered if her thoughts were inappropriate, if she was simply overthinking and desperately trying to convince herself that she was safe.
Trying to shift the focus, she spoke in a flat tone, "I have something for you."
"What is it?" he inquired, momentarily disregarding the tension between them.
Reaching into her bag, she retrieved a small rectangular box wrapped in transparent plastic.
Handing it to him, she confessed with hesitation, "I wasn't sure of your preferences, so I chose something familiar to me."
He approached her on the bed, maintaining a cautious distance, and accepted the package from her trembling hands without making any physical contact, as if sensing her unease.
Curiosity flickered in his eyes as he examined the package. It turned out to be a pack of cigarettes labeled Marlboro Smooth Ice. It wasn't a brand he was familiar with, not exactly premium but not cheap either.
He questioned her with a hint of shock, "A pack of cigarettes?"
She nodded calmly in response, explaining, "I noticed earlier that you were observing the smokers-"
"Stop!" he interjected abruptly, his tone carrying a mix of sternness and offense.
Her words and actions seemed to have triggered an unexpected reaction from him, leaving her momentarily stunned, unsure of her own mistake.
Then furrowing her brows, she inquired, "What do you mean?"
A few moments of uncomfortable silence passed before he let out a weary sigh, his expression softening slightly.
Running his wet hands through his hair in agitation, he spoke with a hint of frustration, "You're making it harder for me to resist you. Have some tact, will you!"
Her eyes widened in surprise at his unexpected words. A faint blush tinged her cheeks as she struggled to find the right response.
Before she could utter a single word, Yoo Jin-ho was quick to take action.