"You don't seem interested at all."
"..."
"Since you're excited, you should have licked your lips."
"..."
"What a shame."
The sound of what seemed like a soliloquy was scattered openly.
Won reflexively put down the glass.
Tap, the glass made a fairly loud noise as it rubbed against the table.
"Eat. That way, you can act more discreetly. Senior is curious about how pitifully you're spending your weekend. Whether you prefer the tenderloin or the sirloin. You should at least convey such an unusual story so that Kwon Woo Hyuk can feel relieved, senior."
Despite the composed voice, the hidden meaning in his words was twisted.
Even Kwon, the representative, who criticized why he was being watched, seemed to agree with himself.
He smoothly exchanged my plate with the plate of sliced meat as if water was flowing.
What is he really doing?
I couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh without even realizing it.
Won looked down at the meat without any particular response.
The vivid juice of the meat was exquisite with its sliced surface.
"I won't eat it unless it's cooked."
I wasn't actually a picky eater. I ate both well-done and rare.
On the contrary, my preference for the bend of the meat was closer to rare than well-done.
The red juices flowed as if Woo-jae's had ordered it in advance.
It was a remark that was close to unnecessary mischief.
Seeing the meat, which was already sliced to be delicious, made my appetite even worse.
Woojae chuckled at the outburst as if he was teasing.
Suddenly, his hand rose up in the air.
A waiter approached Woo-jae at his gesture.
"Please prepare the steak by cut. Cook it well-done."
"No, there's no need to order more."
Won looked at Woo-jae with a bewildered look.
The waiter's gaze turned from Won to Woo-jae.
It seemed like he was asking for his opinion.
"Just bring it as it is."
"Yes."
His expression twisted unexpectedly.
Annoyed, he gulped down the remaining wine.
He poured wine into an empty glass, putting it down with a threatening manner.
"I told you. The purpose today is to eat."
"..."
"Now, which aspect should we consider again?"
Woo-jae smirked.
He seemed to have noticed that I wasn't particularly picky about food, despite claiming to know me well.
Woo-jae's behavior always went beyond Won's expectations.
It was always full of doubts.
It was a meeting based on surveillance.
That was clearly the initial purpose.
However, the intention that was initially presented quickly changed.
And that intention once again showed a strange sign.
Woo-jae said that his sole purpose was 'eating', but he didn't even touch the food despite coming to a restaurant because he was hungry.
Won looked at the steak placed in front of Woo-jae.
Suddenly, Won took a deep breath.
He slightly opened his thin lips and leaned back comfortably.
"Kwon Woo-jae."
He lifted the wine glass and brought the rim close to his lips.
There was no particular response from Woo-jae, but he raised his eyebrows, indicating that he was listening to my words.
'Why not me!'
Was it just a pretense that seemed to be affected by my stimulation?
Isn't it strange?
He was acting like a spoiled child who desperately needed attention.
It was just like him to say harsh words and throw a tantrum.
Could it be that he likes me?
Even if it's just a delusion of grandeur, I immediately had that thought.
But did I ever give him a reason to think that way?
Once again, doubts arose.
He would have done that, because he has maintained a consistent attitude from the beginning until now, despite annoying me because he likes me.
No matter how much I think about it, his feelings were never good.
If that were the case, he wouldn't have shown me his bad behavior.
He must have tried to hide his true intentions and approach me.
Otherwise, it could just be a fleeting curiosity.
Although it wasn't clear, it seemed better to go along with it.
I could feel that the current situation is not at all pleasant for me.
Even though the way he expresses it goes completely against common sense, it doesn't seem to matter.
Won slightly wet his throat with wine.
"I will accept your apology. But I hope that next time, my opinion will be respected."
He poured wine into the glass that silently descended onto the table.
Won smiled with pretense as he put a small piece of meat in his mouth.
Each time he chewed the meat, the flavorful juices spread evenly in his mouth.
The meat was tender but not easily swallowed.
Won forced himself to swallow the chewed pieces.
I don't really think this gathering is for an apology.
I never had the intention to accept it in the first place, so such matters are not important.
I just realized that there was no need to sacrifice my body and mind for something like this.
Woo-jae is unpredictable, but as long as he doesn't go against his principles, he won't ignore my opinion.
As if to prove this, Woo-jae raised the corners of his mouth.
"I will keep that in mind."
Woo-jae's dignified laughter quickly filled the silence.
By the time the meal was finished, a drizzle had started.
Seeing that the only purpose of Woo-jae was not the meal, as he quickly ate the steak pieces and put down his fork, I could be sure of it.
Won, who had put down his fork after eating a few pieces of steak, ended up finishing a whole bottle of wine.
He wasn't drunk, but he felt restless and his cheeks were slightly flushed.
Won looked up at the rain falling lightly, squinting his eyes.
The metal canopy was protecting him from the rain, but the raindrops tilted inward along with the blowing wind.
Won took a step back to avoid the rain.
He hated the rain.
He hated getting wet even more.
When he furrowed his brows, he smelled cigarette smoke from the side.
"Your face is red."
"I know."
"Your face always turns red when you drink."
Won shifted his gaze from the sky.
Woo-jae, who was smoking a cigarette, chuckled softly.
"What makes you so happy every time?"
Woo-jae's body, which was facing forward, twisted slightly.
Woo-jae tilted his head and took a long drag on the filter.
The deeply carved cheeks regained their original shape as his lips parted.
Thick smoke flowed out of Woo-jae's mouth.
His sharp gaze gradually softened.
"Now I'm curious."
"You're talking nonsense."
As Woo-jae took one more step towards me, I pushed his shoulder.
He flicked the cigarette he was holding onto the ashtray and extinguished it.
"Open the car door."
For the purpose of allowing smoking, we walked across the space provided outside the restaurant building.
We went straight to the car and pulled the door.
Despite getting wet from the annoying rain, the car door was still locked.
I turned to look at Woo-jae.
Thin raindrops blocked his face from being soaked, but there was a sense of unease in the air.
He had a slight smile on his face.
Woo-jae, who had flicked the cigarette ash gently, was walking leisurely.
The car, sensing that the car key was getting closer, folded the side mirror that was neatly open.
As I opened the passenger door, a hand intruded into my field of vision and forcefully closed the door.
Woo-jae, who approached me instead of the driver's seat, grabbed the car roof with his hand.
The raindrops that hadn't seeped in gathered above Woo-jae's head drop by drop.
"I never had a good memory for people's faces. Not even for someone I've just met."
It was an unexpected remark.
I raised my head to look into Woo-jae's eyes.
Even without hearing it, I could tell from his dissatisfied gaze.
Woo-jae smirked as if it was funny.
"But I remember a senior's face even after seeing it once. Especially those eyes."
Woo-jae gently touched the corner of my eye.
The warmth of his hand was comforting.
I instinctively turned my head.
"Senior, your eyes were the most beautiful."
"..."
"But who would have known that your lips, which are even more seductive than those eyes, are prettier."
The rain that hadn't seeped in suddenly weighed down on the fabric.
My gaze was fixed on Woo-jae, but strangely, I felt a sense of unease.