The Kiss That Should Have Been
It had been a big decision for her, yet he remained silent. In the end, Yeong-ah let out a reluctant sigh.
“Manager, I was called here for the company dinner, but you haven’t even drunk anything yet.”
She glared at him, still displeased, and pointed straight at his chest.
“Go up. I hate dive bars with their dirty alcohol.”
When they reached home, Hwigyeom loosened his tie and led Yeong-ah toward the wine cellar.
“I’ll change clothes and come out. Pick whatever you want to eat.”
“Yes.”
Yeong-ah answered with energy, but even after he emerged in his loosened house robe, she still hadn’t chosen a wine.
“Still haven’t decided?”
“Everything looks too expensive.”
“Then grab the most expensive-looking bottle. I’m not drinking anyway.”
Yet she still couldn’t pick one. Reluctantly, Yeong-ah took out a bottle that Hwigyeom had set out on the simple side table. The two sat facing each other across from the light meal.
“Why do you keep a wine you don’t even drink?”
Watching Hwigyeom expertly pop the cork, Yeong-ah asked. In front of him lay tall stacks of documents instead of a glass.
“I receive annual dividends from several wineries, but it’s too bothersome to withdraw. Sometimes my mother takes them. How do you know they’re expensive?”
“When I worked part-time at Fine Dining, the sommelier would get a tasting glass for himself, then give me a sip. He said I have a great palate.”
As he filled her glass, Hwigyeom let out a smug laugh.
“You keep mooching and only expensive things come your way. Must have good luck.”
“Exactly. I’m a lucky person.”
Because so many people are grateful to me. Smiling, she reached for a piece of fruit, when morning suddenly flashed through her mind.
“By the way, Manager’s mother seems like a really nice person.”
“She gave you food?”
“It’s not exactly like that.”
Grandmother Rose’s affection had been rough and direct. Since she was so emotionally reserved, Yeong-ah sometimes wanted to hear gentle words even if they were meaningless. She craved praise for small things.
Before she could grow melancholy, she downed her glass. Her phone rang. Yeong-ah’s eyes shot to the screen.
[$__SUBSHELL__(바)오늘만 바로 입금(독)$$]
It was spam. Yeong-ah’s widened eyes dimmed in disappointment.
Hwigyeom refilled her empty glass and clicked his tongue sharply, clearly annoyed.
“You like that guy that much?”
“I told you—he’s my guardian angel. Manager, should I just confess to you first?”
“With this kind of attitude? Girls should always push them away. Especially now.”
Hwigyeom ran a hand through his hair and shook his head back and forth. Strands of hair had fallen over his white ear. Suddenly, Sa-Hu’s red ear came to mind.
Thinking about it, Sa-Hu and herself had always felt a bit dull.
“What if I just kissed you right now? Back then, even though something strange happened with Manager, I was still… curious.”
Hwigyeom made a face as if he had heard something unbelievable.
“If you really want to, you shouldn’t rush in. You have to seduce first. Didn’t you see what she was doing earlier?”
It sounded like Chae-mi. He had clearly seen them whispering, but nothing else came to mind.
“Chae-mi? I saw it, but I don’t know what she did.”
Hwigyeom sighed and looked at Yeong-ah with a pitiful expression.
“You know something?”
“……”
“Tell me anyway?”
“No way! Don’t block my path today, of all days.”
“Alright. Good luck.”
Without the slightest hesitation, Hwigyeom lowered his eyes to the documents. Following his lazy gaze, Yeong-ah’s eyes drifted to the open collar of his shirt.
His prominent collarbones were sharp and straight, and the hint of chest beneath was clearly defined.
The torn sleeves revealed elegant wrists and graceful fingertips. It was hard to believe the title “night prince” didn’t fit him perfectly.
Surely he knew how to captivate the opposite sex? With saliva pooling under her tongue from the wine, Yeong-ah called out to him.
“Um, Manager.”
And she adjusted her posture slightly.
“I heard that one should not be greedy when accepting a teacher. Could you teach me a thing or two?”
It took Hwigyeom several seconds to answer.
“Just once.”
Before his heart could change, Yeong-ah moved to the side and sat down. Hwigyeom, who had been turning half his body toward her with an arrogant chin raised, suddenly frowned.
“Take off your glasses first. I heard that wearing those makes you look old.”
It was before she could answer that it was Sa-Hu.
“That guy is definitely your enemy.”
As he said this, Hwigyeom removed her glasses. He shot a sharp glance at her, then pointed at her eyes with a finger.
“First, relax your eyes. You have to look at me with a subtle gaze.”
His slightly lowered eyes actually looked quite seductive. Since Yeong-ah was awkwardly imitating him, Hwigyeom slowly reached out.
“Then, naturally, sweep the other person’s hair.”
His large hand swept through her hair. Long fingers gently brushed her forehead.
This kind of physical contact was new to her, and her heart pounded.
“Don’t look away.”
Yeong-ah nodded and met his eyes. Beneath her densely shaded lashes, her black pupils glistened deeply.
Because she was staring at him, Yeong-ah felt her chest fluttering too. Her feelings were strange. She wanted to keep looking at Hwigyeom’s eyes yet also wanted to avoid them.
Her breath caught as she turned her head. Hwigyeom grabbed her chin.
“I told you not to look away.”
Their gazes locked from a distance so close she could hear his breathing. Her whole body felt enveloped and her heart squeezed tight. She could even see his pupils trembling.
“This time, lightly hold my arm. And slowly close the distance while calling my name.”
“……”
“Yeong-ah.”
The moment Hwigyeom’s face drew close enough to touch, Yeong-ah couldn’t hold back and pushed him away.
“Hah!”
She immediately covered her mouth.
“Haa… Manager, I almost had a heart attack! Look!”
Yeong-ah pressed her hand over her swelling chest. She could even see her palm rising and falling with each breath.
“It was worth it.”
Hwigyeom lowered his eyes arrogantly and twisted his neck left and right.
Perhaps his skill had taken hold. To Yeong-ah’s eyes now, even his arrogant posture looked cool.
“Exactly. Any real woman would be charmed.”
Yeong-ah was genuinely moved.
“Manager is the best teacher ever. Then I’ll try it once!”
Yeong-ah gulped down the remaining wine in one go. Phew, phew. After a deep breath, she looked up at Hwigyeom.
The man’s eyes facing her were shining clearly once more. Her chest beat again.
“Face to face… sweep the hair…”
With one hand pressing her pounding chest, she brought the other hand to his forehead.
As she swept away the fallen bangs, his straight forehead was revealed. The touch on her fingertips felt wonderful.
“Manager’s forehead is so soft.”
For some reason, Hwigyeom didn’t answer. It seemed to mean continue, so Yeong-ah slowly leaned in.
“And as I approach like this… calling the name…”
With her gaze loosened, she looked at Hwigyeom.
Hwigyeom unconsciously swallowed. The back of his neck felt cold. This time, it didn’t feel good.
Yeong-ah, who had no way of knowing his heart, continued to close the distance. Carefully.
And when only a little remained. His slightly brown eyes slowly swept across his face. It felt as if she was touching him with her hand.
“Sa-Hwigyeom Manager.”
Calling him affectionately, Yeong-ah lowered her eyes. Her long eyelashes fluttered down. Watching the unrealistically slow motion, Hwigyeom stared, mesmerized.
Soon the long eyelashes gently curled upward, revealing round brown eyes. The gaze directed at only her shone clearly.
Had she seen this before?
Hwigyeom felt as if he had never faced anyone’s eyes before. His mind went blank.
Besides staring at the approaching woman, Hwigyeom could do nothing.
Facing him with frozen breath, Yeong-ah approached more and more. Just as her lips were about to touch, she exhaled the breath she had been holding.
“Huu… This time, I almost had a real accident.”
Yeong-ah panted and smoothed her chest.
Was it already too late?