A Late Homecoming
Seok-hyeon wrapped his arms around Da-yeon and held her tight, pressing close from behind. She could feel him against her. Unlike the clean lines of his face, the man whose body met hers was almost violently aroused—large, thick, hard, and vividly alive. Enough that leaving himself outside felt like genuine consideration.
Yet the embrace itself was warm, nothing like that insistent pressure. Held without meeting his eyes, the weight on her eased. Little by little Da-yeon’s heart settled. Being pressed against someone was not uncomfortable; it steadied her. Exhaustion stole over her, and she drifted into sleep.
Her eyes opened without warning. She must have slept deeply. When she shifted, something caught against her side.
“You’re awake?”
Seok-hyeon sat on the same bed, sharing the same blanket. Da-yeon pushed herself upright at once; the cover that had reached her shoulders slid down.
Her blouse hung open, the bra still half in place. A nipple peeked through the gap. Marks left by Seok-hyeon’s mouth still bloomed across her breasts. Only then did the memory of what they had done return.
Da-yeon hastily covered herself with her arm. With the last of the alcohol gone, shame rushed in. Then she realized the blanket had been drawn over her until this moment. Instead of forcing her disordered clothes back into place, he had covered her so she would not wake uncomfortable.
Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows the night was dark. It was nearly ten.
“May I straighten you up?”
When she only sat frozen, Seok-hyeon’s hand slipped inside the open blouse. She flinched at the easy contact while he calmly refastened the bra hooks, gathering her breasts with careful hands. Color flooded her face.
“You were sleeping so soundly I didn’t wake you.”
“…Yes.”
“I cleaned you while you slept, but if you need more you can wash.”
Gratitude warred with unbearable embarrassment. He had brought her to climax with his mouth alone, then wiped away the evidence while she slept on. Unable to meet his eyes, she buttoned the blouse.
“I’m fine. It’s late—I should hurry home…”
“You’re going home?”
“…I have to.”
“I’ll take you.”
Seok-hyeon rose and retrieved the jacket he had tossed on the floor. The sight was so unlike his usual neat habit of draping coat and jacket over a chair that she understood even he had lost his composure for a while.
“Would it be all right if I take you all the way to the door tonight?”
“What?”
“I’m worried your parents will scold you for coming in late after being with me.”
Ordinary adults who had merely lingered a little after a matchmaking meeting would never be questioned, yet Seok-hyeon spoke as though he already knew exactly what kind of people Da-yeon’s parents were.
“I think they’ll only feel easy if I greet them myself.”
If he stepped forward, her own burden would lighten. She nodded.
All the way home in Seok-hyeon’s car, Da-yeon’s heart hammered too hard.
The half-finished act, the anxiety of returning late, the fact that she had left her stepfather’s business briefing midway—any one of them was enough. She dreaded how fiercely Yoon Ju-ha would tear into her.
Perhaps because of what they had shared that afternoon, Seok-hyeon drove with one hand and held hers more naturally with the other.
“Nothing will happen.”
He said it as if telling her not to worry so much. Only then could she calm herself a little.
Tension climbed again just before they stepped into the elevator at the family home. Yet the moment she led Seok-hyeon to the front door, her heart grew strangely quiet. Because he was there, or simply because she had decided to let whatever would come, come.
Da-yeon drew a steadying breath and entered the door code.
“I’m home.”
She left Seok-hyeon standing outside and stepped inside with a deliberately loud greeting, intending to announce him first. Ju-ha was already seated in the center of the dining room.
“Sit down.”
The beautiful stepmother’s atmosphere promised scolding from the start. Da-yeon clenched her hands and moved forward, speaking first.
“I’m sorry for being late.”
“You knew and still came late?”
“I was with the person I’m meeting… I accidentally fell asleep.”
“Kim Da-yeon, I told you to use whatever you can use, but that doesn’t mean you get to throw yourself around loosely when nothing is settled.”
After thoroughly condemning her conduct, Ju-ha reached the real point.
“Na-bin told me. Your matchmaking partner is different from the one we knew.”
“…Yes. That’s how it turned out.”
“How does something like that just ‘turn out’? Did you switch men on your own whim?”
“No. He’s the man Director Jeong introduced. He’s here now because he wants to greet Mother…”
“At this hour? Without an invitation?”
Before Ju-ha could say more, footsteps sounded behind Da-yeon.
“Hello.”
The man’s voice carried low and clear. The strikingly handsome figure stepped between Ju-ha and Da-yeon and bowed his head to Ju-ha.
“I apologize for calling so suddenly.”
Gaze fixed on Ju-ha, Seok-hyeon introduced himself.
“I’m seeing Da-yeon. My name is Shin Seok-hyeon.”
The instant Ju-ha saw his face, her features crumpled and twisted. The dramatic reaction made Da-yeon draw a careful breath of her own. She had never imagined that simply looking different from the match Ju-ha had arranged would shake the woman so hard.
“…Nice to meet you.”
Ju-ha rose, tugging the corners of her mouth upward. The smile felt more exaggerated than usual. Unable to read its meaning, Da-yeon felt her skin prickle.
“Since you’re already here, come in and have a cup of tea.”
“Thank you.”
Only Da-yeon looked flustered by the sudden invitation. Seok-hyeon showed no tension at all. He seated Da-yeon on the sofa as naturally as breathing and sat beside her.
“You’re the one Da-yeon is seeing, so I can call you casually, right?”
“Yes. I’ll do the same.”
Seok-hyeon laid his hand over Da-yeon’s and offered Ju-ha a smooth smile.
“…Mother.”
Ju-ha looked at him and gave a short, hollow laugh.
“I was worried no one would ever take a liking to Da-yeon. So this is who did.”
Her gaze shifted to Da-yeon.
“Kim Da-yeon, how is it? Is Seok-hyeon treating you well?”
The address was far too intimate for a first meeting, yet Ju-ha’s presence burned so fiercely there was no room to correct it. Da-yeon’s chest tightened.
“I-it’s good. He’s so good to me… that I feel sorry…”
Watching her reaction, Ju-ha turned back to Seok-hyeon.
“Honey, our daughter says she likes him. Are you going to take her?”
“If Da-yeon is willing to come, I would be grateful.”
“You know what you’re getting into, don’t you?”
“……”
“Our daughter’s body isn’t quite right. She limps a little, and her head was injured. Is that really all right with you?”
A thin, sharp tension stretched between Ju-ha and Seok-hyeon. He answered with only a smile on his lips.
“It makes no difference to me.”
“……”
“And how does Mother, who arranged the match, feel about it?”
Ju-ha’s face twisted abruptly.
“Da-yeon, bring some fruit for the guest. Peel it nicely.”
“I don’t eat at night.”
“Then brew me some tea.”
Seok-hyeon tightened his grip on Da-yeon’s hand as if telling her to stay, but she rose anyway. Somehow the taut air needed to be broken. She went into the kitchen and set water to boil. Even without her, conversation continued; she could hear their voices in the distance. Pretending to arrange cups, she listened.
They did not raise their voices, yet the meaning came through clearly enough.
“What happened?”
“I went to the matchmaking meeting and met Da-yeon. Our hearts aligned, so we continued seeing each other. She said marriage needed to happen within the year, so we’re moving forward.”
“Matchmaking? Don’t make me laugh. I never connected you with anyone.”
“That’s how it turned out.”
“I’ll have a word with Director Jeong. Why isn’t he the man I was told about.”
“Anyone leans toward whoever pays more. Even if you catch the matchmaker, what will change?”
“Why wouldn’t it change? She deceived me and introduced some random man—do you think I’ll let that slide? Reputation matters in this circle.”
It did not sound like a first conversation between a prospective son-in-law and mother-in-law. The unrestrained, edged atmosphere froze Da-yeon in place. Ju-ha’s tone was pure irritation; Seok-hyeon showed not the slightest intimidation.
“To think a matchmaker has to take criticism even after connecting someone decent… How regrettable. Won’t everything be proven at the wedding hall?”
“……”
“Your friends with daughters will judge for themselves—whether the introduction was good or poor.”
Confidence ran through every word: they might regret losing a fine son-in-law candidate, but there would be no grounds for open blame. Laughter burst from Ju-ha.
“Honey, you’ve really moved up in the world. You could just meet a normal woman and live quietly. Why go to all this trouble? Are you spineless, or do you have some scheme? What is it you want?”