Chapter 78: Awkward Reunions and Hidden Truths

I jumped, startled. I absolutely wasn’t in the mood for this.

“Who said anything about eating now? I meant lunch at the office. That’d make people think we’re close enough!”

“Dinner together would make us seem even closer, right? I was already planning to go, so this works out.”

Why go that far when there’s no one to show? Flustered, I hardened my expression and said.

“Let me out. I’m leaving.”

Do Yoon glanced at me, sighed lightly, and replied.

“…How do you get out here? I’ll drive you.”

His conceding tone annoyed me.

“…”

As the mood chilled, he watched me cautiously.

I was fixating on his words, “my place.” I still lived where we used to, but realizing he’d settled elsewhere without me felt strange. He’d returned from the States, so it was natural, but… were all our childhood memories gone?

“Why’re you mad?”

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

His nitpicking tone irritated me, so I closed my eyes. He focused on driving. Pretending to rest, I actually fell asleep.

When I woke, it was pitch-black night. The heated seat was so warm I thought I’d slept on an electric blanket. Rubbing my eyes, I heard Do Yoon.

“Awake?”

“…?”

Turning, I saw him propped on one arm, facing me, staring as if my sleeping face was content. Reflexively, I gasped and wiped my mouth—thankfully, no drool.

“What? Are we at my place?”

Checking the time, it was 11 p.m. Crazy.

“No, just nearby.”

“Why didn’t you wake me?”

“Wanted to watch you sleep. You seemed exhausted.”

“Why stare at someone’s face? Pervert?”

He chuckled softly, then reached for my face. Startled, I tried dodging, but the seatbelt pinned me. He whispered.

“No way.”

His warm fingers brushed my cheek, sending shivers through me. I was too stunned to speak. The seatbelt felt like his gaze, trapping me. He smiled prettily.

“But… don’t you have to touch to be a pervert?”

He pinched my cheek lightly with his thumb and forefinger—something I used to do to him as a kid.

My face flushed. It felt… wrong, like I’d done something forbidden. I fumbled to unbuckle and open the door, but it was locked. Do Yoon, seeing me panic, frowned.

“It’s cold out. I’ll drive you.”

“You said that earlier.”

“And I did. We’re near my place by the park. It’s a 20-minute walk or 5-minute drive. Why catch a cold?”

His “my place” hit me, crumbling my defenses. I couldn’t respond. Taking my silence as agreement, he turned the wheel. Outside, black trees rustled in the wind.

“We used to walk here a lot, right?”

“…You talk about the past so casually.”

I snapped, hurt. He smiled faintly.

“It took a lot to get there.”

What? He’d left, yet acted like he was the one hurt. He’d picked up cryptic speech in the States. We reached my apartment in a blink, as promised. But now, I hesitated to get out.

Should I say, “Thanks for the ride, good night”?

As I fiddled with the seatbelt, Do Yoon, staring ahead awkwardly like me, blurted out.

“Can I… come up?”

My heart plummeted, thinking I’d said it aloud. I turned, trembling. He stared straight ahead, jaw clenched.

“W-Why?”

“Does there need to be a reason?”

I almost said no, then remembered my place was a mess. The housekeeper was on vacation, and I didn’t want him seeing clothes strewn everywhere. I blurted.

“I don’t let just anyone in.”

He whipped around, eyes blazing with hurt or anger. Instinctively, I added.

“…It’s messy right now.”

He stared, then said.

“Is that all?”

“What else would there be?”

“…Alright. Let me know when you clean.”

Feeling odd, I got out. He didn’t move until I entered the building. From my balcony, I saw him linger in the parking lot before driving off. My heart pounded strangely.

I’d suggested eating together, but I didn’t expect Do Yoon to be this aggressive. Five minutes before lunch, he showed up at our office, looming over my desk. I looked up from his giant shadow, startled to see him staring down like a bear.

“What?”

“We’re eating lunch together from now on, right?”

The office’s remaining eyes widened, focusing on us. My face burned.

“You…!”

I glanced around, cleared my throat, and whispered.

“…Wait outside.”

Ah Young, beside me, flinched.

“Seung Hyun, I’m eating with Ji An and Sun Woo today.”

Do Yoon’s eyebrow shot up. He turned to her, smiling.

“No, can I join you? You all usually eat with hyung. I don’t want to break up the group.”

He looked like he wanted to break it.

“And I’d like to know who’s close to hyung. Can I join?”

It was hard to refuse. Ah Young nodded awkwardly.

Lunch in the cafeteria with Do Yoon was unusually quiet. Trouble started when we sat. I took a seat, and Do Yoon sat across. Ah Young and Sun Woo flanked me, leaving Ji An, who arrived last, no choice but to sit beside Do Yoon after hesitating.

Seeing her, Do Yoon’s face turned cold, and he looked away. I clucked my tongue inwardly.

Playing hard to get.

I suspected he joined us because of Ji An. Why else insist on this group instead of eating alone with me? I felt inexplicably annoyed.

“…”

An awkward silence hung over our table. Without the cafeteria’s usual bustle, it would’ve been unbearable. Even Sun Woo, usually chatty, eyed Do Yoon and me, as if asking, Why’s he here?

Say something, anything!

I screamed internally, then said casually.

“You all know him, right? This is Director Choi Do Yoon, my brother. He wanted to join us for lunch today. Sorry for the surprise.”

“It’s not set we’ll only eat today. Maybe every day,” Do Yoon said with a friendly smile, turning to Sun Woo. “Sorry about the other day. I wasn’t snapping at you—hyung can’t eat cucumbers. I panicked seeing one in the sandwich and was rude.”

Sun Woo blinked, surprised.

“You know my name?”

“Of course. You’re hyung’s boss. You eat together daily, seem close. I’m counting on you.”

Sun Woo replied eagerly.

“No, I’m counting on you!”

Then Ji An mumbled.

“Cucumber sandwiches…”