Chapter 8: The Unsettling Dream and a Cafe Encounter

Do-ha hastily covered his mouth with both hands. His body trembled from the icy wind that buffeted him, yet the cold was secondary to the fear that gripped him. Instinctively, Do-ha crouched low, concealing himself within the nearby bushes.

As the moon emerged from behind the clouds, the wind intensified, rustling the grass, and Do-ha watched as plum blossoms scattered above his head.

‘Where am I?’

Do-ha’s gaze, sweeping across the moonlit surroundings, suddenly fixed on a single spot.

Moments ago, nothing had stood beneath the plum tree. Now, a lone figure abruptly appeared. Soon, several more joined, their forms intertwining, and the instant long swords reflected the moonlight, Do-ha’s eyes snapped open.

“Haaah—”

Do-ha sat bolt upright, roughly rubbing his face with both hands. His hands, tracing his features, trembled faintly.

‘What had I just seen? Was it a dream?’ Nothing specific came to mind, yet his left chest throbbed with an unnaturally fast rhythm as he pressed a hand to it, scanning his surroundings.

In the dim light, he discerned he was in someone’s bedroom. The profound silence and the encroaching darkness spurred Do-ha to tumble out of bed and yank open the door.

The living room, bright in contrast to the bedroom, momentarily blinded Do-ha, who covered his eyes with his hands and took a deep breath. Only then, as the faint scent of plum blossoms reached him, did he lower his hands and spot Tae-jun asleep on the sofa.

The living room was simple, concise, and utterly uncluttered. The moment he saw Tae-jun sleeping soundly on the long sofa, his wildly pounding heart, his anxiety, and his nervousness all vanished in an instant.

The bone-chilling cold, as if from a terrifying, forgotten dream, subsided, and the tremor in his hands stilled.

The memory of last night’s company dinner returned, and as Do-ha realized he was in Tae-jun’s home, he drew a sharp breath.

He had drunk more than usual, and true to his habit, he must have fallen asleep midway through, prompting Tae-jun to bring him here. The oversized loungewear, ill-fitting on him, carried Tae-jun’s pheromones.

‘If he was going to sleep, why didn’t he just sleep with me? It’s not like I’d do anything.’

Seeing Tae-jun asleep in the living room while he himself had been put to bed, a wave of annoyance inexplicably washed over Do-ha. He disliked the unsettling dream that had left him feeling strange, and he certainly didn’t appreciate Tae-jun avoiding him as if he were contagious.

“Team Leader.”

Do-ha casually rolled up the trouser cuffs that dragged on the floor, then crouched beneath the sofa where Tae-jun slept, calling out softly.

“Tae-jun.”

Having grown accustomed to seeing Tae-jun with a stiff expression or a faint crease between his brows, the sight of his relaxed face made Do-ha’s chest tingle, prompting him to scratch it vigorously.

“Hey, Kang Tae-jun.”

Though he had started cautiously, Tae-jun remained utterly still, seemingly in a deep slumber. This prompted Do-ha, for the first time, to boldly call out Tae-jun’s full name as he pleased.

“Even like this, it’s annoying how handsome you are. I slept well, so I’ll be leaving now. Here’s for the room.”

Using the “room fee” as an excuse, Do-ha lightly pressed his lips to Tae-jun’s. Then, he opened the front door and left, heading straight for his own home.

“Thump—”

Hearing the loud thud from the front door Do-ha had closed with force, Tae-jun’s eyes slowly opened.

“Room fee.”

Murmuring in a hazy voice, Tae-jun covered his face with his hand. Only the sweet scent of peaches and the lingering sensation of soft, moist lips hinted at Do-ha’s brief presence.

Do-ha subtly sidestepped Jia, who stood by the front door glaring at him, and stepped inside his apartment.

“Spending the night out is so easy, isn’t it? And your clothes?”

“Ah—”

Do-ha glanced down at the loose loungewear he was wearing and awkwardly scratched his head.

Was it because Jia always called him an idiot, or had he truly become one? Do-ha found himself thinking he’d have to go back to Tae-jun’s house, using his clothes and bag as an excuse.

****

“Too much trouble.”

Do-ha, stretched out on the sofa with his eyes glued to the TV, replied to Hyun-woo.

“We were supposed to go to Gapyeong. What else would you do at home besides watch TV?”

“I drank yesterday.”

“Get up. At least go get some hangover food.”

“No.”

“Hey, Ryu Hyun-woo. What about me? Take me too. Is Do-ha your only friend?”

Jia handed a warm coffee to Hyun-woo, then kicked Do-ha, who was monopolizing the sofa, to make room for herself to sit.

Do-ha had been planning to retrieve his bag and clothes from the Team Leader’s house that afternoon. However, after Tae-jun had dropped them off, claiming he was just passing by, Do-ha had been utterly deflated and sprawled out ever since.

‘It was my fault for going to wash up at that exact moment and missing him, wasn’t it? Was it really my fault? Who told me to shower then, anyway? I could have seen him one more time, but I missed it. Well, it’s not like I don’t see his face every day when I go to work on Monday.’

“Jia, you wander around just fine on your own. This one won’t step a foot outside the house until tomorrow if I don’t drag him out. And when it gets cold, he won’t go out because he’s cold, so I have to take him out when it’s less chilly.”

Jia pouted at Hyun-woo’s plausible excuse as he settled onto the single-seater sofa with his coffee, then poked Do-ha repeatedly.

“Hurry up, get ready, and come out after you’ve showered. I want Hyun-woo to treat me for once too.”

“You guys, I’m tired from drinking yesterday!”

With Jia relentlessly nudging his calves, then his thighs, and now even his backside with her foot, Do-ha finally sat up and yelled.

“Ugh, do you always have to get hit to listen? Is coming home after drinking and spending the night out something to be proud of? Huh! If you keep this up, I’ll tell your auntie and make you move back to your family home.”

After taking a few smacks on the back, Do-ha grumbled and headed into the bathroom, with Jia’s ceaseless nagging pouring out behind him.

“Spent the night out?”

The moment Do-ha entered the bathroom, Jia snorted, watching Hyun-woo ask the question in a lowered voice.

‘Do-ha and Hyun-woo, living without a care in the world.’

Jia, long aware of Hyun-woo’s feelings, crossed her legs and stared intently at him.

“How long are you going to keep digging yourself into a hole? If you like him, just confess and snatch him up.”

“Do-ha, did he spend the night out?”

Hyun-woo’s tone was lower and more laced with warning than before, prompting Jia to kick his shin with the tip of her crossed foot.

“You idiot. Fine, save it up and give it to someone else then. Whether you two date or fight, that’s your business, just don’t let it affect me.”

“Han Jia, are you trying to change the subject?”

“He can drink and spend the night out sometimes. And the Team Leader brought him back safely and sent him home. Unless you’re going to confess and date him, don’t say anything useless in front of Do-ha.”

“Team Leader? The new Alpha who just joined?”

“Ugh, you clueless fool! Is it your ears that can’t understand when Hyun-woo says it’s cold outside, or is it your brain? Who wears a denim jacket, let alone not a leather jacket, in November!”

As Hyun-woo’s heavy tone settled in, Jia, pretending not to hear, rose from her seat and headed into the dressing room. There, she launched into another scolding at Do-ha for wearing clothes unsuitable for the season.

All of this was happening because of Do-ha’s utter lack of awareness.

“What’s the difference between looking at the Han River from home and looking at Cheongpyeong Lake from here? Why did we even come all this way?”

Normally, it was an hour’s drive, but due to weekend traffic, it had taken two hours. Do-ha grumbled testily the moment they arrived at the cafe.

“Seo Do-ha, just say thank you to Hyun-woo. Do you think driving for two hours in traffic is easy? And who else would take you out for fresh air if not Hyun-woo?”

As Jia led the grumbling Do-ha into the cafe, she poked his side and whispered lowly.

Thinking of Hyun-woo, who had deliberately dropped them off at the main entrance before going to park, Jia felt a pang of frustration.

‘What’s so great about this guy? Especially when he’s been crying recently about liking someone else.’

“Who asked for fresh air? Who dragged me out when I wanted to rest at home? And the traffic will be bad again on the way back.”

“I can’t actually beat you to death, but seriously, why are you like this with Hyun-woo? You’re so nice and accommodating to everyone else, so why do you always criticize him and only call him when you need something?”

Jia, bickering with Do-ha as they searched for a window seat inside, suddenly stopped. Following Do-ha’s frozen gaze, she turned her head.

“Sit outside? Hey, it’s cold.”

Even though it was midday, the wind had grown noticeably colder, making everyone prefer indoor window seats. Jia, thinking Do-ha was looking outside because they couldn’t find a suitable spot, couldn’t finish what she wanted to say.

At first, she simply thought, ‘Oh, some people still choose the outdoor terrace even in this weather.’ But then, Jia’s gaze fixed on a woman, tall and voluptuous, who was wearing a miniskirt and a leather jacket.

Then, a man handing a blanket to the woman seated on the outdoor sofa caught her eye. They seemed to be sharing a tender conversation, smiles gracing both their faces.

“Do-ha, you idiot.”

Before she could stop him, Do-ha opened the door to the terrace and walked out. A small curse escaped Jia’s lips as she rushed to follow him.

“Team Leader!”

“Darling? Who is this?”

‘Darling?’

Do-ha blinked, shifting his gaze from Tae-jun to the woman seated on the sofa. The unfamiliar term that came from the lips of a woman with dazzling, captivating beauty instantly flustered Do-ha.

“Seo Do-ha?”

“Oh my, darling, do you know them? It’s nice to meet you. I’m Jin, Kim Hye-jin.”

As the woman on the sofa rose, Do-ha involuntarily recoiled, stepping back and lifting his head. He hadn’t noticed while she was seated, but even at a glance, she was taller than Do-ha, and her high heels made her appear even more imposing.

‘Jin. Jin… Jin…’

Do-ha’s hand trembled as he clasped Hye-jin’s outstretched hand.

‘So this is her. The one in Tae-jun’s heart. The one he calls so wistfully. If that’s the case, then they must have broken up briefly back then, and now they’re getting back together?’

“Why are you out here in the cold? There are seats inside, go on.”

Do-ha, who had been awkwardly shaking Hye-jin’s hand, quickly released it as Hyun-woo put an arm around his shoulder.

In his awkwardness, Do-ha gripped the hot chocolate mug with both hands. Encountering Tae-jun in a cafe he’d entered with such reluctance was truly unexpected.

He hadn’t even considered who Tae-jun might be with, or why he was there. The moment he saw him, his heart had simply pounded like crazy, and it was his own fault for impulsively approaching him, simply happy to meet him outside.

If he had thought a little longer and observed, he would have known who Tae-jun was with, and he would have pretended not to notice, suggesting they go to another cafe with his friends.

“You’re the Team Leader at Do-ha’s company, correct?”

“Yes, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Kang Tae-jun.”

Do-ha subtly rolled his eyes, glancing at Hyun-woo and Tae-jun, who were now conversing.

Hyun-woo received Tae-jun’s business card, something Do-ha didn’t even possess. Watching him examine it briefly before putting it in his cardholder still felt surreal.

Caught in such an awkward encounter, unable to move or speak, they somehow ended up sharing a circular table on the secluded outdoor terrace.

Though the staff thoughtfully provided heaters, Do-ha’s heart felt colder than ever.

“I hope we’re not interrupting your date…”

Even Jia’s usually boisterous chatter was replaced with an uncharacteristically cautious tone, making the situation even more awkward.

“Oh, not at all. Jun isn’t particularly entertaining, and when the two of us meet, it’s always the same. I’m actually thrilled to meet so many lovely people today! Jia, you’re like a little doll.”

‘Jun? Ah, so that’s the Team Leader’s nickname.’ Do-ha listened to Hye-jin’s clear, vibrant voice and found himself unconsciously gripping his mug tighter.