Bad addiction

The screen suddenly lit up with a message.

[This is Kim Yoon-han. Have you decided what you’d like to eat?]

It was a message she had no desire to receive.

“Oh, right.”

Hae-eun let out a deep sigh.

She also remembered the message she had seen in the hotel bathroom yesterday from Soon-young.

[I heard from him. Since you both like each other, there’s no need to waste time. It’s best to start preparing for the wedding right away.]

At what point did Yoon-han get the idea that she had feelings for him?

Was it because she had simply listened to him talk?

“Does that mean no other woman has ever done that before?”

If that was really the reason, she almost felt sorry for him.

Not wanting to let Yoon-han misunderstand further, Hae-eun immediately pressed the call button.

After a few monotonous dial tones, Yoon-han answered with his deep voice.

-Of course, a call is always better than a message. That way, I can hear your voice.

Before she could even say hello, he started with his usual flirtatious remarks.

Not wanting to repeat yesterday’s situation, Hae-eun spoke firmly.

“I received a call from your mother.”

-Oh, so you’ve already spoken with her. That’s great. Let’s get straight to the point. I don’t want to delay marriage past this year.

“Are you planning to get married alone?”

He had already crossed the line, but Hae-eun didn’t want to be rude.

If she wasn’t interested, she just needed to decline politely.

“Can I speak first?”

-Go ahead. Ladies first. Women usually have dreams about marriage, don’t they?

“It’s not that….”

His arrogance left her speechless for a moment.

Taking a deep breath, she continued.

“I think this is where we end things.”

-What did you just say?

“I’m sorry. I hope you meet someone good.”

She thought it was a simple and straightforward rejection.

-You acted all sweet and cute when I complimented you, but now you’re getting ahead of yourself.

She hadn’t even said anything offensive, yet his tone immediately changed.

Hearing such an unpleasant remark made her frown.

“What do you mean by that?”

-You were all over me, pressing up against me. And now you’re acting innocent? That’s sexual harassment!

“What?! What are you talking about?!”

How could he twist things like this?

Did he even understand the meaning of sexual harassment?

His words were so ridiculous that she clenched her jaw.

-Or maybe you wanted to sleep with me, but I didn’t pick up on it? You should’ve just said so. Trying to send signals with your body—that’s so cheap.

“Why are you saying this to me?”

-Oh, so you feel embarrassed hearing it out loud? You did everything, and now you’re pretending you didn’t?

He wasn’t answering her questions and had even started speaking informally.

At this point, there was no reason to continue the conversation.

“Then I’ll hang up now.”

She didn’t want to waste time arguing, so she ended the call.

“Is he crazy?”

This wasn’t what she had expected when she agreed to a blind date.

She felt sick to her stomach.

Blocking his number seemed like the best decision, so she checked her phone—only to see another incoming call.

She was about to reject it but then decided it would be better to say something sharp before cutting ties for good.

She pressed the call button.

“Mr. Kim Yoon-han, when did I ever act in a way that could be misunderstood?”

“You said I was sexually harassing you? That’s what you did to me.”

She had tried to stay calm, but the words spilled out on their own.

Oops.

She regretted speaking without thinking, but it was too late.

Since she had already started, she might as well say everything on her mind.

Just as she was about to continue, a voice interrupted her.

-You should have said that at the blind date.

“…..Huh?”

Hearing the voice from the other end, Hae-eun’s shoulders flinched.

-Don’t tell me you don’t recognize my voice after spending the night with me?

It was only then that she realized who she was talking to.

Her face flushed bright red.

“Di… Director?”

-Sorry? You called the wrong person?

“…I sincerely apologize. I mistook you for someone else.”

-You should be apologizing for something else. I warned you, but you still made me feel the same way as before.

“I… I’m really sorry.”

She had no excuses for this.

Her eyes shut tightly in embarrassment.

-Do you have time right now?

“What for?”

She frantically fanned her face, trying to cool it down.

-That guy is out of the picture now, right? Let’s talk about what happened between us. I’m outside your house.

“W-What? How do you know where I live?”

-I looked it up through company records. That part… I apologize for.

Hearing this, she quickly glanced out the window.

‘…!’

It wasn’t a lie.

A luxurious sedan, completely out of place in her neighborhood, was parked in front of her house.

Seeing Do-jun waiting outside made her mouth go dry.

-I’ll wait however long you need. Just come out.

“Director…”

-I don’t want to leave things unresolved like last time. Let’s have a proper conversation.

She felt like a mouse trapped in a cage.

They had just spent an intense night together a few hours ago.

If she had to face him again, she would have preferred a few days to compose herself.

But Do-jun clearly had no intention of giving her that time.

Wiping her sweaty hands on her clothes, she responded.

“Please wait thirty minutes.”

-I’ll wait. Call me when you’re ready.

With that, the call ended.

Hae-eun stood frozen in place for a while.

⸻

She left the house in light makeup and simple clothes.

As soon as she stepped outside, Do-jun got out of the driver’s seat.

Their eyes met, and just that alone made her toes curl with tension.

Before she knew it, he was standing right in front of her.

“Did you eat?”

“Yes.”

She had actually skipped a meal, fearing another situation like yesterday where she barely touched her food.

But as soon as she said it, she realized her mistake.

“Uh… But if you haven’t eaten yet, we can go get something.”

Trying to cover up the lie, she made the suggestion.

Do-jun frowned slightly.

“You don’t have to do that. Let’s just talk over coffee.”

“I don’t mind eating, though. Let’s go.”

“Since I already waited for you, just get in the car.”

“…Okay.”

With nothing more to say, she quickly got into the passenger seat.

Do-jun’s car always felt like an uncomfortable place to be.

They arrived at a dessert café not far from her home.

‘A place like this?’

It was a popular spot, known for its delicious desserts and beautiful interior.

Hae-eun often stopped by after work, but it didn’t seem like the kind of place Do-jun would go.

‘Did his taste change while he was in the U.S.?’

Three years had passed.

Her feelings for him hadn’t changed, but something about him seemed different.

Maybe he had come here before—with another woman?

That thought made her uneasy.

All they had ever done together was… roll around in bed.

‘No. It’s none of my business.’

Even so, her heart ached slightly.

Lost in thought, she stared blankly at the dessert display.

That’s when Do-jun suddenly spoke.

“When you’re stressed, you eat sweets, right?”

“…Huh?”

Turning to him in surprise, she saw him smile slightly.

“Do you still like macarons?”

“How… How do you remember that?”

Startled, she stiffened.

He simply gestured toward the display.

“Let’s order. We have a lot to talk about.”

“Ah… Yes, okay.”

Even with her favorite dessert in front of her, she couldn’t focus.

Her heart pounded.

She placed her hand over her chest, trying to calm herself down.