Chapter 23

Lee Seong’s silhouette was nowhere to be seen. Whirrr. Only the sound of a hairdryer echoed from the bedroom’s dressing room.

She hurried to the utility room, threw the towel and underwear into the washing machine, and then quietly walked back into the living room—only to run right into Lee Seong, who had just stepped out of the bedroom.

She twisted the damp ends of her hair nervously while he scanned her from head to toe.

His stare was so blatant, it made her stomach twist and stirred a sticky, tingling sensation.

Wanting to shake off that slow-creeping heat, she blurted curtly:

“Can I use the dryer?”

When he picked out that beige T-shirt, he didn’t mean anything by it. But maybe—somewhere deep in his instincts—there was a hint of desire or greed?

The way the fabric clung to the rounded curves of emotion and the way the silhouette above stood out so clearly—it was enough to drive someone crazy.

He silently returned to the bedroom. She hesitantly followed behind and asked,

“Uh… there’s one in the guest room too, isn’t there?”

She’d definitely used it there before. Lee Seong didn’t respond and headed straight into the powder room, finally stopping in front of the vanity.

The dryer was already sitting on the vanity. He pointed to the chair with his eyes.

Leaning against the wall, arms crossed, he watched as she sat down.

“What? Gonna dry my hair for me or something?”

She snapped without reason, but Lee Seong beat her to it, grabbing the dryer first.

“Sure, why not.”

Whirrr. As the wind started, his large fingers tangled in her hair. Ah… his fingers digging in… they felt a bit rough?

The more he ran his fingers through her hair, the more disheveled she looked. Her messy hair fell in front of her face, and in the mirror, she looked like a butcher.

A mischievous grin tugged at Lee Seong’s lips in the reflection. He was clearly enjoying this.

She snatched the dryer, turned it off, and stood up abruptly.

“Hey.”

She didn’t forget her revenge—smacking him on the arm.

“Funny? Huh? What’re you gonna do with this butcher look?”

She quickly tried to fix her hair and tidy up. Lee Seong chuckled, as always, and played along.

“Why? I think that butcher look was way prettier.”

“Wanna try getting your neck chopped off by a butcher?”

Suddenly, he thrust his face toward hers.

“Here. I’m offering it. What are you gonna do?”

What? Isn’t this cheating? One second, he’s joking around like a friend—and the next, he’s hitting her with a face attack.

You keep me on edge every second. What are you? You used to be so easy to be around—why can’t I relax around you now?

To you, I probably still seem as easy as ever… but why have you become so difficult for me?

Is it indignation? Stubbornness?

Her heart pounding, she leaned in and pressed a kiss to his lips.

Just to see him surprised.

But why—why are you smiling with that amused glint in your eyes?

“…Why?”

“I’m going to lift you up. Is that okay?”

“What…? Like a princess carry or something?”

“You want that?”

“No.”

“Me neither.”

Then Lee Seong lifted her directly, holding her in his arms. With both hands supporting her hips, she had no choice but to rest her hands on his shoulders.

Their faces were so close she could see herself reflected in his pupils. Their bodies pressed together so tightly, her lower stomach brushed against his abs.

They had been close for nearly 30 years—but never this close. They’d never touched skin to skin. The wall of friendship had always stood between them.

Are we tearing that wall down now? Are we destroying something we built for 30 years in a single moment?

She didn’t know. But looking at his face—which looked especially good today—made her want to let it all crumble.

Like maybe… from long ago, she had already wanted to lose to this effortlessly perfect guy.

“I still… can’t believe it. That you’ve never done this before.”

You hold a woman so confidently.

“Even if you’re clumsy, I’ll understand.”

Even that sounds like something a playboy would say.

Lee Seong set her down gently on the edge of the king-sized bed, then knelt in front of her.

To meet her eye level, he placed both hands beside her hips.

Maybe it was the dimmed light… but her heart started racing like it was on fire. His dark eyes looked at her like they were caressing her face.

“I didn’t know this T-shirt was… so sexy.”

His eyes landed precisely on her chest. Why did her cheeks feel like they were burning?

“You planned this, didn’t you? Beige.”

She tried to counter with a joke. He just smirked and nodded.

“Yeah. I wanted to see it. You, looking sexy.”

What’s suffocatingly sexy is your answer. What’s tingling between my legs is my feeling.

“This is crazy… the fact we’re doing this sober…”

Before she even finished, Lee Seong moved closer. Their knees touched.

His big hands pulled her waist in. His lips moved closer to hers.

She quickly stuck a finger between his lips to block him.

“…Why?”

His breath slipped through his parted lips, tickling her finger.

“I… I came to help you. As a friend.”

“And?”

“You said you’ve never done it before. So… you wanted to try sex.”

Jeong-a. Why are you blushing again? Don’t you know that every time your cheeks turn red like a ripe peach, it sparks something like a teenager’s reflex in me?

“I did say that.”

“And… maybe it’s because of that ‘forbidden’ thing or whatever, but with me… you react.”

She pushed forward with her embarrassing words. Lee Seong just stared blankly.

“So what’s the point?”

“Do you have a blindfold? Or a scarf… something to cover your eyes.”

He couldn’t help but look at her with suspicion. Did Gamjeong have a rough kink he didn’t know about?

She had always been a bit tough, but her heart was soft as cotton.

“A kink?”

Ugh. What now. I would try it—but I could never hurt you.

“No. It’s not like that. I seriously just want to help you. I thought of different ways. One of them is: if your eyes are covered, I’ll… touch you. And you imagine I’m someone else. Just focus on the feeling. If you react even then, then it’s kind of a success, isn’t it?”

“…”

So you want to blindfold me? Tell me to imagine someone else? He let out a scoff. No matter how hard he tried, he’d only be able to picture her.

Even with a blindfold, the only woman his mind would paint… was her.

“This could be one kind of therapy.”

And yet, he’d go along with her silly idea. Because that’s what it’d take to be remembered by her—not just as a friend, but as a man.

“How far are you planning to touch me?”

She was a bit shocked at his blunt, raw response—but held his gaze.

“As far as you’ll allow me to.”

Slick—that smirk of his curved up just like a villain’s.

“I’ll allow everything.”

“Great.”

Acting tough. Pure bravado.

Swish. Lee Seong got up and quickly grabbed a blindfold, returned, and without hesitation, put it over his eyes as he sat beside her.

This guy—really was bold.

His quick execution amazed her. She swallowed nervously and gave him a warning.

“If I touch you… or kiss you… you won’t be surprised, right?”

No—more like she was asking for permission. He just smiled with interest.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“What you absolutely have to do… is imagine I’m someone else. Not me. Got it? That’s what makes this method work.”

“…”

“I really want to help you.”