It’s the Overseas Business Department.
“I reaaally like it.”
Contrary to what she said, Bom’s eyes sank with loneliness.
“So I’m… pretty admirable, right?”
Her eyes demanded an answer as she stared directly at Jung-hoo. Mesmerized by Bom’s clear gaze, he ended up responding without realizing it.
“Uh… Yeah. You did well. Admirable.”
Jung-hoo, who had instinctively reached out to pat her head, quickly dropped his hand and clenched his fist.
“There was… no one to tell.”
With that, Bom collapsed onto the table. Jung-hoo’s gaze softened with pity as he looked at her. Because he understood exactly what she meant by having no one to tell.
Bom had grown up in an orphanage. She had no family or relatives. She once told him that her name, Han Bom, was given to her by the orphanage director.
“Born in winter, but named Bom (spring)?”
Mocking the director’s sense of naming, Jung-hoo downed the rest of his beer. As if the sky had a hole in it, the unceasing rain somehow felt strangely comforting today.
There was no sign the rain would stop. More than half of the room service meal remained untouched. That was because Bom had passed out while drinking beer in a rush.
“She sure sleeps well.”
The tense look she had earlier was long gone, replaced by a relaxed expression. Jung-hoo found it absurd, yet somewhat relieving.
It had been far too long since he’d last seen Bom so unguarded. With the beer finished, he stood up. But Bom showed no sign of waking. Eventually, Jung-hoo supported her from the table—one arm under her back, the other slipping under her legs—and lifted her up.
“……”
As her limp body pressed against his, he felt the blood rush downward. A dull ache formed beneath his abdomen, and an impure sensation stirred within him. Soon, the heat blurred his intoxicated mind.
“Damn it.”
He cursed under his breath and carried her into the bedroom. After gently laying her down on the bed, he froze. Hovering above her, trapping her in his arms, Jung-hoo stared at her sleeping face.
Her long lashes cast shadows under her closed eyes. Maybe it was her pale skin, but her cheeks were flushed bright red. Her full lips were slightly parted, then softly pursed again.
“You’re getting on my nerves.”
His gaze deepened, following her lips. Just as he was about to pull himself away to avoid doing something foolish, Bom slowly opened her eyes. Her hazy, drunken gaze landed on him, then widened.
“I only had three cans of beer. I just needed to close my eyes for a moment.”
“Sunbae…”
In a faint voice, Bom called him, gently clutching his shirt. Jung-hoo stopped moving instantly.
She thought if she saw him again, she’d be able to say everything she’d wanted to for years. But Bom couldn’t utter a single word.
Each winter, thinking of this man, she’d silently ask the same question.
Is winter still a nightmare for you?
For me, the winter I was born in… doesn’t feel so bad anymore because of you.
It’s becoming a rather decent season now.
The words she couldn’t bring herself to say lodged painfully in her throat. As their gazes locked, the feelings she’d buried surged uncontrollably. The emotions she’d kept hidden for so long turned into desire.
Hold on to him.
A voice inside her stoked the fire of her long-concealed heart.
If I could just be honest—just this once…
The thought of never seeing him again pushed a desperate wish to the surface.
“Will you stay with me?”
Out of all the countless things caught in her throat, the most dangerous desire slipped out.
“You’re drunk.”
As expected, he responded coldly. But Bom, consumed by alcohol, had already lost her reason.
“…I know.”
Bom, her lips trembling, looked at him with desperate eyes.
“I’m saying it because I’m drunk.”
She didn’t even know what she was saying anymore. Words spilled from her lips without passing through her head.
“Just take it as drunken rambling.”
Jung-hoo lifted her chin. Her unfocused eyes met his. The cold night breeze in his gaze twisted, becoming murky.
“Go on, then.”
The moment his permission dropped—
“Sleep with me.”
Her lips moved on their own.
Like an overstuffed bag with a zipper that wouldn’t close, the feelings she’d tried to suppress spilled out all at once.
“It’s not like we’ll ever see each other again anyway.”
Her voice cracked with tension despite her bold words. Jung-hoo’s lips twisted into a sardonic smile.
“How can you be sure? That we’ll never see each other again.”
“Because…”
“What’ll you do if we meet again? How will you handle that?”
His eyes, curved with amusement, burned with intensity. Bom, unaware of how stirred he already was, clutched his shirt tighter. She feared he might turn away. Even if this encounter was a coincidence, she wanted at least this one night.
Maybe then, she could finally let go of the feelings she’d held for so long.
“If that happens… I’ll find a way to handle it. So please…”
As she stared at the crumpled fabric of his shirt, Jung-hoo grabbed her hand and pinned it beside her head.
“I warned you.”
Then his lips met hers. Unlike their first innocent kiss, this one was deep and sensual. Pulling away slightly, he whispered against her ear.
“Try handling it, then.”
And with that, their lips crashed again, rougher this time. The distant memory blurred her mind.
Empty bottles and lukewarm stew sat on the table, untouched. The conversation had fizzled into silence.
Their eyes met unexpectedly. His gaze, darker than before, held her captive. Bom looked away, but he held her chin and made her face him. Before her widened eyes could fully reflect him—
Their lips met.
A cold kiss brought a warm breath that made her dizzy. When she opened her eyes slightly, snow was falling outside the window.
It must’ve been the first snow. Her mind turned blank, and the hand clutching his shirt wouldn’t let go.
Her stopped heart beat wildly, unsure of what to do.
Even after eight years, nothing had changed.
She didn’t know why their first kiss came to mind now. Maybe because it was a moment filled with fleeting excitement and an undercurrent of sorrow.
Even now, from his cool lips came a heat that felt like it would burn her.
“Haa…”
Their wet lips met again with a lewd sound. As if tonight were their last, Bom wrapped her arms around Jung-hoo’s neck. He pulled her close by the waist.
She hadn’t realized how deeply Seo Jung-hoo had embedded himself within her.
She had no idea, and yet still dreamed of an ordinary love like everyone else.
She thought it might be possible…
“You look like you regret this.”
After a long kiss, he finally pulled away. His cracked voice rang in her ears. His eyes, drenched in desire, were pitch black. Bom silently shook her head. His lips curved—relieved, perhaps.
“Good.”
“…”
“Even if you regretted it, I had no intention of stopping.”
Jung-hoo slipped his hand under her shirt. His large palm gently cupped her sensitive skin, sending a thrilling shiver through her body.
Ah.
Bom bit her lip to stifle the sound about to escape.
“Let it out.”
“But…”
Her brows furrowed awkwardly. No matter who initiated it, moaning still felt too embarrassing.
“You said you’d handle it.”
His lips still pressed against her white neck, Jung-hoo looked up into her eyes.
“So make noise. Let me go crazy.”
In a deceptively gentle voice, he nipped her earlobe. His lips trailed down her skin, branding her without hesitation.
She couldn’t resist the ticklish sensation below her navel and gripped the sheets tightly. Watching the crumpled sheets, Jung-hoo grabbed her hand and placed it on his shoulder.
“It’ll hurt.”
His tone was serious. Bom felt a flicker of fear—but not enough to make her run.
She might never see him again.
“I’ll try my best not to hurt you.”
To soothe her fear, he gently kissed her forehead.
“If it hurts, hold on to me.”
Bom nodded, face tense. And when he finally filled her, she clung to him, unable to endure. Her nails unknowingly dug into his shoulder.
“…Ah.”
She let out a long, restrained moan and held onto Jung-hoo.
It was a night of unrelenting rain.
From now on, whenever it rains, she’ll remember this night.
