Episode 24
As they stepped into the elevator, Junghyun glanced at Seorin and asked,
“What floor?”
“24th.”
Junghyun paused as he reached for the 24th-floor button.
“…Are you going to the lounge?”
“Yes.”
Seorin answered plainly, but her eyes widened.
“Wait… are you going too?”
Junghyun nodded stiffly.
“You’re here because Taeyoon’s mother called you, right?”
“Yeah. Looks like she called you too.”
Seorin bit her lower lip and nodded.
“Why are we… together?”
She murmured and trailed off. Junghyun seemed just as clueless. Neither of them had an answer.
As the two of them silently tried to decipher Youngsookâs intentions, the elevator doors opened on the lounge floor. Walking down a neatly decorated hallway, they were greeted by a staff member as they entered.
“We have a reservation under Ahn Youngsook.”
“Ahn Youngsook… This way, please.”
Hearing the name, the staff led Seorin and Junghyun to a private section of the lounge.
Youngsook was already seated by the window, where a full view of the Seoul skyline spread before her. But it wasnât Youngsook that Seorin noticed first.
It was Chaehee, sitting beside Youngsook, her long hair down, looking as happy as ever.
“Over here, over here!”
Her eyes sparkling, Jaehee waved excitedly and shouted.
Youngsook and Jaeheeâboth were here.
Why did she call us all here?
Seorin couldnât begin to guess what Youngsook was planning. As she and Junghyun took their seats, Youngsook smiled warmly.
“Itâs been a while, both of you. Have you been well?”
“Yes. Have you been well too, maâam?”
Junghyun replied smoothly with a polite smile. While the server came to take their drink orders, Seorin kept darting her eyes between Youngsook and Junghyun.
The atmosphere was strange and awkward. This group didnât exactly feel natural gathered together like this.
Jaehee made sense, but Junghyun? Was Youngsook trying to ask something of him?
Apparently, Seorin wasnât the only one with questions. As soon as the server left, Junghyun turned to Youngsook and spoke.
“You said you had something to talk about, so I came⊠but seeing Seorin and Jaehee here too, I didnât expect this.”
Youngsook was about to respond, but Chaehee quickly interrupted with excitement.
“Oppa, are you dating Seorin?”
“Mom told me you two decided to try dating. Is that true?”
Junghyun blinked slowly and turned to look at Seorin, as if silently asking, Whatâs going on?
Seorin bit her lip hard. She wasnât sure what had happened, but it was clear that what she told Taeyoon a few days ago had made its way to Youngsook.
Without asking her first, Youngsook had called Junghyun, assuming things as fact. It was incredibly uncomfortable.
“Whatâs with the silence? Are you dating or not?”
Junghyun quickly picked up on Seorinâs flustered expression and Chaeheeâs probing tone. Even without asking more, he seemed to understand the situation immediately.
Junghyun looked away from Seorin and smiled.
“Didnât expect Seorin to make the first move.”
“Thatâs right, Jaehee. Weâre seeing each other now. Itâs still new, so we havenât told many people yet.”
Seorinâs eyes widened slightly. Her trembling pupils locked on Junghyun, but he wasnât looking back at her, so she couldnât read his expression.
Chaehee, on the other hand, looked both surprised and thrilled.
“I knew it! I always thought you two looked good together. Junghyun oppa is so dependable and sincere. He has a stable job. For someone like Seorin, heâs perfect.”
Someone like me? Seorin felt a wave of discomfort but couldnât show it.
“Congratulations! I fully support you two.”
Chaehee even clapped cheerfully. Under the table, where no one could see, Seorin clenched her fist. The lie she had told just to shake off Taeyoon had snowballed into something she couldnât control.
What do I do now? Seorin lowered her head, overwhelmed.
Just then, a deep, cold voice interrupted.
“What a fun gathering this is. Mom, Yoo Jaehee, Eun Seorin⊠and even Lee Junghyun.”
Seorinâs head shot up. Across the room, she saw Taeyoon standing there, having quietly approached.
His eyes scanned the table with a sharp, icy gaze.
“Oh, Taeyoon, youâre here. Come, have a seat.”
Youngsook quickly stood and slid a chair next to Chaehee. Taeyoon looked irritated but sat down next to her.
Youngsook then took a side seat, clasping her hands together with a pleased expression.
“Looking at these beautiful couples makes me so happy.”
But only Chaehee smiled at her words. Taeyoon and the other two showed no hint of joy. In fact, the way Taeyoon stared at Junghyun was filled with cold fury.
Still looking at Junghyun, Taeyoon spoke.
“Mother insisted I come at this exact time, and now I see why. What a setup.”
“Well, weâve known each other a long time. I thought we should properly celebrate this.”
“Celebrate?”
“Yes. Seorin and Junghyun are dating now. Isnât that great, Taeyoon?”
Youngsook smiled at Taeyoon, even though she mustâve sensed the storm brewing in him.
Seorin glanced at Chaehee. She was smiling with her eyes, clearly hiding something.
Finally, Seorin understood why Youngsook had gathered them all hereâto make their relationship official in front of everyone, sealing the situation so no one could undo it.
“Lee Junghyun and Eun Seorin dating, huh…”
Taeyoon rolled his tongue inside his mouth like he was tasting something unpleasant, and stared at Junghyun.
“Is that true?”
“What is?”
“You and Eun Seorinâare you really dating?”
The sharp question hung in the air, and tension filled the room. Seorin felt like her heart would burst from the pressure.
But Junghyun looked unfazed. When the coffee they had ordered arrived, he even smiled at the server and thanked them politely. Once the server left, Junghyun turned back with a smile.
“Youâre a little late to the news, Taeyoon.”
Ignoring Taeyoonâs dagger-like stare, Junghyun took a sip of his coffee, then gently placed the cup back on the saucer.
“Yes. You probably already know, but Iâve liked Seorin for a long time⊔
He turned to Seorin.
“…and not too long ago, she accepted my feelings.”
Junghyun reached out and held Seorinâs hand tightly. She was shocked but didnât let it show. If she faltered even a little, Taeyoon would see through the lie.
So Seorin forced herself to smile at Junghyunâas if she were looking at someone she truly loved.
Seeing this, both Youngsook and Chaehee looked thrilled. And as their joy grew, so did the coldness in Taeyoonâs expression, turning his gaze into something sharp and dangerous.
