Chapter 165: Damn, Min Hayoon, Part 2

Hong Seo-hyun was aware of her fondness for Hayoon. It wasn’t romantic, but a genuine, platonic affection.

She didn’tHong Seo-hyun was aware of her fondness for Hayoon. It wasn’t cling to people she disliked. She was the type to become attached to those she liked, turning into a veritable shadow.

Their relationship had been a rollercoaster romantic love, but a deep sense of affection and connection.

She wasn’. They had become close, made mistakes, drifted apart, reconnected at the hotel, and then distanced themselves again.

But Hong Seo-hyun was pronet the type to cling to someone she didn’t like. She was drawn to people she admired, becoming almost inseparable once a bond was formed.

Their relationship had been a rollercoaster. They had been close, then distant after a misunderstanding, then closer after their hotel conversation, and then distant again due to attachment, especially when the object of her affection was her CEO, her junior from high school, and the person who had discovered her and helped her achieve her dreams.

How could she not be attached?

She had patiently waited for to circumstances. But Hong Seo-hyun valued her relationships, and Hayoon was not just a friend, but her CEO, her junior from high school, and the person who had discovered her and helped her achieve her dreams.

How Hayoon to deal with pressing matters, like Trinity’s debut. Since their hotel stay, they had essentially seen all there was to see of each other, figuratively speaking. The final line hadn’t been crossed, but could she not be attached?

Hong Seo-hyun had patiently waited for Hayoon to finish important tasks, like Trinity’s debut. Since their hotel stay, they had seen each other’s vulnerable sides, sharing intimate moments. that wasn’t important.

“We can just hold hands, hug, and kiss. Like we did before things got busy.”

Hong Seo-hyun wanted to rekindle their connection. She had waited patiently for over six months while Hayoon prepared for Trinity’s debut.

And she had waited. They hadn’t crossed the final line, but that wasn’t important right now.

“We can just hold hands, hug, and kiss. Like we did before things got busy.”

Hong Seo-hyun wanted to rekindle their connection. She had endured months of Hayoon’s preoccupation with Trinity

But after the horror game stream, something had snapped. Accidentally touching Hayoon’s bare skin under the blanket had made it difficult to suppress her desires.

And in that moment of frustration, Hong Seo-hyun realized her feelings for Hayoon were more than just platonic. They were romantic.

’s debut.

And then, during the horror game stream, she had accidentally touched Hayoon’s bare skin, and her self-control had snapped.

It was in that moment of vulnerability that Hong Seo-hyun recognized her romantic feelings for Hayoon. It wasn’t just platonic affection;Some might question the validity of romantic feelings between two women, but Hong Seo-hyun had a compelling counterargument: anyone would be captivated by Hayoon’s… assets.

Especially since they had shared more than just casual physical contact since high school. Once those feelings surfaced, there was no turning back.

it was something more.

Some might question romantic feelings between two women, but Hong Seo-hyun had a simple counterargument: Anyone would be captivated by Hayoon’s alluring figure.

They had shared intimate moments since high school, and once those feelings surfaced, there was no turning back.

“Hay”Hayoon.”

Hong Seo-hyun pressed Hayoon’s hand against her cheek, then gently kissed the back of it.

“Huh?”

This level of physical contact wasn’t unusual for them. They had kissed before. Kissing someone’s hand was even more innocent.

Itoon?”

Hong Seo-hyun gently pressed her lips against Hayoon’s hand.

“Hmm?”

This level of physical contact wasn’t unusual for them. They had even kissed before. A kiss on the hand was more innocent than a kiss on the lips.

It shouldn’t have shouldn’t have been a big deal…

But it was.

“Unnie…”

“Yes?”

“Are you going to keep doing this?”

“What’s wrong?”

Hayoon felt a jolt of… something. She sensed a seductive energy emanating from Hong Seo-hyun.

been a big deal… but it was.

“Unnie…”

“Yes?”

“Why are you doing this?”

“Doing what?”

Hayoon felt a thrill. There was a seductive glint in Hong Seo-hyun’s eyes.

The full makeup and Hong Seo-hyun’The simple act of kissing her hand, combined with Hong Seo-hyun’s full makeup and alluring outfit, was surprisingly captivating. She exuded an almost actress-like aura.

Hayoon had always thought Hong Seo-hyun looked like a singer-songwriter, but now, she resembled a seasoned actress.

s alluring aura made the simple gesture of kissing her hand feel much more intimate. She exuded an almost actress-like charisma.

Hayoon had always thought Hong Seo-hyun had the look of a singer-songwriter, but today, she resembled a captivating actress.

‘Is this an act? A‘Is she acting? Is this a prank?’

No, that was unlikely. Hong Seo-hyun wouldn’t joke about this, and she knew Hayoon wouldn’t appreciate it.

If it wasn’t a joke…

‘Then she’s serious…’

“Ugh…”

Hayoon stood hidden camera prank?’

No, it was unlikely. Hong Seo-hyun wouldn’t joke about something like this, and she knew Hayoon wouldn’t appreciate it.

And if it wasn’t a joke…

‘She’s serious?’

“Ugh…”

Hayoon stood up and turned up abruptly, turning her back to Hong Seo-hyun. She needed time to think.

‘Have I been too careless?’

In a way, this was her fault. She had justified their physical intimacy with the excuse that it was harmless fun between women. Now, they had kissed, and Hong away from Hong Seo-hyun, needing a moment to process her feelings.

‘Have I been too careless?’

In a way, this was her fault. She had justified their intimate moments with the excuse that it was harmless fun between friends. But those actions had led to this. Now, Hong Seo-hyun’s current behavior was a direct consequence of Hayoon’s ambiguous actions.

Having reached this conclusion, Hayoon spoke.

“Unnie, aren’t you being a bit hasty? Do you understand what this means?”

She gently tried to dissuade Hong Seo-hyun.

Seo-hyun had confessed her feelings, and Hayoon felt responsible.

“Unnie… aren’t you being a bit hasty? Do you understand what this means?”

Hayoon gently tried to dissuade her.

But…

“After leading me on and then ignoring me, you don’tBut…

“After leading me on and then ignoring me, you don’t want me now? You won’t even kiss me? That was my first kiss.”

“Oh…”

Hong Seo-hyun seemed prepared, anticipating Hayoon’s resistance. She had played a trump card: the first want to be with me anymore? You won’t even kiss me? That was my first kiss.”

“Oh…”

Hong Seo-hyun had come prepared. She had anticipated Hayoon’s resistance and delivered a checkmate.

A first kiss. No one could deny its significance. Hay kiss.

No one could deny the significance of a first kiss. Hayoon couldn’t possibly say, “Yes, I was your first kiss, but I only did it for fun. You enjoyed it too, didn’t you?”

This severely limited Hayoon’s options.

She pausedoon couldn’t possibly say, “Yes, it was your first kiss, but I only did it for fun. You enjoyed it too, didn’t you?” That would be cruel.

Hong Seo-hyun’s words had severely limited Hayoon’s options.

She hesitated before finally responding., considering her response.

“That was my first kiss too.”

She decided on a direct approach, reminding Hong Seo-hyun that it was her first kiss as well and suggesting they bury the memory.

But…

“You’re all over Choi Arin, but you don’t want me?”

“It was my first kiss too.”

She chose honesty. Since it had been both their first kisses, couldn’t they just forget about it and move on?

But…

“You’re always all over Choi Arin, but you don’t like me?”

“It’s

“It’s not like that. We don’t do that anymore.”

“You did it?”

“It was just… a peck. Just lips touching. You were my first real kiss.”

Hong Seo-hyun stared at her, disapproval evident in her eyes. Feeling the not like that. We don’t do that anymore.”

“You did do it?”

“Well… just pecks. Just quick kisses. You were my first real kiss.”

Hong Seo-hyun stared at Hayoon, her expression unreadable.

Feeling the intensity of her gaze, Hay intensity of her gaze, Hayoon turned around and sat down in her computer chair, creating some distance between them.

“I’m glad you’re not messing around with Choi Arin anymore. Does she still try anything?”

“No. We’re both busy with work. We havenoon turned around and sat down on her chair, facing Hong Seo-hyun, who was still on the makeshift bed. They were now at eye level.

“I’m glad you’re not doing that with Choi Arin anymore. Doesn’t she initiate it?”

“No. We’’t had time for that. We stopped doing that with you too because we were busy.”

“Then how about you only do it with me from now on?”

Hong Seo-hyun refused to let up.

“You don’t have to worry about Choi Arin anymore. Let’sre both too busy with work. We haven’t done anything for a while, just like with you.”

“Then how about you only do it with me from now on?”

Hayoon defended herself, but Hong Seo-hyun wouldn’t let up.

“You don’t have to worry about just be together, Hayoon. As the CEO, can’t you at least kiss your top earner and most valuable asset?”

Part emotional appeal, part subtle threat, Hong Seo-hyun’s directness was overwhelming.

“Unnie… do you like me?”

Frustrated, Hayoon Choi Arin anymore. Let’s just be together, Hayoon. As the CEO, can’t you at least kiss your top earner and star artist?”

Part emotional appeal, part veiled threat, Hong Seo-hyun directly pressured Hayoon for a kiss.

“Unnie… do you like asked the question directly. She wanted to understand Hong Seo-hyun’s insistence on rekindling their physical intimacy.

And Hong Seo-hyun’s answer…

“If I didn’t like you, would I be doing this? You’re always obsessed with work and never spend time with me?”

Frustrated, Hayoon asked. She needed to understand why Hong Seo-hyun was so insistent on rekindling their past intimacy.

Hong Seo-hyun’s answer was…

“If I didn’t like you, would I be doing this? You’re obsessed with work and me. I need to make sure you’re mine before you get snatched up by someone else.”

“…Wow.”

Hong Seo-hyun’s blatant possessiveness left Hayoon speechless. It was a confession in all but name.

If she agreed, they would be a couple.

If she refused barely pay attention to me. I’m going to claim you before someone else does.”

“Wow.”

Hong Seo-hyun’s open declaration of possessiveness left Hayoon speechless. It was practically a confession.

If she agreed, they would be a couple.

If she refused, their relationship, their relationship would be over.

‘I can’t let our relationship end.’

Hong Seo-hyun was BGG Company’s pillar. A rift between them would jeopardize the company, not to mention…

Hayoon didn’t dislike Hong Seo-hyun. She was simply overwhelmed by Hong would be over.

‘I can’t let that happen.’

Hong Seo-hyun was BGG Company’s cornerstone. Their relationship falling apart would jeopardize the company, not to mention…

Hayoon didn’t dislike Hong Seo-hyun. She was simply overwhelmed by Hong Seo-hyun’ Seo-hyun’s sudden intensity and hesitant to jeopardize their five-year friendship.

‘Honestly, I’m not sure if we could be a couple…’

Friendships, romantic relationships, and marriages were all different. That’s why she hesitated. She felt a pang of guilt, realizing hers sudden boldness and hesitant to risk their five-year friendship.

‘Honestly, I’m not sure if we could be a couple…’

Friendships, romantic relationships, and marriages were all different. Hayoon was hesitant to rush into anything, and she felt guilty for her past actions, which had seemingly past actions, initially meant to be harmless fun, had led to this situation.

“Can I be honest?”

“About what?”

Hong Seo-hyun, having watched Hayoon struggle for an answer, finally spoke.

“I was actually a bit frustrated that day, when I touched you.”

” led to this situation.

“Can I be honest?”

“About what?”

Seeing Hayoon’s hesitation, Hong Seo-hyun spoke.

“I was actually a little upset after touching you the other day.”

“Huh?”

“After we agreed to kiss at the hotel and then kept kissingHuh?”

“Because if we had been kissing regularly since our agreement at the hotel, I wouldn’t have been so embarrassed that I ran away after touching you.”

“What…”

Hayoon stared at her, incredulous.

“Hayoon, I promise I’ll treat you well. Can, I thought we were past the point of me running away embarrassed after touching you.”

“What…”

Hayoon stared at her, dumbfounded.

“Hayoon, I promise I’ll treat you well. How about we at least go on a date before you decide?”

“A date?”

An we at least go on a date before you decide?”

“A date?”

Anxious about Hayoon’s silence, Hong Seo-hyun kept talking, expressing her feelings and asking for a chance. She was sincere.

“Just trust me and give me one day. I’ll take you onxious about Hayoon’s silence, Hong Seo-hyun kept talking, expressing her feelings and asking for a chance. She was sincere.

“Just trust me, and give me one day. I’ll take you on an unforgettable date.”

“Like a Busan full-course tour?”

” an unforgettable date.”

“Like a Busan full-course tour?”

“Busan is too far, but how about a ‘Seo-hyun Full-Course’ date? Heehee…”

Hong Seo-hyun sounded confident.

Hayoon considered her words.

‘If it doesn’t work out,Busan is too far. How about a ‘Seo-hyun full-course’ date, just for you? Heehee…”

Hong Seo-hyun seemed confident. Hayoon considered her words.

‘If it doesn’t work out, at least I’ll have a reason to say no.’

I’ll have a reason to reject her.’

It seemed like a reasonable way to let Hong Seo-hyun down gently. She nodded.

“Okay. Let’s do it.”

Author’s Note:

This side story is set in a sort of alternate universe. Arin’s side story will explore her relationship with Hayoon in more detail.