episode_0020

As if watching over the crisis, a situation where help arrived just in time.

Moments before Yeonji was about to be hunted down by some rough delinquents, she climbed up the stairs in a huff.

“Why are you like this?”

Walking along the quiet beach outside the lodging, Taeyang, who seemed lost in thought after his encounter with Sehee, was trying to calm his chaotic mind.

“It was the same last time and now again.”

“Ugh… Why is this happening?”

Unintentionally, those words slipped out of my mouth. Should I say that I couldn’t bear it when Sehee denied our relationship?

For some reason, I felt a pang in my heart, as if being pricked by needles. And now, my heart was pounding as if asking when it got hurt.

“… Should I go to the hospital?”

If it’s gotten to this point, it must be serious, right? But it’s probably not a major illness.

“Anyway, what should I say when I go back…”

“I don’t know. Maybe things will feel less awkward as time passes.”

Step by step.

Indeed, taking a walk is the best thing to do when you have things to think about. It’s a great way to take care of your health, clear your mind, and it’s quite a pleasant exercise.

However, how long had I been walking?

“?”

I could tell from afar that there were loud voices.

“It’s so noisy… Who are these clueless people?”

“Huh?”

“Why is that trashy girl here with those jerks…!”

Just like a prince on a white horse, Kim Taeyang appeared at the critical moment like a savior.

With his imposing presence and overwhelming physique, he was giving even the delinquents who had caused trouble at their school a tremendous sense of intimidation.

“Hey, trashy girl, if you were going to come to such a secluded place, you should have called your boyfriend, me, right? It’s dangerous.”

“…Who is this guy who looks like Kim Taeyang?”

“Do you want to die suddenly because of this bastard who came out of nowhere?”

“Hey, what are you doing!”

The delinquents, trying to hide their trembling hearts while confronting him.

“Ha, see what you’re going to do about that?”

“You guys have no reason to care about that. There’s even less reason to let trashy guys who treat women recklessly know.”

“Before you crush those faces that look like sh*t, get lost.”

To Taeyang, they seemed nothing more or less than children imitating poorly behaved adults.

“Why are you messing around believing in this bastard? What are you? Get lost for a bit?”

However, the delinquents also had their own confidence, which was their numbers.

Thinking that there’s no business in front of a big guy, no matter how tall and strong he is, they believed that rushing in all at once would make them victorious.

“Haha, look at him trying to act tough in front of a girl?”

“It seems like the situation hasn’t fully sunk in yet. There are five of us here, and you’re alone.”

“You punk, watch your mouth!”

“Ugh…!”

“Ahh! My arm, my arm…!”

“It seems like the situation hasn’t fully sunk in for you guys, right? Haha.”

Boldly confronting them as if to say, “When did you dare to rush in?” Taeyang mocked the delinquents scattered around as if they were bugs crawling around.

It was a natural result of the techniques learned from his lazy uncle, the judo instructor, combined with his physical strength.

“Become a man who never gives a chance for other men to take your woman! Be a man that males fear!”

Growing up with education that bordered on brainwashing, Taeyang always felt that his uncle’s words were like lifeblood.

Today, he acted in a way that wouldn’t tarnish the reputation of the Geum family, making him proud.

“You… You bastard! This is assault, assault! Got it?!”

“I’ll report you to the police and make you eat dirt.”

“Even if you cry and beg later, I won’t agree to any settlement!”

Even though he said these things, it was a bit of a gray area whether it would qualify as self-defense since not a single punch was thrown, and he easily handled all five of them.

As he pondered what to do next, a sound from a phone rang out from behind.

Ring-

“Hmm?”

Turning around, he saw Yeonji holding a phone and recording a video without him noticing.

“If you want to report… then do it! I’ve recorded everything from start to finish!”

Trembling, but seemingly determined to speak, he opens his mouth with a fierce glare.

When Taeyang found himself in danger due to his own actions, feeling helpless and despondent,

something caught his eye.

It was none other than his most used, familiar, and beloved possession: his smartphone.

What he discovered was a recording in progress,

which left the troublemakers dumbfounded.

“Let’s wait and see!”

“I’ve memorized your face, watch out!”

“Haha, they say there’s no one scarier than someone who says ‘let’s wait and see.’”

Like third-rate villains, the troublemakers flee

and the noise that had erupted on the autumn beach subsides as the parties involved disappear, leaving behind only silence.

Remaining are Kim Taeyang and the mysterious girl Yeonji,

who, despite the fear of the unfamiliar situation, clings tightly to Taeyang’s arm, which he had been disdainfully flexing.

“Ouch! Does it hurt when you grip so tightly?”

“Uh…”

“Fine…”

Though gruff in his response, Taeyang still yields his arm as she clings to it.

Feeling sentimental,

he thinks that the sensation on his arm is oddly pleasant and decides not to pull away.

And how much time passed?

As things calm down a bit, Taeyang speaks about their earlier actions.

“Haha, did you come up with such a clever idea on your own regarding the mysterious girl’s topic? Thanks to that, we survived.”

“If it weren’t for you, things could have gotten really complicated.”

“Oh… It was all because of me that we got into this mess…”

“And…”

“Hmm?”

Rubbing her eyes repeatedly, looking like a frustrated puppy, Yeonji hesitates to speak, testing Taeyang’s patience.

“Hey, mysterious girl! If you have something to say, say it! People find it annoying just watching you.”

“Ugh…”

“T-Thank you!”

“Thank you for helping me. We’ve only just met, and you risked yourself to come and save me from danger.”

“If it weren’t for you, I could have been in big trouble.”

Unaccustomed to expressing her feelings, Yeonji closes her eyes tightly and expresses her gratitude loudly.

Taeyang chuckles at Yeonji’s display and responds,

“I couldn’t even bring myself to say those words properly?”

“When my girlfriend was in danger, it was only natural for me, as an alpha male, to rush to her aid, regardless of the circumstances.”

“…You didn’t mean to help me as your girlfriend?”

“Of course not!”

“Wasn’t it obvious that I would repay you with my body?”

“Hehe…”

Amused by Yeonji’s sudden withdrawal after being cool for a moment, Taeyang withdraws his arm.

“Even if you keep acting cute, it’s fine, you know?”

“Okay…!”

“Phew.”

In a gesture that doesn’t quite match his stature, Taeyang unknowingly pats Yeonji’s head while speaking.

“Well… I was joking. Normally, I would have made you my girlfriend right then and there, but given the circumstances today, let’s just move on.”

“Huh..?”

“Um… Thank you?”

“Haha, your silly expression is hilarious.”

With that, they wrap up the events,

slowly walking back to their accommodation, their bodies cooling in the chilly air, side by side.

“S-S-Sorry!”

Shivering with cold sweat covering her body, Yeonji trembles while wrapping herself up.

“Sigh… Do I have to take care of you from start to finish?”

Watching her, Taeyang grimaces but soon takes off his outer layer and hands it to her.

“Here, my coat.”

“Huh? Why are you giving this to me?”

Thinking he might be up to something, she hesitates briefly before unexpectedly saying,

“It’s thin, but it’s better than nothing. Put it on.”

“Thaw out a bit, and give it back whenever you want, tomorrow or the day after.”

“…”

“Even if you fell for me at first sight, don’t do anything weird, okay?”

“I-I won’t!”

“Haha.”

Yeonji puts on Taeyang’s coat, making a strange expression.

After safely returning to their lodging and bidding farewell in the lobby with a “See you tomorrow,”

Yeonji stares at Taeyang’s back until it disappears completely.

Staring at the place that had been seen last for a while…

“Let’s go in.”

Now feeling like lying down and sleeping, she immediately enters her room.

Creak…

“Huh? Yeonji, where did you go? Let’s hang out together!”

“Oh… I just went out for a bit of fresh air.”

“Ahh~ By the way, after having so much fun, I’m really tired.”

“Should we call it a night for today?”

“Yeah, since we have tomorrow too, let’s not stay up all night and just go to bed.”

As her roommates were also starting to doze off, she could lay down under the covers without hesitation and fall asleep right away.

“Goodnight, everyone.”

Thud

Her friends, as if their bodies were eagerly responding to the comfort of the bed, quickly fell into a deep slumber.

Sigh… Sigh…

Rustle rustle

“…”

And in the quiet dawn with everyone asleep, Yeonji was the only one awake.

Despite trying to sleep, she couldn’t shake off the recent events from her mind, making it impossible to drift off. The face of a man kept flashing before her eyes.

‘… He was really cool just now.’

‘When no one else approached me, he helped me like the sun.’

For some reason, her body heated up whenever she thought of Kim Taeyang. Even his clumsy gestures seemed manly to her, and upon looking at his face again, she found him quite handsome.

‘… Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad…’

Glancing around discreetly, she pulled the blanket up to her head, hoping others wouldn’t notice—a suspicious act to anyone watching. Lost in her thoughts, she caught a whiff of a scent.

“…Sniff.”

“…”

“Sniff… Ha.”

The scent she was inhaling came from the jacket Taeyang had given her.

Knowing it was inappropriate, she berated herself for acting like a pervert, sinking into self-doubt. Yet, she continued to breathe deeply, smiling almost ecstatically.