Chapter 33

The meat sizzled loudly on the grill, fat popping and smoke curling upward. I kept my eyes fixed on the fire, pretending to be busy arranging the side dishes in front of me, but inside, my heart wouldn’t calm down.

Sera held the tongs and calmly flipping the meat over. Her movements drew some attention from the nearby tables, but she didn’t seem to mind. “You know,” she said slowly, “you didn’t even ask why I wanted to take you out today.”

I froze, chopsticks halfway to the kimchi plate. “…Do I need to ask?”

She smiled faintly, eyes narrowing in amusement. “Of course. A man should at least be curious when a woman asks him out.”

“I…” I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly. “I just thought you were… free or something.”

“Free?” She let out a soft laugh, not offended in the slightest.  “Haemin, I’m never free. If I’m here, it’s because I chose to be.”

Her words made me even more tense. I stuffed a piece of lettuce into my mouth just so I didn’t have to respond right away.

She poured soju into her glass, then into mine. “Here. Don’t look so nervous. I don’t bite.”

I stared at the green bottle uneasily. “I don’t really drink much…”

“You don’t have to,” she said, sliding the glass toward me. “But it’s rude to refuse when someone pours for you. Just sip.”

Reluctantly, I picked up the glass. My hand was shaking so much I almost spilled it. I took a tiny sip, just enough to wet my lips, then set it down quickly.

Sera watched me with that same calm, unreadable expression. “You’re really innocent, aren’t you?”

I choked. “W-what do you mean?”

Her smile widened, not cruel but confident, like she knew exactly how flustered I felt. “Most guys would’ve already tried to impress me. But you… you look like you’re sitting here against your will.”

“…I didn’t say that,” I muttered, shifting in my seat.

“You don’t have to.” She leaned forward slightly, lowering her voice. “Your eyes say it for you.”

I quickly grabbed a piece of meat off the grill and shoved it into my mouth, burning my tongue just to avoid answering.

Sera leaned back, satisfied, and finally picked up her chopsticks. “Fine. I’ll stop teasing you for now. Let’s just eat. You must be hungry.”

I nodded quickly, grateful for the change in topic, though my chest still felt tight. As I chewed, I kept glancing at the door, half-praying Yuna wouldn’t suddenly appear out of nowhere.

Sera placed a piece of perfectly grilled meat onto my plate, her movements graceful. For a moment, neither of us spoke. The sound of burning meat and clinking glasses from other tables filled the silence.

I focused on chewing, telling myself to just finish quickly and go home. But then she set her chopsticks down and tilted her head slightly, studying me.

“Haemin,” she said softly, “why do you always look like you’re carrying a heavy secret?”

My hand froze halfway to my mouth. “…What do you mean?”

She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she swirled her soju glass, watching the clear liquid inside. “When I see you… you’re polite, you smile when needed, but your eyes always look… trapped. Like you’re afraid of something—or someone.”

The words hit me harder than I expected. I shifted in my seat, trying to laugh it off. “You’re imagining things. Maybe I’m just tired from studying.”

“Mm.” She didn’t sound convinced. Her gaze stayed sharp, searching my face. “But it’s not just studying, is it?”

I looked down at my plate. My fingers clenched around my chopsticks. Inside, panic rose in waves. If she keeps asking like this… 

Sera leaned forward slightly, lowering her voice. “You know, Haemin, I don’t like men who hide. If there’s something you’re not telling me, I’ll find out sooner or later.”

Her confidence made my chest tighten. I forced a laugh that sounded weak even to my own ears. “You make it sound like I’m some kind of criminal.”

She smiled faintly, though there was no malice in it. “No. But I’m curious. That makes me want to know more.”

I quickly stuffed another bite into my mouth, using food as an excuse to avoid answering. But even as I chewed, my thoughts ran wild.

I swallowed hard, forcing a calm expression. “There’s nothing to know. I’m just… ordinary.”

But the way she looked at me, steady and sharp, told me she didn’t believe that for a second.

_________

After we finished eating, Sera insisted on paying. No matter how much I tried to reach for my wallet, she waved me off with that composed smile. “Don’t argue. Just let me.”

The staff at the counter looked impressed as she handed over her card, whispering to each other. I caught a few words—beautiful, rich, Porsche outside—and my stomach twisted tighter. I kept my head low, hoping no one would look at me too closely.

When we walked out of the restaurant together, the air hit my face. The street was crowded, and the moment Sera stepped outside, people’s eyes naturally followed her. She stood tall, confident, her long hair catching the light from the street lamps.

I could already hear a few guys muttering behind us.

“Wow… who is she?”

“She came with that kid? No way…”

My palms grew sweaty. I hated this attention. Every step I took, I felt like Yuna’s shadow was chasing me, ready to grab me from behind.

Sera, on the other hand, didn’t seem bothered at all. She walked slowly toward her car, heels clicking against the pavement, like she owned the street. Before opening the driver’s side door, she glanced at me with a teasing smile.

“You look more nervous now than you did inside.”

I forced a weak laugh. “It’s nothing.”

She tilted her head, studying me again, but didn’t press further. Instead, she unlocked the car. “Come on. I’ll drive you around a little. I’m not done with you yet.”

My chest tightened. “Sera-ssi (Miss Sera), maybe we should stop here. It’s getting late, and I—”

Before I could finish, she leaned closer, lowering her voice with a playful firmness. “You’re not thinking of backing out now, are you?”

I froze. Cornered. I had no excuse left—at least none that would make sense without revealing the truth I was hiding.

Passersby had started to notice us standing by the car, their eyes darting between her beauty and my nervous face. 

Sera smiled as if she enjoyed the scene. Then she pulled open the passenger door and gave me a look that left no room for argument.

“Get in, Haemin.”

For a moment, I just stood there, torn between wanting to run and knowing I couldn’t. Finally, I sighed and slid into the seat, silently praying this night would end before Yuna ever found out.

__________

The glowing numbers on the dashboard showed 8:30 p.m. I hadn’t realized how much time had passed. Sera had already taken me to two other spots—a trendy dessert café that was buzzing with young couples and a quiet art gallery she knew, though it was almost closing. At each place, she always caught people’s attention, and I followed behind like a shadow, praying no familiar faces would recognize me.

Now, sitting back in the passenger seat, I glanced at my phone. No missed calls yet from Yuna. Relief, for now. But my chest was tight. If this dragged on, she would definitely call.

I asked carefully, “So… where do you want to go now, Sera-ssi?”

She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she leaned her elbow against the window, staring out at the passing lights. Then her lips curved into the faintest smile.

“The beach,” she said softly. “I want to get some night air.”

I blinked. “The beach? At this hour?”

“Why not?” she said smoothly. “It’s quiet, peaceful. Don’t you like the sea at night?”

I couldn’t answer. I didn’t dislike it, but right now, I didn’t have the mind to enjoy anything. Still, I nodded weakly.

We finally reached the beach. As she parked, I noticed the area was almost empty, just a few scattered people in the distance. The sound of waves filled the air, mixed with the faint salty breeze.

Sera walked ahead first. Her heels sank slightly into the sand, and after a few steps she stopped with a soft sigh. “These shoes are useless here.”

She bent down, slipped them off one by one, and held them in her hand. Without the heels, she looked more natural but softer somehow. She took a few steps barefoot on the cool sand, leaving small prints behind.

I shoved my hands in my pockets, following her as she walked closer to the shoreline. The night air brushed against my skin, and the moon cast a pale glow over the water. It really was beautiful—but I couldn’t relax. My mind was already counting down the minutes until I had to video call Yuna.

Sera inhaled deeply, closing her eyes for a second. “I love this. The sea at night always makes me feel alive. Don’t you think so?”

“…Yeah,” I said, though my voice was flat.

She glanced at me with an amused look. “That didn’t sound convincing at all.”

I gave an awkward smile.

We walked side by side along the shoreline. I kept a safe distance, while she strolled confidently, the sand soft beneath her bare feet. Every now and then, her shoulder almost brushed mine, and I would take a small step away without even realizing.

After a long silence, she spoke again. Her tone was calm but carried something deeper. “You know, Haemin… sometimes I wonder why men pretend not to see what’s in front of them.”

I swallowed. “…What do you mean?”

She stopped walking, turning her head slightly toward me. The moonlight reflected in her eyes, sharp yet elegant. “I mean, women don’t always say things directly. But we give signs. Signals.” Her smile was subtle, but her words felt heavy. “And it’s frustrating when men act clueless.”

My heart pounded. I knew what she meant. I wasn’t stupid. But I couldn’t let her push me further down this road.

“I… I don’t think I’m very good at reading signals,” I muttered, scratching the back of my neck. “Maybe I just misunderstood.”

Her brows lifted slightly, and for the first time that night, her smile faded into something cooler. “Misunderstood, huh?” She let out a soft, humorless laugh. “Or maybe you just don’t want to understand.”

That cut deep. I looked down at the sand, avoiding her gaze. “It’s not like that…”

But even to my own ears, it sounded weak.

Sera exhaled, turning her eyes back to the ocean. “Forget it. It’s late anyway. I’ll take you home.”

I nodded quickly. Relief and guilt twisted together inside me as we started walking back to her car.