Chapter 20

The message from Da Hee came the next day.

[Do you have time today?]

Woo Hyun's fingers flew across the screen, anxious that Da Hee might change her mind.

[I'm free. Anytime.]

He sent the text and then chuckled. Anyone could see how eagerly he'd been waiting. Woo Hyun deliberately didn't ask himself why he was acting this way. The more you try to define a relationship, the more it goes awry.

Someone to meet when bored, someone with whom sex was exceptionally good.

Woo Hyun forced himself to stop thinking about Da Hee for now.

"Let's go to that Italian restaurant we couldn't go to last time. I'm disappointed we missed it."

Da Hee said abruptly as she got into the Ferrari. Knowing Da Hee's personality, he never expected her to hesitate or be overly sentimental, but he hadn't anticipated she'd even skip a greeting. Yet, perhaps his head was messed up, but he found this straightforward Da Hee comfortable. He thought he might never be able to date other women if he kept meeting Da Hee, who showed everything transparently, unlike those who feigned interest or dislike, constantly calculating and deliberating.

"Okay."

Woo Hyun drove the car toward the restaurant.

"Why didn't you come yesterday?"

Da Hee suddenly asked.

"Were you waiting?"

"Waiting for my call is one thing, and coming to the café is another."

"I thought you'd be uncomfortable."

"If I were uncomfortable, I would have told you to leave."

"I didn't want to hear that."

Woo Hyun chuckled in response, and Da Hee chuckled after him.

As Da Hee closed up the shop last night, she realized she was waiting for Woo Hyun. That's why she dragged her feet and couldn't bring herself to lock up. She wondered if it was because she held the cards to end the relationship, but the conclusion was only one. She felt regret. She wanted to see Woo Hyun one more time, and she wanted to have sex with him one more time. She was curious. Would sex with Woo Hyun really be as good as that night?

By the next morning, Da Hee had sorted out her thoughts. There was no real reason to end things with him, so there was no need to. Woo Hyun wasn't in love with her. He simply enjoyed meeting her and having sex with her. Da Hee felt the same. There was a distance between them, great enough that even if he swung his arms with all his might, he wouldn't reach her heart. That's why she felt comfortable contacting Woo Hyun.

After parking the car in the restaurant parking lot, Woo Hyun got out. Da Hee, who had already gotten out and was waiting, suddenly asked him as he approached.

"What happened to the woman I had to have a 'power struggle' with?"

"Well, I'm not interested, so I wouldn't know."

Woo Hyun had absolutely no interest in Seo Eun. Afterward, his mother kept calling, and Seo Eun called too, but Woo Hyun didn't answer.

"We're not going to run into her here again, are we?"

"No."

Woo Hyun smiled reassuringly and took Da hee's hand. Though she paused for a moment, Da Hee didn't pull her hand away from Woo Hyun's. After all, they'd had sex, so holding hands was hardly a big deal. And more than anything, Woo Hyun's hand, significantly larger than her own, felt reassuring.

"Why are you staring like that?"

Woo Hyun asked Da Hee, who was intently gazing at their clasped hands.

"I was thinking, 'Your hand is big, your hand is really warm, your hand is really nice.' "

Woo Hyun chuckled, seeing Da Hee so transparently state her thoughts.

"Then keep feeling that way."

Woo Hyun gripped Da Hee's hand tighter.

At 9 PM, despite the late hour for dinner, the restaurant was almost full. Most of the tables were occupied by couples who had finished work. Coincidentally, Woo Hyun and Da Hee sat at the exact same table they'd used before. The server was also the same. He blushed throughout the ordering process, then bowed and disappeared. That day, Woo Hyun regretted not having thoroughly reprimanded the manager about staff training.

"There's something I'd like to make clear before we eat."

Da Hee's calm voice made Woo Hyun turn his head from staring at the back of the server's head.

"I'd rather not hear any tragic news before dinner."

Woo Hyun said, tilting his head.

"It's not tragic."

"Then go on."

"Let's keep dating like this."

"Okay."

Woo Hyun readily agreed.

"And let's have sex too."

Woo Hyun looked at Da Hee, as if asking if she was serious, at her concise statement. Da Hee calmly continued, meticulously wiping her hands with a wet towel.

"Let's do it when we both want to. It wouldn't be fair to you if it was only when I wanted to, right? It's something we do for mutual pleasure. So, Mr. Woo Hyun, tell me when you want to too. I'll refuse if I'm not up for it, naturally. And, of course, forcing it is out of the question. I'll report you if you do. Also, I'd like the ratio of dating to be 70% and sex to be 30%. A relationship that's too focused on sex feels too empty, you know? For now, I still prefer simple dates with you over sex."

Da Hee spoke clearly and precisely, as if giving a presentation at a corporate forum. The surroundings were noisy, so people probably weren't listening, but even if they were, Woo Hyun didn't care. His lips stretched into a long smile.

"Okay. No take-backs."

"There's always cancellation."

"What are the conditions for cancellation?"

"If either of us finds another romantic interest, the relationship is automatically canceled."

Woo Hyun nodded as if agreeing with Da Hee's words, yet his brow furrowed. There was no way he'd find another romantic interest. But, what if Da Hee found someone else? Da Hee was just as uninterested in romantic relationships as he was. That won't happen, Woo Hyun reassured himself, dismissing the worry.

"And..."

Da Hee paused, as if it was difficult to say. Woo Hyun looked at her.

"If we fall in love with each other, we cancel."

At that point, Woo Hyun's brow furrowed even more.

"Why?"

"Mr. Woo Hyun, you're a wonderful man. Even looking through my entire life. That's why I don't want to fall in love."

"I'm asking for the reason. Why?"

Da Hee hesitated uncharacteristically, and looked at Woo Hyun, who frowned as if a little angry. Woo Hyun waited patiently as Da Hee fiddled with the wet towel while gathering her thoughts.

"I know myself well."

Da Hee finally began to speak.

"And?"

Woo Hyun asked in a polite but slightly sharp tone.

"Even if I love someone, I don't easily become passionate. I'm naturally indifferent, and I've never deeply loved anyone. If I were to fall in love, you'd get hurt, Mr. Woo Hyun. Eventually, you'd say things like, 'You don't love me,' 'You're incapable of loving anyone,' 'You're cold,' and I don't want to hear those words from you, more than anything else."

"I've never loved anyone either. I've also been on the receiving end of similar remarks. The only difference is, I'm usually the cold one."

"Then it's perfect! There's even less chance of us falling in love."

Da Hee mumbled, 'Should I call this a fated meeting arrangement?', then smiled with satisfaction. However, Woo Hyun's furrowed brows didn't ease. Da Hee's words were exactly what Woo Hyun had most wanted to hear. He'd never desperately loved anyone, which had led him to ask the café owner he frequented to be his dating partner. Yet, he felt offended. Was it because she rejected him before he could reject her? No, that wasn't it either. What could it be? As Woo Hyun pondered, the server arrived with a tray.

"Excuse me."

The server first placed salad, bread, jam, and water on the table. Da Hee picked up a piece of bread and broke it in half. A savory aroma spread.

"The bread here is delicious too. Have some."

Da Hee offered him bread.

"Okay."

Woo Hyun replied, but didn't reach for it.

~~~~~

Miel's Translations