WAK 06

Chapter 6

Hana, working late, was so tired she slumped into her chair to rest.

As if it had become a habit over the week, she pulled out a photo that Junghan had sent of himself as a child.

> The soft yet proud face was so cute that she couldn’t help smiling. It looked like a grumpy baby model.

“It’s… so cute…”

It reminded her of Junghan now, yet somehow different.

She had been working late the day before too, so her fatigue probably dulled her rational thinking. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have considered going to a man’s suite in the middle of the night just to ask for more photos.

> ‘I’m crazy. If not, I’ve lost my mind.’

Before leaving the office for the hotel, she thought endlessly. Was it really the right decision to go to a man alone in a suite at this hour just to get a few more photos?

No!

Cold logic scoffed at the idea, but Hana ignored it and arrived at G Hotel, room 2405.

> ‘I made it here…’

She looked nervously at the doorbell.

> ‘Why is this so embarrassing?’

Since she had agreed to meet Junghan, she had to press it—but her hand felt too heavy to move. She was also holding an expensive bottle of champagne, a gift from a client she had won a divorce case for. She had forgotten about it, left in the office corner.

Her hand finally reached the bell.

> ‘Do I press it or not?’

—

Just then, Junghan got off the elevator.

Seeing Hana at his door, he paused. She hesitated, lifting her hand to the bell again and again.

> “What are you doing there?”

Startled by his voice, she turned, flustered, pointing to the room.

“W-wasn’t… weren’t you inside?”

“Went out for a bit.”

He didn’t mention visiting his parents for his father’s birthday. Using his key card, he opened the door and asked:

“Early today?”

“Yes… the office is nearby.”

“Working late?”

“Yes.”

“Come in.”

He held the door open. Hana unconsciously hugged the champagne closer as she stepped in.

It was her second visit.

Like last time, she didn’t know where to sit. The suite had too many options—sofa, desk, dining table, tea table.

> “Sit wherever you want,” Junghan said, removing his suit jacket.

Hana decided to sit at the dining table, just like last time—it felt intimate enough, not too high or low.

Junghan asked, “Want me to hang your jacket?”

> “No, it’s fine.”

“You must be hot.”

“I’ll turn on the AC if I’m hot.”

“Do as you like.”

He unbuttoned his sleeves. Hana, despite trying to stay calm, felt surprisingly tense. Even the simple act of unbuttoning his sleeves seemed charged.

> “Why are you unbuttoning?” she asked seriously.

Junghan raised an eyebrow.

“Which button?”

“That one.”

She gestured at his sleeve. He looked down and laughed:

> “Oh, just rolling them up. Uncomfortable?”

“No, roll them as much as you want,” she stammered.

He smiled and rolled them up twice. Hana wiped the sweat from her forehead and tried to look composed.

Junghan’s smile softened.

> “What’s that?”

“This? Champagne.”

She opened the box and took out the bottle—over 100,000 won even from duty-free.

> “That’s what you bought?”

Hana, unfamiliar with alcohol, worried it might be too weak.

“Shall we go up to the sky lounge, or order room service?”

She looked for her phone in a fluster.

> “No, this is enough,” Junghan said, sitting across from her.

Being eye-level with him made her nervous.

> “Why are you so tense?”

Hana blinked slowly, then laughed at herself.

> “I wonder why I’m shaking like this?”

“Because you really wanted to see my photos?”

Luckily, he joked to ease the awkwardness.

> “Right, the photos. Show me quickly.”

Junghan reached for the champagne instead.

> “Nice bottle,” he said, examining it casually.

Hana pretended not to care.

“Did you even check what it was?”

“Yes, I did.”

She remembered the client had urged her to enjoy the bottle during a good time, though this wasn’t exactly that kind of moment.

Junghan got up to call room service for two champagne glasses.

> “What snack do you want?”

“Anything. Order whatever.”

“Seafood okay?”

“Yes.”

> “Stellamaris (oysters) available now? …Then we’ll have that.”

After ordering, he returned to sit across from her.

> “So when are you giving me the photos?”

“Later.”

“Now that I’m here, I realize…”

Hana sighed:

> “I must be out of my mind to come all this way just for photos.”

Junghan admired her dedication.

“Busy these days?”

“Life’s tough. Lots of couples divorcing. Makes me money though.”

“Won the case?”

“Not yet, but our client will. I’ll make sure of it.”

Soon, room service arrived—plated oysters and champagne glasses. Junghan poured carefully.

> “Cheers,” he gestured.

Hana awkwardly raised her glass to toast. Junghan sipped, savoring the bubbles and fruit aroma. Hana placed hers back on the table—she didn’t like drinking much.

> “Not drinking?”

“Have work at home.”

He didn’t press. Relief washed over her; alcohol made her tipsy fast.

> “Want another drink?”

He went to the mini fridge.

> “Cola? Soda? Electrolytes? Whiskey, but you don’t drink…”

“Cola’s fine.”

He placed a glass with cola in front of her. She sipped, feeling the fizzy bubbles down her throat.

> “Wow!”

“Looks like you’re drinking alcohol,” she frowned.

He smiled silently.

> “By the way, didn’t bring the USB last time?”

“USB? …Ah, that one?”

She remembered the USB with Junghan’s financial list.

> “Not interested in my assets? Everyone else is curious.”

She shrugged, pretending indifference.

Junghan leaned forward, took a photo from his pocket, and shook it.

> “Then what’s this?”

It was his childhood photo from his family album. Hana’s eyes flickered with excitement.

> “Want this?”

She reached for it—but he lifted it high.

> “I said, let’s make a contract.”

Hana blinked.

> “Contract… what?”

She hoped it wasn’t about having a baby again. But his secretive smile suggested maybe it was.

She shook her head and sighed deeply.