WAK 23

Chapter 23

As soon as she stepped into the house, Hana thought it was really good that she had cleaned earlier.

“Come in.”

Junghan entered Hana’s small house, where she lived alone.

He looked around with curious eyes.

“Sit down. Why are you just standing there?”

He wandered around looking for a place to sit, then went to the sofa.

Hana moved around busily. She just realized there was no food prepared in the house.

“Since I didn’t make rice yet… um… do you want to watch TV for now?”

Seeing her flustered, he smiled.

> “Don’t worry about me. Just relax.”

Hana smiled awkwardly and took rice from the container.

While washing the rice, one thought kept coming to her mind:

‘I’m not good at measuring rice… what if it becomes porridge?’

She removed a little of the water she had prepared.

‘Better than making rock-hard rice.’

She added back some water she had taken out.

‘No. Junghan might not like porridge.’

Hana removed water again.

After thinking carefully, she decided the water amount and pressed the pressure cook button.

The friendly rice cooker let her know that cooking had started. But the sound was strange to her. She rarely cooked at home, usually eating outside. It was almost a miracle that she even had rice.

Once the rice was in, she realized there was no main dish.

“Really, just side dishes. Should I order something?”

“No. I like it light.”

What should she do? Should she at least make fried eggs? But she wasn’t good at that either.

She felt frustrated at herself for never properly learning to cook.

Hana glanced at Junghan in the living room.

It was amazing to see him in her house, so she kept observing him.

He noticed her gaze and looked up.

Hana, caught staring at him, panicked and opened the fridge.

“Um… do you want something to drink?”

“What do you have?”

“Everything except alcohol.”

“Anything is fine.”

She took the most expensive juice she had bought and gave it to him.

> “This is real fruit juice.”

“Ha ha, thanks.”

Seeing his reaction, she regretted showing off.

It took about 30 minutes for the rice to cook. Sometimes 30 minutes flew by, but in this awkward moment, it felt endless.

Junghan was just as nervous.

Being in the house of a woman he had decided to seduce, late at night, made him tense.

Fortunately, the tense atmosphere was broken by the sound of steam coming from the rice cooker.

They both stared at the noisy steam venting from the cooker.

The way the steam rushed out was so funny that Hana couldn’t help laughing, and neither could Junghan.

Hana decided to make fried eggs before it got too late.

She took out a nearly new pan, added oil, and fried two eggs.

The edges got a little burnt because she couldn’t control the heat, but she was satisfied with the result.

She arranged the side dishes her sister had given her on a plate. There were just braised quail eggs, sesame leaves, seasoned dried squid, and stir-fried anchovies, but adding the freshly fried eggs and seasoned seaweed made the table look nice.

> “The meal is ready.”

Junghan got up from the sofa and went to the table.

He looked at the neatly prepared meal with amazed eyes. He even seemed a little touched.

“Nothing fancy, but enjoy.”

> “Thanks. It looks delicious.”

He grew up in a wealthy family and was used to luxurious meals. Yet, for some reason, Hana’s simple dinner felt more touching.

> “Let’s eat together.”

“Yes. Please, sit down.”

Watching him lift his spoon, Hana felt nervous.

Junghan tasted the freshly cooked rice first. Contrary to Hana’s worry, it was cooked well.

> “It’s good.”

“Try the side dishes too.”

He smiled slightly and tried the seasoned squid.

> “This is good too.”

Hana finally relaxed and smiled comfortably.

“My sister is good at cooking.”

“Really.”

Though it wasn’t much, he enjoyed the meal more than she had worried.

Seeing him eat well made her mouth water too.

“When did you start living alone?”

“Since I became a lawyer and saved up the deposit.”

“Is this your first independent house?”

“No. The first was a small studio.”

Even though it was just over 20 pyeong, for Hana, it was as valuable as a palace.

> “That’s amazing, Kang Hana.”

She felt proud of herself for becoming independent.

She smiled shyly but couldn’t hide her pride.

Junghan stared at her quietly. The strict and materialistic impression she gave at first faded, leaving only a smart but innocent woman.

> “I think I’m going to like it here.”

He said softly.

It was just a comment about liking the space, but her heart fluttered.

> “That won’t do.”

She said coquettishly.

> “Just for today, it’s special.”

He leaned forward, resting his arms on the table.

> “If, say, I lose the bet and we end up dating, then I could come here anytime, right?”

Hearing that, she immediately imagined that situation.

Being his girlfriend, wearing matching pajamas, sitting on the sofa watching TV.

She’d better find the remote first.

“Ha ha.”

Junghan’s laughter pulled her out of her daydream.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Guess what, Kang Hana?”

He tilted his head.

“What?”

“I keep feeling like I want to lose that bet.”

A warning bell rang somewhere. And whenever it did, her eyes involuntarily dropped to his lips.

Hana nervously bit her lips.

> “Then, what are you hesitating for?”

She tried to sound confident, but stuttered at the first word.

> “No.”

She frowned.

> “Why do you keep changing your mind?”

“Don’t you know?”

Her expression tightened further.

> “You’re waiting for me to seduce you, aren’t you?”

Could someone make scolding so sexy?

> “Earlier, while sitting on the sofa, I saw something interesting.”

“What did you see?”

She looked past Junghan toward the sofa. It was clean after she had cleaned.

> “Nothing…”

Hana trailed off, remembering she had hidden seduction technique books under the low table in front of the sofa.

> “No way…”

She leaned sideways to check and saw three books peeking out from under the table.

“Have you studied a lot?”

“Yes…?”

> “I’m looking forward to seeing what seduction techniques Kang Hana will show in the future.”

Hana’s pale face turned bright red like a tomato.

Today, she was being completely swept away by him again.

The only thing she could do now was chase him out.

> “If you’re done eating, go quickly.”

“Not even giving me tea?”

She pulled him toward the door after pushing her chair back.

> “It’s night. Too much caffeine will keep you awake. Come on.”

“Wait.”

> “It’s already past 11.”

“I didn’t even finish the juice you gave me?”

Regardless, she pushed him toward the entrance.

> “I’ll pack some for you. Drink it on the way.”

Junghan looked back in disbelief at her pushing him.

> “Alright, I’ll go. I’m going.”

Hana finally let go and stepped back.

He smiled wryly while putting on his shoes.

> “I’m leaving.”

But somehow, she felt regret. Her fickle heart annoyed her.

> “Really leaving?”

“Yes. Oh, wait.”

She took a new juice from the fridge.

When she offered it, he shook his head and smiled silently.

> “For me?”

“Yes. Since I couldn’t give you dessert.”

> “Because you feel sorry, I should drink it on the way?”

“Just to refresh your mouth…”

> “Thanks. I’ll enjoy it.”

Their hands brushed for a brief moment while exchanging the juice.

Startled, Hana pulled her fingers back. He gently rubbed the tips of his fingers where they had touched.

> “Good night.”

Junghan left Hana’s house.

She couldn’t move at the closed front door. Her heart raced even though he had left.

Back in the living room, she saw the juice he had drunk a little of on the table.

She sat on the floor, leaning against the sofa.

Looking at his trace, she reached for it and hesitated before drinking the remaining juice.

The rich sweetness teased her tongue.