Bad addiction

“Ugh, I don’t know.”

With a long sigh, she clasped her hands behind her head.

Haeun was grateful and sorry toward Sua because she understood why she was saying that.

“What does he do this time? No, how old is he? Does he have kids?”
“I don’t know. It’s not like I can refuse even if I did, so I didn’t bother asking.”
“Did you see a picture?”

“No.”

This was a much better option, but it was still frustrating for Sua.

Realizing that no amount of persuasion would change anything, Sua’s shoulders slumped.

“What time is the blind date?”
“7 PM.”
“Then let’s drink.”
“What? Right now?”

Haeun asked, looking shocked, but Sua was already heading to the fridge, pulling out two cold cans of beer.

Back at the table, she placed one in front of Haeun.

“You’re not weak enough for one beer to knock you down, are you? The situation sucks, so we might as well drink.”

It felt a bit reckless, but the sight of the beer made her mouth water.

Thinking that hesitation would only delay the inevitable, Haeun grabbed the can.

“I don’t know anymore. Cheers.”
“That’s my friend!”

The two cans clinked in the air with a dull sound.

A little foam spilled over the rim of Haeun’s can.

She immediately brought it to her lips and took a sip.

The cold barley taste washed down her throat.

“Ah, that hits the spot.”

Her clogged-up frustration seemed to clear, and a smile formed naturally on her face.

⸻

“I hope I won’t be late.”

Haeun kept checking the time on her phone while sitting in the taxi.

Drinking a little more beer had been a mistake.

She had dozed off and had to rush to get ready.

She wouldn’t be late, but the roads were packed on a Saturday evening.

“Thank you.”

By the time she arrived at the hotel, it was already past 7 PM.

She hurried inside with long strides.

Her high heels threatened to slip on the marble floor, but she couldn’t afford to slow down.

“Oh? There it is.”

Seeing the meeting spot, she quickened her pace.

Focused on her destination, she didn’t notice the person in front of her.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

She bumped shoulders with someone walking toward her.

She quickly bowed, ready to apologize and move on.

“Seo Haeun?”

A voice, too familiar, reached her ears.

She wanted to believe she had misheard.

But when she looked down, she saw a pair of polished dress shoes.

“It’s been a while.”

“No way.”

As soon as she lifted her head, her body froze like ice.

The man she had spent a passionate, unforgettable night with.

Cha Dojun.

“What brings you here, Director?”

The intense memories of that night flashed through her mind, making her brain go blank.

She swallowed back the rest of her words.

This was the last person she wanted to see.

Unlike her, Dojun looked completely at ease, almost cruelly so.

She wished this was just a bad dream.

She needed to get to her blind date quickly, but her body refused to move.

As she stood there, unable to do anything, someone stopped in front of her.

“Seo Haeun?”
”……?”

She turned toward the voice that called her name.

A man she had never seen before stood there.

At first, she thought she misheard.

But his eyes were definitely fixed on her.

More precisely, his gaze slowly scanned her body with an uncomfortable leer.

The man, who looked at least ten years older than her, was clearly her blind date.

“Ah, Mr. Kim Yunhan?”

At her question, the man, who had been staring at her chest, finally looked up.

“I was about to leave, thinking I got stood up. Good thing you made it.”
“I’m sorry. The traffic was heavy.”

“It’s an important meeting, you should have planned better. By the way, are you with someone?”

Only then did Yunhan notice Dojun standing beside her.

It was a nightmare. She quickly shook her head.

“No. Are you okay from the bump earlier?”

Haeun spoke with an urgent tone, secretly begging Dojun with her eyes not to acknowledge their connection.

“Yes.”

Thankfully, he gave a slight nod.

“I really apologize for being late. Shall we go in?”

Without thinking, she lightly placed her hand on Yunhan’s arm.

She just wanted to get out of there as fast as possible.

But in that brief moment, Yunhan’s expression changed strangely.

Realizing it, she quickly withdrew her hand.

“Of all people, why did I have to run into him here?”

Even after she left, all her attention was focused on Dojun standing behind her.

Meeting her first love in this way was humiliating.

She couldn’t lift her head in embarrassment.

⸻

The unwanted blind date began.

Yunhan was quite talkative, much more than his appearance suggested.

Since all she had to do was nod, Haeun found that part convenient.

After running into Dojun, her head was too full of thoughts to focus on anything else.

Even if the conversation was awful.

“I want a wife who stays home and supports me. We’d be up all night as newlyweds, right? My wife should get plenty of rest during the day.”

The thought of being in bed with him made her stomach turn.

What she thought was a tolerable blind date quickly turned into the worst one.

“Why aren’t you eating? I heard this place is expensive.”

Yunhan stabbed a piece of steak with his fork and shoved it into his mouth.

Even as he chewed, he kept talking, his open mouth visible.

Haeun cringed in disgust.

“Are you acting shy in front of me? I don’t like women who pretend to be modest.”
“It’s not that. I just don’t feel well.”

And I don’t like you either.

Haeun gulped down her water instead of saying it out loud.

“Speaking of which, I like curvy women. You’re not bad, but a woman should have the right shape.”

His eyes flicked to her chest and hips.

“These days, women are so skinny, they look like men. If they get pregnant, how will they even manage? That’s not attractive.”

Listening to him, Haeun sighed internally.

She wanted to settle things today, but this man was definitely not the one.

Yunhan kept rambling about things she didn’t want to hear.

Seizing a moment of silence, she spoke up.

“It’s getting late. Should we wrap up here?”
“Whatever.”

He didn’t seem pleased that she brought it up first, but she ignored it.

“Let’s go, then.”

Just as she stood up, he asked,

“Since you didn’t like the steak, what kind of food do you enjoy? I’ll keep it in mind for next time.”

He was already assuming there would be a next time.

She had no intention of seeing him again, but rejecting outright would be difficult because their families were involved.

“I’ll think about it.”

“Your favorite food? Well, let me know when you decide.”

Even though he seemed to sense something was off, Yunhan let it go.

Then he blocked her path.

“It’s late. Let me take you home.”
“No, I’d rather go alone.”

After repeated rejections, Yunhan’s face twisted in displeasure.

As she turned toward the exit, her eyes landed on Dojun.

Still standing there.

Watching everything.

“Did he hear everything?”

Yunhan had been speaking loudly, and they weren’t far away.

Embarrassment flushed her face red.

Her entire situation felt unbearable.