Chapter 5

I love kissing him... it’s driving me crazy...

Jihee felt like a helpless mortal trapped in one hell of a heaven.

Seo Kang grabbed her waist to change their position, then hoisted her up and sat her on the table.

He then dove deep into her once again.

Where did he learn these amazing angles? My heart is going to beat out of my chest. Does he think this is a competition? Is he competing for Best Kiss at the upcoming TV and film awards?

“Hup.”

Every time his lips met hers, every time his tongue met hers, she realized he was trying to get as close to her as he could. To get deeper.

The beast was in for the kill, and it was determined to swallow her whole. By all means, she’d love to get torn apart by this animal. She hadn’t felt so aroused and excited like this in... who knows how long. She felt like she was capable of anything in this state.

Turns out that ‘anything’ was spreading her legs apart. As her legs slowly opened, one of Seo Kang’s legs immediately slipped its way in.

She felt a great pressure come up against her. A dam was built up against the wet rocks at the edge of the waterfall.

Ha...

Smooch. Lick.

They showed no sign of slowing down. Jihee started to feel short of breath.

And just when Jihee felt like the dam was about to break open from the pressure, Seo Kang took his lips off hers.

Jihee spoke while trying to catch her breath.

“You’re an amazing kisser... I like it.”

The very lips that almost caused her to faint curled upwards into a smile.

“So, is that a pass?”

Instead of a reply, Jihee brought her thumb up to his lips and gently caressed them.

“You’re sexy when you smile...”

Maybe it was her steamy words, or her arousing touch, Seo Kang couldn’t help but make another plunge into her lips.

But just before he landed, Jihee quickly turned her head.

Surprised by this reaction, Seo Kang retreated.

You say you love the way I kiss, that I’m sexy when I smile, and now you’re going to leave me hanging? After teasing me this whole time?

“I thought you weren’t going to play hard to get.”

“I’m not... I told you I was seducing you.”

“Is this a ‘less is more’ kind of thing?”

Are you trying to torment me by leaving me feeling unsatisfied? Unfinished?

“Exactly. It’s not like we can do it here anyway. Consider this an appetizer before the main course.”

“You’re unbelievable. So, this was just a taste test? I asked if you I was a pass - are you going to answer?”

“You killed it.”

Anything that came out of this woman’s mouth was brutally honest. When she spoke, and when she kissed.

Even if he had killed it, he was afraid that maybe she would play it down to something like ‘it’s passable’ to save face. But she confirmed once again that she wasn’t that type.

Of all the women he met, there was no category he could place Yoo Jihee in. She was something entirely new and in a league of her own. She was unpredictable, which would potentially make things tricky and cumbersome for someone trying to pursue her.

But if the arrow you shoot always hit the bull’s eye, where was the fun in that? She was a moving target. And that was why she was so fun.

But he had to be done with her after tonight. Who knew how many other men were being lured into Yoo Jihee’s lair? How many men were aiming for her bull’s eye, too? Nevertheless... he still wanted her for the night. He wanted to hit the bull’s eye.

Because their kiss was too delicious and divine.

“Give me your number.”

Seo Kang took out his phone from his shirt pocket and handed it to her.

It was in that moment that Jihee snapped out of her trance. She hesitated for a second, wondering if it was a good idea to give him her number or not. It felt like she was standing at a crossroads that would determine her destiny.

Jihee finally felt her feet under her again after having been floating around in a fantasy. She started to realize just how big the scope of the situation was. She had been overly confident, maybe even reckless, and now she had to deal with reality.

Yet, still, remnants of her reverie wouldn’t leave her. Their kiss was impossible to get out of her head.

It was like a rich cappuccino, or a dense espresso, that charged her entire body from head to toe. She could feel the heat from deep within. His good looks and celebrity aura were sure to have added something to that as well.

Call her superficial, and Jihee would admit it. She didn’t care.

Yeah, I’m superficial.

She took his phone.

His phone had a plain, clean background. It suited Seo Kang’s persona.

“There isn’t a speck of dust lying around your house, is there?” she asked as she punched in her number on the keypad.

He lifted an eyebrow, not sure what the motive was behind his interrogator’s question.

“I just feel like you would be the clean-cut and simple type, not one to look back. Am I right?”

As soon as Jihee handed the phone back to him, he pressed the call button.

Jihee’s phone started to buzz from inside her coat pocket.

“Actually, I’m pretty clingy. I’m stubborn and hold long grudges.”

Seeing him press call to check and see if it was the correct number made Jihee think that maybe he really was all those things he just said.

Still, there was an undeniable coolness and freshness in his aura, like that refreshing and cleansing aftertaste of a carbonated drink. Jihee was sure that he would be cool with the way he dealt with women, too. No grudges, no attachment, not ever, was her gut feeling.

Though he didn’t admit it, Seo Kang did agree with Jihee’s observation to a certain extent. The starts and ends of his relationships with women were as blindingly white as a blank canvas. And it had been like that ever since his devastating experience with his first love.

Love was just a game to him now. He delighted in stimulating conversation - that is, conversations between bodies rather than ticklish emotions. He enjoyed a sexy mood - that was Seo Kang’s dating style now.

Jihee could now see the truth that lay underneath the facade.

“I guess you’re an actor after all. You’re good at lying. You should have just done that for the interview.”

She took out the phone from her pocket and checked the missed call.

Do I seriously have Seo Kang’s phone number now? If I sell this to Seo Kang’s fans, I will probably be able to make a pretty penny.

After realizing how inappropriate her thoughts were, her lips curled up in a self-conscious smirk.

“So... consider the agreement for a one-night stand signed and sealed.”

“Just one night? Shouldn’t we leave possibilities open for a second or third? What’s with the cold shoulder?”

You’re the one with the cold shoulder. Who do you think you’re trying to reel into your little net?

“Don’t fish with me. We’re on for just one night. No more, no less.”

She was chopping off the roots before they could be planted. Is this Yoo Jihee’s way of protecting herself? By acting like she’s not interested, like she isn’t afraid to cut things off? Or is she really that headstrong of a woman with a heart cold enough to take on a one-night stand?

There were plenty of women who used the “I’m not that interested” tactic. It was easier to deal with women who would just go all in and throw themselves at him, however - it felt so much more direct. It was especially annoying when women he had no interest in would play hard-to-get.

Just how far did the boundaries of Jihee’s lawless territory expand? What were her rules? Her principles? She wasn’t the foxy girl playing hard-to-get, she wasn’t the type to aggressively show off her sexuality, and she wasn’t just plain dumb either.

No matter how much I try to shake her, is she that confident to not cross her own boundaries?

Was she really not interested in anything more than one night with him?

She was a rare yet common breed. A fun but predictable girl. A woman with no emotional pull, but with the pull of undeniable intrigue.

I guess we will know after tonight whether the magic will fade... or blossom.

“I’ll call you,” Seo Kang said in that low voice of his, and Jihee gave him a nod.

Jihee then flipped the switch back to the other Yoo Jihee, the PR & marketing rep. Her friendly and hospitable tone of voice had a bright ring to it.

“Break time’s over. Time to get back to the interview, Mr. Seo Kang.”

She went back to using honorifics to signal that they’ve gone back to work mode. She even politely gestured toward the staircase. But then…

Swish!

In a split second, Seo Kang grabbed her wrist and pulled her over.

Jihee froze - no way he could be going in for another kiss right now. But what happened next was not what she worried about.

“How old are you? Are you younger than me?” he asked, gripping onto her.

“Let’s lay off the personal information. I have zero interest in actually getting to know you.”

How in the world was she so bold? Does she think I’m easy? Or was stepping on my pride a tactic to keep my interested piqued? If the latter was correct... this could end up being all too predictable.

***

It was one week before the release of the film Delusion, and Seo Kang’s name was being blasted in the headlines. Promo for the actor was in full force and would continue to be until the film’s release.

Promo for Delusion was led by Jihee and Hwang Haegeum, Jihee’s colleague and chicken-and-beer buddy.

Inquiries from broadcast companies to bring Seo Kang onto their shows in time for his movie were constantly being reviewed and discussed with his manager.

Though the PR team was the lead coordinator and point of contact on the ground during press junkets and media conferences, the team would not physically be on sets for any other broadcasts or shoots, even if they were the ones setting it up and running them.

But when they absolutely had to be there, Seo Kang and Jihee would only exchange curt, formal greetings, only to the extent an actor and PR rep should.

There seemed to be no lingering impression, no hint, no words, not so much as a glance between the two that could prove that that kiss had actually happened.

To make sure that it wasn’t just a fragment of her imagination, Jihee had to check her phone to see if his number was still there. His phone number to her was like a contract. She wasn’t so sure anymore if it was just a strange dream she had had.

But his missed call was still stamped in her call history. She didn’t actually save his number as a contact, however - her pride wouldn’t allow it.

But all these efforts were put to shame by Seo Kang. Not a gesture, not a single reaction from him.

Did he later realize that he had made a big mistake? So much so that he decided to ignore the brash proposal she had made? Had he decided to nullify the agreement they made that day?

Thinking of how reckless and audacious she was that day made Jihee’s face turn into a burning red. But... so what. Or not! Being rejected by a guy was not a big deal. She would just lose face for a bit and that would be the end of that.

And at the end of the day, it wasn’t like they were partners. A one-night stand didn’t quite fit Jihee anyway. Sure, one night could turn into two, or three, then into a partnership. But becoming partners with Seo Kang was unimaginable. Or a relationship? Unfathomable.

Among all the men that had entered and left Jihee’s life, there were a handful of boyfriends, but there were also a few “partners” a.k.a friends with benefits. She had sex with men in both categories. With boyfriends, she would supplement with her heart and emotions, while with partners, of course, she wouldn’t.

Jihee was really good at filtering out any unnecessary emotions when sharing physical intimacy with men.

This was all thanks to her first man, as well as her second man, or maybe even more after...

These men had mercilessly exploited her heart and body.

The first guy who tainted her innocence was especially full of trash. Trash that was so dirty that it was impossible to separate it into recycling or landfill.

He was probably young and incredibly immature at the time, and she hoped every now and then that he would have grown into some semblance of an adult by now.

The second guy was similarly full of shit.

Thanks to people who failed to become rational and humane beings, Jihee’s innocence slowly but surely became tainted, bit by bit. As a result, she grew stronger and stronger. She learned to love herself as a person. Did that mean she had something to thank them for after all?

Today was the early VIP viewing of Delusion. Miss Yoo and Miss Hwang had to be on the ground, and so the two divided the day’s tasks among themselves. Jihee purposely piled the tasks onto herself in order to lessen any chance of running into Seo Kang.

Her comrade and gossip buddy, Haegeum, was surely oblivious of what was going on inside Jihee’s head because as soon as she walked through the door, Seo Kang’s name spilled out of her mouth.