Sowon stepped out of the luxury hotel, the crisp night air cooling her flushed cheeks.

She was calm. She was composed. She was absolutely not thinking about how perfect the date had been.

Nope.

The fact that Taekhyun had been handsome, charming, and literally caught a falling wine glass like a movie protagonist?

Irrelevant.

She needed to stay rational.

Taekhyun walked beside her, one hand casually tucked into his pocket, the other lightly hovering near her back—not touching, but close enough that she felt it.

This man was dangerous.

Not in the bad way. In the ‘I might actually fall for him and that’s terrifying’ way.

And she refused to let that happen.

---

The black luxury car waiting at the curb was definitely his, not a taxi, because of course it was.

He turned to her with that same unreadable yet annoyingly attractive expression. “I had a great time tonight.”

Sowon smiled, casual. “Me too.”

Simple. Non-committal.

Then Taekhyun tilted his head slightly. “I’d like to see you again.”

Okay, maybe not so simple.

Because her brain short-circuited for two seconds before she responded. “Yeah, that’d be nice.”

Taekhyun’s lips curved into a slow smile. Deadly.

Before she could say anything else, he reached out, brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear, and—

Oh.

OH.

That was intentional.

And smooth. And making her question all her life choices.

Her brain was screaming WHAT DO I DO? but her body was already frozen in place, watching him like a helpless victim in a romance drama.

Was he going to kiss her? Should she let him? Should she lean in first? Was her breath okay?

Before she could decide, Taekhyun simply gave her a knowing look, took a step back, and...

“Goodnight, Sowon.”

---

Sowon blinked.

Her entire existence short-circuited.

Because

HE DIDN’T KISS HER.

The moment she got home, she threw herself onto her bed and opened the group chat.

[Sowon]: OKAY NEW CRISIS

[Yeona]: oh god what now

[Sowon]: HE DIDN’T KISS ME

[Yeona]: ??????????

[Yeona]: why is that a crisis

[Sowon]: BECAUSE HE COULD HAVE BUT HE DIDN’T

[Yeona]: wait u WANTED him to kiss u????

[Sowon]: NO but also yes but NO

[Yeona]: oh my god ur already in too deep

[Sowon]: I AM NOT

[Yeona]: u so are

Sowon dramatically rolled onto her stomach, phone pressed against her forehead.

She was not in too deep.

She was in complete control.

Totally.

Probably.

Maybe.

Oh god.