Hyunjae's alarm blared like it had a personal vendetta against him. Groaning, he rolled out of bed, already mentally plotting how many tasks he could cram into a single day.
Hyunjae (thinking):Step one: survive work. Step two: do not mess up… anything. Step three: somehow repay Yejin for… existing. Definitely. Absolutely. Discreetly, of course.
At the office, his coworkers noticed immediately.
"Hyunjae, you're up early?" one asked, blinking at his unusually sharp tie.
"Morning," he said curtly, voice tight, eyes darting like he was hiding state secrets.
Hyunjae (thinking):Focus. Mission: Make her proud. Mission: Earn… whatever she's pretending she doesn't feel.
Emails, reports, meetings… each mundane task felt like a heroic quest. He made coffee runs extra fast, organized files with military precision, and even smiled at the photocopier—just in case it had somehow offended Yejin.
Coworker: "You okay, Hyunjae? You look… different."
Hyunjae:"Different? No. Focused. Professional. Naturally, I am a changed man."
After work, he decided to "coincidentally" stop by the café near Yejin's neighborhood.
And there she was—calm, serene, utterly oblivious to the chaos inside Hyunjae's mind.
Hyunjae (thinking):Why does she always look… perfect? Calm? Happy? Surely… she's pretending. Definitely pretending.
He approached, careful to look casual. Casual is key. Definitely not like a man who just survived a week of panic for one smile.
"Yejin," he said, sliding into the seat across from her.
"Hyunjae," she replied softly, smiling faintly.
Hyunjae (thinking):Smile. Faint. Calculated. Probably pity. Definitely not joy.
"Did… everything go okay at home?" he asked too fast, too nervous, too obvious.
She tilted her head, eyebrow raised. "Why do you care?"
Hyunjae (thinking):Why do I care? Because I'm the guy! The man tasked with ensuring her happiness! Obviously.
He nodded gravely. "Because… your happiness is… my responsibility."
She blinked. Once. Twice. Calm. Then smiled—tiny, genuine, almost teasing.
Hyunjae (thinking):Of course. She's happy. With me. Definitely pity. Surely not joy.
Later, her father called, casually.
"Hyunjae, dinner tonight at our place. Yejin wants you to join."
Hyunjae (thinking):Dinner. Perfect. Casual. Totally normal. Not like a family inspection… or a subtle marriage test… or… anything terrifying.
At the table, her family was warm, welcoming. But every laugh, nod, and polite compliment felt like a subtle evaluation.
Hyunjae (thinking):They like me. They trust me. I must… impress. Leave a perfect impression. Be flawless. Earn her… affection? Approval? Lifelong gratitude? Definitely gratitude.
Yejin, quietly pouring tea, glanced at him. That faint smile tugged at her lips.
Hyunjae (thinking):She's happy. Maybe because of me? Definitely pity. Surely not joy.
He spent the rest of dinner mentally planning ways to "repay" her.
Hyunjae (thinking):I will work harder. I will be better. I will… survive this evening without embarrassing myself. And maybe… eventually… I'll earn her genuine smile.