IDMPYU 26

26. Sweet. Very Sweet.

Jihyun blinked a few times in disbelief after meeting eyes with Seungho, whose gaze resembled the dark of night. It didn’t feel real that he was standing right in front of her. Watching her with amusement, his eyes narrowed slightly in a lazy smile.

At that moment, it was as if she had plunged underwater—the surrounding noise vanished, her ears rang, and time seemed to freeze. The moment their eyes locked felt unusually long.

“Why is Shin Seungho here?”

As soon as her dazed mind snapped back to reality, Jihyun jumped back in surprise.

She opened her mouth to ask what he was doing here, but the noise returned before she could speak, and the words stuck. It was Hajun who spoke first, watching from behind.

“Shin Seungho.”

His dissatisfied tone and disapproving gaze were aimed squarely at Seungho. Seungho, still looking at Jihyun, shifted only his eyes toward him.

“Kim Hajun, wasn’t it.”
The annoying fool who stuck out beside Choi Jihyun.

“Oh? Hajun, you’re here too. Been a while.”

Minwoo, who had rushed in late after letting everyone know the meet-up was back on, greeted Hajun cheerfully.

“Yeah, sure.”

Hajun responded reluctantly, but the scowl on his face didn’t fade after the appearance of this unwelcome guest.

“Guys, over here!”

Soon, their drinks arrived, and Miri, who had reserved the table earlier, waved to call them over. Jihyun and Hajun turned toward her and began walking.

Seeing who was following behind, Miri’s eyes widened. She had assumed Seungho would head to another table, but he followed them.

“The Northern Duke…”

Seungho’s image matched the ideal duke she’d always dreamed of—just like the rumors. Miri couldn’t take her eyes off him. Naturally, Seungho sat at the same table as Jihyun.

The expressions of the three others instantly hardened.

It was obvious to everyone—Shin Seungho was an uninvited guest. Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Minwoo glanced around and laughed nervously.

“Hahaha, Seungho, there are lots of empty seats. Should we sit somewhere else?”

“What are you talking about? Our coffee is here.”

Seungho casually tilted his head toward the two cups of coffee, completely ignoring Minwoo’s suggestion. The scathing stares from the others didn’t faze him at all, and Minwoo sighed deeply.

‘Why’s he acting so weird today?’

“Still…”

“Sit.”

Before Minwoo could push further, Seungho’s single word shut him down. Defeated, Minwoo slumped into his seat. Hajun, glaring at the coffee in front of him, spoke up.

“I never thought I’d see Shin Seungho here. Is there some gathering going on?”

Seungho, expressionless, replied nonchalantly.

“Nope.”

He elegantly took a sip of coffee and smiled at Hajun.

“And it’s not a coincidence either.”

Watching the incomprehensible tension between them, Minwoo gulped down his hot Americano as if it were cold water. His throat burned, but it was better than the burning feeling inside.

Jihyun quietly lifted her pink lemonade. Even seeing it with her own eyes, she couldn’t believe what was happening. This didn’t make sense. It was an absurd combination.

Minwoo stared into space with a bitter look. Miri, meanwhile, stared at Seungho as if he were a character from a web novel.

But the strangest ones were Hajun and Seungho. Hajun’s uncharacteristically cold attitude was unfamiliar, but what was even more bizarre was Shin Seungho sitting beside her.

Anyone could see he hadn’t been invited, yet he acted as if he belonged.

Jihyun stifled a sigh. It was she and her friends who had to deal with the discomfort caused by this uninvited guest.

People in the café glanced discreetly at Seungho. Staff and customers alike whispered among themselves. Jihyun could understand why.

Though dressed like anyone else, Seungho’s refreshing boyish looks combined with a heavy, refined air made him seem out of place.

Sitting with his long legs crossed, sipping coffee with grace—he didn’t fit in here. No, more accurately, he didn’t fit being here with her.

Even Miri was looking at him like he’d jumped out of a novel. What about everyone else?

And that wasn’t the only strange thing.

When asked about a gathering, he said there wasn’t one—making Jihyun nearly spit out her lemonade.

“I’m sure I heard there was a meet-up today…”

Manager Kim had rushed her out of the mansion, saying Seungho had something important to do. Thanks to that, she got to see her friends—but never in a million years did she think she’d run into him here.

“You’ve got quite the sweet tooth.”

Snapped out of her thoughts by that familiar sharp tone, Jihyun looked up. As expected, Seungho’s gaze was on her. His unwanted attention made her glance down awkwardly at her drink.

“It’s not that sweet…”

“…Really?”

Without hesitation, his hand reached out and grabbed her drink.

“Huh?”

Before she could stop him, he took a sip. His face instantly scrunched.

“It’s sweet. Very much so.”

Yet despite his reaction, he smiled—and it was so stunning that Jihyun forgot to ask for her drink back and simply stared at him, stunned. Her face flushed with heat.

Why do I think his sarcastic face is… pretty?
No way. I’m just mad, that’s all. That’s why my face is hot, she told herself firmly.

Hajun, who had been watching Seungho cautiously, slowly turned to look at Jihyun. His eyes caught the glow on her cheeks, which she was rubbing furiously.

“Do you still collect or pin butterflies?”

Hajun began coldly. Seungho, unbothered, nodded.

“Of course.”

“Have you ever raised a butterfly yourself, not just pinned one?”

“Yes.”

“And what happened to it?”

A clearly loaded question. Whether he’d released it or pinned it—both options ended in cruelty. Realizing where this might go, Minwoo hurried to intervene.

“Hey, hey, Hajun! What kind of weird question is that? Let’s talk about something else, yeah?”

But Seungho didn’t hesitate.

“I pinned it.”

His head tilted slightly, and a soft smile curled on his lips, as if wondering why Hajun would even ask.

Hajun flinched. Seungho’s eyes weren’t smiling at all—they were icy cold.

“Because I never let go of what’s mine. No matter what it is.”

It was a warning. A clear message: Don’t even think about it.

Having read his expression, Hajun looked helplessly at Jihyun. She was smiling at something Miri said, completely unaware of the battle that had just occurred. Her innocence made the situation feel all the more hopeless.

***

Jihyun glared at Seungho’s broad back as he walked ahead. She had been looking forward to spending time with her friends, but Seungho had appeared out of nowhere and ruined it.

“Let’s go.”

She thought he was talking to his friend Minwoo.

“Choi Jihyun. What are you doing? Not coming?”

Until he said her name.

Jihyun nearly jumped in shock when he addressed her directly.

Why act like you know me here? Just leave alone.

She stared at him pleadingly, trying to refuse with her eyes—but it was pointless.

“Um, do you two know each other?”

Miri looked between them and asked cautiously. Jihyun’s head spun.

She didn’t know how to explain. Just before things got too awkward, Hajun stepped in.

“They know each other because of me. That’s all you need to know…”

His voice was low as he continued.

“Jihyun, just go home. It’s better that way today.”

But he wasn’t looking at her—he was looking straight at Seungho.

Seeing Hajun’s unwavering eyes, Seungho sneered.

Cracking his neck, he murmured ominously:

“Is that so. Let’s see you try, then…”

I wish we could get home already…

A white puff escaped Jihyun’s mouth—a sigh.

Even though this walk had basically been forced by Seungho dragging her out, it felt awkward and uncomfortable.

She wished he’d walk ahead with his usual long strides, but his pace was unusually slow.

They had been walking for a while…

Just as she grew tired of silently glaring and mentally criticizing him, something cold touched the corner of her eye.

Startled, Jihyun looked up.

“…It’s snowing.”