BSMF | 29

Chapter 29

 Move. I’ll Match You

A group of people pushed their way into the noisy tavern.

Woo-gun, So-hye, and the other assistants were lucky enough to find seats amid the bustling crowd.

Soon, food and drinks were set before them.

Se-ho lifted his beer first, his hearty voice taking the lead in the mood.

“Everyone, raise your glasses!”

Then, he naturally turned his attention to Woo-gun.

“Since it’s the first round, let’s hear a few words from our teacher, Shin!”

“Just drink. It’s beer; what’s there to say?”

“Come on! It’s the first drink with So-hye! As her boyfriend, of course, you should say something!”

Se-ho emphasized “her boyfriend” with a teasing expression, elbowing Woo-gun at the same time.

Surely, this was in reference to how Woo-gun had openly embraced So-hye in front of everyone when leaving the lab.

Sighing quietly, Woo-gun lifted his head to look at So-hye.

She, too, must have remembered earlier, for her cheeks were already flushed, though she hadn’t even taken a sip of alcohol.

“Go ahead, teacher.”

Right. Since I caused this, it’s better to let the teasing pass quickly.

Yielding to Se-ho’s urging, Woo-gun stood.

All eyes rose, craning their necks or leaning back to focus on his face.

“Even when busy, I should make time for gatherings like this. Sorry for just throwing work at you all.”

His gaze swept across the lab assistants—Hee-wook, Se-ho, Seok-tae, and Jae-woo.

Each one had faithfully followed him, loyal and steadfast.

Finally, his gaze settled on So-hye, sitting beside him.

Even in this smoky, dim place, she shone on her own.

Her eyes, sparkling in the warm light, looked straight at him.

A faint impulse and a deeper emotion stirred beneath the surface of his heart.

Like waves surging. Like water overflowing its spring.

‘Why do I keep focusing only on Sae?’

The thought that had plagued him all day returned, pressing in.

He couldn’t discard it, release it, nor fully accept it—what should he do with these feelings?

“Welcome to our lab…”

Woo-gun closed his slightly wandering eyes, forcing his gaze away from her as he finished his words.

“Everyone, let’s work well together. For the butterflies of Joseon.”

“For the butterflies!”

In true Woo-gun style, he ended cleanly, and everyone raised their glasses in a firm cheer.

The clinking of glasses rang out before the drinks found their way to each mouth.

While they were enjoying their meal, Se-ho noticed So-hye barely touching her vegetables and slid a plate toward her.

Chunks of pork, steaming hot, were piled on the dish.

“So-hye, try this. It’s the best dish in this place.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Hee-wook, sitting nearby, frowned and shot Se-ho a glare.

“Don’t use food to flatter. That’s the cheapest trick.”

“It’s not like that! I just noticed So-hye doesn’t eat much, so I thought I’d help.”

Still skeptical, Se-ho raised his eyebrows in protest.

“Seeing So-hye reminds me of my sister, you know.”

She had married off to Hamgyeong-do and he hadn’t seen her for three years. Their sibling bond was so strong that seeing someone of a similar age triggered his longing.

“I’ve seen photos of her. But So-hye seems quite different from your sister.”

“Now that you mention it, So-hye does look a bit like her, doesn’t she?”

Jae-woo and Seok-tae nodded to each other, amused.

But they weren’t about to let such good teasing opportunities pass.

“Still, Se-ho, you shouldn’t do that to your sister-in-law.”

“I’m telling you, it’s really because it reminds me of my sister!”

Seok-tae’s words made Se-ho’s face turn red as he jumped in protest.

He only intended to help So-hye, who seemed awkward among the men, but these mischievous colleagues had twisted it into playful teasing.

“Hey, Woo-gun, you need to take care of your fiancée properly.”

Even Hee-wook joined in, while Seok-tae and Jae-woo ran wild like fish in water.

What had been teasing Woo-gun earlier had boomeranged back onto Se-ho.

So-hye, flustered, laughed at their combined antics.

Though Woo-gun had thought to step in, her bright laughter made him just chuckle softly and take a step back.

“Teacher, I really didn’t mean anything!”

Eventually, Se-ho sought Woo-gun’s help, unable to handle the teasing alone.

Woo-gun, after this brief game, wanted to shift the mood.

“Everyone…”

But his lips froze mid-motion.

A suspicious figure was reflected in the tavern window.

‘That man just now…’

Someone had been watching, as if spying.

Before he could get a good look, the figure disappeared, but the face seemed familiar.

A sharp instinct pricked his nerves.

The awkward silence spread around as Woo-gun’s serious expression set in.

So-hye, noticing the shift, lost her smile and watched him with concern.

Even when she turned to look, the darkened window revealed nothing.

Had they been followed again?

Suppressing the rising unease, So-hye quietly called out.

“Teacher, what’s wrong?”

Lost in thought, Woo-gun returned to reality at her voice.

Everyone else’s eyes were on him.

“Sorry. I was just… lost in thought for a moment.”

He steadied his expression and checked the window again.

No suspicious shadows were visible, but he needed to be sure.

“Hee-wook, shall we step out for a smoke?”

“Sure.”

Sensing something off, Hee-wook got up without complaint.

Woo-gun placed a reassuring hand on So-hye’s shoulder, her worried eyes meeting his.

Then he bent slightly, whispering just to her.

“Stay here. I’ll be right back.”

“……”

“It’s nothing to worry about.”

So-hye nodded, her gaze softening with trust.

It felt, in some way, like a claim of territory—an invisible line that the others couldn’t cross.

Woo-gun stepped out with Hee-wook.

From the narrow alley outside, they could survey the surroundings.

In a hidden corner, a thin wisp of smoke rose.

“Why bother? Using a cigarette as an excuse?”

Hee-wook raised an eyebrow as he exhaled slowly.

Woo-gun kept watch in the dark, then finally leaned toward Hee-wook, speaking in a low voice.

“Have you seen Uk-young recently?”

“Well, I heard he returned from Shanghai a couple of months ago, but I haven’t seen him. Why?”

Woo-gun hesitated. This topic could cause a huge stir within the organization.

“What if… I just saw him.”

“Here?”

“Not only today, but sometimes since he returned to Gyeongseong.”

Hee-wook’s face stiffened.

A barely audible voice came, lower than the cigarette smoke.

“You mean he might be tailing you?”

Uk-young was someone who could eliminate even a treacherous sibling himself. He was highly sensitive to betrayal.

If he were tailing Woo-gun, it could mean he suspected Woo-gun of betraying them—selling information to the Japanese.

It was a terrifying thought. But the opposite was also possible: that Uk-young was considered a traitor.

“Ah… what a mess.”

It was a troubling scenario, one that could overturn past solo operations. Woo-gun knew better than to jump to conclusions.

“For now, keep this between us. I might just be overthinking.”

“I hope so.”

Hee-wook exhaled irritably into the cold night air.

After a while, the two returned to the tavern.

Meanwhile, a man exited another nearby tavern, watching them disappear, before vanishing himself.

Back inside, a lively tune caught Woo-gun’s attention.

Se-ho, already tipsy, had started dancing to music from the phonograph.

His awkward, unrefined movements set everyone laughing.

“Oh no, there he goes again! Stop, it’s embarrassing!”

Hee-wook clicked his tongue in disapproval.

But Se-ho, fueled by alcohol, ignored him and tried to get others to join.

“Come on, Seok-tae! You have to dance on a day like this!”

“Be careful, you might hurt yourself.”

“Jae-woo, or you’ll end up at the butterfly grave again!”

Seok-tae and Jae-woo resisted, but Se-ho persisted, his big, round eyes imploring So-hye.

“So-hye, you’ll dance with me, right?”

“Huh? Ah, I…”

Flustered, she met Woo-gun’s eyes.

He nodded slightly, silently giving her permission.

After years of dancing, So-hye’s body, unused for a while, began to sway to the music.

“Ahaha! Teacher, not like that, move your foot here!”

“You’re doing the same thing as me.”

Her cheerful laugh made Hee-wook grin, still clumsily following his own rhythm.

Soon, one by one, others joined, turning the tavern into a makeshift dance hall.

Hands passed from Se-ho to Seok-tae, Seok-tae to Jae-woo.

Even Hee-wook, who had resisted, was finally drawn into the fun.

The lively energy and camaraderie relaxed everyone.

“So-hye, step this way.”

“Ahaha! Like this, teacher!”

The morning’s tension melted away, replaced with laughter.

At some point, So-hye glanced sideways.

Woo-gun had stepped back, sipping beer, quietly watching them.

“Come dance too, teacher.”

Smiling faintly, he shook his head, eyes half-closed.

Peaceful eyes observed her, unshaken by the lively scene.

So-hye smiled gently, then returned to the group.

The gathering lasted until late.

As the assistants staggered home, Woo-gun and So-hye walked side by side.

So-hye inhaled deeply and exhaled with contentment.

“Today was so much fun. I feel like I can relax and enjoy myself for the first time in a while.”

Woo-gun’s dark eyes reflected her bright face.

Her smile spread across his vision like watercolors.

“I’m glad I got to meet the lab members, thanks to you. Everyone seems so nice.”

“Hee-wook still seemed a bit jealous.”

“That’s okay. I’m used to that from working at the modern cafe.”

She laughed lightly, brushing it off. Hee-wook’s jealousy wasn’t baseless, so all she had to do was work harder.

The street was deserted now, only the chirping of autumn insects filling the quiet.

Suddenly, So-hye stopped walking.

Woo-gun turned, noticing her pause.

A small, white hand waved toward him.

“Teacher, dance with me.”

Her sudden request made Woo-gun raise an eyebrow.

“Here?”

“We didn’t get to dance earlier, just the two of us.”

“……”

“Where else would a fiancée dance only with other men?”

Her lips pouted in mock sulkiness, which softened Woo-gun’s heart.

“Normally, the man asks first…”

“In these times, what does that matter? What matters is dancing together.”

Still, when he didn’t reach for her, she said confidently:

“Are you worried you’re bad at dancing? Don’t worry. I’ll lead. Just follow me.”

Her cheeky insistence made Woo-gun chuckle.

“Trying to provoke me? You’ve succeeded.”

He took her outstretched hand, placing his over hers, and pulled her close by the waist.

So-hye instinctively held her breath at the sudden closeness.

A dry swallow as her throat tightened.

“Move. I’ll match you.”

Her flushed cheeks might have been from the calm night air—or from being pressed close to him.

Her hair brushed his neck now and then, suggesting the latter.

Holding one of his hands, the other on his shoulder, So-hye began to move her feet slowly.

Woo-gun followed her lead effortlessly, as if in perfect harmony.

The bright lights of Gyeongseong twinkled like stars.

The sounds of insects blended into a natural rhythm.

When the wind blew, she felt his warmth and scent more intensely.

Every sense was absorbed by him, her heart stirred as if trapped in a tight space.

‘I wish this moment could last forever.’

Leaning on him, So-hye closed her eyes.

It was as if a song played somewhere—a melancholy yet beautiful waltz just for the two of them.

“……”

Their feet came to a synchronized stop.

A quiet stillness enveloped them, mingled with indistinct breathing.

Through the air she inhaled, Woo-gun exhaled softly.

“So this is how it feels… dancing with you.”

The strange, inexplicable sensation tickled her stomach.

“You dance well, indeed.”

He gently stroked her hair, then let go and stepped back.

So-hye ran her fingers through the spot he had touched, pressing her chest with her hands.

Her heart, ready to burst, could not stop racing.

As he gradually moved away, she wondered: what was he thinking?

Even a little, just a little, did he feel the same as she did?

Did he share her joy?

Unable to know, her feelings were all the more tender and painful.

On this autumn night, a private performance for two ended, leaving a deep mark on So-hye’s heart.