Chapter 31

As soon as Sera walked out the restaurant door, I let out a long breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.

“Damn it…” I muttered under my breath, running my hand through my hair in frustration. “Why does this keep happening…?”

My chest tightened. A wave of unease swept over me. What if Yuna finds out? The thought alone made my stomach twist. If Yuna ever caught even a glimpse of this, I’d be done for. Completely done.

While I was still lost in that spiral, Auntie Miyeon came over, her expression far too cheerful for my liking.

“Well, well,” she said playfully, crossing her arms. “I never expected you to know such a beautiful woman, Haemin.”

I nearly jumped. “Auntie—it’s not like that. I don’t know her like that. We’ve only met briefly. That’s all.”

“Briefly, huh?” Auntie raised a brow. “Then why did she ask if she could take you out? And why do I get the feeling you were trying very hard to say no?”

I groaned and rubbed my face, feeling cornered. “Auntie… you should’ve just made an excuse for me. Said I was busy or something.”

“An excuse?” Auntie blinked, then let out a small laugh. “Why would I do that? She seemed nice, and she asked politely. No harm in letting you go for a bit, right?”

“And besides…” Auntie leaned closer, lowering her voice. “As a woman, I can tell. She likes you.”

“Auntie!” I almost jumped, my ears burning. “Don’t say ridiculous things. That’s not—she doesn’t—”

“Why not?” Auntie cut me off smoothly, smirking. “She’s gorgeous, well-mannered too. And age?” She shrugged lightly. “Plenty of women marry younger men these days. It’s hardly unusual anymore. Look at you—nineteen and already so mature. You’d match her perfectly.”

I buried my face in my hands. “Auntie, please… just stop. This isn’t funny.”

But Auntie only chuckled, clearly enjoying how red I had become.

_________

The restaurant was at its busiest when the clock struck five. Every table was filled, customers’ chatter mixing with the sound of clattering dishes and the warm smell of Auntie’s food. I had been helping her carry plates back and forth, but my mind wasn’t at ease at all.

Then I heard it—the low rumble of a car engine pulling up right outside. Heads immediately turned toward the door. Some customers even leaned toward the window to see.

I didn’t need to look. I already knew who it was.

A sleek black Porsche stopped in front of the restaurant. It gleamed under the evening light, a car that didn’t belong in this quiet neighborhood. People on the street slowed down, pointing, whispering. Inside, the customers buzzed with curiosity.

I let out a heavy sigh.

Beside me, Jiwon nearly dropped the tray he was holding. His eyes sparkled as he leaned close.

“Wow… that’s seriously cool. Noona must be crazy rich. Hyung, go already! Don’t make my future sister-in-law wait.”

I turned sharply to glare at him. “What are you talking about?”

He smirked, clearly enjoying himself. “Come on, she came all the way here to pick you up. That says a lot, doesn’t it?”

I clicked my tongue, more frustrated than I should’ve been. “Stop talking nonsense.”

Before I could say more, Auntie appeared behind the counter, glancing from the car to me. Her lips curled into a knowing smile.

“Well, Haemin,” she said, wiping her hands, “don’t keep her waiting. Go. And take care.”

I sighed again, heavier than before. My legs felt stiff as I dragged myself to the entrance.

Inside my chest, something surged—the urge to shout the truth, to end it all right here by telling them I was already married. Just say it, and everything would stop before it grew out of control. But I couldn’t. There were too many consequences, too many risks if I revealed it here. So I swallowed it down and walked forward.

When I stepped outside, the Porsche waited silently. Its black paint shone, almost blinding under the streetlights. I walked closer, each step heavier than the last.

The passenger-side window rolled down smoothly. Sera sat inside, her posture relaxed, lips curved into a soft smile.

“Get in,” she said simply.

I froze for a moment, then nodded and opened the door. The leather seat was cool against my back as I slid in. The faint smell of perfume lingered in the air, clean and floral.

For a second, the inside of the car felt too quiet. My heart thumped against my ribs, and I forced myself to ask, “So… where do you want to go?”

Sera turned her head toward me, her smile still lingering. “I’m hungry. Let’s eat first.”

I blinked. Of all things, I hadn’t expected that answer. “Eat?”

“Yes,” she said with a light laugh, adjusting her seatbelt. “I didn’t have time to finish my food earlier, I was in such a hurry. I want something local. Fresh seafood maybe. Do you know a good place?”

My throat went dry. My mind scrambled for an answer. Busan had plenty of seafood spots, but the thought of sitting across from her in a public place… it made me uneasy. “Uh… there are a few, but…” I trailed off.

She glanced at me, her eyes warm but sharp enough to make me feel like she could read what I was thinking. “Don’t worry. I’m not picky. Just take me somewhere you like.”

I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly. “It’s not that, it’s just… I don’t really go out much.”

Her smile widened slightly, like she found that amusing. “Then today’s an exception. Think of it as helping a friend.”

Friend. The word echoed in my head, heavy with meaning.

I gave a small nod, my voice quieter than before. “Alright… I think I know a place.”

She started the car, the engine humming smoothly as she pulled away from the restaurant. My stomach knotted tighter with each passing second.

The streetlights flickered past the window. Inside the car, Sera hummed softly, completely at ease, while I sat stiff, staring at my hands.

__________

The car glided through the narrow street, its headlights cutting through the dusk. Even though the car was soundproofed, I could feel the stares from outside. People slowed down just to take a look. Couples walking by stopped to point. A group of high school boys even pulled out their phones to snap pictures.

And it wasn’t just the car.

When we stopped at a red light, a man on a scooter trying to peek through the tinted glass. When he caught a glimpse of Sera’s face, he did a double take and nearly forgot to move when the light turned green. He wasn’t looking at me. He was staring at her.

Sera’s posture was relaxed, her long hair falling neatly around her shoulders, her face calm and composed. She didn’t react to the attention—she seemed completely used to it.

Meanwhile, I sat beside her, trying to sink into the seat as if hiding could make me invisible.

If Yuna ever saw this… if she even heard about this…

My chest tightened with each passing second. Just imagining her cold stare was enough to make sweat gather at the back of my neck.

Sera must have noticed my silence, because she glanced sideways and asked, “What’s wrong? You’ve been quiet since we left.”

I forced a smile. “It’s nothing. Just… not used to this kind of attention.”

She chuckled softly, her eyes fixed on the road. “Attention follows me everywhere. You’ll get used to it if you’re around me more often.”

I froze at her words. Around her more often? That couldn’t happen. It just couldn’t.

We drove for a few more minutes until the smell of the ocean reached us. I had decided on a small seafood place near the harbor—a spot I knew from school outings, nothing fancy, but famous among locals for its fresh catch.

When Sera parked the Porsche outside, the effect was instant. The place was modest, filled with families and small groups quietly enjoying their meals. But the moment the car door opened and she stepped out, the entire restaurant seemed to pause.

Heads turned. Conversations broke off mid-sentence.

The men at a nearby table gawked openly, one of them elbowing his friend and whispering. A group of young women sitting by the window stared, whispering among themselves with a mix of envy and admiration. Even the waitress at the door froze before greeting her with a polite bow.

And then, of course, there was me.

Walking next to her felt like stepping onto a stage I didn’t belong on. My sneakers scuffed the ground awkwardly while her heels clicked with confidence. I could feel people’s eyes darting between us.

My ears burned. My stomach twisted.

Sera didn’t seem to notice—or maybe she just didn’t care. She moved gracefully through the restaurant, choosing a seat by the window overlooking the harbor. I followed quietly, sliding into the chair across from her.

The waitress came quickly, flustered but polite, handing us menus. “W-what would you like to order?”

Sera didn’t even glance at the menu. “What’s fresh today?”

The waitress blinked, then smiled nervously. “We have live abalone, snow crab, and grilled mackerel, miss.”

“Then we’ll take all three,” Sera said smoothly. She looked at me then, a hint of amusement in her eyes. “Unless you don’t eat seafood?”

I shook my head quickly. “No, I do.”

“Good.” She handed the menus back without hesitation. The waitress bowed and hurried off, stealing one last look at Sera before disappearing into the kitchen.

I leaned back slightly, trying to calm my nerves. But the whispers around us hadn’t stopped. People were still sneaking glances our way, their voices hushed but curious.

Sera rested her chin lightly on her hand, studying me. “Why do you look so nervous?”

I swallowed hard. “I’m not nervous.”

Her lips curved. “Really? Then why won’t you look me in the eye?”

I forced myself to meet her gaze. Her eyes sparkled under the dim restaurant light, sharp and playful at the same time. It only made my chest tighten more.

If anyone takes a photo….

I quickly broke eye contact, pretending to adjust my sleeves. “It’s just… I’m not used to this. You stand out too much. Everyone’s staring.”

“And?” she asked, tilting her head. “Let them stare. I don’t mind.”

I bit my tongue, holding back the words that almost slipped out—I do.