Love for Love’s Sake - Chapter 59

Chapter 59

[Cha Yeowoon] : What is it?

I bit my lip, thinking about how to reply.

[Tae Myeongha] : Too

The plan to respond as simply and less awkwardly as possible had failed. The distance between ‘Me’ and ‘Too’ seemed as vast as that between my neighborhood and Boeun County.

Cha Yeowoon, who had been responding as fast as the speeding car, fell silent for a moment. My embarrassment crept in. Why did my hands have to slip?

[Cha Yeowoon] : Did you say you too?

It was a confirmation kill…In this situation, wouldn’t admitting it cause less further embarrassment?

[Tae Myeongha] : Yes~

[Cha Yeowoon] : Cute

This was cute?

[Cha Yeowoon] : Senior miss me too?

Why bring up the topic again? I contemplated my response. How about just an ‘Uh huh’?

[ㅇ]

I messed up.

The thought of changing my phone or fingers crossed my mind. Although it was Cha Yeowoon, honestly this was…

[Cha Yeowoon] : Cute

[Cha Yeowoon] : Send one more

[Tae Myeongha] : ??

[Cha Yeowoon] : Senior, your messages

[Cha Yeowoon] : It’s really is cute

“Crazy.”

An expletive slipped out unintentionally. Ahn Gyeonghun looked at me in surprise from the side.

“It’s nothing.”

I hastily said and flipped my phone over as if nothing had happened. I wasn’t as bothered by the speeding car as I was earlier.

Ahn Gyeonghun was still engrossed in his phone, but I couldn’t bring myself to flip back my phone.

Indeed, dating was very difficult.

* * *

“It’s my first time here, and it’s surprisingly quiet.”

As we approached Boeun County, where the competition was held, the prominence of farmland increased. Large cars were parked next to long greenhouses, and buildings were scattered here and there.

In the background, mountains unfolded. The surroundings of the stadium in Hwaseong were somewhat desolate, but here it was even more so. The lodging was separated from the apartments and academy districts, giving it a more notable secluded feeling.

“Wow, there really seems to be nothing here.”

Choi Jinseo honestly commented.

After parking at the lodging, I continued with my thoughts. Cha Yeowoon had mentioned that he used to stay at the training camp here. It was a perfect place to focus on training.

The lodging we had decided to stay in was a simple and tidy building that was called a hotel in name only. There were a few similar places nearby.

“Do you regret coming with us?”

Ahn Sia asked Choi Jinseo while pulling out her luggage from the trunk of the car.

“No. Since I’ve achieved my goal.”

Choi Jinseo, who had been scanning the surroundings, pointed at me.

“I drove to see Mister Tae Myeongha.”

When I was suddenly pointed out, confusion took the forefront. Me? Unlike me, who was perplexed, Ahn Gyeonghun and Ahn Sia were silent, appearing as though they were well aware of everything.

“I’m here to chase you.”

Huh, Choi Jinseo was here for that? She, as if declaring, blew a kiss toward me. Imagining a pink lips mark was flying through the air toward me, I turned my head away.

However, unlike the lips without substance, avoiding a person wasn’t easy.

“Can you explain?”

Choi Jinseo pushed up her sunglasses and approached me aggressively. Her bright red tank top emphasized her voluptuous body.

Her smoothly polished nails lightly stabbed my chest. Lips, painted as red as her clothes, drew a sharp curve along with her eyes. She was as fierce as the car she drove.

“No, I…”

I had a boyfriend. Furthermore, I was a minor. Of course, I was actually 29, but still.

Cold sweat broke out. Choi Jinseo was so close that it felt threatening.

“Huh? Sister Jinseo!”

Someone called out to Choi Jinseo from the distance.

[ Entering Love Supremacy Zone. ]

An alarm that I didn’t want to see right now also called me.

At the hotel entrance right across the outdoor parking lot where we stood, Cheon Sangwon was waving his hand.

And behind him was Cha Yeowoon.

“…”

Cha Yeowoon was emitting a chilly air.

* * *

Choi Jinseo. The youngest team leader in the sports brand Flight Marketing Team. A skilled individual known to almost everyone in a similar field.

“Impressive.”

“Is that right?”

“Yes, the fact that you have no qualm saying it yourself.”

Choi Jinseo shook the business card between her fingers without any embarrassment. The business card, with gold foil on black paper, exuded a luxurious feel.

She said she was acquainted with Ahn Sia from Ahn Sia serving as an exclusive model for her brand.

This was the self-introduction I had heard at the edge of the parking lot after Ahn Gyeonghun and Ahn Gyeonghun had gone inside first to unpack.

As I watched Choi Jinseo rummage through her packet, she soon lowered head. There was a sound of a lighter sparking. The hand that had held the business card was now holding a cigarette.

“Want one?”

“I’m a student.”

When I criticized Choi Jinseo for offering a cigarette to a student, she threw back her chin and laughed.

“Why are you laughing?”

“You seem more innocent than I thought.”

“I often hear that my personality doesn’t match my appearance.”

Choi Jinseo continued to laugh as if finding it amusing.

“So what did you mean by chase?”

I needed to hear an explanation. Because of this, I had a misunderstanding with Cha Yeowoon earlier.

“We’re looking for fresh faces for our newly launched running shoes line.”

“It’s not me…right? Cha Yeowoon?”

“You’re quick to understand. To catch a fish you need bait.”

“You mean me.”

“Do you feel bad? Sorry. I heard you’re the closest to Cha Yeowoon.”

Choi Jinseo, ashing her cigarette, straightened herself from the wall she had been leaning on.

“Actually, I contacted Cha Yeowoon last year too. I was rejected, though. I couldn’t force him because he was busy taking care of his grandmother.”

“But you came to try again this time?”

“I’ll be honest. He possesses a compelling story, excellent grades, promising potential, youthfulness, and an ideal appearance to capture attention. I want to excavate and monopolize him at his freshest before there’s any public fatigue.”

However, it was impossible to tie people and force them. That was the gist of Choi Jinseo’s story.

“Will you help me?”

Choi Jinseo lowered her head toward me. There was a scent of tangy cigarette smoke and cherry. This person wasn’t shy about invading others’ space.

“If I remember correctly, did Mister Myeongha create this account?”

Choi Jinseo showed me Cha Yeowoon’s social media account on her phone.

“Sia was talking about 100,000 followers or something.”

How could Ahn Sia shamelessly divulge that to others…

“I also hope that Mister Yeowoon gains more recognition and encounters promising opportunities, Mister Myeongha.”

Fortunately, Choi Jinseo seemed to accept my ambitious plan for nurturing a substantial army of 100,000 followers. Either that or she was trying to spin it so she could rope me in.

Anyway, the intention of the Sub-Mission was to spread awareness of Cha Yeowoon. Cooperation would be a mutual benefit.

“How about it? Leave it to me. After the national championship, if Cha Yeowoon performs well at the world championship, we plan to promote him as much as we can.”

Why was Choi Jinseo talking to me about this? It would have been better if Cha Yeowoon was here. Nevertheless, upon his arrival at the parking lot, where he cast a cold glance at both Choi Jinseo and me, he was promptly called to meet up with the track and field team.

“As you know, Cha Yeowoon doesn’t seem to have a strong desire to stand in front of the public.”

Cha Yeowoon was a child that disliked everyone. But it seemed different now.

“I’ll talk to Yeowoon.”

“Please talk to him. Here he comes.”

“Yes, here he comes…Huh?”

[ Entering Love Supremacy Zone. ]

My mouth fell shut due to the perfectly timed alarm.

As expected, if I wasn’t concentrating on Cha Yeowoon, the alarm would only appear when he was in my vicinity.

“Long time no see, Mister Yeowoon!”

Choi Jinseo looked past my shoulder and energetically greeted Cha Yeowoon. However, for some reason, my neck wouldn’t turn.

“…”

Maybe it was because I could feel Cha Yeowoon’s intense glare.

There was still a lingering chill.

It was my first time discovering he could be as cold as an ice wall.

“What’s with this atmosphere?”

The silence was broken by a familiar, unwelcome guest.

Cheon Sangwon, who was a few steps behind Cha Yeowoon, glanced back and forth between me and Choi Jinseo.

“I told you not to follow me.”

Cha Yeowoon coldly snapped at Cheon Sangwon.

“Scary. I didn’t follow you. I came because I had something to see here, Yeowoon.”

Cheon Sangwon trembled as he pointed alternately between me and Choi Jinseo.

“Brother, it seems you’re not only popular with men but also with women?”

This child was definitely doing this on purpose.

Cheon Sangwon and Ahn Sia were models under the same brand, so he likely knew Choi Jinseo. Furthermore, he was the son of the brand’s CEO. He must have roughly understood the situation but had deliberately provoked Cha Yeowoon, as if adding fuel to the fire.

“Yeowoon, wait a minute.”

Staying here would only worsen the situation.

“Let’s talk alone.”

I grabbed Cha Yeowoon’s hand firmly.

He was dragged away obediently. At least, he was obedient so far.

* * *

The weather was clear with not a single cloud in the sky. The scorching sun was shining brightly, and the air was warm.

But I felt cold.

A chill was running down my spine.

“Hey, Yeowoon.”

“…”

“Is it because of what you saw earlier…?”

“…”

“I don’t know what the misunderstanding is, but Miss Choi Jinseo and I met for the first time today, and nothing happened just now, okay?”

The more I emphasized my innocence, the closer Cha Yeowoon’s expression lowered to absolute freezing.

He remained frozen, without any satisfaction from us holding hands while walking here. The surroundings near the lodging consisted only of trees and long roads for cars. As a result, we had to walk a bit before arriving at a remote park.

“Hey. Really, nothing happened…”

Cha Yeowoon rested his head on my neck. The tip of his nose lightly brushed against my neck.

“You smell like cigarettes.”

Cha Yeowoon’s voice pierced my ears.

“Uh…?”

“It’s not from senior.”

The calm, subdued tone raised my tension.

“The same smell came from that person earlier.”

Cha Yeowoon’s tone hung heavily in the air. If there were a scent to his tone, it would be a heavy and oppressive fragrance.

“…Are you angry?”

Cha Yeowoon remained silent. The muscles in his lower jaw tightened, then returned to normal.

Although I couldn’t hear his answer, I understood

He was angry. No need to check; it was definite.

“Cheon Sangwon is right.”

How should I handle this?

“Brother is popular. Whether it’s a guy or a girl, it doesn’t matter.”

As I racked my brain, Cha Yeowoon raised his arm and said something strange.

No, that wasn’t it.

Choi Jinseo had come for him and was just asking for my cooperation. Trying to figure out where to start the explanation, I hesitated to speak.

The sunlight, which had been piercing my eyes, was blocked.

“I won’t lose you.”