As I leaned out the window, he waved with a smile. I was so taken aback that I momentarily lost my words—why was he here when he should be in the hall by now?
Had he even gone to the party at all? He was still in his formal attire. Of course, as usual, his tie was nowhere to be seen, and several buttons were undone, but somehow, the slightly disheveled look suited him better than a perfectly neat appearance.
Well, with a face like that, what wouldn’t suit him? As the cool breeze tousled his hair, he ran a hand through it, flashing a dazzling smile.
“I came because I missed you.”
Maybe it was the sweet melody drifting from the hall, or the soft moonlight tinting the sky, but the moment he uttered those words—saying he had come just to see me—my heart began to pound violently.
Logic told me to turn back, but my body, as if pulled by some invisible force, leaned precariously out the window, drawing me closer to him. His striking crimson eyes held me captive, refusing to let go.
“Go back to the hall.”
I finally gathered myself enough to say what needed to be said. The smile that had been playing on his lips faded slightly, but he shook his head resolutely. It was clear that no matter what I said, he wasn’t going to leave quietly.
I knew I couldn’t let myself get swept up in his recklessness, yet my feet felt frozen in place, as if they had forgotten how to turn away. Instead, they kept inching closer to him—like that was what they had wanted to do all along.
“I can’t see your face properly from up there, Seo-yul.”
“Of course, because I’m on the second floo—”
“Then why don’t you come down?”
He shrugged off the jacket draped over his shoulders and set it on the ground, then stretched his arms wide toward me.
I thought he was joking, but the look in his eyes, though playful, was entirely serious. He was really suggesting I do something as insane as jumping down from the second floor.
“Don’t say something so ridiculous.”
“Why not? I’ll catch you so you don’t get hurt.”
He urged me on like he actually expected me to do it. The best way to handle him at times like this was to ignore him completely.
I straightened myself from where I had been leaning against the window frame and reached out to close it.
That was when he let out a long sigh and took a few steps back.
“Just step out for a second, will you?”
I had no idea what he was up to this time. Before I could even guess, he smirked—and then, out of nowhere, he took off running straight toward the mansion.
In an instant, he kicked off the wall and launched himself into the air, effortlessly landing on the second floor.
“Now I can see you clearly.”
He stepped onto the window ledge and climbed inside, speaking in the brightest, most carefree voice.
Scaling two stories without any equipment—was that really something so easy to do? The Shining were known to have superior physical abilities compared to ordinary people, but this was practically cheating.
“This is—”
“Since you wouldn’t jump down, I had to come up.”
He stepped closer, his hand cupping my cheek. The coolness of his touch, as cold as the moonlight, sent a shiver down my spine. The night breeze from beyond the window tousled his hair, making the striking red strands flicker like flames.
“Why didn’t you come to the party?”
“I wasn’t feeling well.”
“Your thigh still hurts?”
The memory I had been trying so hard to forget suddenly resurfaced, and my face burned red. I pushed his hand away from my cheek and put some distance between us. But he simply shrugged and closed the gap again, unfazed by my resistance.
“Well, it hasn’t even been a full day yet.”
His gaze lingered around my thigh. I tried to ignore it, but my body started trembling in response to the pheromones seeping from him, his emotions laid bare.
“Get out of my room. Now.”
I had to get him out before my rationality crumbled completely. But he brushed off my words like they were nothing and took another step forward, erasing the last bit of space between us.
We were so close that our bodies were nearly touching. I dropped my gaze to where our shoes met. Then, bending slightly, he slipped between my tightly pressed thighs.
“Nh—!”
“Control your pheromones. I’m barely holding back as it is.”
That was my line. The thick floral scent filling the room wasn’t mine—it was his. And yet, he was telling me to hold back when his pheromones were the ones wrapping around me like an inescapable net.
He let out a deep sigh and leaned his forehead against my shoulder. The weight of him made me wobble slightly, but I steadied myself. His voice was a whisper, vibrating softly against me.
“I was a little mad when you didn’t show up at the party earlier. No… actually, I was furious. It was obvious they were trying to hide you from me again. If I hadn’t come here, I might’ve killed every last one of those bastards in the hall.”
His words were brutal—saying he almost committed mass murder in a fit of rage—yet his voice remained eerily calm.
He lifted his head, and the next thing I felt was the soft press of his lips against my cheek.
The sudden kiss made me turn away, and that was when our eyes finally met. He smiled brightly, as if just now realizing I was looking at him.
It had only been a fleeting touch, but the spot where his lips had landed burned. My heartbeat pounded louder and louder.
“So before I completely lose my mind, I came to see you. If I hadn’t… I really would’ve killed them all.”
His strong arms tightened around my waist, making escape impossible. Then, like a needy child, he buried his head against me again, rubbing against me ever so slightly.
I was reminded of Vin eight years ago—when he had already grown taller than me, yet still tried to curl up in my embrace. He may have gotten bigger since then, but nothing had really changed. It was almost unbelievable how much he remained the same.
I should push him away.
I knew that. But my hands refused to move.
All it took was a single truth I had let slip, and now, emotions I had long suppressed were rising, threatening to defy the answer I had decided on long ago.
Right now, with him leaning on me completely, I couldn’t bring myself to push him away.
Just resisting the urge to hold his broad back in return was already overwhelming.
“Shall we dance?”
His sudden suggestion caught me off guard. Before I could react, he pulled me close, pressing his forehead against mine. His fingers intertwined with mine, locking together tightly. As he listened to the music drifting from the hall, he suddenly spun us around.
“W-Wait a second!”
I focused all my attention on avoiding his steps, but in the end, I stomped on his feet over and over again. Seeing me pale with panic, he scrunched his nose playfully and said,
“Ouch, that hurts.”
“Then stop. I can’t dance.”
“Why not? You’re doing just fine.”
“Ah—!”
My breath hitched as I was suddenly lifted off the ground, my viewpoint shifting higher. I instinctively grabbed onto his broad shoulders, looking up to meet his gaze. He grinned down at me.
His smile filled my unsteady vision, and the sound of my heartbeat grew loud enough to be heard in my own ears.
A soft floral scent surrounded us. His pheromones carried the fragrance of small yellow flowers—the kind that spent their entire existence waiting for the moon. Their message was clear.
He was confessing to me with his whole being.
Who could remain unmoved by such a fervent confession? No one.
That was how I justified my wavering emotions. I placed all the blame on him, pushing all responsibility onto him.
“Can I kiss you?”
He asked, even though we both knew he would do it anyway.
Just as I was about to say no, his lips met mine.
See? He never listens.
The soft touch deepened, and what little rationality I had left urged me to push him away.
But just as spilled water couldn’t be scooped back into a cup, emotions once unleashed couldn’t be controlled.
The thick scent of cocoa mingled with the floral fragrance that had filled the room. When he opened his eyes, he stared at me directly. I saw hesitation flicker like fire in his crimson irises.
He’s leaving tomorrow anyway.
If I wouldn’t see him again after this, couldn’t I be honest—just for now?
Shamelessly, I wanted to be greedy one last time.
In the past eight years, there hadn’t been a single moment when I didn’t miss him. Even while despairing over the fact that I could never see him again, I had dreamed of meeting him endlessly.
So, just for now, let me be honest—if only a little.
I might not be able to give him my entire truth, but… would it be so wrong to pretend this night was just a happy dream?
“Seo-yul hyung….”
The emotions I had been holding back for so long burst free in an instant.
I cradled his pale cheek and kissed him first.
The moment our lips parted slightly, our tongues tangled deeply.
His body wavered for a second before he steadied himself and began walking.
When my back met the soft sheets, I finally realized he had carried me to the bed.
But that thought faded away the moment his lips found mine again, making it meaningless.
The clumsy, inexperienced kiss continued for a long time.
Neither of us knew what we were doing, but the only thing that mattered was the desperate desire to be closer.
“Say my name,” he whispered between ragged breaths.
After hesitating for what felt like forever, I finally parted my lips and called out the name I had longed for.
“Vin.”
