Defective Banana - Chapter 14

There was something curious about the way the man was looking at her, but Ara had no time to dwell on it—her gallery manager had returned and picked up the conversation again, so she politely turned her gaze and rejoined in.

About ten minutes later, Ara stood up and smiled warmly at the manager.

“I should get going. See you again soon.”

“Yes, and next time, come a little earlier so we can grab lunch together.”

“I will. Take care.”

Slinging her bag over one shoulder, she started walking toward the elevator on the far side of the gallery. As she passed her painting, she noticed the same man still standing there, quietly admiring it.

She glanced his way but didn’t linger, brushing past behind him without a word.

She reached the elevator to head down to the underground parking lot. Just as the elevator doors slid open, she stepped in, pressed the button for B1, and waited for them to close—

Only for a hand to suddenly stop the doors.

It was him. The man from earlier slipped inside without a word.

Now that he was standing right beside her, Ara realized he was tall—taller than he’d looked from a distance. His presence was more solid, more striking. A subtle woodsy scent with a clean freshness brushed past her nose.

Caught off guard by the unexpectedly pleasant smell, she glanced up at his face, but all she could see was a mask and a bucket hat pulled low. She quickly looked away again.

A few seconds later, the elevator dinged open at B1. Ara stepped forward to exit—but so did the man, and their shoulders accidentally bumped.

“Ah, sorry,” she said quickly.

The man gently held the door open with one hand and replied with warm composure,

“No worries. After you.”

“Thanks.”

As she walked across the parking lot toward her white SUV, she thought back to the man.

There was something charming about him—first the way he’d quietly stood appreciating her art, then the unexpectedly kind way he held the elevator for her. Plus… the body wasn’t bad either.

Lately, she’d been reminding herself over and over that it was time to start connecting with people again. To stop hiding behind her work and let herself move forward, little by little.

The fact that she was even interested in some stranger like this was new—and kind of amusing.

She let out a soft chuckle and glanced over her shoulder.

Should I ask for his number…?

But the man had vanished. He was nowhere to be seen. With a slight pout of disappointment, she got into her car and started it up.

As she eased off the brake and slowly turned the wheel, headlights suddenly flashed from the car opposite hers.

A sleek black sedan surged forward at the exact same moment.

Screeeeech!

They stopped just short of colliding—her white SUV and the black sedan facing off in a tense standoff.

Ara narrowed her eyes and glared through the windshield. The glare made it hard to see, but squinting, she could make out the driver.

Wait. That bucket hat… That tall build…

It was him. The elevator guy.

Only this time, he looked completely different—like he wasn’t going to budge no matter what. He just sat there, relaxed, chin resting lazily on the steering wheel, eyes fixed right on her.

It was like he was silently challenging her.

What now, huh?

“What is with this guy?” Ara muttered.

Suddenly, the sedan let out a deep vroom, engine revving aggressively.

Not one to back down, Ara answered with her own rev—vroom vroom, loud and proud.

And then, just like that, the man pulled down his mask and let out a bright, boyish laugh.

Is he laughing at me…?

She hit the horn. Loudly.

BEEP BEEP!

The man lifted his bucket hat just enough to meet her eyes and flashed a wide grin.

His face was unmistakable now.

“…Wait. Is that—Kang Seohyuk?!”

Her jaw dropped.

“What the hell? How’d he even know I was here? Did he seriously follow me?!”

Shock and a rush of something thrilling—dopamine, adrenaline, whatever—raced to her head. Her heart thudded.

It was absurd. Exciting. A little infuriating.

“Unbelievable,” she whispered, smirking.

With a flick of her fingers, she turned on her high beams and floored the gas pedal.

Blinded by the flash, Seohyuk lowered his hat again and finally reversed.

Seizing the chance, Ara zoomed past and swerved to block his path.

Rolling her window down, she leaned out with the sunniest, most mischievous smile he’d ever seen and called out.

“Kang Seohyuk! If you catch me, I’ll give you a present.”

With a wink and a flirty twinkle in her eye, she hit the gas hard, zipping out of the garage in a burst of speed.

Behind her, Seohyuk revved his engine and took off after her, grinning like a kid chasing his first crush.

Thankfully, traffic wasn’t heavy, so it wasn’t too hard to keep up. Changing lanes fluidly, Ara flew through the city, Seohyuk hot on her heels.

Honestly, more than the promise of a “gift,” he just wanted to spend time with her. Talk. Laugh. Discover new things about each other. Build something real.

For the first time in a long time, he felt proud of the way he felt toward someone.

Hopeful, even. Excited about what might come next.

And sure, maybe a kiss. And s3x. That’d be… very exciting, too.

No more hiding behind trauma. No more letting his past define him.

This was his moment to break out and move forward.

With that wish burning in his chest, he kept his eyes locked on her white SUV as they tore across the city and onto the wide, open roads at the outskirts.

Eventually, they hit a red light on a quiet country road. Ara’s car stopped cleanly at the line.

Seohyuk pulled up in the next lane beside her and lowered his window.

Their eyes met.

He gave her a soft, dimpled smile, calm and content.

They weren’t saying a word, just sitting there with their engines humming. And yet, it felt like the most fun either of them had had in ages.

The light turned green.

Ara hit the gas again—vroooom—taking the lead.

Seohyuk didn’t hesitate. He followed close behind.

***

About an hour later, they arrived at a coastal tourist spot on Ganghwado.

Ara pulled into the spacious outdoor lot first and parked her SUV off to one side. She got out, slung a crossbody bag over her shoulder, and gazed out at the open view.

“Whew.”

Beyond the parking fence, the blue sea stretched out endlessly. In the background, colorful gondolas floated through the air, gliding slowly toward the mountaintop.

A moment later, Seohyuk’s black sedan pulled in beside her.

He stepped out, still in his bucket hat, and spotted Ara standing alone.

He casually walked toward her, calling her name with a grin in his voice.

“Ara.”

She turned and smiled. “You really did follow me.”

“You were fast. I nearly lost you at the end.”

“Well, still. You made it. Good job.”

She gave him a little nod of approval.

Seohyuk tugged his bucket hat lower and stepped closer, his voice soft and teasing by her ear.

“You said I’d get a gift if I caught you.”

“Did I?” she mused. “Pretty sure I said if you caught me. You should’ve stepped on it a little harder. What’s wrong—your lower half a little weak?”

She smirked.

Even being openly teased didn’t faze Seohyuk. He laughed, pulled a mask from his pocket, and casually covered his mouth.

“How was I supposed to catch you if I didn’t even know where you were going?”

“Oh, and yet you followed me anyway? Without knowing anything?”

Still smiling, he continued, “Actually, I overheard you during lunch the other day—saying you’d visit the gallery and head to Ganghwado on Thursday. So I waited. I cleared my schedule for the weekend… because I wanted to spend time with you.”

Ara blinked at him, tilting her head with mock innocence.

“I thought you were just a pervert. But turns out you’re a strategic, sly pervert.”

“And why haven’t you been answering my texts?” Seohyuk pouted. “I texted morning and night without fail. Not even a ‘k’ back.”

“That’s my business.”

Ara, dressed in jeans, a white blouse, and a soft pink cardigan, locked her car and slung her bag over her shoulder.

Then, abruptly, she turned and looked him dead in the eye.

“You do know this is a one-night, two-day trip, right?”

Seohyuk froze. He hadn’t thought that far.

“Wait… seriously?” he blurted, eyes wide.

Even with his mask on, she could tell from the way he covered his mouth and tried to hide his flustered laugh—he was excited. Way too excited.

“I don’t mind,” he said, trying to sound calm. “Honestly, I cleared my weekend just in case. Didn’t know when I’d see you, but… I was ready.”

Ara chuckled. “Wow. You really are a smooth-talking, scheming pervert. I kinda like it. All right then—let’s see if you can keep up.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

With a grin stretched across his face, Seohyuk clutched his chest like his heart might explode and marched after her with big, eager strides.