Defective Banana - Chapter 32
A while later, Ara stared blankly into space, her face frozen in disbelief after getting a call from the art museum. Her blinking eyes said everything — she was utterly baffled.
“What? He bought all of them?”
Kang Seohyuk had bought nine pieces.
Coincidentally — or not — that was the exact number of her works currently on display at the Hera Museum.
Still stunned, Ara got up, walked into the kitchen, and gulped down a glass of cold water. Then she picked up her phone and called him.
“It’s me.”
— “Wow, Ara actually called first. I’m touched.”
“I just got some insane news from the museum. Did you seriously buy all of my pieces?”
— “Ha… I specifically told them not to tell you.”
He mumbled like he’d been betrayed.
“I mean, if you didn’t want me to find out, maybe don’t buy every single one? Obviously the museum called me. They said the buyer was a really tall actor, and the only actor I know who fits that description is you. So? What was that all about?”
— “Well… I really wanted to have at least one of your works. But then I figured, one for the living room, one for the bedroom… and once I got there, I just couldn’t pick only a few. I started imagining you painting them — sitting here, standing there — and I wanted all of them.”
“So you bought every last one? Left nothing behind?”
— “Yeah. Was I not supposed to?”
His voice dipped, like he’d just touched a nerve and was now nervously tiptoeing around it.
“It’s not that you weren’t supposed to. It’s just… now I’ve got even less time to spend with you because I’m going to be swamped.”
— “Wait—so are you saying we’re not meeting this weekend? We’ve already gone nearly two weeks without seeing each other!”
He sounded panicked — definitely hit harder than expected. Ara held back a smile and replied calmly.
“No, we’re still meeting this weekend. But you’re gonna be in trouble. You better come prepared. What time are you picking me up?”
Seohyuk let out a deep sigh, his voice softening with relief.
— “God, my heart nearly dropped. I’ll come after I wrap up work — around 3, okay?”
“Don’t come to the parking lot. Let’s meet in front of the playground. Got it?”
— “Got it. See you this weekend. I’ve missed you so much, Ara.”
With that sweet little farewell, the call ended.
Seohyuk kept holding onto his phone for a moment, then walked into his gallery space. He sat down and started scrolling through photos of her — one by one.
He zoomed in on a picture of her asleep, curled up under a blanket. Then another from Jeonju Hanok Village, where she was sipping iced coffee through a straw, glancing back with that adorable expression. His lips curled into a grin.
Whether her eyes were closed, wide open, or giving him that icy glare — every version of her was beautiful.
He felt completely lovestruck.
It was almost weird — how strongly he felt about her. Thinking of her, missing her, smiling like an idiot at her photos.
He wanted to put down roots in her, live his life wrapped around her existence.
In this moment, with that craving so real and overwhelming, he couldn’t ignore it.
“Ara doesn’t want to get married.” Kim Yeosa’s words kept echoing in his ears.
Why now, though? Why did that keep replaying in his mind, unsettling him like this?
Honestly, from his point of view, no one else even existed. Even if another woman somehow caught his interest physically, the idea alone felt off-putting. Disgusting, even.
He imagined her as the one to spend his life with — waking up together, sharing a home, cooking for each other, never needing to be apart. It sounded… perfect.
And the more he thought about it, the more he started seriously planning how to announce their marriage.
“I should renegotiate with the agency and ask for extended newlywed leave… Then we can have the ceremony about a year from now…”
Early last year, Seohyuk had moved out of his mother’s house and started living on his own.
He’d chosen one of the most luxurious apartment buildings in Seoul — a place where many celebrities and athletes also lived. The building had top-tier security, ensuring complete privacy.
The place had a wide-open view of the Han River, and from the other side, you could even see Namsan Tower. The night view was just stunning.
The apartment was massive, with more rooms than he needed. A few days ago, he’d already set up a studio space just for Ara. And one of the guest rooms — the one with an en-suite bathroom — had been turned into her personal bedroom, so she could come and rest anytime.
The best part? Those two rooms were tucked far away down the hall from his own bedroom, with a solid inner door separating the space. Even the front entrance was separate. So even if his manager or stylist, Shim Miok, stopped by, they wouldn’t have any idea someone else was living there.
Technically, that part of the apartment had been reserved for his mom. But Donghee had made it very clear she had no intention of moving in, so he repurposed it.
After finishing work and getting cleaned up, Seohyuk placed a big bouquet of soft pink lisianthus flowers on the long table by the living room window, where the white curtains fluttered in the breeze.
It was the first time in his life he’d ever done anything like this. He felt incredibly awkward… but also kind of excited, imagining how happy Ara would be when she saw it.
He stood there for a moment, soaking in the delicate floral scent, then reached out, picked a single bloom, and tucked it behind his ear while glancing at himself in the mirror.
With a black cap and a mask covering most of his face, he headed out to the spot Ara had told him to meet her.
After a short drive, he parked in front of the playground and sent her a quick text.
Ten minutes later, Ara showed up, slinging a huge bag over one shoulder. As Seohyuk got out to help with her things, she caught sight of him, raised an eyebrow, and asked,
“Uh… What’s with the flower?”
“Oh, this?” He grinned. “Just wanted to look good for you.”
He had covered his face entirely and still said he was trying to impress her.
“Did you know the only thing I can see is that flower on your face?”
Looking around, Seohyuk lowered his mask and flashed her a dazzling smile.
“Better now? Can you see my face?”
“I heard somewhere… If you wear a flower on the right ear, you’re single. Left ear means you’re taken.”
“Oh yeah?”
Without missing a beat, he switched the flower to his left ear and smiled again, dimples and all. Then he pulled his mask back up, took her bag, and opened the passenger door for her.
Once she was in, Seohyuk moved her things to the backseat, climbed into the driver’s seat, and glanced at her.
“What’s in that bag, by the way?”
“Canvases. Remember I said you had something to help me with today?”
He’d already jerked off for her while posing nude — what couldn’t he do now?
“Of course. I’m up for anything. Just leave it to me.”
Kang Seohyuk — a man with absolute confidence.
The drive from the playground to his place took about 40 minutes. And when Ara finally saw the apartment complex, her jaw practically dropped.
The building itself didn’t even look like a typical Korean apartment. It was so sleek and artistic that she couldn’t take her eyes off it.
While she gawked at it from the car window, they rolled down into the parking garage.
Even the elevator was fancy — with unique patterns etched into the frame, and polished white marble flooring down the hall that sparkled like diamonds.
They turned down the left corridor, and a large door came into view. Seohyuk pressed his thumb to the scanner, and the lock clicked open.
“Come on in.”
As Ara stepped through the entrance, a soft, fragrant scent greeted her.
‘Why the hell does a guy’s place smell this good?’
She slipped off her shoes and stepped into the cool white marble floor of the apartment. There was even a faint pink shimmer reflecting across it — so pretty, she couldn’t stop staring as she walked.
As she passed through the hallway into the living room, she spotted a plush apricot-colored sofa, a wide coffee table, and a massive TV. But what really caught her eye was the long wooden table by the window, covered in a vibrant sea of pink blossoms.
“Seohyuk, what is all that?”
“First-visit decoration, just for you. Do you like it?”
“Oh—wait, that’s the same flower you had on your ear, right? It’s gorgeous. What’s it called?”
“Lisianthus. The florist told me the flower meaning is ‘unchanging love.’”
“Unchanging love… That’s a beautiful meaning.” Ara walked closer, trailing her fingers gently over the petals. Then she plucked one small flower and tucked it behind her own left ear.
“We’re a couple, after all.”
At that, Seohyuk dropped her bags and swept her into a hug.
Kiss. Kiss.
“I missed you so much, I almost cried.”
“Don’t be so dramatic.”
“If I was lying, would you punish me for it?”