Mint Is Pure Love - Chapter 82

For days now, ever since they had come to Chungju, Seokyung had looked perfectly relaxed. And that was exactly why Yeonseo couldn’t help but worry.

“…You’re not going back to Seoul? Polylog’s summer project starts soon, doesn’t it?”

If she remembered right, it was supposed to take place somewhere in Gangwon-do. Out of the whole four-season project, the summer event was the one with the biggest budget and the most effort poured in. So of course, she couldn’t ignore it. Losing Ji Yeonseo was one thing, but if Cha Seokyung didn’t show up, the blow to morale alone would be on another level.

But Seokyung, as if he had no regrets at all, replied with ease.

“You’re not going, so what’s the point of me being there?”

Yeonseo set her sandwich down with a serious look.

“Cha Seokyung, you put a lot of work into setting up and preparing that summer project. Forget about me. Even if I don’t go, you can’t just not show up. Don’t be stubborn.”

“If you’re not there, it’s a problem for me too.”

“Stop joking around.”

“I’m not joking.”

Their eyes met, and Seokyung gave a bittersweet smile.

“If I miss one event, the world won’t end. And if it does? Then so be it. I don’t have the luxury to worry about other people’s affairs anymore. I tried, and all it got me was regret and heartache.”

“…”

“I want to do everything you tell me to… but I absolutely can’t go alone. I can’t do that anymore, Yeonseo.”

His insides felt worn down to nothing. He couldn’t bear the thought of being apart from her. He didn’t dare say it aloud, but the urgency in his eyes gave him away. Those dark-brown pupils of hers, wavering at his words, made his chest ache with both joy and sorrow.

Reaching out, he plucked a stray piece of lettuce from her cheek and continued.

“Honestly, I’ve never really been afraid of much.”

“…”

“Even as a kid, even now—maybe it sounds arrogant, but there just wasn’t anything that scared me.”

And it was true. In Seokyung’s life, nothing had ever been precious enough to protect. He hadn’t even given his family a piece of his empty heart. There had been nothing fragile enough to make him anxious, nothing he feared breaking.

“But meeting you… that’s when I realized I’m actually a coward.”

“…”

“You can be mad at me all you want until you feel better. But don’t ever tell me to go alone. That’s the only thing I’m truly scared of right now. I’ll go only if I’m with you, always.”

“…And if I said I’ll never go back to Seoul—that I’ll just stay in Chungju forever?”

“Then I’d better start house-hunting here. Quickly.”

With a sly grin, he said it like it was the most natural thing in the world. That flawless, happy smile of his stirred something inside her. Her throat tightened—tears threatened. She quickly pushed the fruit box toward him instead.

“…You said you didn’t eat breakfast. Go on, eat.”

“Feed me?”

He opened his mouth like a child. Yeonseo shot him a glare. She had let down her guard for a second, and already he was trying to slip through the cracks. His expression was half-teasing, half-genuine, his grin infuriatingly playful.

God, Cha Seokyung… Yeonseo, embarrassed and a little resentful, blurted out,

“I’m still not completely over being mad at you.”

“Oh, I know.”

When he raised both hands in surrender, she huffed and bit into another sandwich. He was so annoyingly smug, yet her heart kept thumping against her will. Pretending not to notice, she busied herself chewing.

Propping his chin on one hand, Seokyung studied her quietly before speaking again.

“So… you’re really not going to show me any Chungju landmarks? I’d like to look around.”

Landmarks, my foot. I said I’m still mad. She was about to snap back—when her tongue tingled. A sharp sting spread across her mouth.

“…What the—?”

A fiery burn shot through her nose and eyes. Her whole mouth felt like it was on fire, and her eyes brimmed with tears.

“Seok—Seokyung, this sandwich—why is it so spicy?!”

“What?”

He quickly checked the one in her hand. A fiery-red sauce oozed from between the vegetables, its pungent smell stinging his nose. For once, he stammered, flustered.

“T-they said it was a new flavor, so I bought it.”

“Sss—hah—it’s… it’s way too spicy, Seokyung!”

She fanned her mouth desperately, unable to sit still. Even her butt lifted off the chair as she writhed from the heat.

Seokyung rushed to get a cup of water from the dispenser. She gulped it down, then grabbed the strawberry juice too, making a whole scene before the fiery burn on her tongue finally eased.

What kind of hell sandwich is this?! Yeonseo panted like a puppy in the summer heat. Looking more stricken than she was, Seokyung rubbed her back.

“Are you okay? Should I go buy more juice?”

Her teary eyes glistened as she whimpered, covering her upper lip.

“It… it burns, my lips sting so bad…”

They burned like someone had pressed a flame to them.

“Here? Right here?”

Staring seriously at her swollen lips, Seokyung didn’t hesitate. He leaned in and pressed his mouth to hers.

Smack—her soft upper lip was caught between his. He pulled back slightly, then kissed the tender spot again, sucking gently as if checking the burn.

With a faint wet sound, he let go, then rubbed her lips lightly with his thumb.

“…Looks like it was the sauce. Must’ve been really spicy, huh, my Yeonseo?”

“I didn’t know it’d be like that. They said it was popular, so I tried it…”

As if her plump, reddened lips were too pitiful, he kept brushing them, then bent down again—like a cat licking at a wound. He kissed her lips once more, briefly. Yeonseo, dazed, simply let him. He pulled away again, pressed a softer kiss, then one more.

“…”

What… what was that? Why is he kissing me…?

His hand, which had been stroking her flushed lips, gradually stilled. It seemed only now did Seokyung realize what he’d done, his gaze darkening. The air between them grew heavy with unspoken tension.

But instead of pulling away, his hand cupped her cheek. His gaze was too deep to ignore. Her heart pounded nervously, and she knew,             she couldn’t push him away.

“…Yeonseo.”

Slowly, his head began to lower—

But at that very moment, the shop’s tiny bell clanged, and a loud voice shattered the air.

“Ji Minseo! If you haven’t eaten, come with—”

The voice cut off mid-sentence. Startled, Yeonseo shoved Seokyung back and jumped to her feet.

“O-oh, Choi Chan! What are you doing here?!”

Behind silver-rimmed glasses, his puzzled eyes flicked between Yeonseo and the man standing close beside her.

“…My mom told me to bring over some tteokbokki.”

He lifted the tray in his hands. Flustered, Yeonseo rushed to take it.

“Ah, Auntie made this? Wow, it’s been ages since I had her tteokbokki.”

Watching her over-the-top enthusiasm, Seokyung let out a low, dry laugh.

“Yeonseo, aren’t you going to introduce us?”

Before she could answer, Choi Chan spoke up.

“Ah, I’m Choi Chan. Minseo’s friend.”

“Ah, nice to meet you. Yeonseo’s mentioned you a lot. Glad we finally meet.”

Yeonseo had never once said his name aloud. But before she could correct him, Choi Chan politely asked in return.

“May I ask who you are…?”

“Oh, I’m…”

Seokyung’s eyes flicked briefly to Yeonseo before he answered.

“A club mate from college. Cha Seokyung.”

“Ah…”

“I had some business in Chungju, and Yeonseo came to mind.”

Choi Chan nodded slightly, though his gaze wavered, shifting between Yeonseo and the tall man beside her. He seemed to sense he was intruding.

“Well then, Minseo, you and your friend eat up. I brought plenty, so share.”

With that, he turned to leave. But just as he reached the door, his instincts held him back. He turned again, as if remembering something.

“Oh, right. That movie I mentioned—I’ll book the tickets. Tomorrow at seven, okay?”

“…What?”

“Let’s watch the movie, and grab dinner too.”

Taking her silence as agreement, he smiled. “See you tomorrow,” he said and left. The bell jingled loudly as the door shut.

As the sound faded, Seokyung gently turned Yeonseo toward him. Flames burned in his gaze.

“What the hell is that guy?”