New Normal - Chapter 37

04. Hopeless Romantic

The late-night sundae soup restaurant was packed with people sipping soju.

Cool air spilled from the ceiling A/C, mingling with clouds of steam rising off the tables, filling the room with a cozy warmth. The savory scent of broth and herbs clung to everything, making mouths water.

Juwon, having already ordered, sat quietly, gazing at the woman across from him.

Her cheeks, which had been flushed red when she practically yelled her confession, had now returned to their usual pale color. Whatever she’d been feeling—whether the buzz of alcohol, hunger, or even the weight of his stare—seemed to have drained away.

Shin Jisoo sat frozen in place, like she couldn’t feel anything. Her eyes darted around the room, clearly desperate to land somewhere that wasn’t him.

Her transparency, her raw discomfort, was so palpable it stirred a flicker of sympathy in Juwon.

Resting his chin on one hand, he tilted his head and narrowed his eyes slightly.

“She came onto me because of a fortune reading?”

How amusing.

Juwon was a staunch atheist. That didn’t mean he looked down on people with faith. He respected religion, and he even thought there was something valid about believing in superstitions.

After all, life was inherently uncertain. Seeing uncertainty as a potential threat was just human instinct, a survival mechanism. Wanting to predict or control the future was a perfectly rational form of adaptation.

Still…

“It’s… really big.”

But to actually throw yourself at someone over that?

He thought back to the way she’d spilled her story earlier. Her words had come out haltingly, like she was just saying whatever came to mind. Her eyes, constantly shifting like she didn’t want to be caught. Her voice, cracking with the emotions she couldn’t quite suppress. The whole thing was ridiculous… but also strangely moving.

Juwon blinked slowly.

“Moving”?

It was hard to say why, but the word didn’t sit quite right. He brushed the thought aside. No need for pointless suspicion. With someone as open and readable as her, there was no reason to overthink.

At least now her contradictory behavior made sense. Her whole “principled woman” act suddenly fit, once the shaman was thrown into the mix.

Regardless, she was certainly… entertaining.

Up until tonight, he’d been agonizing over how to approach a woman who’d literally run out on him before s3x. He’d accepted his grandfather’s ridiculous challenge, and now he was stuck trying to figure out how to get this near-impenetrable woman to fall for him.

And yet, here she was.

“You kept showing up, so I started to think… maybe you really were the one the shaman was talking about.”

She had walked right into his lap like a gift from the heavens.

So, his first question was answered.

Could love ever bloom on those lips of hers?

Maybe. Worth a shot. The way things stood, nothing was likely to get worse from here.

Except…

“It was my first time. You were my first. That’s why…”

That bit was… a bit of a snag.

Which naturally led to question two—and maybe even a third.

Did he want her to confess her love for him?

And if she did… what then?

He shelved those thoughts for now. No need to sort them out just yet.

Sure, it would be a lie to say there wasn’t a strange sense of satisfaction in being a woman’s first. And it was true that the way she poured out her thoughts, so sincere and guileless, was charming in its own way.

Whether or not he was looking for something romantic… this situation wasn’t half bad.

Still, even his thin conscience gave a small protest. Don’t toy with someone so naïve. That kind of thing brings bad karma.

Not that he planned to lead her on just for fun. He didn’t dislike her. In fact, they were both adults with their own agendas. If they ended things once those goals were met—no harm done.

The real question was how to get her hooked enough that he could tie up all his loose ends and be done with it.

Alright. First, he’d suggest dating. Then slowly turn up the charm, let things progress naturally… and when the time was right, wrap it all up. Besides, she believed their meeting was destiny, right? He had nothing to lose.

With his thoughts settled, Juwon smiled faintly.

Jisoo glanced at him.

He grinned again—on purpose this time—and she gave a weak, awkward smile back before quickly looking away.

The fact that he’d once been nervous around someone this innocent was honestly kind of funny now.

He stared at her for a moment and spoke.

“I haven’t eaten yet.”

“Ah… really?”

“Yup. Really.”

When he mimicked her awkward phrasing, Jisoo finally turned her eyes back toward him.

She’d been fiddling with the edge of the table, but now she opened her mouth carefully.

“This isn’t your first meal of the day, is it?”

“It is.”

He answered easily, casually pouring water into their cups and setting out their utensils.

Jisoo reached out to help, but he waved her off.

“It’s fine.”

“You never give me a chance to do anything.”

“It’s no big deal. Besides, I like doing it.”

She hesitated, then slowly pulled her hands back. Just then, their food arrived.

Without a word, both picked up their spoons.

The hot sundae soup was topped with chopped scallions and ground perilla seeds, rich and aromatic.

“Nothing beats soup for a hangover.”

Juwon spoke lightly, not even waiting for her response before continuing.

“You been here before?”

“Oh—no. First time.”

Her quick reply made him smirk. She lifted a spoonful to her lips and sipped carefully. After a beat, she gave a small nod—apparently, it suited her taste.

She ate in silence, spoon following spoon.

“You’re eating well,” he murmured, stirring his rice into the broth.

She looked up from her bowl, gave him a slightly sheepish smile.

“It’s comforting.”

She really did have a pretty smile.

Without thinking, Juwon nodded slowly.

Even while eating, he couldn’t help watching her. Her delicate, modest demeanor gave him a clearer picture of what was going on in her head.

This is so awkward. What’s he thinking? That kind of thing.

Then, suddenly, out of nowhere, it struck him—this might be the right moment to ask her out.

As if on cue, Jisoo started to speak, voice hesitant.

“Um, Juwon—”

“Since things turned out this way, why don’t we try dating?”

She choked on her water and coughed violently, eyes wide with shock.

Her expression was pure confusion.

Why so surprised?

Juwon narrowed his eyes, watching as she set down her cup with trembling fingers.

He didn’t miss a thing—and offered a calm, collected smile in return.

He had to admit, the way he blurted it out was kind of lame. Not exactly swoon-worthy.

Still, it wasn’t like he was proposing marriage.

It was just right.

Unlike him, Jisoo was visibly flustered, stammering over her words.

“I think I misheard you… Juwon, what did you say?”

“Let’s date. Since I’m supposedly that ‘fated person’ or whatever, we’ve got nothing to lose.”

He said each word clearly and with intention.

Jisoo just stared at him, dazed.

The restaurant buzzed with noise, a baseball game blaring from the TV on the wall. Their strange little conversation was completely at odds with the lively atmosphere, making the moment feel oddly tense.

She hesitated before finally whispering,

“Juwon, when you say ‘nothing to lose’…”

“Let’s just give it a shot. You and me. Dating.”

He cut her off, smiling brightly.

“Let’s try being a couple. Want me to say it another way?”

He popped a piece of kimchi in his mouth like it was nothing.

Jisoo opened her mouth again… then shut it.

“Juwon, I think that’s a bit…”

“I like you, Jisoo.”

He casually poked at the sundae with his chopsticks, his eyes steady on hers.

She looked shocked. Maybe not because of the words themselves, but because she didn’t know how to react.

“Me? Why?”

He let out a short laugh at her confusion. She swallowed hard.

“I told you in Gangcheon, remember? You’re my type.”

He said it plainly.

Jisoo lowered her gaze. She stirred her soup with feigned nonchalance, but her trembling hand betrayed her.

Juwon looked at her flushed face and continued,

“And who needs a reason for liking someone? I just… got that feeling from the first moment I saw you. Ah, it’s her.”

He knew full well that everything he was saying was calculated, meant to draw her in.

But as the words came out… something in his feelings started to take shape.

And that was… strange.