New Normal - Chapter 38

To be honest, Juwon wasn’t even sure why his words were starting to sound so true—even to himself.

He knew it had started as a fake confession, but somewhere along the way, the line between what was real and what wasn’t had blurred.

That cold sting in his chest told him something was off, so he looked down for a beat like he was deep in thought before flashing another smile.

“I like you, Shin Jisoo.”

In her eyes, he saw a swirl of confusion. She wasn’t sure if he was joking or not—caught between suspicion, surprise… and maybe, a hint of happiness.

Of course.

He smirked silently to himself.

“You said I was your type too, remember?”

“Oh, that was…”

“I know.”

He cut her off gently, and Jisoo blinked, a little startled.

That settled it—she hadn’t meant it.

Something in him deflated, but he kept going.

“Anyway, that’s not what matters right now.”

“So, Shin Jisoo… want to date me?”

He wasn’t looking for more back and forth. That was the ask.

Jisoo gripped her spoon a little tighter, caught in his eyes, nowhere left to dodge. A strange mix of tension and emotion crossed her face. Then, finally, her lips parted.

“…Okay.”

Her quiet answer made one of Juwon’s brows twitch ever so slightly.

“Good.”

***

The evening sun filtered softly through the curtains, its light dulled just enough to make the room glow.

The heat had finally started to ease, and the sky was a warm, gentle shade of orange.

Jisoo stood inside Jung Haeyoon’s studio.

There was no forced sense of “artistic atmosphere” here—just the honest mess of someone who painted for a living.

A stained apron tossed over a chair. A crusty coffee cup on the side table. Paint smears on the floor like footprints of a day’s work.

On the main table, brushes and tubes were piled like debris from a creative storm. Dried palettes, used paper towels, scattered sketches. The walls were a collage of scribbled memos, quick ideas, and half-torn posters from past shows.

Jisoo sipped her iced Americano as she wandered slowly.

She stopped in front of one of the framed prints. It was just a reproduction—not the original—but something about it got her every time.

“Dialogue.”

She held her breath for a moment, eyes locked on the piece.

Two figures in one frame.

Just like the title suggested, the two abstract forms on the canvas seemed to be moving toward each other… or drifting endlessly apart.

It was so still, and yet so full of motion. Even the empty spaces between them felt loaded with meaning.

There was a tension in the quiet, a pull—like something unspoken hanging thick in the air. Simple shapes, but they held the weight of longing and distance, all at once.

Jisoo had seen countless artworks in her life, but still—art had a way of sneaking up on her, catching her off guard with these impossible-to-explain emotions.

This was what made a masterpiece.

Even after years in the field, art always left her feeling strangely… incomplete.

Like a food critic who could never be a chef. She’d always known she didn’t have the hands to make the art. But she’d learned how to feel it—deeply.

“Okay, but like… did you sleep with him or not?”

Haeyoon’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

Ugh. This again.

Jisoo gave her a look. Here she was, having an existential moment, and her best friend was still stuck on gossip mode.

“Well?” Haeyoon pressed, peeking over the rim of her glasses.

Instead of answering, Jisoo walked over to her.

Funny. When they first met in college, she never imagined they’d get this close. Haeyoon had always been that bold, confident type everyone noticed—total opposite of her.

Jisoo leaned on Haeyoon’s shoulder and looked at the canvas she was painting.

“Looks good.”

Haeyoon paused, then glanced at her sideways.

“You okay?”

Jisoo gave a silent nod.

The confidence and intensity Haeyoon showed in everyday life bled into her work too. Bold strokes, layered colors, details that showed she’d been lost in the process for hours.

Still, something must’ve been bothering her—Haeyoon was frowning.

“You got a title for it?”

“Thinking of leaving it untitled.”

That caught Jisoo off guard.

“Untitled? Really?”

“Sometimes titles are just clutter,” Haeyoon shrugged, wiping her fingers on her stained apron.

She wasn’t wrong. Titles could shape how people viewed a piece—but they could also box it in.

“Okay, back to the real question. Did you or didn’t you?”

Now brushing again, Haeyoon looked at her expectantly.

Jisoo narrowed her eyes and changed the subject with a playful jab.

“Hmm… You used color well, but the texture’s stiff. Try to loosen up a bit, Miss Jung.”

She mimicked their old academy instructor’s critique voice.

Haeyoon snorted.

“B1tch, please.”

Then, she turned to face Jisoo with a wicked grin.

“Come on. Don’t dodge. So, what happened? You guys confessed, said you’d date—and that’s it?”

Jisoo sank into the sofa with an exasperated sigh.

“Yup.”

“That’s it?!”

Haeyoon dropped her brush, clearly disappointed.

She had been hoping for way more drama.

Jisoo gave her a small shrug.

“He drove me home after.”

Haeyoon stared, then exhaled in frustration.

“Wow. Seriously? That’s it? You two almost did it in a car, remember? Now you’re dating and nothing happens?”

“What more do you want?” Jisoo muttered, tapping the corner of a nearby box.

Haeyoon crossed her arms and glared.

“You even told him ‘your gifted d1ck’ destiny or whatever, and all we get is a chaste ride home? What a letdown. Thought he’d be exciting. Guess he’s all talk.”

Jisoo laughed and waved her off.

“Honestly, I’m relieved. Can you imagine if something had happened?”

“Relieved?” Haeyoon scoffed, sleeves pushed up. “Girl, at this rate, you’re gonna die without ever having a real orgasm.”

“Oh, come on. Do you have to always make it about that?”

“Look. When the heart moves, the body follows. You like him, don’t lie. You said you’ve never been that wet in your life.”

Jisoo’s face flushed instantly.

“God, shut up.”

She turned away, embarrassed.

But the words hit home.

Every time she thought of Chae Juwon lately, her body responded in weird, new ways—ways she didn’t fully understand yet.There was a flutter in her chest, a heat that crept under her skin.

It was… unnerving.

“I don’t know. It’s just… weird. Kind of overwhelming,” she admitted.

“Maybe it’s because he brought up that fortune stuff first? Then to ask me out right after—it all feels… off. I can’t tell if he’s being serious.”

“Oh my god. Who jokes about dating?”

Haeyoon looked at her like she’d grown another head.

“Take it at face value, will you?”

Jisoo pressed her lips together.

Haeyoon, now thoroughly over it, gave her a little nudge and flopped down beside her.

“Look. I’ve said it before—just date him. Casually. You’re not getting married.”

“That’s not it…”

Jisoo sighed softly.

“I just… I think he might be too much for me.”

It was a gut feeling she couldn’t shake.

She knew Juwon was attractive—of course he was. But something about him felt dangerous. Like if she let him get too close, she could end up really hurt.

That was the kind of person Chae Juwon was. Too intense. Too consuming. Maybe too hard to walk away from.