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Chapter 24: How Long Are You Going to Pretend : "Do I seem like the type to spill the beans on you?".
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"We meet again."
The voice was calm but sharp enough to slice through the silence.
Ju-kyoung stiffened. Slowly, she turned her head—and her eyes met Soo-hoo's. He stood there, composed, unreadable as ever, his gaze locked on her.
Her stomach flipped. Instinctively, she raised the book in her hands to cover her face.
"Darn it," she muttered into the pages.
Soo-hoo didn't move. He didn't even look irritated. His tone was steady, like a command.
"Are you not coming down?"
Her voice wavered as she answered. "I'm… looking for a book."
He didn't buy it. His eyes stayed on her like they could burn through the cover she was hiding behind.
"Then get me that book over there," he said, pointing casually.
Still holding the book to her face, she peeked and pointed upwards. "This one?"
"The one next to it."
She stretched further. "This one?"
"A bit further."
She bent over the shelf, trying to keep her balance. Her arms trembled, the book still covering her face. That was when his voice cut through, low and direct—words that froze her in place.
"How long are you going to pretend?"
Her heart jolted violently in her chest. Her grip faltered. The room spun for a second, and before she realized it, her foot slipped.
She gasped.
But instead of crashing to the floor, she was caught.
Strong arms steadied her. One hand pressed firmly at her waist, the other hooked under her legs. The fall stopped, and for a breathless moment, so did the world.
Ju-kyoung's breath caught in her throat as she stared up into Soo-hoo's face. His expression didn't change, but his hold on her was secure, unshaken.
The register guy smirked knowingly from the desk. "Thanks, Ju-bal," he teased, chuckling as he walked away.
Ju-kyoung's entire body flushed with embarrassment. She scrambled to her feet the moment Soo-hoo released her, landing clumsily on the floor.
"You always end up in my arms," he muttered coldly. "It's becoming a habit."
She stared at him, speechless, her cheeks hot.
"You need to learn to keep your balance. It's not that hard."
She dusted off her clothes quickly, glaring at him in silence. People like you should be banned from using footstools, she thought bitterly.
Soo-hoo ignored her glare and stepped onto the stool to grab his book. His posture was effortless, controlled, like nothing could rattle him. When he came down, his gaze locked onto hers again.
Ju-kyoung flinched under the weight of it. "You caught me off guard," she muttered. "I'm not that good of an actor to keep pretending."
His brows lifted slightly, but his voice was calm. "You recognized me right away last time."
"Fortunately, I have a good memory," he added.
"This isn't just memory!" she blurted. "You must have eagle eyes." She adjusted her glasses nervously, wishing they could shield her better.
Soo-hoo's thoughts drifted—back to that night on the rooftop. He could still see it vividly: her swollen eyes, streaks of tears drying on her cheeks, messy hair tangled like a storm had torn through it. A broken figure, ready to step into nothingness.
Now, even standing in front of him in a library, she was the same girl. No disguise could erase what he'd already seen.
"It's you," he said quietly, his eyes narrowing. "Even at a glance."
Ju-kyoung's voice cracked as she argued, "My face is totally different. Are we playing Find the Difference? These are two different people."
His glanced at her he wanted to match her with Ju-kyoung from school but they were totally different but the one on the roof top were a total match."
Ju-kyoung on the roof top had dark starry eye. Then he looked at Ju-kyoung her eye were brown. That was the only different he could make but the rest were still the same.
His gaze lowered slightly, analyzing her like he was dissecting a puzzle. "Though—the eyes are different."
Her breath caught. She hadn't expected that, but he was right. Her lenses. She nodded quickly, trying to play along. "Right. They're… most different."
"Am I wrong for recognizing you?" he asked, his tone unreadable.
She shook her head. "No, it's not that. I just… can't believe this is happening."
Her throat felt tight as she whispered, "So are you going to tell people?"
"Tell people what?" His brow furrowed.
"That you know me," she said softly. "That you've seen me like this." Her hands curled into fists. "I'm a mess. If people find out, I'll never be able to show my face."
Soo-hoo studied her quietly, trying to understand why she carried so much fear.
She pressed her palms together as though praying. "Can you keep it a secret? Please."
Her voice broke on the last word. She lowered her head, bracing herself for rejection.
But his answer was simple, almost careless. "Okay."
At first, she didn't hear him. She kept nodding to herself. "There's no way you'd—"
Then she froze. "What?"
Her head snapped up. She hurried over, standing close by his chair like a servant receiving unexpected mercy. Her eyes were wide with disbelief. "Really? That easily?"
He didn't even lift his head. His gaze was still on the book he opened.
"Do I seem like the type to spill the beans on you?"
Ju-kyoung swallowed hard, staring at his profile. Yes, you do, she thought.
"But… how do I know you'll keep your word?"
That was when his eyes finally shifted to hers. Their gazes collided—sharp, unblinking.
The closeness made her stomach twist. His face was flawless, and his eyes were piercing enough to make her forget how to breathe.
"So what if I don't?" he said evenly.
Her pulse hammered as her mind exploded with possibilities—panic, blackmail, promises, threats—none of which she was prepared for.
And for the first time, Ju-kyoung realized she was standing in front of someone who could completely shatter her secret with a single word.
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