Hana's POV
Hana's breath hitched as Kai's words brushed against her ear, low and dangerous. A grown woman.
Her heart hammered so hard it almost hurt, each beat echoing the truth she had always buried. For years she had nursed a crush on him—first innocent, then deepening into something she never dared confess. She had always wanted him to see her as more than Jihoon's little sister, more than the "Bambi panda" who once trailed behind him in Damyang.
And now… now he was looking at her differently. His gaze lingered, darkened, devouring her as though every inch of her was forbidden fruit he had craved for too long.
Heat flooded her veins, painting her cheeks scarlet and curling down to her fingertips. She wanted to run, hide beneath the duvet—but she wanted him to keep staring even more. She wanted him to never look away.
"Kai…" Her voice came out breathy, fragile, betraying her.
He didn't step back. His nearness wrapped around her like a spell, his eyes locking her in place. For a suspended heartbeat, she swore he might lean in—might erase the distance and claim the kiss she had dreamed of too many nights to count.
But instead, he pulled back slightly, a small, strained smile ghosting his lips. His expression shifted, and Hana saw it—the silent war in his eyes, the way he fought to rein himself in.
Her chest tightened painfully. He still sees me as something he shouldn't want.
The silence that followed was thick, suffocating, broken only by the faint hum of the AC. His lips parted as if to speak, but no words came out.
"Kai, I—" she began, voice trembling.
"Relax, Hana. I was only kidding," he interrupted softly.
Her heart plummeted, the fragile spark of hope extinguished in an instant. Rage flickered beneath the hurt. Who does he think he is, playing with my emotions like that?
Before she could answer, her phone rang, slicing through the tension. She grabbed it quickly, as though clutching a lifeline.
"Good morning, Hana!" Nari's cheerful voice rang out.
Hana forced a smile, her voice gentler than she felt. "Good morning. I was sleeping when you called earlier."
"I know—Kai told me," Nari teased.
Hana's eyes darted to him. He was leaning casually against the wall, phone in hand, as though nothing had just happened.
"So? Are you nearly here?" Hana asked.
"Kai sent a car for me. I'm already in the living room," Nari chirped, practically grinning through the line.
"Really?" Hana's brows rose.
"Yes! Come get me."
"Okay, I'm coming." She hung up, setting the phone down.
"Is Nari here?" Kai asked.
"Yes."
"I'll go with you," he said smoothly, slipping his phone into his pocket before following her out.