Dizzying and dangerous

4. A risky proposition

Taehyung came out of the cafe and the sunset that had been daytime was passing by.

Taehyung, who was about to return to work, met Joohee with both hands full.

한주희

hello.

Joohee isn't that happy to see Taehyung, but she knows him and more than anything, he's her boyfriend's junior, so she greets him dryly.

김태형

……

Taehyung looks at Joohee without saying anything and then looks at her hand.

김태형

Are you going to meet your boyfriend?

한주희

What does that have to do with anything?

He looks at me with a look that says, "What are you trying to say now?!?"

김태형

(Small) That's right..

Taehyung recalls the conversation between Chanwoo and him before he entered the bar yesterday.

이찬우

- "No. I'm meeting a junior I know today. Instead, let's meet at my studio tomorrow."

For some reason, I feel sorry for Joohee and want to hold on to her.

김태형

Don't go see me.

Joohee ignores Taehyung and tries to pass by, but Taehyung grabs Joohee's wrist and prevents her from going to Chanwoo.

한주희

Why are you like this?! If you keep doing this, I can't stand it anymore. If you do this just once, I'm going to report you to the police.

Joohee, who doesn't understand Taehyung's actions, begins to pour out her suppressed emotions.

한주희

I'm putting up with it now because Chanwoo oppa is my junior at school.

I head to Chanwoo's studio, roughly shaking off Taehyung's hand.

I arrive at Chanwoo's studio with a heavy heart.

한주희

Oh, it's open.

The door to my studio is open, and I'm so focused on my work that I don't even realize it's open. I'm about to grab the doorknob when a strange sound comes from inside, and through the crack in the door, I can see my boyfriend kissing another woman.

한주희

Huh…!

Joohee dropped the lunchbox she was holding and ran outside, covering her mouth.

thud_

"Huh? Didn't you hear something just now?"

이찬우

What did you say? I didn't hear it.

이찬우

Let's go back to what we were doing.

"(Snickers_) Okay. Haha"

After running for a while, he sits down in the middle of the road and starts crying.

한주희

Ugh... bad... ugh... kid...

한주희

No.. No!! Please say no…!!

People passing by look at Joohee's scream strangely and start murmuring.

Step by step_

김태형

……

Taehyung approaches Joohee, meets her gaze as she sits down, takes off his jacket and covers it over Joohee.

김태형

Wake up. It's chilly at night and you might catch a cold.

한주희

Oh… Taehyung…

김태형

Yes, Joohee.

He wipes the tears from Joohee's eyes with a handkerchief.

한주희

Lee Chan-woo, that bastard Lee Chan-woo... ugh...

김태형

… Stop it. I completely understand how you feel, Joohee.

Taehyung pats Joohee on the back and comforts her.

As the clock ticks and Joohee calms down a bit, it's time for her to belatedly realize the reality.

한주희

"I'm crying in front of Taehyung, whom I haven't seen in a while? Am I crazy? I'm crazy..."

김태형

Are you all done crying?

Taehyung looks at Joohee's face as if checking her condition.

한주희

Yes… I’m sorry. I showed you my ugly side.

김태형

It's not ugly...

Taehyung muttered softly and wiped the tear stains off Joohee's cheeks.

한주희

I'm going home now. Taehyung, you too, be careful on your way home.

Joohee is embarrassed and tries to run away after saying hello quickly, but he grabs her.

김태형

Joohee, would you like to have a drink with me?

한주희

yes?

"What would you like?"

I was feeling a bit down and Taehyung asked me to drink, so I didn't really say no.

김태형

Please give me a fruit wine and a glass of whiskey.

"Yes, I will prepare it right away."

The bartender leaves and Joohee asks if Taehyung is okay because he drank because of her.

한주희

Aren't you drinking for no reason because of me?

김태형

I'm not feeling well today either.

한주희

If you don't mind, may I ask you something?

김태형

…I broke up with my girlfriend today.

한주희

Oh… I’m sorry.

김태형

It's okay. Haha

Taehyung smiles if it's okay.

한주희

Why… did you break up?

김태형

……

Taehyung, who had been smiling, looks at Joohee with the corners of his mouth lowered and says nothing.

한주희

Oh... I'm sorry. That was a very rude question.

Joohee immediately apologizes, thinking she may have asked a pointless question.

김태형

I didn't love my girlfriend from the beginning.

김태형

At first, we dated without any feelings, but at some point, I started to feel bored and my girlfriend started to become obsessed with me. That's why I broke up with her.

Taehyung calmly tells his story to Joohee.

한주희

ah……

김태형

I know. I know he's a bad guy.

한주희

Taehyung is not bad.

김태형

Yes, me?

I was a little surprised to hear unexpected words coming out of Joohee's mouth.

한주희

Yes, even though it was only for a short time, Taehyung is a warm person. He may seem cold on the outside, but he's warm on the inside...

한주희

So don't blame yourself too much.

Joohee doesn't like Taehyung at first, but then she thinks about how he came to her and comforted her, and tells her that Taehyung is a kind person.

As time passes and fruit wine and whiskey are served, I drink Taehyung's whiskey.

한주희

Doesn't your throat feel sore? I heard that drinking whiskey makes your throat feel sore.

김태형

Not really. It's a bit spicy at first, but it's okay if you keep eating it.

김태형

It's the same as drinking alcohol.

한주희

Ah... I see...

김태형

What are you going to do now?

한주희

Well... we have to break up. That's the only way.

김태형

Don't you have any thoughts of revenge?

한주희

Well... I don't really have any desire for revenge... not really...

김태형

lie

한주희

yes?

김태형

You want revenge on that person. Then use me.

한주희

What do you think…?

김태형

For example, something like this.

Taehyung gently wraps his arms around Joohee's neck and presses his face against hers.