Chapter 3

As Hajun drew closer, Eunjae’s gaze gradually traveled upward.

Even as the man, far taller than her, strode toward her, she could only stare at him as if entranced.

Eunjae still kept the handkerchief he had given her when he helped her all those years ago.

She had missed the scent that had long since faded away, and now that she was seeing him again, her head felt dizzy.

Even though it had been twelve years since she last smelled it, she recognized it immediately.

Only today did Eunjae truly realize that scents could remain in a person’s memory.

“Mister…”

Hajun’s low voice broke the silence inside the room.

A strange sparkle flickered in the dark eyes of the woman looking up at him with moist eyes.

Was her name Lee Eunjae?

The blind date partner who was ten years younger than him seemed to have decided to call him Mister.

He had expected to be splashed with water or cursed at.

He certainly hadn’t expected that title.

“Then what should I call Miss Lee Eunjae? Kid?”

“Ah, um… well…”

The woman looked small and delicate, barely reaching his shoulder.

Her translucent skin was so fair that the tiny veins beneath it were visible, and her silky brown hair made her delicate features stand out even more.

At first, he thought she had chosen that odd title to vent her frustration, and he had simply played along before ending things.

But her large eyes were trembling with obvious embarrassment.

Just as her lips parted to speak, Hajun spoke first.

“I’m sorry for making you wait so long.”

“Ah, yes. It’s okay. I know you’re very busy.”

The woman folded her hands neatly in front of her and stole a glance at him before lowering her head.

“Please, have a seat.”

When Hajun pulled out a chair for her, Eunjae bowed lightly and sat down.

He walked around the table and took the seat across from her.

If she was still waiting after all this time and they ended up meeting, he had intended to immediately tell her he had no plans to marry and then leave.

That was usually how his blind dates ended.

He had assumed this one would go the same way.

Yet when he saw the young woman, who still looked so youthful, staring intently at the menu, the words of rejection didn’t come as easily as expected.

In the end, he opened his menu as well.

After all, a Mister could at least buy a meal for a kid.

A faint smile briefly crossed his face as he looked through the menu.

* * *

Twelve years earlier.

The winter when Eunjae was ten years old.

To celebrate the end of the year, Taeon Hotel was hosting a large charity gala.

Since it was Eunjae’s first time attending an event like this, she was especially excited.

But just as she was about to enter the banquet hall with Seongchan, several secretaries approached him.

After speaking with them briefly with a serious expression, he turned to her.

“Our Eunjae, can you wait here for a moment? I’ll be right back. Let’s go in together with Dad.”

It seemed he had some urgent matter to take care of.

After nodding, Eunjae remained alone and peeked through the slightly opened doors of the banquet hall.

She could see elegant outfits and beautiful shoes everywhere.

Bright lights spilled through the opening from inside.

Without realizing it, Eunjae pushed the door open a little further and stepped inside.

The dazzling light of the chandeliers illuminated glamorous dresses and sparkling accessories.

Maybe it was because she didn’t have a mother.

The young Eunjae found herself completely captivated by the mature beauty of the women around her.

“Wow…”

The transparent glasses filled with bubbling drinks fascinated her.

So did the finger foods prepared in bite-sized portions.

She knew she should go back and wait for her father at the entrance.

But her curiosity was impossible to resist.

She kept looking around.

Quite some time passed as she stood there with her mouth slightly open, completely absorbed in watching the elegant women and beautiful decorations.

“Aah…”

Lost in sightseeing, Eunjae tripped over someone’s foot and fell forward.

To make matters worse, the person she collided with had apparently been carrying a drink.

Liquid splashed all over her.

Cold liquid poured down over her head, and people began whispering as they watched her lying on the floor.

Terrified, Eunjae couldn’t move a muscle.

The woman she had bumped into wasn’t splashed at all, yet she brushed at her clothes and scolded Eunjae.

“Hey! Watch where you’re going. Ugh, how annoying.”

I should’ve just stayed by the door and waited for Dad.

Sadness suddenly overwhelmed her.

Her face turned red, and tears blurred her vision.

“Oh my. Why are you crying when you’re the one at fault?”

“I’m sorry, sob…”

Tears dripped onto the back of Eunjae’s hand as she lay there.

Then suddenly, something covered her head.

It felt even larger than her father’s coat.

And it smelled nice.

Cool and refreshing.

A moment later, someone effortlessly lifted her into their arms.

Whoever it was seemed incredibly strong.

Thanks to the large coat shielding her, nobody could see her reddened face.

“I’m sorry. I’ll compensate you for the clothes. Please contact me anytime.”

A man’s voice she had never heard before echoed through her ears from beneath the coat.

Her tears stopped instantly.

Her round eyes darted around with curiosity about the man.

Still wrapped in the coat, she felt him carrying her somewhere.

The classical music from the banquet hall gradually faded into the distance.

Soon, she was gently placed onto a soft sofa.

Only then was the coat removed from over her head.

The sudden brightness made Eunjae squint.

“Are you okay? You’re not hurt, are you?”

A handsome man knelt on one knee and carefully checked her condition.

He wasn’t smiling.

Yet he somehow felt kind and warm.

The man who had rescued her pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the liquid from her hair and the coat.

“Th-thank you.”

Before he could even hear her gratitude, his phone rang from inside his jacket.

He stood up and answered it.

“This is Seo Hajun.”

Seo Hajun.

Seo Hajun.

From that day onward, the name Seo Hajun embedded itself deep within her heart.

And her first love began.

* * *

Eunjae kept stealing glances at Hajun while they ate.

For some reason, every time she looked at him, their eyes met.

Embarrassed, she quietly focused on eating the lemon sherbet that had been served for dessert.

The longer it went on, the hotter her face became, and even the tips of her ears felt warm.

She lowered her head further.

The desire to keep looking at him and the desire to hide her flushed face battled within her.

Her hand moved faster and faster as she spooned up the sherbet.

After emptying the glass bowl, she cautiously looked up.

Hajun was checking his wristwatch.

“Thank you for the meal. We should get going.”

The man spoke the moment she put down her spoon, sounding like someone who felt not even the slightest regret about ending the evening.

“Ah, yes.”

As Hajun stood and buttoned his jacket, Eunjae stood as well.

She had carried feelings for him ever since the first moment she met him.

But it seemed Hajun didn’t remember her at all.

When Taeon proposed a marriage arrangement to Kwonil Group and he had readily accepted, she had secretly hoped he remembered her.

But so much time had passed.

The memory belonged only to her.

It wasn’t strange that he didn’t remember.

Besides, she had only been a child back then.

Thinking that she would ask him about it later if they became closer, Eunjae cautiously opened her mouth.

“Um…”

The man turned around and looked at her without saying a word.

Eunjae’s lips closed again.

His expressionless face silently told her there would be no next meeting.

Even without any dating experience, she could recognize the look of a man who had absolutely no interest in her.

If he had liked her at all, the meal wouldn’t have been so quiet.

So she had to be brave.

Drawing upon the strength of the unrequited love she had carried for twelve years, she confessed for the first time.

“I like you, Mr. Seo Hajun. Would it be possible for us to meet one more time…?”