KMH – Chapter 18

When someone treats you like you’re less than shit, there’s a limit to how long you can swallow it.

Vrooom— The low chassis trembled as the engine spat out a rough growl.

Seju slammed the accelerator as if he meant to ram straight through, shooting out of the parking exit. The scenery beyond the windshield blurred and flipped in rapid succession.

Soon after, bzzz— his phone vibrated.

His mother.

He was at a red light. His chest rose shallowly as he swiped and put her on speaker.

“Yeah.”

—” Seju, Mom’s almost there.”

“Meet me at the gallery. Not the hotel.”

—…….

Director Im was quiet for a moment before asking,

—” Did something happen? Why does your voice sound like that?”

“What could’ve happened?”

Seju twisted his mouth in a half-scoff. His pulse pounded so hard his temples throbbed.

—”…Did you run into Jugyeong?”

Still readjusting his grip on the steering wheel, Seju’s brows shot up.

“You knew? That she’s on a blind date today?”

—” Oh my, don’t tell me she’s at the hotel café today?”

“You didn’t already know?”

—What are you talking about? How would I know something that specific?

“Then why bring up Ha Jugyeong all of a sudden?”

—” Well, obviously—hold on.”

His mother’s voice drifted faintly as if she’d pulled the phone away. “Yeobo,” she called, and his father answered warmly in return.

Seju tapped the steering wheel irregularly—then realized belatedly that he’d veered into the left-turn lane.

Frowning in irritation, he wet his lips.

If he turned left here—

—” Seju.”

It would take him right back to Hyogwang Hotel.

—” Sorry, sweetheart.”

Jugyeong was in the hotel café, on a blind date.

—” Something urgent came up. I think I need to go.”

It was a Monday with absurdly perfect weather.

—” Can we reschedule today’s plan?”

On a day like this, he was just going to leave Ha Jugyeong alone with some nameless bastard?

The sharp blast of a horn pierced his ears. His pale knuckles jerked.

Only then did Seju answer flatly,

“Okay. Get home safe.”

And he turned the wheel.

“Fuck it. I don’t even know anymore.”

But one thing was certain.

“You messed with the wrong person, Ha Jugyeong.”

His eyes burned with raw resolve.

***

A Panamera—one of every man’s so-called dream cars—screeched into the hotel driveway, skidding around the fountain like it was drifting. The tires left black streaks as the engine roared violently.

Faint smoke rose from the wheels.

“…Huh?!”

The valet, stunned, ran forward in alarm.

No sane person would drive like that in the middle of Seoul. He was convinced the driver must have lost consciousness—stroke, heart attack, something. He was just about to yank open the door—

Bang.

A long leg kicked the door open like a predator emerging from its cage. A body built like carved stone rolled out. The valet nearly smashed his face into the man’s broad chest and looked up, startled.

“Take care of it.”

A low, cavernous voice rumbled as car keys flew toward him. The valet stared blankly after the man stalking away like an enraged bull.

“…Sir?”

‘Why are you handing me your wallet…?’

***

Jugyeong dropped a sugar cube slowly into her untouched tea and glanced at her watch. The hour hand was nearing two.

Kim Minsu—her blind date—was the second son of a well-established food conglomerate. He had no interest in management and had instead pursued a career in medicine. Originally scheduled to leave next month for NGO work abroad, he’d explained gently that staffing changes required him to depart next week instead.

Jugyeong remembered his faintly flushed face as he apologized for reaching out despite the scheduling conflict. She wondered whether she should just head back to the office. Work was piling up.

Was this worth taking half a day off right after arriving at work?

Hard to say.

Still, he seemed like someone she could build a marriage with—appropriately reserved, appropriately trustworthy.

They hadn’t talked long, but at least he laughed at the same moments she did.

She was stirring the sugar dissolving at the bottom of her cup while waiting for him to return from the restroom when she felt the café’s attention shift—collectively—toward the entrance.

Jugyeong turned her head casually.

And froze.

Seju.

He was striding toward her, cutting through the air itself.

Disheveled hair. Sweat glinted faintly on his forehead. Veins bulge at his temples. Jaw tight and sharp.

Nothing about him looked remotely normal. The shirt buttons were undone so far that it was practically indecent.

With every blink, he seemed closer.

Jugyeong’s lips parted slightly.

He reached her table and slammed his hands down, gripping the edges. His head hung low.

She flinched.

“What—”

For a split second, she felt like he’d ripped through the air and crashed straight into her. His steps were urgent; his breathing uneven.

There was no physical collision, but the impact hit just as hard. Her heart hammered violently in her chest.

Each breath he took made the thick muscles of his back expand and contract. The shirt stretched tight around his sides before settling again.

Suddenly, Seju straightened.

Jugyeong pressed herself into the back of her chair.

“Hey. Where did that bastard run off to?”

He ground the words out.

“What are you—”

She trailed off. His pulse hadn’t settled. His eyes were bloodshot, scanning the café like he meant to kill someone.

“He should know his place. Who the fuck does he think he is, sitting across from you?”

Jugyeong stared up at him, stunned.

Only then did she realize people were openly watching. Heat crept up her cheeks.

She grabbed her handbag and stood.

“Seju.”

She couldn’t let Kim Minsu walk back into this.

Determined to get him outside, she grabbed Seju’s forearm. He stopped short.

“Wh—what?”

Flustered, she withdrew her hand.

“Let’s step outside first—”

“Forget that.”

He stepped closer, eyes blazing.

Jugyeong instinctively stepped back—but couldn’t retreat further.

He had snatched the strap of her handbag.

“I don’t have time, so I’ll say this straight.”

“Fine, but let’s just go out—”

“Do it. With me.”

Her lips closed slowly.

“Let’s do that damn thing,” he bit out.

There was no misunderstanding this time.

She understood perfectly.

Which made her even more desperate to leave this place.

She opened her mouth to placate him—

“But you better understand this.”

“Cheon Se—”

“I’m not dropping my pants in front of you with the intention of doing it just once.”

Jugyeong’s vision swam. She squeezed her eyes shut. Her ears felt like they were ringing—boom, boom—as if drums were beating beneath her skin.

Only a few seconds passed before his grip on her bag tightened painfully.

“…Hey, Ha Jugyeong. Aren’t you going to answer?”

Determined not to stagger under the force tugging at her, Jugyeong planted her weight and forced her eyes open.

She grabbed his wrist firmly.

“Okay. Just… follow me.”

Color rushed back into Seju’s face.

Jugyeong kept glancing back anxiously to make sure he was following, and the large man had no choice but to trail behind the small hand pulling him along.

By the time the two disappeared completely from the café—

“…….”

“…….”

The remaining customers blinked like people left standing in the wake of a tornado.

“…Are they filming a drama here?”

“Dopamine, do-do-dopamine…”

“Must be rookie actors.”