Chapter 5 Na-Ri and Jae-Hyun - Chapter 5

Author's note: Korean language lesson time!

We can't have a K-drama inspired story without some classic K-drama phrases:

야! / Ya! = Hey!

perhaps the most used phrase and always said in outrage or indigence

뭐야 / Mwo-ya = What / What is it?

미쳤어? / michyeosseo? = Are you crazy?

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Thanking Tae for his time, she said her goodbyes and headed out to her car, ignoring the trembling in her hands as she found slumped behind the steering wheel. 

Just get through the next couple of months and we don't ever have to come back here.

Na-ri gripped the steering wheel, her knuckles white. The silence of the car was a sanctuary, but her mind was a storm. Every time she closed her eyes, she felt the ghost of Jae-Hyun's touch on her waist and heard the low, mocking vibration of his voice. The anger was there, sharp and hot, but beneath it was a terrifyingly familiar pull—a magnetic attraction that she had spent years trying to bury.

She leaned her head against the cool glass of the window, staring out at the neon lights of Seoul beginning to flicker on. She hated him for knowing her too well. He knew exactly how to dismantle her professional exterior, how to find the cracks in her armor and wedge himself inside. 

He's just a ghost. She told herself, though her heart was still hammering against her ribs. A ghost from a life I've already outgrown.

As she finally started the engine, a sudden flash of memory hit her—not of the fight, but of the way he used to look at her before everything shattered. It made her stomach flip with a mixture of longing and loathing. She shifted into gear with a sharp jerk, determined to drive away from that gym and every single thing it represented.

A month passed and Na-ri was getting stronger. She found she could run further and her times were getting better. She has also managed to avoid any form of interaction with Jae-Hyun, his existence being reduced to nothing more than another person at the gym. 

The gym was warm and humid compared to the wintery rain outside. Droplets hit the metal roof in a series of metallic patterns. Na-ri was on her phone as she waited for Tae-Joon to appeared, following up on some emails.

The rhythmic drumming of the rain against the roof created a cocoon of isolation, masking the sounds of the gym. Na-ri felt a sense of peace she hadn't known in years; her body felt leaner, her stride more confident. She was finally reclaiming herself.

However, that peace was shattered by a sudden, familiar presence. Before she could even look up from her phone, a shadow fell over her. The scent of sandalwood and cold rain hit her senses—a scent that belonged to only one person.

"Still hiding behind your screen," Jae-Hyun’s voice drawled, sounding like a low vibration against her skin. He didn't stand at a professional distance; he leaned in, his chest nearly brushing her shoulder as he peered at her phone. "Who are you emailing? Your new boyfriend? Or perhaps your father, telling him how 'brave' you're being in your little recovery journey?"

He didn't wait for an answer. He shifted, his arm grazing her's—a deliberate, lingering contact that sent a jolt through her system. His dark eyes were hooded, scanning her profile with a predatory intensity that suggested he had been watching her progress from afar.

"You look stronger," he murmured, his tone shifting from mocking to something dangerously appreciative. "But you're still shaking, Na-ri. Is it the cold... or is it me?"

"What are you doing here, Jae-Hyun?" She asked.

Jae-Hyun didn't answer immediately. Instead, he let his gaze wander over her, from the set of her jaw down to the way she held her phone, his eyes dark and calculating. He stepped even closer, effectively pinning her against the equipment behind her, his heat radiating through the humid air.

"What does it look like I'm doing, Na-ri?" he murmured, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous register that vibrated in her chest. "I'm checking on my investment."

He reached out, his fingers grazing the skin of her forearm—a touch that was far too intimate for the setting. His thumb traced a slow, deliberate line up toward her elbow, his expression one of cold hunger. 

"Tae-Joon is a fine little teacher," he continued, a sneer curling his lip as he leaned in, his lips nearly brushing her cheek. "But we both know you're bored. You're craving something that actually challenges you. Something that makes your blood boil."

He let out a soft, sharp exhale against her skin. "Tell me... do you still dream about how I used to make you shake? Or have you managed to scrub that out of your head along with your phone history?"

"What the…? Is that what the issue is? Because I blocked you?" She scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Investment? Hey! I'm not a fucking hedge fund!" 

She found herself somewhat stuck but the stubborn detective wasn't called that for no reason. She folded her arms across her chest, staring square at Jae-Hyun. 

"If you're only here to try and drag up the past then I don't want to hear it. I have a session and intend to spend it doing the exercises and not bickering with you."

Jae-Hyun let out a sharp, dry laugh, the sound echoing with a hint of genuine amusement. He didn't back away; instead, he leaned in closer, his gaze dropping to where her arms were crossed over her chest. The sight of her defiance—the same stubborn fire that had once drawn him to her—only seemed to fuel his arrogance.

"Always the detective," he murmured, his voice dropping to a low, intimate hum. "Trying to control the narrative. You think you can just 'block' me out of your life like a nuisance on a screen? We both know that's not how this works."

He shifted his weight, his thigh brushing against hers in a slow, deliberate movement that was purely provocative. He didn't care about the exercises or the session; he wanted to see her composure break.

"You can play the professional game as much as you want, Na-ri," he whispered, his lips almost grazing her ear. "But your heart is hammering against your ribs so hard I can practically see it through your shirt. You're not bored by me. You're terrified of how much you still want me to touch you."