SDMT 04

Chapter 04

“Eh? This isn’t a phone?”

Then what on earth is this?

What else would someone carry in their pocket that’s this big besides a phone? A remote? A canned drink? It can’t be a gun.

Even though it was impossible for a prosecutor on duty to have such a thing in their pocket, Eun-jae tried to think of the closest resembling object.

Suddenly, the light snapped on. Her eyes, adjusting to the bright flood of light from the darkness, squinted instinctively.

It took Eun-jae a few seconds to realize what she was touching.

Her hand was resting on the railing and had ended up on Woo-kyung’s left thigh as he leaned slightly.

Thigh? Left?

“How long are you planning to hold on?”

“······!”

Startled, Eun-jae quickly pulled her hand away.

But Woo-kyung was faster. He caught her escaping hand with his chin and pressed it back onto his body.

“I didn’t expect you’d still have lingering feelings in this area.”

“No! Absolutely not. It was really, r-really a mistake! I’m sorry······.”

Begging like a criminal caught at the scene was useless.

He pressed her hand deeper and lifted the corner of his mouth, forming the dimple that appeared only when he genuinely smiled. Eun-jae had always loved lightly kissing that dimple.

But now was not the time for nostalgia.

“So, was it this longing that caused all that fuss?”

Undoing buttons, removing clothes from someone just standing there.

His usually indifferent black eyes now sparkled with interest.

It was a habit of his that surfaced right before a dangerous and intimate act.

“No, no! It was a mistake. I’m sorry!”

Eun-jae shook her head violently, but he didn’t listen.

“Just do as you normally would. Stroke, like before, and wate—”

“Ugh!”

Crazy! Why would he even bring that up······!

Eun-jae quickly reached out with her free hand and covered his mouth with her chin while yanking her trapped hand free.

But her mind was already a mess. Every scene of the countless moments their bodies had touched replayed vividly.

‘Don’t like it?’

The day they first made love. Seeing Eun-jae flustered by his real body for the first time, he had smirked.

“‘No, um… it’s just… unfamiliar.’”

“‘It’s okay. I won’t hurt you.’”

“‘Liar.’”

Eun-jae had swallowed hard and inadvertently spoke the truth.

How could she not get hurt when she had to hold something that was like a weapon?

“‘Yeah. It’s a lie.’”

He confidently mounted over her as she slowly fell back, whispering.

“‘Just let yourself be fooled, Eun-jae.’”

“‘Huff!’”

“‘I have no intention of stopping here.’”

All those memories had to be forgotten. No, she had to forget them.

She shouldn’t even dare think of Baek Woo-kyung, let alone hold onto the memories of the passionate moments they once shared.

She had assumed he had forgotten too. Or that she would remain an object of resentment or a curse.

Why he would dredge up their past affection now, in this situation, was beyond her understanding.

······Anyway, the answer was clear. She must not waver.

• Hello? The elevator emergency inspection is complete. Who is inside?

At that moment, a voice of salvation echoed from the speaker.

Eun-jae withdrew her hand from his mouth and turned toward the speaker.

“Yes! Hello? Is this the management office? We’re trapped in here!”

• Oh my. The CCTV was cut off, so we didn’t realize. We’ll open it for you right away!

Immediately, the sound of machinery humming and the doors swinging wide followed.

“Oh dear, are you okay?”

The people who rushed in looked seriously at Eun-jae, flushed, and Woo-kyung, whose chest was exposed.

“······I’m fine.”

“Do you need a hospital visit? Should we call an ambulance?”

She hesitated for a moment. Should she mention Woo-kyung’s claustrophobia? Should he see a doctor? Was he really okay?

But Eun-jae’s worry was meaningless.

“Huh? Is the prosecutor okay?”

Woo-kyung had already left the scene earlier.

That was a relief. She wouldn’t have to take care of him anymore.

Moments ago, unnecessary memory and meddling had almost caused a disaster. She couldn’t risk caring for him again.

“I really am fine. I wasn’t hurt.”

“Is that so? Thank goodness.”

Oblivious to her concern, he strode ahead confidently.

“······.”

Seeing his tidy, untroubled back, Eun-jae lowered her gaze.

The elevator had become unbearable. She entered the emergency stairs to return to the office.

“Why did I do that?”

With each step, she replayed her recent foolish act: hastily removing her ex-boyfriend’s clothes and touching such a private place.

“Crazy, Jeong Eun-jae.”

Anyone would think she still had lingering feelings. Judging by his reaction, she had caused a serious misunderstanding.

And in her panic, she even called him “oppa,” like the old days when they were close.

“Hah.”

How far had she gone?

With a heavy sigh, she dragged herself forward.

Opening the door to her office, <Baek Woo-kyung Prosecutor’s Office>, she saw him seated alone at the head of the table.

“······.”

She felt frustrated.

He sat there, orderly and composed, while she was tormented inside.

“Investigator Jeong Eun-jae.”

Even before she sat, a cold, emotionless call came. Eun-jae approached him.

“Yes, Prosecutor.”

“You were the one who requested this remain confidential.”

It was said so plainly she almost mistook it for a work matter.

“From now on.”

Thump. The signed approval document lay in the corner.

“Do your work properly.”

“······.”

“If you don’t want to be misunderstood.”

She had no words, thinking of what she had done.

Why did he use that strange phrase, “my person,” first? She couldn’t even ask.

Do it properly, do it well.

Reciting her superior’s order, Eun-jae took the approval document.

“······.”

The phone on the desk was quiet. Naturally, there was no notification about her transfer approval.

How long would she have to share space with him?

She felt completely drained.

The next day was busy.

Two trials were scheduled, and there were unusually many reports from the police station.

She barely had lunch, eating kimbap while focusing on work. It was better this way; she had no time for distracting thoughts.

“Done! Finally done!”

There was some good news: the special theft case that had plagued Eun-jae and her colleagues for months was closed.

“The verdict’s out. Eight years in prison. No appeal.”

“Really, that’s a relief.”

Manager Kim stretched and groaned.

“Oh dear. I’ve gone past leaving time again.”

The clock silently approached 7 PM.

“Shall we celebrate closing the case with a light dinner? How about it? It’s been a while.”

“Just us?”

The assistant nodded toward Woo-kyung’s empty seat. He was attending the trial.

“Prosecutor Baek surely won’t join, right?”

“Hmm. He didn’t even join us for lunch.”

“It feels a bit disappointing. Other office prosecutors care for their people like family, but does he think we’re insignificant?”

It was a joke, but Eun-jae couldn’t smile. She felt it was because of her.

“Well, the abandoned ones take care of themselves. Investigator, dinner call? How about frozen pork belly?”

“Yes, sounds good.”

She wanted to go home and rest but didn’t want to awkwardly involve him in the mood.

“Let’s aim to leave within thirty minutes.”

With the case concluded, Eun-jae opened her email with a slightly lighter heart.

As expected, no news from HR today either.

“······.”

She accessed the work portal and opened the ‘resignation letter’ template.

She had stared blankly at a resignation letter many times before.

But she couldn’t just resign recklessly.

Remembering the recent loan repayment date, she closed the document.

Then, her phone rang.

“Hello?”

• Is this Jeong Jin-sook’s family? This is Gangsang Police Station. I’m a detective in the Violent Crimes Unit 2.

Her chest tightened. Whenever the police mentioned her mother’s name, something unfortunate always followed.

She slowly lifted her head and tried to calm herself.

“······Should I come to the station now?”

After brief guidance, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and stood.

Her colleagues looked at her curiously.

“Going out to the police station?”

“Sorry, I probably can’t join you for dinner tonight.”

With that, she left the office.

The two remaining shrugged at each other.

“Wonder what happened? A case?”

“Didn’t she get a call? Then it must be personal.”

“Maybe. Guess it’s not our day today. No investigator either.”

Manager sighed in disappointment.

Meanwhile, at a high-rise residence overlooking the Han River.

Woo-kyung emerged from the bathroom, shaking his head, and snapped on the lights.

The quiet space had minimal furniture, more gallery-like than homey.

In his bathrobe, he entered the connected dressing room. A suit jacket, hung separately, caught his eye.

The one-of-a-kind jacket made for his body had a button with loose threads dangling.

Eun-jae had hastily ripped it off, fearing he was having breathing trouble.

‘No! It was absolutely not lingering feelings. It was really, r-really a mistake! I’m sorry······.’

“Hah.”

Woo-kyung massaged his stiff neck, recalling the small, embarrassed face.

The heat he had suppressed earlier surged back.