Endless Kiss v1c38

Despite my prickly answer, Rashanin pretends not to know and touches his own face. At times like this, he was so annoying I wanted to smack him. At times like this, I had to be shameless like Rashanin said.

“It’s because my physique isn’t as good as yours, Mr. Rashanin. For the sake of a man’s pride, I don’t want to stand side by side.”

When I grinned and retorted that I didn’t want to be compared to him, Rashanin’s eyes curve in laughter.

“Oh my, what a shame. More than that, you haven’t had dinner?”

“No.”

“Then let’s go up.”

Rashanin instantly jumped out of the water. A model covering only his privates with a piece the size of a palm was dripping with water—it was like a real-time R-rated video.

I thought I heard a “Kyaa!” scream from somewhere, and I too had trouble finding somewhere to look.

This is what’s difficult. Once shaken, the heart easily wavered. It was certain that beyond gender, he was attractive. Still, I pretended otherwise and watched indifferently as Rashanin grabbed a towel and wrapped it around himself.

Then Rashanin gives me a look as if asking what I’m looking at. When I shook my head saying it was nothing, Rashanin chuckles.

I hoped it was just my assumption that he saw through everything but was generously pretending not to know because he was magnanimous.

“I’m curious about the room dinner service.”

“Isn’t that what you always do?”

Rashanin had always eaten all his dinners at the restaurant until now. Rashanin, who was about to move his steps, looks back at me.

“That’s good too, but I want to be alone with you.”

I stiffened at the explicit words. Rashanin’s intention of wanting to be alone was obvious.

“Isn’t there Indian food? So we can spread carpets and plush cushions in the living room to eat.”

“You’re not serious, are you?”

“Of course I’m serious. Tell the manager to show me his abilities.”

“Unless he performs magic, he can’t prepare it in time.”

“You’re so kind. You even think about other people’s positions.”

“I’m saying don’t make unreasonable demands.”

Just a moment ago, I was talking with Manager Ko Chang-seok about how hard it is to work as salaried workers. Though Manager Ko Chang-seok said he wanted to show his abilities, the demand to change the living room to Indian style for dinner at past 7 o’clock was definitely unreasonable. Maybe he could pull it off. But he’d curse a lot inside.

More than anything, I wanted to avoid being alone with Rashanin.

“Then you order something that’s not unreasonable.”

“I’ll make a reservation at the restaurant.”

“Do you dislike me that much?”

“Didn’t you tell me to refuse.”

I blatantly showed that I was being wary of him, but Rashanin just smiled. I could really see that he found it fun.

“Do as you wish. I’ll grant you whatever you want. I’ll see you in a bit… What’s that bag?”

Rashanin, who was about to turn toward the changing room while shaking the water from his hair, gives his attention to the paper bag in my hand. It was almost hidden by my jacket, yet he noticed.

“They say it’s from Miss Elisabeth.”

“To you?”

“Yes.”

Rashanin’s eyes, which had been smiling just moments ago, narrow and glare at the paper bag. His eyes are contemplating how to get rid of it.

It was the same situation as last night when they had tussled over the business card. If there was any difference, it was that Rashanin wasn’t demanding it right away. Still, the atmosphere was far from calm.

“Did you check what it is?”

“N-no.”

“It could be something dangerous, so give it here. I’ll check.”

“I’ll return it as is.”

“I’m curious about the princess’s scheme.”

“If you unwrap it, won’t it be difficult to return it?”

Opening a gift and then returning it would mean that the gift wasn’t to one’s liking. Honestly, I didn’t want to give Elisabeth—who was classified in my heart as a scary princess—any reason to find fault with me.

“It’s fine. The princess doesn’t care about such things. I’ll just check and return it to her with my own hands, so hand it over.”

Rashanin smiled gently, but I didn’t fall for it. He’d been glaring at me just moments before. Judging from his behavior up until now, there was a pretty high probability he’d toss it into the pool, calling it a mistake.

“Don’t tell me you don’t trust me?”

“Yes.”

“To have so little trust. Fine. You can unwrap it yourself and show it to me. Right?”

“Then whatever this is, don’t tell me to throw it away. I’m going to return it.”

“How strict. Fine.”

At this compromise where he’d backed down a step, I took out the box and tore off the wrapping. A rectangular leather case slightly larger than my palm appeared. The weight was still heavy. Wondering what it was, I opened the lid, and a watch that looked extremely expensive at first glance was gleaming brilliantly.

“Uh…”

I was so surprised that a deflating sound escaped my mouth involuntarily. I slowly raised my head and glanced at Rashanin. One of his eyebrows was raised. It was hard to tell if he was sneering or angry.

“A watch… I see a card there too. Read it.”

At Rashanin’s order to read it, I took the card out of the envelope and read it aloud.

“Unhyuk, in place of someone so senseless who couldn’t think of anything even after seeing your bare wrist, I will complete your fashion. Please accept this with a joyful heart.”

My voice grew smaller and smaller as I read the elegant handwriting on the card. Rather than a gift meant to please me, it was a gift pointing out Rashanin’s lack of sense. I lifted my eyes from the card and sneaked a glance at Rashanin, but his expression hadn’t changed much.

“Just like the princess.”

“You’ve confirmed it, right?”

I quickly gathered up the case and card and put them in the paper bag. Rashanin, with his hand on his hip, wasn’t giving off a dangerous aura. Instead, he wore a thin smile whose meaning I couldn’t read and asked what I was going to do.

“Are you really going to return it?”

“Yes.”

“I think it would suit you well, but I guess you don’t like it? From your taste, is it too flashy?”

“Of course it’s excessively flashy, but… more than that, even with gifts, there are limits.”

Even to my ignorant eyes, it looked like a very, very expensive watch. It was a double standard to say this while readily accepting and wearing expensive clothes from Rashanin, but still, refusing was the right thing to do for now.

“I understand it’s burdensome, but will Elisabeth accept it meekly?”

“Well…”

I could bet ten thousand won that Elisabeth wouldn’t accept it. And I could also bet that with her dizzying way with words, she would somehow fasten that expensive watch on my wrist. I sighed.

“I’ll return it for you.”

Rashanin made the offer with a very benevolent face and gentle voice. Someone who didn’t know Rashanin would have fallen for it completely, but to me, who knew what his true nature was like, it was utterly unconvincing.

“I’ll do it myself.”

“You don’t even know where she is.”

“I know her phone number. Not only Elisabeth-ssi’s but Manuel-ssi’s as well.”

When I stubbornly created a bright smile without backing down, Rashanin smiled too. Then he bent at the waist and thrust his face toward mine, making me gasp and draw in a breath. Fortunately, it wasn’t an angle where our eyes met, but he was close enough that I could feel his breath.

I snapped to attention.

“If returning it proves difficult, don’t hesitate to tell me. I’ll definitely make sure to deliver it to her.”

Water droplets falling from Rashanin’s golden hair wetted my ear and shoulder, but neither he nor I paid any attention to that fact.

“And don’t be so tense. I’m not going to do anything today.”

After saying that, Rashanin straightened his back and was smiling even more deeply than before. This time I couldn’t smile back.

“Three days. I’ll wait three more days. And then I’ll seduce you again.”

Having declared that, Rashanin only threw a meaningful smile and, without saying anything more, turned around and walked straight to the changing room. Watching his straight back, I let out a careful, long sigh.

Really, he’s acting like a complete player.

Compared to last night when he’d threatened me for my business card, it was a huge improvement, but now that wasn’t the problem.

Seduction.

I glared at the paper bag I was holding. This wasn’t a gift but a burden. But at this very moment, what I was most displeased with was myself, wavering at Rashanin’s seduction.

Damn it, Lee Unhyuk. Are you going to come to your senses or not?