CHAPTER 14: Confrontation

SAN
•••

Fluttering my eyes open, I glanced at the clock on the table and saw the time.

3:10 p.m

Rolling over in bed, I stared at the blank ceiling above, my mind was still reminiscing on the night prior. Not only did I skip out on an important business meeting, but I crossed a boundary that I shouldn't have. Luckily enough, my secretary was able to handle the meeting with ease and gave me the summary notes afterwards. Part of me felt guilty, but another part grew more interested in the male. It was a bittersweet feeling, but one that I knew I shouldn't indulge any further.

Taking on the responsibility of owning a company while choosing to experience the life of a college student was something I chose to do, something I wanted to do. It wasn't something to take lightly, knowing that my father's legacy was on the line and could not afford to have anything dampening the namesake. The goal was to graduate with a degree that increased my ability and knowledge of my profession while still exploring the world of a normal young adult.

Never in my life did I expect to find someone who tested the resolve I had grown accustomed to over the years in such a short amount of time.

I could picture every moment of the night, from the sounds of his moans to the beautiful flushed facial expressions he gave, everything about it shook me to my core. It was something forbidden, yet unbearably tempting to have again.

However, the sound of the key turning the doorknob quickly shook me from my thoughts as Wooyoung stepped inside the room. Smiling gently, I watched the male make his way over to his side of the room. "Hey. How was class?"

"Good." He answered bluntly, dropping his bag on the floor beside his bed before turning his attention to me. "We need to talk."

"Alright...?" I said quietly, already knowing the topic of discussion. "What's up?"

He stared at me for moment, the silence in the room deafening as I patiently waited for him to start. With a deep sigh, he turned his gaze to the floor before whispering softly. "Whatever happened last night...it was a one time thing. It's not happening again...Let's move on from it."

Smirking to myself, I hopped off my bed and walked over to him with a teasing grin. "Remind me again? What happened exactly?"

"San!" Wooyoung squeaked with his eyes darted up to me, but he quickly composed himself by clearing his throat. "You know what happened. I don't need to say it. My point is, it was mistake. It's never happening again."

A mistake...?

My mindset was on the same wavelength regarding the incident, but hearing him call the moment a mistake burned me more than I had expected it to. Scoffing to myself, I laughed bitterly as I stared him down. "Glad you know how I feel about the situation. Don't worry Wooyoung, I'll make sure it won't happen again. Last thing we need is another mistake."

"San, that's what it was... a mistake. It shouldn't have happened..." He said irritably. "I don't know why you're so upset, but I don't fucking care. You were the one who imposed the 'no sex' rule anyway."

"I heard you, Wooyoung." I rolled my eyes, turning away to head to the door as I muttered to myself. "I should've just went to my meeting..."

This time, he scoffed loudly before shouting at me. "No one told you that you should miss it! You were the one who wanted to stay here, so don't you dare blame me!"

"You're right! That's my fucking fault! Next time, I'll just let you be near your death bed!" I snapped.

"Fine!"

"Good!"

With that I stepped out of the dorm with the door slamming behind me, cursing to myself as I walked down the hallway. Deep down I knew he was right, last night shouldn't have happened at all. However, I couldn't help but feel angered by the justification behind his reasoning.

"A mistake. Wow." I scoffed to myself as I made it downstairs to the lobby. All I could do was repeat the word in my head as I made my way toward the building doors, stepping outside into the chilly atmosphere.

I need to go to the gym...

Focusing my attention on getting to my car as soon as possible, I passed by students without haste until a soft voice called out to me.

"San-hyung?"

Ears instantly perking up, I turned my head and saw Eunchae standing in the middle of the lobby. My eyes grew wide as a soft smile grew on my lips. "Eunchae? You're attending University now?"

She giggled softly, shaking her head playfully. "Still the same as usual. Always so deep in your thoughts to notice your surroundings. To answer your question, yes I am. I skipped a grade, so now I'm here. You almost ran me over by the way!"

"Sorry about that..."

"It's alright..." she said with a careful pause, looking at me up and down, "Are you okay? You seemed to be upset or something earlier."

Nodding my head, I plastered a smile. "I'm fine. Just wanted to go work out."

I watched as her eyebrows furrowed before responding with a teasing grin. "You're a terrible liar, you know. How about this, instead of sweating your problems away, let's go get some ice cream and talk! It's been awhile anyway!"

Opening my mouth to deny the invitation, she quickly grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the Main Cafeteria, leaving me no choice but to go along.

•••

The two of us sat at a table near the open window, a clear view of the campus in front of us as we both had our bowls of ice cream. She turned to me and scowled, pointing her finger at me sternly as she spoke. "Talk to me. What's going on?"

"Why do you think something is going on?"

"Because you only work out when you're either upset or you want a distraction." She answered smoothly, picking up a spoonful and plopping it in her mouth. "Now talk."

Rolling my eyes, I scoffed playfully as I scooped my own spoonful of ice cream. "You think you know me so well."

"I know you well enough to notice that you had sex with someone recently..."she mumbled.

Hearing the words slip out from her caused me to cough. "W-What?"

This time Eunchae rolled her eyes. "San, you seriously have not changed. You do realized that you have certain tells about you? I mean," she pointing to my clothing before sighing, "you're wearing your favorite hoodie."

"What is up with you and Mingi and this hoodie? Can't I just wear my favorite clothes?"

"Not when it's your designer one. The one I'm surprised it's still alive considering how often you wear it." She teased. "Stop trying to change the subject. Talk."

I sighed, dropping my spoon in my bowl. "I don't know where to start..."

"Start from the beginning. You should know well enough that anything said here stays between us."

Looking for any signs of judgement, all I saw in front of me was someone openly honest and willing to listen wholeheartedly. Nodding slowly, I focused my gaze on my bowl. "I did something that was wrong, but deep down, I don't regret it."

Eunchae tilted her head curiously. "Does it have to do with your sexual endeavors or something?"

"Yeah, it does. I had sex with my roommate."

"Wow...Alright, how was it?"

"Amazing, beyond amazing. It's just that...it shouldn't have happened."

"Hmm..." she hummed. "I mean school only started four days ago, so how recent was this?"

I sighed. "It happened on Tuesday."

Eunchae placed her spoon in her bowl and grabbed one of my hands gently into hers. "Let me guess, he regretted it?"

"Basically called it a mistake. That's what we talked, or I guess argued, about before I bumped into you." I muttered. "I just hate how everything unraveled."

"Explain to me how it all started, I'm all ears."

It took about twenty minutes of me spilling everything to her, from the first encounter with him to the last words said towards each other before she sighed and leaned back in her chair. "San, do you want my honest opinion or a favorable opinion?"

"Eunchae, you know I always want honest."

"Listen..." she paused, forming a soft smile on her face. "I think he's just scared. You two are roommates and it might be extremely awkward between you two, at least on his end. He doesn't know that you're a fucking CEO, for starters. That in itself is something hard to swallow, no pun intended..."

I chuckled as she continued. "I think you should respect his decision, regardless of what he said on the surface, and see where it goes. You focus on you and let him focus on him. You'd be surprised how things may turn around. Just don't push the matter further, okay?"

"Alright..."

"I also think you should talk to him. You basically let him have the first say and not give your feedback on the matter. It's clear you like him, based on how you described him, but respecting boundaries is also a sign of caring about someone. Even if it's from a distance in a close space." She sighed. "Try being his friend first, without any extra gestures added."

A smile grew on my face as I leaned over and ruffled her hair playfully. "Since when did you become so wise?"

"I have you to learn from." She giggled. "The amount of times I came to you with my problems, I'm surprised you haven't signed me up for a psych ward yet."

•••

The two of us walked back to the dormitory in a comfortable silence, the sun now casting a beautiful orange glow on the horizon as it began to set behind the clouds. Looking over to her, I watched as she slowly took her steps with a smile, purposefully making sure not to land on any cracks in the sidewalk. "You know, when you said that nothing had changed about me, I could say the same thing about you."

She tilted her head up and raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Do tell."

"You're still doing that thing with the sidewalk."

"I don't want anything bad to happen to my Eomma!"

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For helping me feel better. I probably would've have still been in the gym working out for hours."

This time, she grinned brightly as she abruptly paused in her walk. "So does that mean I get a raise in pay for being your favorite model and therapist?"

"Don't push it, Chae. By the way, which floor do you live on?"

"The fourth floor, same as Hyunjin-hyung."

"Ah, so that means I can have more therapy sessions?"

"Not unless you pay me." She teased.

Both of us laughed as we made it to the entrance, but the sound of a familiar voice called out to me from the doorway.

"San..."

My heart sank as I turned to see Wooyoung standing there, his eyes showing signs of sadness in them as he stared at me. Eunchae looked at him before turning back to me with wide eyes as she realized who the person was. Clearing her throat loudly, she bowed to me. "Thanks San for the ice cream, I really needed a pick-me-up," she smiled as she walked inside, quickly bowing to the other male before heading toward her room.

The two of us were left standing, staring at each other but not willing to speak first. However, remember the advice Eunchae gave me, I sighed to myself and took the initiative to spark the conversation. "Hey, Woo. Can we talk? And this time, I mean actually talk?"

He nodded with a soft smile. "I think that would be best..."

"Let's talk, San."