Jin-woo suddenly realized he had spoken his inner thoughts aloud and quickly pivoted.
"You didn't answer... do you like the song 'Do You Like Me?'"
"It's such a nice song. It's all over my feed today—I just heard it again before coming to your apartment."
"The lyrics are so repetitive they just stick to your brain. 'Do you like me, do you like me...' it's practically a trance."
"Anyway, are we going in, or are you going to stand there looking shocked all day?"
Eun-soo felt a sudden rush of relief hearing his follow-up lines.
For a terrifying second, she thought Jin-woo knew she liked him.
Although the time they had spent together made her feelings clear, stating them directly was a completely different matter.
Eun-soo stepped aside from the door and said, "Please, come in."
Jin-woo nodded and added, "I am sorry you had to take Hajun home today."
Eun-soo smiled slightly and replied, "It's alright. Hajun is my student in kindergarten, and I had to come home directly today anyway."
"Besides, Hajun is so cute; who wouldn't want to spend more time with him? Right, Hajun?"
Hajun, who had come to the door upon hearing his uncle's voice, nodded enthusiastically. "Right!"
Jin-woo stepped into the penthouse, amused by Hajun's cute reaction.
It was Jin-woo's first time in Eun-soo's home.
The penthouse reflected its owner: soft blue tones paired with white, making the entire space feel bright and beautiful.
"Please, sit on the sofa," Eun-soo offered. "I will prepare some tea for you."
Jin-woo shook his head. "No thanks, I just had dinner with your brother."
Eun-soo nodded, her curiosity peaking. "What did my brother discuss with you?"
The air in the penthouse was cool, carrying a faint scent of vanilla that matched the soft, airy aesthetic of the room.
Jin-woo settled onto the plush white sofa, feeling the tension from his earlier blunder finally begin to ebb away.
Hajun scrambled up beside him, clutching a small toy airplane.
Jin-woo leaned back, crossing his arms as he recalled the conversation at Tae-jun's home.
"Nothing much," Jin-woo said. "He just talked about various products from my company that might be helpful, and a little bit about how much he liked our show at the Fire Festival."
Eun-soo nodded expectantly. "Anything else?"
Jin-woo looked at Eun-soo for a moment.
When she began to grow shy under his gaze, he simply shook his head and said, "Nothing else."
"Oh," Eun-soo replied, a hint of disappointment in her voice.
Jin-woo deliberately chose not to tell her that her brother had revealed her feelings for him.
He didn't want to make the conversation awkward; she would likely hear about it from her brother later and would need time to process it.
To shift the mood, he changed the topic. "How was your day? Did Hajun create any problems for you?"
"Not at all," Eun-soo replied warmly. "Hajun is a very cute and well-behaved boy. How could he be naughty?"
Hajun, listening intently, nodded as if to say, Of course, I'm a professional.
Looking at Hajun behaving like a little adult, Jin-woo found himself genuinely amused.
The penthouse was quiet, save for the soft hum of the air conditioner and the occasional whoosh of Hajun's toy airplane as he "flew" it over the coffee table.
The soft blue walls seemed to glow under the warm recessed lighting, creating an atmosphere so peaceful it felt miles away from the awkward tension at the front door.
Eun-soo sat down in the armchair across from them, her posture relaxing as she watched Jin-woo and Hajun interact.
"Honestly," she said, her voice dropping into a softer, more affectionate tone, "he was a big help."
"He even helped me organize some of the craft supplies for tomorrow's class. He's quite the little perfectionist."
Jin-woo laughed, a genuine sound that made Eun-soo's heart flutter despite her best efforts to stay composed.
"A perfectionist? I suppose he gets that from his father. Or maybe he's just trying to impress his favorite teacher."
Hajun looked up from his plane, eyes bright. "Teacher Eun-soo is the best! She let me see the big balcony with the lights."
Jin-woo glanced toward the floor-to-ceiling windows that led to a spacious terrace.
"The view from here must be incredible at night. No wonder you wanted to come straight home today."
Eun-soo followed his gaze.
The disappointment from earlier—the feeling that he was hiding something her brother said—was slowly replaced by the comfort of his presence in her personal space.
It felt domestic, having him here on her sofa, sharing a quiet evening.
"It is," she admitted, finally meeting his eyes without immediately looking away.
"Sometimes it's the only thing that helps me decompress after a long day."
"Though, having a 'well-behaved little adult' like Hajun around makes the house feel much more lively."
She paused, her curiosity getting the better of her again.
"So... my brother really didn't mention anything else? He's usually much more talkative when he's had dinner and a chance to corner someone."
Jin-woo leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees.
He knew he was walking a fine line, but he chose to keep his expression unreadable, a playful glint in his eyes.
"Well," Jin-woo said, his voice dropping an octave, "he did mention that I should visit more often."
"But I think he just wants more inside information on my company's next big project."
Eun-soo let out a small, relieved huff of laughter.
"That sounds like him. Always a businessman, even over dinner."
After spending some more time talking with Eun-soo, Jin-woo stood up and smoothed out his suit jacket.
"It's getting late," he said, checking his watch. "I should get Hajun home before he falls asleep on your sofa."
Eun-soo stood up as well, her eyes softening as she looked at the little boy, who was now leaning sleepily against a decorative pillow.
"He really did have a long day," she whispered, stepping closer to help Jin-woo gather Hajun's things.
As she handed him the toy airplane, their fingers brushed briefly, sending a familiar spark through Jin-woo's arm.
He looked down at her, the playful facade from earlier slipping for just a fraction of a second.
"Thank you, Eun-soo," he said, his voice low and sincere. "Not just for watching him, but for... everything."
Eun-soo felt her breath hitch at the sudden change in his tone, her heart skipping a beat.
"You don't have to thank me," she replied softly, her gaze locked with his. "I enjoy being with him. And with you."
The air in the penthouse felt still, the scent of vanilla suddenly more intoxicating than before.
Jin-woo felt the urge to say something more—to address the secret her brother had shared—but he held back, offering a gentle smile instead.
He carefully scooped a drowsy Hajun into his arms, the boy murmuring something incoherent about "Teacher Eun-soo" as he tucked his head into Jin-woo's shoulder.
"I'll see you tomorrow?" Jin-woo asked, walking toward the door with his precious cargo.
Eun-soo followed him, opening the heavy door with a lingering look.
"Tomorrow," she promised, leaning against the doorframe as she watched them step out into the hallway.
As the elevator doors closed, Jin-woo caught one last glimpse of her waving—a sight that stayed in his mind all the way down to his apartment.
Once inside the apartment, he looked at Hajun's peaceful face and let out a long, slow breath.
"A perfectionist, huh?" he whispered to the sleeping boy, a small, knowing smirk playing on his lips.
He knew that things were changing between him and Eun-soo, and for the first time, he wasn't in a hurry to figure out exactly where they were going.