Jun-tae laughed on the island, slamming his hand on the flat surface.
"Lee Su-hee, you're so adorable…" he complimented. She blushed, but she felt the tingle under her skin. "Alcohol? With me, you can get as much alcohol as you want… even fine wine."
Su-hee glared at him, feeling the temptation. Fine wine? Only rich people drink those… Sun-ae is also rich herself. She would definitely treat me to those.
"Don't underestimate my friends… she promised me—"
"Even to this Five-Star hotel that only members could get in," he interrupted, flashing his VIP pass.
Su-hee gasped, covering her mouth as she stared at the card in between his fingers. No way! That hotel has a secret club with antique alcohol from all over the world! Even Sun-ae's father refused to let her become a VIP! Cash beamed in her eyes.
Jun-tae observed her, then noticed her reaction. He cackled, slamming his hand down and snapping Su-hee out of her world.
"What's so funny?"
"So, is that a yes?" he asked, chuckling.
She straightened her back, pretending to be calm and professional. Then she pushed her glasses back before locking eyes with him.
"Okay… but the only condition is… you don't butt into my life, and I won't butt into your life. Deal?" she firmly stated.
He shook his head, smiling at her.
"First of all, it's… 'you don't interfere with my life, and I won't interfere with yours.' And," he paused. Then he grabbed her chin from across the island. "Don't forget that I'm older. So talk to me with respect, would you?"
She growled at him, pulling her head away.
"Fine! Is that a deal, Mister 'I'm older' Troll?"
"Yes… Much better. And yes, deal," he answered. She huffed, blowing her hair that tickled her nose. She turned. "Wait… we need a contract."
She paused, slowly turning her head to him.
"A contract? As in a paper?"
"Yes… in case you try to back out like you tried when you confessed to me," he teased.
She stuck her tongue out and frowned.
"Boo… you untrustworthy troll…" she muttered, sticking her thumb downward.
He laughed, slapping a paper on the island. He then clipped the pen and started writing. Su-hee watched him write the terms and conditions for her, sliding the paper to her.
"If you want to add or remove anything—"
"Wow… you have very nice handwriting. I thought men sometimes have ugly handwriting…" she complimented.
He stared at her and laughed.
"Does that mean you are starting to fall for me?"
Her eyes widened as her gaze moved to his. Her face cringed.
"WHAT?! Ew! No…" she barked. Then she snatched the pen from his hand, and she signed her name at the bottom. "There… done. Now stop flirting with me with those… cringy words."
She pushed the paper back to him. He chuckled and glanced at the paper.
"Oh…" he said. She paused and looked at him. He raised the paper. "Your handwriting is ugly."
"YAH!" she snapped.
"But I will keep this… with me," he smiled. Then he folded the paper and walked into his room.
"Aish! Why did I get entangled with such a troll? He's a real-life troll!" she yelled as she stomped to the laundry room.
After her clothes were washed and dried, she quickly changed back into them and stormed out of his complex. She rode the taxi back to her apartment. Sun-ae's gaze turned instantly at the sound of Su-hee's entrance.
"Where did you go on your date?" Sun-ae interrogated, pretending to poke her glasses like a detective.
Su-hee raised both of her hands like a suspect.
"Date? I went on a date?"
"Did you break up with him?!"
"Hmm… he he, about that…" Su-hee stopped and gulped. She averted her eyes.
"About what?! Are you still dating him?" Sun-ae questioned, leaning over Su-hee's face.
Su-hee chuckled awkwardly.
"Well… we… decided to…" she paused. Sun-ae glared, seething with each word. Su-hee closed her eyes and took a deep breath before she… shouted, "Contract date!"
No words came after. Su-hee gasped because it was too quiet. She opened one eye, peeking to see Sun-ae's reaction.
"YAH! A contract dating partner!" she yelled. Then she slapped Su-hee's shoulder. "Are you insane? I would have given you free alcohol for life if you broke up with him! He's dangerous!"
"So! I told you I wanted to back out before I confessed… now I'm stuck!"
"Just break up with him!"
"I… I signed a contract with him…" Su-hee frowned.
Sun-ae gritted her teeth, ready to bite anyone. Su-hee looked at her.
"You alcohol idiot! Why the hell did you do that?!" Sun-ae argued, shaking Su-hee.
Yeon-min walked in without looking at them, snacking on her sunflower seeds.
"Your father is calling you, Sun-ae…" she said casually before returning to her room.
"Why?!" Sun-ae barked.
"Because he got the VIP pass to the Grand Vincente Hotel and you don't!" Su-hee shouted, shutting her eyes.
Sun-ae loudly gasped as her hands softened. Su-hee inhaled before opening her eyes to gaze at Sun-ae, who looked defeated.
"What?! That rich snob got one?! I knew that bastard was rich! I didn't expect him to be that well-off!"
Su-hee laughed nervously.
"Yeah… he promised me that I would get it if I signed the contract…" she replied, poking her index fingers against each other.
Sun-ae growled silently at her.
"That bastard is luring you in… isn't he? Watch, I'm going to find his weakness and kick him out of your life if he ever dares to hurt you!" she snapped.
"Sun-ae!!!" Yeon-min shouted
"Ah! Father!" Sun-ae remembered, running into the room to grab her phone. "Father? Hi! Sorry, I was talking to my friend… yeah…"
Su-hee listened a little, then her face gloomed. Father…? She has such a caring and loving father… and he's so nice to me when I'm not even his daughter when I visit. A tear lingered at the edge of her eyes.
[FLASHBACK]
"Omma, I'm home—!"
"Where is it?! Give it to me!" a man's voice demanded angrily.
Young Su-hee looked up and hurried to her mother's side. Her mother was on her knees, bruises on her face. Su-hee gasped, her gaze turning to the man, who held her mother's hair and raised a hand in the air. Su-hee bit her lower lip.
"Get out of here, you bastard!" Su-hee shouted, running and pushing him away from her mother.
"Su-hee, run!" her mother cried.
"Yah!" the man yelled.
"Get out, Father!" Su-hee demanded.
Just then, the man, her biological father, slapped her to the ground.
"Su-hee!" her mother cried.
Young Jae-hae walked into the house.
"Hey Orc, you forgot your—"
He dropped Su-hee's purse and looked at her father.
"Jae-hae…" Su-hee sobbed.
Her father reached for Su-hee's hair, but Jae-hae hurried and pushed him away. Then he grabbed a cord and tied her father's wrists.
"Let go, you stupid boy!"
"Ajusshi, stay still. I'm going to call the police on you for trespassing and domestic violence!" Jae-hae stated angrily.