I'M (NOT) MARRIED || YUCHAE

NINE

chp. 9

It was the last day at the Lees' residence, and Chaeryeong wasn't excited about it.

The last day, which meant that when she goes back home, she'd have to go back to work, and that also meant more stress for her fragile mind.

It's not that she didn't want to earn the money, because of course she does, it's money. However, that didn't mean she necessarily liked being away from home.

Or, away from Yuna, in that sense.

Over the past few days, Chaeryeong knew that she was beginning to grow attached to the model.

That was not a good thing.

Chaeryeong had never expected to develop such feelings for Yuna.

Initially, their arrangement was merely a business deal, a means to appease their parents and improve their family's image. But as they spent more time together, Chaeryeong couldn't help but notice Yuna's occasional moments of warmth and concern. It was those rare glimpses of vulnerability that stirred something within her.

Things that should not surface.

But she also knew that getting involved with Yuna on a personal level was a dangerous path to tread. After all, Yuna had always been cold and distant, keeping her emotions tightly guarded. Chaeryeong didn't want to risk ruining their fake engagement or jeopardizing the progress they had made in boosting their business image.

As she packed her bags, her mind was conflicted. The rational part of her understood the implications of pursuing a relationship with Yuna, while her heart yearned for something more. She couldn't deny the growing attraction she felt, but she also didn't want to overstep any boundaries or make their arrangement more complicated than it already was.

The ultimate enemy of her life was her feelings.

Now sitting on the edge of her bed, watching Yuna tidied up the study table that was once occupied with paperwork, she sighed. This trip was short, yet felt like eternity at the same time. Not that it was a bad thing.

Chaeryeong found herself wanting to talk to the model more, despite their differences in personalities and interests, she wanted to get to know her more on a personal level, potentially passing the co-worker barrier.

Although, she was pretty sure that they were way past that.

"Are we going now?"

Yuna looked at her expectantly, her eyes partially obscured by a black hat. Two small suitcases stood beside her, containing all the model's clothes and luggage in a surprisingly compact manner.

Chaeryeong snapped out of her daze and nodded with a tight smile, rising to her feet and taking hold of her own suitcases.

Her mind continued to race, and she struggled to find a way to slow it down, especially with the person who occupied her thoughts now standing before her, hips swaying as she confidently made her way through the halls.

Upon reaching the front door, the couple bid farewell to their family and friends who had gathered to see them off. As the Lees' residence was a considerable distance from their own home, everyone wanted to leave a lasting impression before their busy schedules took hold.

"Why do you have to live so far?" Yeji whined, clinging onto Chaeryeong's arm like a koala.

"Yuna has a thing for beautiful views," Chaeryeong chuckled, casting a quick glance at the model who was chatting with her grandma happily on the side.

Beomgyu grinned and scanned her friend from top to bottom, "Yeah, I see that for sure."

"No flirting, Gyu," Pepper lifted a brow.