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"Wait a second… WHAT?"
He froze mid-motion, winding the wire around the curler. His fingers clenched it as if it had suddenly burned him.
"Yeah… yeah, you heard that right," she said, massaging her temple, trying to steady herself.
He set the curler down on the table and leaned forward, sliding into the chair opposite her. Excitement and nervous anticipation danced across his face. His eyes shone with a joy so bright it was almost unbearable, though he tried—and failed—to hide it.
Seeing him like that made her heart skip. This silly, impulsive cat… she couldn't help but smile. He was an open book of emotions, precious in ways she couldn't fully articulate. How could she let this playful, naive heart fall for that cold, unyielding wolf? Just imagining it made her pulse race.
"Don't get your hopes up," she warned, trying to sound steady despite her racing heart. "He's straight. He's only doing this for his café. Though, knowing him, he's not doing it just for business… he's probably trying to screw his grandfather. And remember—it's a dating show. There will be other contestants. His aloofness will attract them, and if he tries… well, his act won't stay hidden forever."
Her words faltered when she noticed the light in his eyes dim slightly, his smile tugging at her heart. She stopped mid-sentence.
"Hey… Yanam," she said softly.
He lifted his gaze.
"Look, I'm not trying to discourage you. I just…"
"It's okay, Rema," he interrupted gently. "I know all that… but I can't help it. I was a little excited."
She sighed, a mix of exasperation and affection.
"But… will he… you know… actually go through with things if they ask? You know how these shows work," he asked cautiously.
"What do you think?" she countered.
"So what will you do ?" he asked
. "Well That's why I'm here. I need your help."
He blinked. "Wait… don't tell me you want me to… his—"
His heart stopped for a moment. His crush—his actual crush—was about to be his dating partner. Even if it was fake, it still mattered.
"Kind of," she admitted, her tone careful.
"But I'm keeping it a secret for now. He emphasized that I shouldn't do anything for him—he wants to handle things his own way. Honestly.....
I don't trust him to manage it all himself."
"So he doesn't know," he murmured
, concern tightening his voice.
"And if I approached him and he rejected me… I don't want that, Rema. It would be… humiliating. Heartbreaking."
"I'll tell him eventually,"
she said firmly.
"Once things settle.and he already knows me well enough.
Even if he told me not to intervene, I'd still make sure it works out—for him. So you don't have to worry once he got their everything I'll handle...."
She fell silent, thinking. , yanam watched her
. That manipulative bastard…
she'd agreed so he wouldn't have to lift a finger, knowing she would make everything easier for him. And here she was, planning how to make it all happen. Rema's frustration flared.
"That heartless wolf," she muttered, thudding her hand on the table.
Yanam just stared, captivated, as her face shifted through a storm of emotions.