As the conversation progressed, Eunji's curiosity got the better of her. She had noticed that Soo-Min hadn't been around as much as usual lately, and she couldn't help but ask about it.
"You know, Soo-Min.", she began, her tone casually nonchalent, "I've noticed that you've been somewhat absent lately. I hope you've been doing well. Where have you been keeping yourself?"
As Eunji mentioned Soo-Min's absence, she couldn't help but reflect on how he had been frequently absent from their meetings and get-togethers lately. She recalled the last few occasions when she had expected to see him, only to be met with his absence.
She had found it somewhat unusual, as he had always been a reliable and consistent presence, both in terms of advice and support. Eunji had wondered why he wasn't around, but she had dismissed it, thinking he must have been occupied with other matters.
Each time, she couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment, as he was a frequent and trusted presence. She couldn't deny that she had missed his company.
As Eunji inquired about his absence, Soo-Min reached for the decanter of wine on the table and filled her glass with a smooth, deep red liquid. His hands moved gracefully as he poured, his attention still on her.
He had been taken slightly off guard by her question, as he hadn't expected her to notice his absence so keenly.
He took a moment to gather his thoughts before responding, his tone casual yet smooth, "Ah, I've just been busy with a few things, nothing important.", he said, smoothly avoiding a direct answer.
Eunji watched as Soo-Min elegantly poured the wine into her glass, his movements graceful and controlled. She wasn't quite sure why he was evading her question but she didn't push it further.
As she accepted the glass of wine from Soo-Min graciously, her mind continued to race. His answer had been vague and evasive, not giving her any specific explanation for his absence. She couldn't help but feel a nagging sensation of uncertainty, a small flicker of distrust growing within her.
But she knew it would be counterproductive to press him further on the matter, so she held back her questions and lifted the glass to her lips, taking a small sip.
As she took a sip, the smooth, full-bodied flavor of the wine spread across her tongue, momentarily distracting her.
However, her confusion and curiosity about Soo-Min's cryptic answer lingered in the back of her mind, making her even more determined to get to the bottom of his mysterious absence.
Soo-Min observed Eunji closely as she sipped her wine, noticing the subtle hint of confusion and intrigue in her expression. He could see that she was still pondering his vague response.
Then, he chuckled, a soft, almost self-deprecating sound, realizing how perceptive she was. He suppressed a small chuckle, amused at her persistence in trying to extract the truth.
Then he fell silent for a moment, as if contemplating his next words. There was a trace of tension in the air, a sense that something more significant was brewing beneath the surface.
He met her gaze but didn't speak yet, letting the silence linger for a moment longer, his expression contemplative. He appeared to be lost in thought, weighing his next words carefully, as if deciding how much to reveal.
As the silence between them stretched on, Eunji couldn't help but feel a sense of unease and curiosity. There was something about Soo-Min's expression that puzzled her, and she was about to ask, but then she took another sip of the wine.
That's when she felt it—a peculiar sensation taking over her body. The wine had a strange, slightly bitter aftertaste, unlike what she had expected. The smooth, velvety texture that she had initially perceived now had a slight bitterness, leaving a strange aftertaste in her mouth.
Something was amiss, and a ripple of unease ran through her.
Something was off.
As Eunji contemplated the altered taste of the wine, Soo-Min suddenly stood up from the table. He walked with purposeful strides towards the large window that showcased the night sky, his back to her.
He casually strolled towards the large window facing the night sky. He stood there, gazing out into the velvet darkness, his back to Eunji.
A slight sense of unease washed over her, the taste of the wine coupled with his sudden movement stirring her curiosity and, now, a touch of...
Eunji, her thoughts now more alert and suspecting, rose from her seat. Her face became unreadable as her mind quickly connected the dots. She knew that something was wrong with the wine, and the realization sent a shiver down her spine.
The altered taste of the wine and Soo-Min's actions had confirmed her suspicions, and the situation suddenly seemed much more serious than she had anticipated.
As she stood, her eyes flicked from the now-suspicious glass of wine on the table to Soo-Min's back.
Eunji's analytical mind quickly figured out the situation. Her years of training and experience had made her immune to many toxins, and she immediately recognized the signs of a poisonous substance in the wine.
However, she was puzzled by Soo-Min's actions.
Why would he try to poison her?
She feigned ignorance, maintaining her composure as she tried to make sense of the unexpected turn of events.
It was as if a chilling realization dawned upon her, stopping her in her tracks. She tried to gather her thoughts and find the right words to say next.
Her mind raced with confusion and a hint of betrayal. She moved closer to Soo-Min, her footsteps silent across the plush carpet. She was about to speak, asking for an explanation or confronting him about the poison.
Her heart felt heavy with confusion and a hint of hurt, trying to understand why someone she had trusted and considered a close aide would do something so sinister.
As she came to a stop a few steps behind him, her expression betraying none of the turmoil within her. Her lips parted slightly, as if to speak, but the words died on her tongue.
The question—"Why?"—was on the tip of her tongue.
"Eunji.", he began, his voice catching slightly in his throat, "There's something I need to tell you.", his voice suddenly sounded more vulnerable than she had ever heard before.
He paused for a moment, as if gathering his courage, before Soo-Min turned to face Eunji, suddenly breaking the silence. His expression softened, and a hint of vulnerability crept into his gaze as he confessed.
"Eunji, I've been in love with you for a long time now.", His voice was raw and sincere, betraying the depth of his feelings for her.
The confession hung in the air like a delicate thread, the stillness in the room almost palpable.