tok tok-

It was the sound of a knock that awakened Jaehee's thoughts. She raised her body and spoke naturally.

"Yes, come in."

"Professor Seon, it's about time for you to go home... Unnie, are you feeling unwell?"

"Huh? Me?"

"Your face is red."

"Oh, I just have some things on my mind."

When she deeply pondered, there were times when she would occasionally run a low fever. Jae-hee responded nonchalantly, not considering it a big deal. Whenever she was deeply engrossed in something, she would be so focused that she wouldn't even notice if someone called her right beside her. As a result, she would occasionally run a fever. Soo-jin, who had witnessed this behavior throughout their undergraduate years, simply nodded her head in understanding.

"You should go home. Yoo-jin unnie is waiting for you."

"Yeah, I should go."

Jae-hee folded up the old metal chair and put the answer sheets into a brown envelope.

"Are you going to leave work too?"

"Yes, once Professor Seon leaves, this teaching assistant is free."

"Should I give you a ride?"

"Actually, I came here to hear you say that. Hehe."

"I'll go change my clothes first…"

"Oh, I'll be outside."

As Soo-jin left, Jae-hee locked the door and slowly changed into the clothes Yoo-jin had prepared for her. Wearing a sweater and letting her hair out, Jae-hee raised her head at the unfamiliar scent wafting through the office.

"Is it Soo-jin's perfume?"

Since Jae-hee didn't wear perfume, the only suspect was Soo-jin, who had just entered. Yoo-jin disliked artificial scents, so she didn't wear perfume. Jae-hee didn't mind whether she wore it or not, but since Soo-jin didn't like it, she refrained from wearing any.

"...ah."

Jae-hee found an item that would bring out an uncharacteristic persona. With sparkling eyes, she flung open the door.

"Soo-jin!"

"Aack! What's wrong?"

Soo-jin, who was diligently taking selfies while looking at her phone, was startled and looked at Jae-hee in shock. Suddenly, Jae-hee swung open the door to her research lab and urgently asked with sparkling eyes.

"You, you... do you have the perfume you just sprayed?"

"Yes? Yes? ... Um, I do have it. But this is just a sample..."

"It's okay. Can you lend it to me?"

"Yes, I can lend it to you... But, unnie, you don't usually wear perfume, right?"

In response to Soo-jin's question, Jae-hee became flustered and rolled her eyes. What should she say? Without thinking, Jae-hee blurted out.

"T-to... impress my wife."

"...Ayo, what the~... I haven't seen Professor Seon like that before!"

"Ah, no, it's not like that..."

"Sure, sure, whatever! This is an expensive brand, and I wanted to try the sample before buying it... If that's your intention, then I can't refuse!"

"....Yeah, thanks."

"Yeah, here on the collarbone, and here on the wrist! It will subtly make me more sexy, you know."

"..."

Watching Soo-jin exaggerating and showing off, Jae-hee regretted just going to any store to buy it. But now that Soo-jin had taken the bait, she enthusiastically pranced around. Ignoring Soo-jin's nagging voice, Jae-hee grabbed her bag and walked out.

After using the security card on the security device next to the door and confirming it was locked, Jae-hee took a step forward. Throughout the walk to the parking lot, Soo-jin kept chirping and praising Jae-hee's relationship with her wife. Watching Soo-jin tease her non-stop until she fastened her seatbelt, Jae-hee sincerely regretted borrowing the perfume from her.

"Unnie, besides not wearing perfume, you seem to have really good taste."

"...Why?"

As Jae-hee gave up trying to respond to Soo-jin's chatter and started the car, Soo-jin calmly replied.

"That perfume brand is famous for being a niche fragrance. It's a very premium perfume that caters to the tastes of a select few. It's said to be a very 'personal' perfume for those who want to have their unique scent, even if it means paying a high price."

"Oh, I see."

Even though Jae-hee showed no interest in the conversation, Soo-jin continued without hesitation.

"To become a 'personal' perfume, it needs to be heavily infused with high-quality ingredients, you know?"

"For a description of a high-end perfume, the explanation sounds somewhat cheap."

"Tsk, oh my!"

"Yes, please continue~"

"Anyway! It's made with extremely expensive, precious, and unique ingredients that really stand out. The product descriptions evoke a sweet, autumn sentiment or a chic fragrance that carries the coldness of winter... like that."

"What does 'chic fragrance' mean? Does it contain peppermint candy?"

Nonchalantly answering, Jae-hee made a right turn. Perhaps it was because it was late and rush hour had passed. Ignoring Jae-hee's casual response, Soo-jin continued speaking.

"What you chose is... a perfume that combines various floral scents and exudes a fatal sensuality, known as a 'sex appeal' perfume!"

Soo-jin forcefully emphasized the phrase 'sex appeal', causing a startled Jae-hee to hastily step on the brakes. The car jerked, and a startled Soo-jin shouted in surprise.

"Ah, Unnie!"

"You said something strange, so...!"

"Quickly, start the car!"

Thankfully, there were no cars around, but Jae-hee, who almost had a collision from behind, hurriedly restarted the car. Soo-jin grumbled.

"Isn't it strange for adults and married couples to feel embarrassed about the term 'sex appeal'?"

Blushing all the way to her ears, Jae-hee held the steering wheel with one hand and fanned herself continuously. Although she wasn't entirely inexperienced, she had never shouted such a word out loud in the car before, so her face turned red as she drove. Soo-jin shook her head at the back and continued speaking.

"...Anyway, it means a perfume that contains a seductive and thrilling scent, adding to the sensuality! In that sense..."

"...?"

"Today's going to be great!"

"Hey, Kang Soo-jin!"

"Professor Seon, you should focus on driving~"

Soo-jin smiled mischievously as she spoke, and Jae-hee rubbed her head with one hand and turned the steering wheel. Jae-hee's SUV entered the alley where Soo-jin's officetel was located. Soo-jin looked at Jae-hee's flushed face with excitement. She felt a bit sorry for causing her to be so flustered. Maybe she had teased her too much

"But you're so red~"

Soo-jin instinctively reached out her hand and placed it on Jae-hee's forehead, feeling the heat. Startled, she quickly withdrew her hand from Jae-hee's forehead.

"Ah? Unnie, you have a high fever."

"...It's because of you, dummy."

"Eeeng~ No, it's not because of that. I think you're just feeling unwell. Please go to the hospital, unnie."

"This doesn't require a hospital visit. Don't worry."

"But... you've been sleeping at school for a week. Even the strongest person can become weak and go to school... I mean, hospital. Please go to the hospital or at least take some medicine!"

"Alright, alright. Thanks a lot."

"Contact me when you get home!"

"Sure, I will."

"Unnie, thank you for giving me a ride! I'll leave the perfume here."

Soo-jin got out of the car and waved her hand at Jae-hee through the window.

"Take care!"

Jae-hee waved her hand back to Soo-jin in a hurry and started the car. Soo-jin's voice lingered in her mind like an echo. As the two words filled her thoughts, Jae-hee eventually stopped the car in the middle of the road.

"...Am I a pervert?"

Jae-hee looked at the small sample perfume that Soo-jin left behind after uttering a self-deprecating remark. She remembered Soo-jin waving it around, applying it to her left wrist and neck. The strong fragrance enveloped Jae-hee, aligning with the erratic beats of her pounding heart.

* * *

Yoo-jin's anger exploded when Jae-hee didn't respond for a week. The reply to the text she sent during the day still hadn't come. Yoo-jin was irritated by Jae-hee's lack of response as if she was rebelling. And she was afraid. It felt like Jae-hee might have really left. Wrapped in anxiety, Yoo-jin couldn't properly carry out her daily life.

Amid her busy schedule, Yoo-jin had lost even the slightest sense of leisure due to thoughts of Jae-hee. She couldn't bear it any longer and decided to go find Jae-hee. Holding the smart key, she stepped out to the entrance, and the door was open. Jae-hee, with a nonchalant expression, looked a bit dazed and tired, but not much different from a week ago when she left. One thing that had changed was her hair, now tied up neatly in a ponytail.

"...where are you going?"

Jae-hee's response was as nonchalant as her appearance, and Yoo-jin stood frozen, taken aback. Without waiting for Yoo-jin's answer, Jae-hee took off her shoes and passed by her like a stranger. Yoo-jin was bewildered by Jae-hee's attitude, which was neither sharp nor tense, unlike the way she had ever been with her. What was even more confusing was the unfamiliar scent. The artificial fragrance that Yoo-jin disliked pricked her nose.

“Let’s talk.”

"Talk to me."

"About what?"

Suddenly, Jae-hee opened the study door and walked in, casually placing her bag on the desk. Yoo-jin followed her, looking at her back and biting her lips.

"Who were you with?"

"…wasn't it you who asked me to make a lover?"

"So?"

"What do you mean, 'So'?"

Jae-hee turned her body slowly, looking at Yoo-jin with an innocent and naive expression as if asking what the problem was. The combination of the unfamiliar fragrance and Jae-hee's face added to Yoo-jin's agitation. Jae-hee's utterly relaxed attitude became the detonator for Yoo-jin's uneasy emotions. Yelling in a hysterical voice, she asked:

"Who were you with?"

Why are you curious about that?"

With a nonchalant smile, Jae-hee took step after step towards Yoo-jin. Yoo-jin felt taken aback and slowly started to step back, surprised by Jae-hee's strangely relaxed demeanor. It was different from before. It wasn't the intense and tense gaze with strong determination. Instead, it was a languid, yet imposing look. Despite feeling tense herself, Yoo-jin kept her eyes on Jae-hee. Whenever Jae-hee came closer, Yoo-jin moved a step further away.

Seeing Yoo-jin against the wall, Jae-hee chuckled silently. Yoo-jin swallowed nervously and looked up at Jae-hee. Jae-hee comfortably wrapped her arm around Yoo-jin's waist, as she used to do in the past. But now, it felt unfamiliar to Yoo-jin, and she couldn't quite grasp the situation, averting her gaze. Jae-hee bowed her head and whispered into Yoo-jin's ear.

"I spent the entire week in a hotel room with a woman prettier and more charming than you."

"..."

"Her moans were incredible. She kept calling my name as if she couldn't get enough."

"..."

"At least... she seemed more sincere than anyone else…so you should be able to tolerate this."

An unbelievable story flowed out of Jae-hee's mouth. But the unfamiliar scent seemed to confirm its truth, pricking Yoo-jin's nose. Yoo-jin's face turned pale, and she clenched her trembling hand into a fist to hide it. Seon Jae-hee had slept with another woman...? With someone…other than me. Yoo-jin's heart started to pound uncontrollably. Her unfocused eyes couldn't grasp the situation.

Jae-hee carefully observed Yoo-jin's reaction, determined not to miss a single detail—her face, body, actions, even her breathing, all captured in her eyes. After thoroughly absorbing Yoo-jin's appearance, Jae-hee spoke in a leisurely manner.

"You thought I'd say something like that?"

"...what?"

Jae-hee laughed as she looked into Yoo-jin's trembling eyes. Slowly, she returned the emotions she had sensed back to Yoo-jin. It was a risky method, but Jae-hee, who had always been endlessly receptive to Yoo-jin's emotions, now contained and returned them.

"Can't you see...?"

Jae-hee scanned Yoo-jin with a very languid gaze. Yoo-jin raised her head to look at Jae-hee, trying to hide her trembling heart. Jae-hee's eyes, which she thought looked tired, were actually glistening with moisture. It wasn't a face that seemed about to cry, but rather... it gave off a kind of fatal impression. Yoo-jin felt a strange sensation. She couldn't fully absorb Jae-hee's decadent gaze and averted her eyes.

Of course, it was true that Jae-hee had been immersed in grading all week, but Yoo-jin couldn't think rationally about Jae-hee's changed demeanor. Jae-hee's body temperature rose. She was getting closer and closer to the correct answer. Like Christopher Columbus finding land after endlessly drifting on the ocean. Yoo-jin moved slowly towards her savior, San Salvador (Holy Savior), just as Columbus did.

From her forehead to her lips, Jae-hee scrutinized Yoo-jin, who was avoiding her gaze. With a soft voice that shook Yoo-jin's heart, Jae-hee spoke, "It seems I'm not the only one who is still in love."

"Seon Jae-hee."

"Otherwise, this obsession doesn't make sense."

"..."

"There is no reason to be shaken by my words."

Yoo-jin's complexion turned even paler. Observing her, Jae-hee slowly continued.

"...Yoo-jin, do you love me?"

Yoo-jin held her breath. Jae-hee looked down at her, captivated by the slightly lighter brown hue in Yoo-jin's eyes compared to her jet-black pupils. Yoo-jin couldn't fully absorb that gaze and averted her eyes. Held firmly by Jae-hee's embrace, she couldn't escape even if she wanted to. Jae-hee tried to say more to Yoo-jin, who was caught in the tide of emotions, but suddenly her vision blurred.

"...huh?"

Yoo-jin's figure slowly blurred. It was only then that Jae-hee realized something was wrong with her body. It wasn't just a slight fever anymore; it was boiling hot. She felt too dizzy to find her balance. Her grip on Yoo-jin's waist loosened, and with a soft sound, Jae-hee collapsed into Yoo-jin's arms. Startled by the sudden action, Yoo-jin called out to her.

"...Jae-hee."

"...Huh."

Exhaling a muffled moan, Jae-hee slumped down as if she had lost her strength. Yoo-jin, who did not understand the situation, finally saw Jae-hee's face fully. It wasn't due to excitement; Jae-hee's face was not in control. Yoo-jin called out to her with a sense of urgency. Through her fading vision, Jae-hee looked at Yoo-jin, who was calling her name. She didn't hear the answer to her final question, but she had a good enough answer. Otherwise...

"Jae-hee, Seon Jae-hee!"

'There's no way she'd look at me so earnestly.'

Yoo-jin gently shook Jae-hee's body as she slowly lost consciousness. Yoo-jin felt a sudden fear. She didn't want to be alone again. Echoes rang in Yoo-jin's ears.

'Aigo, what should we do with that young one?'

'Only Yoo-jin has become so pitiful.'

Cheon-woo's invisible, icy gaze swept over Yoo-jin. The sound of pouring rain echoed in her ears, and lightning struck as if the sky was collapsing. Yoo-jin's mind became blank, unsure of what to do.

"What, what should I do? Jae-Jae-hee..."

Yoo-jin stammered and burst into tears, like a whimpering child. She didn't want to lose anything more, especially not Jae-hee. The storm raged in Yoo-jin's mind.

'Jae-hee, you won't abandon me, right?'

Jae-hee, who had been comforting Yoo-jin with a gentle voice, was not startled by her obsessive tone. Instead, she spoke compassionately,

'...How could I ever abandon you? Is there anyone else deserving of love like our Yoo-jin? I've never seen anyone so lovely in my entire life. You're so precious... I can't even imagine the thought of letting you go.'

You're the one that saved me from a life filled with misery.

"Jae-hee!"

Yoo-jin didn't want to lose someone she considered hers to fate any longer. Trembling, she reached out with her shaky hand and picked up her phone.

"Hello?"

"O-Oppa... Oppa..."

"Mm, Yoo-jin. What's up?"

"Save me... Oppa, please..."

"What? Yoo-jin, what's happening?!"

Yoo-jin, who had been sitting and crying, mustered the courage she learned from Jae-hee and tearfully asked for help from Jae-joon.

Both of them were each other's saviors. Knowing Yoo-jin's unhappiness, Jae-hee did not leave and willingly reached out to rescue her. Yoo-jin became Jae-hee's salvation just by being there. Yoo-jin embraced Jae-hee like the Pieta.

…