Chapter 5: Chapter 5

From that night onward, things spiraled out of control.@@novelbin@@

“This is driving me insane, seriously.”

The chaotic outbursts of a hormonal teenage wolf began.

Every night, Suin tormented him in his dreams.

“You filthy bastard, get a grip! Please, for God’s sake!”

***

The hierarchical relationship of “leader” and “lackey” that had defined their childhood ended when they graduated from elementary school.

With Suin attending Hyesung Girls’ Middle School and Jaehee enrolling at Hyesung Middle School, their time together naturally dwindled.

For Suin, it was liberation.

Finally, she could study without his constant interference.

Well, not completely.

“Do you know Seo Jaehee from Hyesung Middle School?”

“Who doesn’t? He’s so handsome!”

“He’s drop-dead gorgeous!”

Jaehee’s overwhelming presence refused to let her forget him.

By seventh grade, he was already 180 cm tall, his broad shoulders and chest accentuated by his naturally athletic build. Combined with his good looks and immense wealth, Jaehee was famous not only at Hyesung Girls’ Middle School but also at nearby high schools.

“Did you hear? Lim Haesol, the trainee from Hyesung High, confessed to Seo Jaehee.”

“Lim Haesol? She’s stunning!”

“Did Jaehee say yes?”

“No, he rejected her flat out.”

“Why doesn’t Jaehee date anyone? He gets confessed to all the time.”

“Maybe he’s managing his image to become a celebrity?”

“Why would a chaebol want to be a celebrity?”

“True, he’s a chaebol.”

“What kind of person would Jaehee even date?”

“Probably someone insanely gorgeous. He rejected Lim Haesol, after all.”

Suin found the endless chatter about Jaehee uncomfortable. No matter how much she pretended not to listen, her ears would automatically perk up whenever his name was mentioned—a reflex she couldn’t control.

It irritated her to no end.

The root of her frustration was, of course, Jaehee.

“Hey, Seo Jaehee!”

Ever since middle school, he had started ignoring her completely.

Even when they crossed paths at the Hyesung estate, he acted like she was invisible.

“Why won’t he even look at me? That jerk!”

It was infuriating.

Somehow, his indifference annoyed her far more than his bossy childhood antics ever had.

Every time she resolved never to greet him again, she couldn’t help but feel bothered by him—like an uncomfortable bra she couldn’t quite get used to.

***

*Seventeen Years Old: Jaehee and Suin*

Suin entered Hyesung High, the prestigious private school run by the Hyesung Group’s foundation, with the Chairwoman’s support.

It didn’t take long for her to regret that decision.

“I should’ve gone to a different school. Somewhere far, far away.”

Once again, the cause of her distress was none other than Seo Jaehee.

“Lee Suin.”

It started with the way he addressed her.

The change in his tone felt off. At first, she thought it was just an upgrade of her old “lackey” title now that they were older.

When the boy who had ignored her all through middle school suddenly acknowledged her again, she assumed it was simply because they were now in the same school.

“Give it to me.”

“It’s fine.”

“I said, give it to me.”

Even when the former troublemaker snatched her heavy bag to carry it himself, she just thought, What’s his deal?

By this point, Jaehee was the undisputed star of Hyesung High.

The striking looks that had stood out in middle school had matured, and at seventeen, he was a full-fledged heartthrob. His fame extended far beyond their school, drawing girls from across the country to catch a glimpse of him.

“Look, it’s Seo Jaehee!”

Female students swarmed the gates, while talent agency representatives camped outside, eager to sign him.

“With Jaehee, it’s a guaranteed hit.”

“Who needs anyone else when we have Jaehee?”

With his overwhelming influence, Jaehee ruled the school—not as a delinquent or a bully, but as something above it all.

And now, that same Jaehee had developed an obsession with his former lackey.

“Lee Suin is mine.”

“She’s been my default option all along.”

Before Suin could even process it, she found herself branded as “Seo Jaehee’s girl.”

“Suin, did you hear? Seo Jaehee said—”

“Yeah, let him say whatever he wants.”

Despite the rumors spreading like wildfire, Suin maintained her composure.

To her, it was just another one of his childish pranks.

One day, a large glamping tent appeared in a corner of the Hyesung estate's garden.

On her way home, Suin spotted housekeepers bustling around, setting up furniture and lighting to make the interior cozy. She immediately called her mom, Jin Sukyung, who was in the main house.

“Mom, what’s with the tent in the guesthouse garden?”

[Oh, you saw it? It’s Jaehee’s new hideout.]

“Hideout?”

[Yeah. He said his room felt too stifling, so he asked for one to be set up in the garden. Professor Seo went out and bought it for him himself.]

That excessive fatherly love doesn’t stop, even in high school.

[Isn’t the tent impressive? These days, tents are built like houses. It probably wouldn’t budge even in a tornado.]

What a shame.

It should fly away—straight to the Atlantic Ocean.

[Are you jealous? Want me to set up a hideout for you too?]

“No, thanks.”

Jin Sukyung sounded a little apologetic. Suin replied nonchalantly and began unpacking her bag.

That’s when she realized something unfortunate: the tent was perfectly visible from her room’s window.

“Why is it right in my line of sight? Annoying.”

She grumbled but couldn’t tear her eyes away.

Even with its lights off, the tent glowed faintly under the soft moonlight, giving it an enchanting, picturesque quality.

“It’s… actually really pretty.”

Resting her chin on her hand, Suin stared at the tent, tempted by the urge to take a closer look.

“Should I go check it out?”

She’d never gone camping before. It was something she’d only seen on TV or social media, and curiosity got the better of her.

Besides, it didn’t seem like Jaehee was around.

Taking her chance, Suin quickly headed to the garden. She approached the tent as if taking a leisurely stroll, sneaking glances through the plastic windows.

But then—

“What are you spying on like a sneaky little stray cat?”

Jaehee’s voice startled her from behind. She spun around, her heart leaping into her throat, and retorted defensively, “What are you doing creeping up without a sound?”

“Such a temper.”

Jaehee smirked, squinting one eye playfully as he brushed past her.

His large hand casually skimmed the top of her head as he walked by.

“You didn’t hear me coming.”

The simple touch of his fingers grazing her hair made her neck stiffen involuntarily.

“If you’re here to look, come inside.”

Without noticing Suin’s stunned reaction, Jaehee opened the tent door.

Suin remained frozen, her focus lingering on the hand that had touched her.

It was smeared with red.

“Huh?”

Her eyes widened, and she quickly grabbed his hand, examining the gash on the back of it.

“Hey! Did you get into another fight?”

“I won.”

Jaehee stopped in his tracks, answering smugly with a shrug.

Suin’s temper flared at his nonchalance.

“You’re such a thug! Can you not?!”

She yelled at him before storming back to her room.

But…

It bothered her.

“Ugh! Why does he have to get hurt like that?”

Unable to ignore it, Suin found herself grabbing a first aid kit and marching back to the tent within ten minutes, practically seething with annoyance.

“Give it.”

“What?”

“Your hand.”

Confused, Jaehee hesitated, but Suin didn’t wait. She snatched his hand and pulled it toward her.

“You’re unbelievably irritating, you know that? How can you just leave an injury like this?”

She scolded him as she pulled out ointment, her tone sharp but her movements careful.

“Do you even know how dangerous infections are? Wounds are bad, but infections are worse.”

Her voice was full of nagging, but her fingers worked gently as she applied the ointment.

“You can fight all you want, but at least clean up after yourself. Don’t go giving the Hyesung name a bad reputation.”

“You like Hyesung more than you like me, huh?”

“That’s not true,” she snapped, her attention fixed on treating his hand.

His gaze bore down on her, making her keenly aware of his presence.

“Hyesung is good to me. It gives me a comfortable life.”

Her delicate fingers moved over the bones of his hand, brushing softly along each knuckle.

From his index finger, down the back of his hand, and finally to his ring finger—

“Stop.”

Jaehee’s voice dropped low.

“I’m not done yet.”

Thinking he was being his usual lazy self, Suin gripped his wrist firmly and scolded him, only for Jaehee to squint at her and mutter, “It’s up.”

“What’s up? You’re sitting down—what are you talking abou—”

Mid-sentence, she froze, a vivid image flashing unbidden in her mind.

The faint blush on his cheeks confirmed everything.

“You perverted bastard!”

Thwack!