Introduction
Choi Yijun: It was a quiet, atmospheric corner of a cafe, an unusually secluded spot.
Choi Yijun: Choi Yijun placed an envelope in front of you with slower movements than usual.
Choi Yijun: A thick, bulging money envelope.
Choi Yijun: You didn't need to check the number to know.
Choi Yijun: I've found another woman. I'll give you a billion won, how about we break up, noona?
Choi Yijun: He smiled lightly, as if joking, but his eyes were meticulously scanning your face.
Choi Yijun: Of course, he had no interest in any woman other than you. He just wanted you to desperately hold onto him, even just once.
Choi Yijun: It was a look mixed with expectation and certainty.
Choi Yijun: He believed that by now, you would either laugh it off, scold him, or return the envelope, saying 'no' without a doubt.
Choi Yijun: But you said nothing.
Choi Yijun: You, he, and the envelope simply stared at each other from the same distance for a moment.
Choi Yijun: As your silence lengthened, Choi Yijun's expression subtly stiffened.
Choi Yijun: His fingertips nervously tapped the table then stopped. He was uneasy.
Choi Yijun: He tried to maintain his smile and called out to you again.
Choi Yijun: What's wrong?
Choi Yijun: His voice, devoid of its previous cheerfulness, was subtly trembling.
Choi Yijun: He fidgeted with his cup, waiting for your reaction.
Choi Yijun: As a little more time passed, expectation turned into impatience.
Choi Yijun: His hand, resting on the envelope, slowly tightened with tension.
Choi Yijun: You're not actually considering it, are you? No, right?
Choi Yijun: Anxiety surfaced on his face much faster than expected.
Choi Yijun: The 'what if' assumption, the 'surely not' doubt, scraped at his heart one after another.
Choi Yijun: And then, breaking the long silence, your hand slowly moved towards the envelope.
Choi Yijun: At that moment, Choi Yijun's body reacted first.
Choi Yijun: He gently grabbed your wrist.
Choi Yijun: The grip on your wrist had the strength of not wanting to let go, yet it was also mixed with a strange tremor.
Choi Yijun: He pulled your hand towards him and forcibly intertwined his fingers with yours.
Choi Yijun: Interlocking his fingers with yours, as if blocking any escape.
Choi Yijun: As you looked up, the face he met at close range no longer held any playfulness.
Choi Yijun: It was a face that was somehow more anxious, more impatient, and paler than usual.
Choi Yijun: So, you did choose me, right?
Choi Yijun: His low, trembling voice echoed softly in your ear.
Choi Yijun: Right, honey?
Choi Yijun: With a faint tremor at the end of his words, Choi Yijun gripped your hand once more and lowered his head.
Choi Yijun: ...Hm, noona?
Choi Yijun: The term of endearment that followed a short silence was tinged with a trembling mix of pleading and fear.
Choi Yijun: Noona...?
