006. Temptation (1)
With just twenty days until the open beta, Han Yu-ra, the CEO, should have been swamped and exhausted. That was only natural. She had to launch ad campaigns. Interviews with gaming webzines were lined up. In a week, she'd be standing at a podium giving a presentation. Her days should have been a whirlwind of busyness, so why? Today, she couldn't focus at all.
I need to work.
Her fingertips itched, and sitting still was torture. Her chest fluttered. Whenever she glanced over, there was Im Seong-u, and just seeing him made her heart skip and swell with excitement. It was like being a kid who'd finished exams and was headed to an amusement park—imagining the parade of rides even while scribbling answers. She knew she shouldn't, but she couldn't stop.
Do you know?
Moments when their body heat overlapped would barge into her daily routine uninvited. Why? It was just physical, nothing more. Were those rare warm glimpses too sweet? Or the playful instants after rough sex too ticklish? Han Yu-ra let out a wry chuckle.
I'm such a kid.
No one ever became a perfect adult, but still. Yu-ra felt a spark of connection with Im Seong-u. A tingling link that always hummed between them.
You were staring at my chest, weren't you?
Han Yu-ra looked at Im Seong-u, and he met her gaze. Her face burned for no reason, so she quickly looked away. A tiny anxiety mixed with thrill tormented her. What if she got caught? Yet she swallowed hard and stole another peek at him. She saw so much. His thick neckline, thicker than hers. The wrist peeking from his neatly ironed shirt. The blue veins bulging on the back of his hand. Every time she imagined that hand touching her, her heart raced.
Haaah... I'm losing it.
It was spring. Her chest felt stuffy, every nerve tingling across her body. The season where naughty thoughts bubbled up even at rest. Han Yu-ra was a little flushed. She gazed at Im Seong-u without permission. Propping his chin on one hand, back straight like a pianist, tapping the keyboard—it looked so cool. Excitement softly filled her chest.
How do I tempt you?
Han Yu-ra wasn't in a position to seduce anyone. She was being blackmailed by Im Seong-u, and their relationship was purely transactional—nothing more, nothing less. The more she thought about it, the weirder it seemed, but she rationalized it.
At least twice a week, I need to relieve his urges so he can focus on work...
Biting a pen, gazing at Seong-u, Yu-ra calmed her fluttering heart.
Maybe I should study instead.
If she didn't know how to seduce, she could look it up. There were tons of books on dating, YouTube videos galore. And the lectures were free, right? Han Yu-ra glanced around slyly. Everyone was buried in their own work, no chit-chat even. No chance of getting caught, she thought.
Just ten minutes.
She searched "how to seduce a man" online. Hundreds of videos cascaded down. She scrolled aimlessly and spotted a promising one.
She felt a twinge of embarrassment. Did women really watch this stuff? The ones boosting these views... were they having successful sex lives? Probably not.
No, that's too harsh.
Han Yu-ra decided to give it a listen. A heavily made-up auntie, after a chaotic intro, spoke like an expert.
Hmm... more practical than I thought?
She watched, nibbling her red-lipped pen and nodding.
Sounds legit. Humans are controlling creatures. They can't help liking people who react well to them.
Even games proved it. The more satisfying the keypress feedback and hit effects, the more people loved it. That was humanity.
That was when it happened.
"CEO?"
Han Yu-ra frowned, glued to the video.
> Human communication always has intent. Say a guy smiles awkwardly. If you want to hook him, what do you do...
"CEO Han?"
Ughhh!
Only then did she notice the presence and yank out her earbuds in a panic. A large shadow loomed over her desk. Im Seong-u's.
"Oh, Seong-u-ssi, Director?"
She froze like a startled cat, fur standing on end. Her heart pounded wildly. Face beet-red, she slammed the YouTube tab shut. The shame hit like getting caught with porn. She wanted to bolt from her seat, face aflame.
Ugh, nooo... kill me...
About to cry. Of all times, why did he show up right then to report? He'd definitely seen the tab. He looked down at her, tone businesslike.
"CEO Han. I whipped up a rough client build."
"...Okay. Coming."
Did he see? Did he?
She swallowed and followed him. The cramped office felt even smaller today.
"As you can see... loading, Google login, and payments all work."
The Sepiros Online she loved was beautifully complete. Some features were locked, but it was demo-worthy.
...
Something welled up inside Han Yu-ra. So much had happened, but they'd recovered. A year's work wasn't wasted. Emotions surged.
Seong-u... thank you.
She swallowed. He explained at the monitor, gaze impassive, like it was nothing. It looked so professional, so cool.
"...So the rankings need work, but I'll stop here for the presentation. CEO Han. You listening?"
"Yeah, yes."
"..."
Im Seong-u glared. She played sheepish and praised him. So many embarrassing moments today. Shy but determined, she said what she'd owed him for so long.
"You did great, Seong-u-ssi."
"..."
"Thank you. Really."
Why did his shoulders twitch? Han Yu-ra scurried back to her seat.
…
Han Yu-ra... she's pretty.
Men were pathetic creatures. If truly rational, they'd chase the "big-breasted," "fertile," "smart" ones—best for survival. But today, Han Yu-ra stole his gaze. Her white blouse subtly sheer. Deep cleavage. Quiet focus in her eyes, a faint blush underneath. Absorbed yet thrilling. Hard to look away.
Should I check on her?
It wasn't a huge feature complete, but he went to her desk anyway. Peered at her monitor.
Not writing reports today.
And what he saw...
The YouTube captions were hilarious. He stared blankly, forgetting to call her.
Ah, eye contact might actually work.
Morning dramas portrayed flirty women that way. Did drama copy life, or life drama? Chicken or egg?
That one I know.
Girls had approached him like that. Laughing hard at his unfunny jokes, inflating his ego sky-high.
She's really into someone, huh.
Watching so intently during work hours? Must have a crush. Infuriating. Annoying. Already ditching him?
"CEO Han."
His tone chilled. He wasn't pure himself, but imagining her like that sparked petty jealousy.
"CEO Han. I whipped up a rough client build."
"...Yes."
"As you can see... loading, Google login, and payments all work."
He manipulated the Sepiros Online client briskly, professionally, showing essentials. Her eyes sparkled like stars. She gazed at her company's creation with love.
She looks happy.
Han Yu-ra showed that gaze sometimes. Adoring her goals. Certain she'd achieve them. When she rhapsodized about dreams, neither Kim A-ram nor he could speak. You felt it: This wasn't a paycheck grind. It was chasing true dreams. She made you feel bigger than yourself. She'd always done that.
Love the game that much?
Today, that passion sparked jealousy. She didn't love people. Just games. He sighed unheard, explaining features. Only 30% complete, so users and investors would gripe. But not game-over bad. He wasn't invested, but relief that his game ran well.
Whatever. Just fuck and date...
Then.
"Seong-u-ssi."
Han Yu-ra said hesitantly.
What now...
At Railroad Software, her words were always critiques.
-Fix this part like that.
-Investors will complain if we leave it...
-It's lagging a bit...
Tensing instinctively, he looked. Their eyes met. Pure, somehow. Blush on cheeks, struggling but she spoke. Eye contact. Her gaze straight at him.
"You did great, Seong-u-ssi."
He froze. Words from long ago. Emotions flooded like a bursting dam. Overwhelming, he tried deflecting: This company's a hellhole. Useless.
You're evil, Han Yu-ra.
Her lips moved. Time stretched eternally. He choked up.
"Thank you. Really."
"..."
One phrase shook him. He said nothing to her beaming smile. Wanted to cry, laugh. Mania and depression hit together.
...
Sat silently. Chest ached with injustice. He couldn't shake her. But she could with so little. His life wasn't pristine, but still.
-Bzzz.
He checked his phone. Despite him being right there, she texted hesitantly. Why? Something to say?
He looked; she was headbanging in embarrassment. Cute.