The Germaphobe's Provocation
"Hey, Han Sea."
"What? Why the long face in the middle of dinner?"
"Your dad just called me."
"Dad? What'd he say?"
"Your old fiancé candidate—the germaphobe—is back in the country."
The spoon in Sea's hand clattered onto the table.
"What? Dad said I had a former fiancé?"
She shoved her chair back and shot to her feet. Her wide eyes trembled faintly, and her blood-drained face stared down at me in outright horror—anyone could see it.
"Why so shocked? It's the guy you told me about."
Her shoulders stiffened at my question.
"No, I mean... uh, yeah. Right, I did mention him."
Sea trailed off, her gaze drifting off to nowhere. Her restless fingers kept fiddling with the edge of the table.
"He told me to meet the guy?"
"M-meet him for what?"
"Said the ex-fiancé type won't give you up."
"......What?"
"Told me to stake my claim as your fiancé first."
"......"
"Make him back off on his own."
Sea stood there, lips pressed tight. She chewed her lower lip anxiously, and something about it felt off.
That evening, in the Hotel Lounge.
She'd insisted on coming along even though I said I'd go alone, so here we were, side by side.
"Nice to meet you. I'm the one who almost ended up with Sea."
A strikingly refined man sat across from us. His voice was soft like a light tenor, and his build was incredibly slender.
I eyed him warily, tense as hell. But Sea's expression beside me was... weird. She stared blankly, alternating between his smooth neckline and delicate wrists.
"My name is Kim Jaewon."
"Hello. I'm Yoon Dojin."
I bowed lightly and offered a handshake. He glanced at my hand, then let out a short laugh.
"Ah, sorry. I have a bit of a mysophobia thing."
Instead of shaking, he just nodded politely. As I pulled back my hand, he snuck a glance at Sea next to me.
"Ah. I knew about that."
"Pardon?"
"Heard you have mysophobia and hate complicated guy relationships."
Anyway, today I had to play the role of Sea's current fiancé and protect her. I acted as firm and relaxed as possible for her sake.
"Yes, that's right."
Jaewon slowly curled the corner of his mouth upward.
"Then this'll be quick."
I leaned back against the chair and continued.
"Quick or not, I've already complicated things."
He didn't flinch at my jab.
"True, but I can't just give up on Miss Sea like this."
"Isn't that your call to make? Sea chose me, and her father approved."
I drew the line firmly. Jaewon interlaced his fingers on the table and stared straight at me.
"But I've heard various things about you two through people."
His intense gaze slowly swept over me and Sea.
"Honestly, I doubt you're actually dating."
I furrowed my brow at his bold words.
"What do you mean?"
"You two have zero skinship."
"......Pardon?"
I reflexively shot back, baffled. No skinship?
Skinship? We've had way more than enough of that.
"That's weird. We do the normal amount."
"At least from what I've been told, nothing."
"You know stalking people is a crime, right?"
Jaewon smirked at my words.
"You know in Korea, money buys anything, right?"
I let out a short sigh at his shameless reply.
"Got it. Understood."
I pressed on.
"But isn't it weird to flaunt skinship in public just to show off?"
"If you don't love each other much, sure."
"Dating isn't all about skinship."
"But that's the only way I can tell from the outside."
Jaewon propped his chin and fixed me with a stare.
"Lovers do that kind of thing. Strangers don't."
He wasn't wrong. But his nitpicking attitude grated on me.
"So what'll convince you?"
"Can you prove it right here?"
"Prove what?"
"Kiss her."
Sea’s face hardened at his demand.
"What? Why should we kiss in front of you?"
"It's the surest proof."
Jaewon leaned back, crossing his arms leisurely.
"Or should I tail you two all day?"
"H-hey! That's......"
Sea, who'd been quietly listening, jumped in indignantly.
"Got it."
I answered before she could finish.
"Huh? Dojin?"
Startled, Sea's eyes went wide as she called my name. I ignored her gaze and looked at Jaewon.
"Kiss, and you'll accept it and leave?"
"Of course."
"Hey, what are you doing?"
Sea tugged my shirtsleeve, whispering. Her pupils shook visibly. She probably thought I'd just pretend like usual, pressing my thumb to her lips.
Instead of answering, I gently pulled her wrist.
"If we're proving it, do it right."
I tilted my head slightly out of Jaewon's line of sight from across the table. Then I winked at the anxious Sea.
"What?"
"Come here."
I gripped her wrist lightly and yanked her toward me. In a flash, I lifted her onto my lap, facing me. Her wide eyes shook, and her pale ears flushed red instantly.
I wrapped my hand firmly around the back of her neck and twisted my head. Right before our lips met, I stopped just short. Planning to block Jaewon's view completely with my back and fake it.
I closed the distance until my hot breath grazed her ear.
"Just bear with it a sec."
My thumb rose carefully to her lips, like always—a gentle fake-out without touching.
But Sea's eyes fixed on my finger, then cooled coldly. She shook her head and roughly swatted my thumb away from her lips.
"Can't bear it."
Her hands, pressed to my chest, suddenly clutched my shirt collar tight. Without giving me a chance, she yanked herself toward me fiercely.
"Mm......"
Our lips crashed together. Not a fake—real. Not just brushing either. Sea dove straight into my parted lips without hesitation, like she meant business.
My mind went blank from the unexpected move. I should've pushed her away in panic, but my hands were already gripping her slim waist tight.
Sea pressed in relentlessly, no room to breathe. I could feel her trembling fingertips twisting my clothes. I tightened my hold on her neck and quietly met her clumsy advances.
How long? Our lips finally parted amid ragged breaths.
"Hah, hah......"
Sea panted roughly, still clutching my shirt. She couldn't even meet my eyes. Face burning, she buried it in my shoulder, just breathing.
Jaewon across from us watched with that same relaxed expression.
Clap, clap, clap.
Slow applause echoed through the quiet lounge.
"Wow. That was hot."
Jaewon grinned widely.
"I admit it—you're definitely lovers. Should've done that from the start."
He eyed us leisurely.
"I wouldn't have had to come all this way."
Sea and I stayed frozen, still wrapped around each other. Heat flooded my face. Sea's neck flushed red too, silent. She just gripped my collar, breathing hotly.
I barely squeezed out words.
"S-so, we're good now?"
"Yes, for me."
Jaewon continued softly.
"But I'm worried the chairman might change his mind tomorrow?"
"What do you mean?"
He glanced at me, chin propped, then at Sea in my arms.
"How long can someone ordinary like you survive in a massive chaebol like Hanul?"
Jaewon lowered his hand and leaned forward slightly over the table. His piercing words filled the quiet lounge.
"And Sea doesn't have the say to keep you around. Her father, Chairman Han Hyun-soo, does."
Sea's shoulders stiffened in my arms. I felt her grip on my clothes tighten.
"If he forces you apart, you won't have the power to fight it, right?"
Sea slowly lifted her head at that. Her eyes had gone cold. The flustered girl from moments ago was gone.
"None of your business."
"True. Overstepped."
Jaewon finally stood.
"I've seen how solid you two are."
He bowed politely with a smile.
"I give up. Forget me completely."
He walked lightly toward the lounge entrance without looking back.
Sea silently slid off my lap back to her seat. I leaned deep into the backrest, watching his retreating figure.
"Whoa. What a energy vampire."
I rubbed my stiff neck and sighed deeply. Tension gone, my whole body ached from holding it together.
"Hey, you didn't have to go that far earlier..."
I turned to her casually, but Sea's eyes were fixed somewhere else entirely.