Chapter 3 – The Party Night
1143 Words
“…Cute.”
The word left Kang Jae-Min’s lips in a voice so low that no one around the table heard it.
No one except him.
His dark eyes stayed fixed on the girl standing a few steps away.
Elira Velmon.
The red dress she wore shimmered softly under the golden lights of the hall. Her blonde hair rested gently on her shoulders, and there was a faint nervousness in the way she stood beside Yuna.
She didn’t look confident like the other
women in the room.
She didn’t look like someone who belonged to this rich and powerful crowd.
And somehow…
That was exactly why Jae-Min couldn’t stop looking at her.
Inside his mind, a quiet thought crossed his mind.
She’s different.
Every other girl here tried too hard.
Too much makeup.
Too much confidence.
Too many fake smiles.
But Elira?
She looked real.
Awkward.
Honest.
And strangely refreshing.
Jae-Min slowly lifted his glass of wine, his eyes still resting on her.
At that moment, several well-dressed businessmen approached his table.
“Mr. Kang.”
“Good evening.”
“Congratulations on the Tokyo deal.”
Jae-Min shifted his gaze toward them, his expression instantly returning to its usual cold calm.
“Thank you,” he replied shortly.
One of the men smiled politely.
“We were hoping to discuss a possible partnership with your company.”
“Another time,” Jae-Min answered calmly.
But even while speaking to them…
His eyes drifted back toward Elira.
She was laughing softly at something Yuna had just said.
And for a brief moment—
Jae-Min felt something unfamiliar move inside his chest.
He frowned slightly.
Strange.
Across the hall, someone else noticed everything.
A tall woman stood near the bar, holding a glass of champagne.
Her name was Park Seoyun.
At the university, everyone called her “The Queen.”
She was beautiful.
Rich.
Confident.
The type of girl who was always surrounded by attention.
And she liked it that way.
But tonight…
Her eyes weren’t on the party.
They were on Kang Jae-Min.
Seoyun had liked him for a long time.
Actually… more than liked.
She wanted him.
But right now, something irritated her.
Because Jae-Min wasn’t looking at her.
He wasn’t looking at anyone else either.
His eyes were locked on someone across the room..
Seoyun followed his gaze.
Her expression slowly changed when she saw Elira.
The New girl from university.
Seoyun’s fingers tightened slightly around her glass.
“…Interesting.”
Her lips curved into a small smile.
But her eyes were cold.
Meanwhile, Elira was starting to feel overwhelmed.
The music was loud.
People laughed and talked confidently.
Everyone looked comfortable in their expensive suits and dresses.
Everyone except her.
She leaned closer to Yuna.
“Yuna…”
“Yes?”
Elira“I feel like everyone here knows what they’re doing except me.”
Yuna laughed.
“Relax.”
Elira shook her head.
“No seriously… I need some air.”
Yuna pointed toward the glass doors.
“Balcony is that way.”
Elira nodded.
“I’ll be right back.”
At Balcony...
She slipped quietly through the crowd and stepped outside.
The cool night air immediately brushed against her skin.
Elira let out a small breath of relief.
“Finally…”
The city lights of Seoul stretched endlessly below the building.
She walked closer to the railing.
Then she noticed someone already standing there.
A tall man.
His back was facing her.
His hands rested casually in his pockets.
Elira didn’t recognize him.
So she simply walked to the side of the balcony and stood there silently.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then suddenly the man spoke.
“Hard time, huh?”
Elira blinked in surprise.
The man slowly turned around.
Her eyes widened.
Kang Jae-Min.
He looked at her calmly.
“Adjusting,” he continued.
“You’re not used to this kind of place.”
Elira sighed softly.
“…Yeah.”
She looked toward the party hall behind them.
“I mean… I come from a middle-class family.”
She gave a small awkward smile.
“It’s not like we don’t have parties back home.”
Then she shook her head.
“But not like this. Not these… high-class parties.”
Jae-Min studied her quietly.
“I see.”
Silence settled between them.
Then he pulled a cigarette from his pocket and lit it.
Smoke slowly curled into the night air.
Elira frowned immediately.
“Why are you smoking?”
Jae-Min looked at her coldly.
“That’s none of your business.”
The smoke drifted toward her.
She coughed.
“Cough—!”
“Don’t smoke here,” she said, waving the air away.
Jae-Min took another drag calmly.
“Mind your own business.”
Something about his cold tone annoyed her.
Before she could stop herself—
She stepped forward.
Pulled the cigarette from his lips.
And threw it over the balcony.
The cigarette disappeared into the darkness below.
Silence fell instantly.
Jae-Min’s expression darkened.
“Are you insane?”
Before Elira could react—
He grabbed her wrist.
His grip was strong.
He twisted her arm and pushed her back.
Her back hit the wall hard.
“Ah—!”
Pain shot through her shoulder.
Jae-Min stepped closer, his voice dangerously low.
“How did you get the courage to do that?”
Elira’s body trembled.
“That hurts…”
Her voice shook.
Fear filled her eyes.
Her whole body started shaking.
Then suddenly—
A tear slipped from the corner of her eye.
Jae-Min froze.
The tear slowly rolled down her cheek.
Something strange stirred inside him.
Without thinking—
He leaned forward.
And lick her tear from his tongue before it could fall.
Elira went completely still.
Her eyes widened in shock.
Jae-Min straightened calmly.
Then he flicked her forehead lightly.
“Do you Understand what I said?”
Without waiting for an answer, he turned and walked back inside the hall.
Elira stood frozen for several seconds.
“What… was that…?”
Her heart was racing.
She rushed back inside.
“Yuna!”
Her friend turned immediately.
“There you are! What happened?”
“I want to go home.”
Yuna blinked.
“Already?”
“Please.”
Seeing her pale face, Yuna nodded.
“Okay, let’s go.”
The two girls left the party together.
Outside, their car drove away into the night.
Up on the balcony…
Kang Jae-Min stood silently.
His eyes followed the car disappearing down the road.
A faint smirk appeared on his lips.
“…Interesting.”
He slipped his hands into his pockets.
And walked back inside.
- Writer
