━━━━⊱❀ • ❀⊰━━━━

Under the starry moon, the salty tang of the ocean air intertwined with the smoky aroma of the crackling fire, creating a comforting yet bittersweet atmosphere.

Two lost souls stood side by side, their shoulders brushing ever so slightly, a subtle connection in their shared solitude.

Neither wanted to break the spell of the night, both preferring the warmth of the fire and the company of the other to the chill of their separate realities awaiting them at home.

Haein broke the silence, glancing at Jake with a playful smirk. "So, you're not gonna say anything?"

Jake turned to her, confusion etched on his face. "Like what?"

"Dunoo something like this: 'It's all your fault, Kang Haein. You're so spoiled,'"

"No, I won't do that, princess. I have to take the blame here. I lied to my family."

She smiled, resting her chin in her palm, captivated by how the moonlight cast a silvery glow on his features. The way it illuminated the strong lines of his jaw and the gentle curve of his lips made her heart flutter against her will.

She hated him, yet she couldn't deny he was undeniably handsome.

"You're a very honest guy," Haein remarked, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as a chill swept through the night air.

She pulled her jacket closer around her shoulders, feeling the cold bite at her skin.

"We all waver when facing the truth," he said, a thoughtful frown forming as he ran a hand through his tousled hair, revealing a hint of frustration. "So I'm not completely honest. What matters is not lying when you're in that situation."

He bit his lip, a nervous habit of his, and the way he looked at her made her heart race. The flickering firelight cast shadows across his face, highlighting the determination in his expression.

Haein caught herself studying the way his brow furrowed in contemplation, the way he shifted slightly closer, as if drawn to her despite their differences.

Haein smiled mockingly, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "And something like lies are eventually discovered, right?"

"Exactly," he replied, his tone steady but laced with an underlying challenge.

They both turned their gazes to the vast beach in front of them, the moonlight shimmering on the water's surface.

Jake busily fiddled with a small flower he'd picked up on his way, absentmindedly twisting its delicate petals between his fingers.

In that quiet moment, she couldn't help but admire him. She wanted to know everything he was thinking, to peel back the layers of the confident exterior he often wore.

"What's on your mind?"

He hesitated, the weight of his thoughts lingering in the air. "My... mom. The beach just reminded me of her."

The admission made Haein feel awkward, the atmosphere shifting.

Jake continued, his gaze distant. "The kids at school used to talk about going to the beach on weekends, and I wanted to be like them, of course. I came home crying, begging my mom to take me and Soomin. She couldn't refuse. We got whatever we wanted; it was a great time."

A smile crept onto Haein's face as she pictured baby Jake, filled with innocent enthusiasm.

"But then, I noticed her bracelet was gone. She had the same one as yours." He glanced at Haein's wrist, and her heart raced uncomfortably at the comparison. "When I asked about it, she said she'd just dropped it. Turns out, she sold it to take me and Soomin to the beach."

Haein felt a pang of empathy. "Perhaps lying isn't always bad. Maybe you have to do it to protect someone, to spare them from bad memories,"

He shook his head, a hint of frustration in his eyes. "It doesn't matter. I had lots of hurtful memories with my mother."

Haein chuckled softly, though it felt hollow. "I wish I could relate, but I never had any memories with my mother. God, I don't even know what she looked like." Her voice trembled as the tears threatened to spill.

"You've never met her?"

"Not at all," she whispered, her heart aching with the weight of her words.

Jake didn't know why, but a wave of empathy washed over him for his fake wife. He noticed the way her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and it stirred something deep within him.

Haein turned away, trying to shield her vulnerability as silent tears slipped down her cheeks. But before she could fully retreat into herself, Jake gently grasped her chin, tilting her face back toward him.

His thumb brushed against her cheek, wiping away the tears with a tenderness that surprised them both.

"Hey, come on," he said softly, a teasing lilt in his voice. "You'll mess up your mascara."

Haein met his gaze, startled by the warmth in his eyes.

"Well, it's not all bad, you know," she said, trying to lighten the mood. "I see my mom when I look in the mirror."

"You look like her?"

"Father says I'm her replica, but I definitely got his attitude."

"It shows, but Father Minho isn't as crazy as you."

"Oh? Didn't know you knew my father well."

Jake's heart dropped at her words. The realization hit him hard—he actually knew her father. The weight of that secret felt like a heavy stone in his chest.

Trying to mask his anxiety, he laughed nervously. "I'm just judging by your words. How would I know your father? Oh please."

Haein nodded, seemingly satisfied with his response, unaware of the truth swirling beneath the surface. Jake watched her smile,guilt flooding through him.

She had no idea that the very two men she liked were playing her. It was a dangerous game they were playing, but in that moment, he couldn't help but want to keep her close.

Jake stood up abruptly, his heart racing as he extended his hand toward Haein. "Come on, wifey. It's time for us to face reality."

She whined, a playful pout on her lips. "Do we really have to?"

He rolled his eyes at her, but there was a warmth in his expression that softened the playful annoyance.

"Yes, we do."

With a reluctant sigh, she took his hand, and the moment their fingers intertwined, an electric warmth surged between them.

As she stood up, the cool night air brushed against them, but the heat radiating from Jake's presence enveloped her like a comforting blanket.

In the warm neighborhood, Soomin hummed to herself as she washed the dishes, a smile dancing on her lips. Her mind buzzed with a hundred plans to separate her brother from his so-called wife.

Just as she was daydreaming about her strategies, her phone buzzed, interrupting her thoughts.

"Hello, Agent Beom," she said, her tone playful as she recognized the caller.

"Hello to you too, Agent Min. I couldn't hold back, so I called. Did your father say anything about us being friends?" Beomja's voice came through with a teasing lilt.

Soomin's smile faded slightly. "No, but actually, Minho came here, and they got into an argument. So they prohibited us from talking together."

"Don't you find it weird? They fought just when we crafted the master plan," Beomja replied, curiosity piqued.

"Nah, my dad isn't that sneaky," she assured .

As Soomin stepped out onto the balcony, cradling her cup of tea, she continued her conversation with Beomja, their plans swirling around her like steam rising from the warm liquid.

She peered into the distance, anticipation buzzing in her veins as she waited for her brother and his wife to arrive.

"Just remember, we need to stick to the plan,"

Just then, she spotted a car rolling up the street. Her breath hitched in her throat. She hung up abruptly, her eyes fixed on the vehicle, praying that Jake would come alone.

But to her dismay, as the car came to a stop, she saw Haein beside him.

Jake looked up and nearly screamed when he saw his sister's hawk-like eyes fixed on them from the balcony.

"There you go, Miss Haein. My sister is still awake, and on top of that, she's watching us like a hawk."

Haein furrowed her eyebrows as she caught Soomin's harsh gaze from the balcony, the intensity making her bite her lip harder than usual.

Jake rolled his eyes in exasperation. "What did I say about doing that? Stop it."

"Stop what?" Haein asked, confused, glancing up at him.

He looked down at her lips, the small, unconscious gesture making the air around them thicken. "That."

Haein rolled her eyes. "Jake, this isn't the time. We've got bigger fish to fry."

But then, as if a light bulb had gone off above her head, her eyes widened with mischief. Jake felt a jolt of unease at that look—he knew all too well that nothing good ever came from her schemes.

With a smirk, she turned to him. "Dear husband, how about we put on an Oscar-worthy performance?"

Somehow understanding the assignment, Jake shook his head, laughter bubbling up. It was amusing how, at times, they seemed like a real married couple, perfectly in sync without needing to say a word.

As he stepped out, Jake walked over and opened Haein's door, fully embodying the role of Mr. Charming.

He extended his hand, and Haein took it, their fingers intertwining in a way that felt both playful and oddly intimate.

From her vantage point above, Soomin's eyes widened in disbelief. The sight of her brother acting so effortlessly affectionate with Haein made her surprised.

Haein took his hand and then pulled him into a hug. They both felt a bit awkward, but Soomin was too surprised to react.

Haein had to tiptoe to whisper in his ear, "Kiss me."

Jake's eyes widened in disbelief. "Excuse me?"

"Not like that, you idiot! Make it look like we're kissing from her angle. It'll seem real," she urged, her voice a mix of mischief and urgency.

Jake leaned in, their noses brushing, the warmth of his breath mingling with hers.

"Are you sure you can handle it?"

He chuckled softly, their lips tantalizingly close but not touching. The world around them faded away, and for a moment, it felt as if they were the only two people in existence. She could feel his breath on her skin, warm and inviting, and the pull between them was electric.

As they lingered on the edge of intimacy, Soomin's eyes widened in shock, and she stumbled back, rushing to her room.

Haein pulled back slightly and whispered, "Your sister, she's gone."

Jake blinked, his nerves suddenly bubbling to the surface. "We should, uh... yeah... um... go... yeah, up," he stammered, his voice trailing off.

He was visibly anxious, the playful bravado slipping away. Haein didn't think much of it, but inside, Jake's heart raced, pounding against his ribcage.

He knew he was getting himself into something he wouldn't be able to escape, and the weight of that realization pressed down on him, mixing excitement with an undercurrent of dread.

━━━━⊱❀ •
I had to write smth fun to motivate myself to get the story going but dw from now im back to updating regularly