Love In The Shadows Of Guilt

"I've wiped the windows, tidied up all the tables, and cleaned the kitchen. Is there anything else?" he asked, his voice soft yet tinged with exhaustion as he glanced at me counting the cash register.

I caught a glimpse of his tired face, the faint shadows under his eyes. Poor guy. Hehe, don't worry-I'll treat him to something nice later.

"That's all for now. I think we can close up shop."

He nodded and waited patiently outside as I locked the door. Once I was done, I walked over to him, feeling a sense of gratitude.

"Thank you for today," I said, smiling warmly.

"It's nothing. I actually enjoyed it," he replied.

Enjoyed it? Who on earth enjoys wiping windows and cleaning kitchens?

"Let me walk you home," I offered, already taking a step forward.

But he stopped me, gently holding my hand.

"There's no need. You'll end up walking back alone, and I wouldn't feel right about that," he said softly.

His hand was warm against mine, and for a moment, the world seemed to still. Our eyes met, and my heart started pounding. What was this? A spark of something unfamiliar and strangely exhilarating?

"Eunji?" His voice broke through my thoughts, pulling me back to reality.

What was that? Am I losing my mind?

"Oh..." I stammered awkwardly as he quickly let go of my hand, perhaps thinking I was uncomfortable.

"It's okay. I insist on walking you home as a thank-you."

He hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Alright then... thank you."

We started walking side by side under the soft glow of streetlights. The cool night breeze brushed against my skin, and the quietness of the neighborhood felt comforting.

"You're probably wondering why I said I enjoyed doing all that cleaning, right?" he asked suddenly, breaking the silence.

Wait, what? Could he read my mind?

"I... well, yes, actually," I admitted.

He grinned, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I've never done chores like that before."

"What?!" I exclaimed, stopping in my tracks.

He chuckled softly, clearly entertained by my reaction.

"Seriously! So, if you ever need help again, just let me know. I'd be happy to do it," he said with genuine enthusiasm.

I couldn't help but smile at his excitement. There was something adorable about his eagerness, and I found myself unconsciously grinning like an idiot.

As we continued walking, I realized how little I actually knew about him.

"You know, now that I think about it, I don't know much about you," I said, glancing at him curiously.

He raised an eyebrow, amused. "What do you want to know?"

"Hmm, a lot of things. Where should I even start?" I chuckled, trying to decide on a question.

But before I could ask, he stopped in front of a large gate.

"We're here," he said.

I followed his gaze and froze.

The house before me wasn't just big-it was a mansion.

"You live here?!" I blurted, my voice rising in shock.

He nodded casually, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

"If there's so much you want to know about me... why don't we go out tomorrow? Oh! How about your bakery? I loved everything I ate today," he said with a bright smile.

I nodded, still a little dazed. "Of course. I'll be waiting for you."

He handed me his phone, catching me off guard.

"What's this for?" I asked, confused.

"Your number," he replied simply.

"Oh!" Feeling a little flustered, I quickly typed in my number and handed the phone back to him.

"See you tomorrow," I said, smiling as I turned to leave.

"Thanks," he said, his voice warm and genuine.

As I walked away, I couldn't help but feel that something unexpected had begun-a moment that would linger in my mind far longer than I wanted to admit.

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