Ten days had passed since Si-hyun and I connected.

  We spent these days texting, meeting at nearby cafes, and sharing meals, truly happy and content.

  But why hasn’t our relationship progressed?

  Shouldn’t healthy adults in their twenties be doing… that?

  The day before yesterday, I deliberately suggested a motel after he returned late from his Expedition.

  But Si-hyun really just slept.

  I lay beside him in shorts and a thin T-shirt, trying to tempt him, but he only looked at me fondly and fell asleep.

  Why? Am I not attractive enough? I deflated instantly.

  I hadn’t planned to see Si-hyun today, what should I do?

  Isn’t there any way to move things forward?

  Do I have to force myself on him?

  Even that seems too difficult…

  Just as I worried, a message came from Si-hyun:

  -Want to see the autumn leaves?

  I checked the calendar; the season was indeed approaching.

  Honestly, I’d never properly gone leaf-viewing before.

  But the important thing was spending time with Si-hyun.

  = Sure!

  -Okay, I’ll get ready.

  This time, I’m determined to move our relationship forward!

  I searched online for ways to attract men.

  Most advice was familiar: get closer, smile, make eye contact, give compliments, show confidence, increase physical touch?

  Haven’t I tried all that?

  Why doesn’t it work on Si-hyun?

  We’re already close; though shy, I’ve moved nearer, and he doesn’t pull away.

  Smiling? Of course I smile, being with him makes me happy, so it comes naturally.

  Lately, his handsome face when he smiles makes my heart race uncontrollably.

  Eye contact? This part might need effort.

  Every time his deep gaze meets mine, I shyly turn away.

  Compliments? I often tell him he’s handsome…

  I should try harder here.

  Confidence? I didn’t have it before, but now I do. I’ve been acting confident…

  Physical touch? We hold hands and link arms…

  Is that not enough? Should I be bolder? Thinking back, we haven’t even kissed.

  Though Si-hyun often kisses my forehead.

  It seems I need to take more initiative.

  Since we’re seeing the leaves tomorrow, I still have time today.

  I decided to buy clothes that could tempt Si-hyun.

  Having long abandoned modesty, I’ve grown more accepting of revealing outfits.

  Now, to attract him, I dress more lightly than before.

  Wearing shorts at home was probably the point of no return.

  Alone at the department store, I headed straight to the lingerie section.

  I started looking for slightly sexy lace underwear.

  Some styles were hotter than what I owned.

  Many were sheer enough to show skin.

  “Do I have to wear this?”

  It’s hidden under clothes anyway, right?

  And it’s for my boyfriend, surely this is acceptable?

  Nearby, I saw garter belts.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  I’ve heard men love them…

  Unsure if it would work on Si-hyun, I bought a full set with the garter belt.

  I didn’t understand why such little fabric cost more than regular underwear and stockings.

  My emergency funds drained quickly, but it would be worth it if it worked.

  Next, I went to choose outerwear.

  While picking clothes to go with the garter belt, it hit me: aren’t we going hiking?

  Leaf-viewing involves mountain trees, right?

  “Did my plans change!?”

  I can’t wear the expensive garter belt!?

  Well, I’ll save it as special occasion lingerie then, and pick practical clothes for the outing instead.

  That's when I spotted the leggings.

  I'd seen other girls wear these body-hugging pants that accentuate curves.

  But I feared Si-hyun would stop me if I wore them.

  Beside them hung similar skirted leggings!

  These could show off my figure without being too revealing.

  So I chose the skirted leggings for my bottom piece.

  The matching crop top nearby looked perfect too.

  A bare midriff? That could work!

  On my way home after shopping, I saw something unbelievable.

  "Si-hyun?"

  Si-hyun was walking with several girls.

  My hands began to tremble.

  Though uneasy, I was more afraid to call and confirm what was happening.

  I quietly followed Si-hyun.

  Creeping behind him, I saw Si-hyun enter a cafe with the girls.

  I covered my face appropriately and entered the cafe, taking a seat diagonally across from Si-hyun.

  Fortunately, I didn't seem to be noticed. I strained to hear Si-hyun's conversation with the girls.

  Stealing glances at the women, they appeared somewhat older.

  Did he prefer older types?

  My anxiousness made my hands keep shaking.

  They seemed to be talking, but I couldn't hear clearly.

  After about ten minutes of conversation, the atmosphere appeared tense.

  This seemed different from what I'd imagined, Si-hyun wore an displeased expression the entire time.

  I grew intensely curious about what they were discussing.

  Just then Si-hyun's gaze shifted suddenly, and I quickly turned away.

  Had I been spotted?

  When I glanced toward Si-hyun again, our eyes met unexpectedly.

  He'd seen me!

  As I looked away pretending to admire the scenery, Si-hyun suddenly stood and walked toward me.

  He'd noticed after all.

  "Si-yeon?"

  "Hello, Si-hyun."

  "What are you doing here?"

  "Just resting after shopping."

  I waved my department store shopping bag.

  "I see. Could you help me with something right now?"

  Was he going to drag me over to those women?

  I had no choice but to take his outstretched hand.

  "Alright."

  When we reached his table and stood before the women, he suddenly introduced me:

  "My girlfriend happens to be here too."

  What? Calling me his girlfriend so suddenly, he could have given me some warning!

  Still, hearing him acknowledge me publicly sent a secret thrill through me.

  "I'm Jeong Si-yeon, Si-hyun's girlfriend."

  "So you really have a girlfriend huh Si-hyun?"

  "I told you already. Can we consider this blind date arrangement over?"

  Blind date!?

  No! Absolutely not! Si-hyun is mine!

  In my panic, I gripped Si-hyun's hand tightly.

  "Si-yeon?"

  "You won't go, right?"

  "No, I'm refusing right now."

  I felt relieved.

  No one would take him from me.

  "Now who should we contact..."

  "Sorry for arranging this when you already have a girlfriend."

  The two women began talking quietly.

  "Si-yeon? What's wrong?"

  Oh? I just realized my anxiety had kept me clutching Si-hyun's hand.

  "Sorry... who are these ladies?"

  "Senior colleagues from my civil service days."

  I see... I shouldn't interfere with Si-hyun's relationships.

  "You can go shopping alone now?"

  "Isn't that normal?"

  "You've changed so much."

  Si-hyun began gently stroking my hair. Since we started dating, he touched me like this often, he'd done it before too, but the frequency had clearly increased.

  Of course I never refused these touches, they felt too precious, and I secretly hoped for more.

  "Public display of affection, huh?"

  Hearing this, Si-hyun paused and withdrew his hand.

  What a shame... He could have kept touching it.

  "I thought Si-hyun wasn't interested in dating. Turns out you just have high standards."

  "Haha."

  Seeing his awkward smile, I suddenly wondered where that comment came from.

  "What happened with Si-hyun?"

  "Can I tell?"

  Si-hyun sighed while looking out the window.

  "Of course you should tell! She's his girlfriend after all."

  "It's because Si-hyun is too handsome."

  "That's true. Hehe."

  I felt strangely happy hearing others praise him.

  "So many female coworkers and citizens coming to our office have confessed to him."

  Given his looks, this wasn't surprising.

  He had a fan club in middle school, and in high school girls often cornered him at his shoe locker to confess.

  "He rejected them so decisively every time. What did you say back then?"

  "You said you'd never date, right?"

  Si-hyun's expression suggested this had nothing to do with him.

  "But with such a pretty and cute girlfriend, it'd be weird not to want to date."

  It was rare for a woman to compliment me.

  Most women I encountered usually treated me with hostility.

  "Really?"

  "Of course, oh, like that one girl, right?"

  "Yes, she's the same age as Si-hyun."

  "She looks young, but her face matches her age."

  The conversation shifted to anecdotes from his civil service days.

  Though I normally avoid small talk, these unknown stories about Si-hyun kept emerging, and I gradually became engrossed.

  Glancing at Si-hyun, I noticed he was casually playing with his phone.

  "The anniversary was ridiculous."

  "Right, so many people brought gifts we had to refuse them all."

  It reached that extent?

  "Small gifts were one thing, but large boxes like chocolate sticks were impossible to store."

  "You should be careful too, little sister. Men like this might suddenly dump you one day."

  Si-hyun would?

  Impossible, right?

  I looked at him anxiously.

  "I won't abandon you. Don't make that face."

  What face?

  What do I look like right now?

  Chuckles came from across the table.

  They were teasing me?

  "Such a cute girlfriend."

  "Right?"

  "We'll get out of your way then. We won't interrupt your date."

  "Take care."

  "No, we should apologize. We almost took your girlfriend to a mixer."

  The two men who claimed to be Si-hyun's seniors left the cafe.

  "We should get going too."

  "Okay."

  We also left the cafe.

  "Si-hyun, you were really popular before, weren't you?"

  "Let's end this topic here."

  Si-hyun's slightly cold tone made my heart flutter.

  This seemed to be a topic Si-hyun disliked.

  "I'll take you home."

  "Huh? You don't need to."

  "Taking your girlfriend home is a boyfriend's responsibility."

  After arriving at my doorstep in Si-hyun's car, I got out.

  "Don't get out. Just drive off."

  "But..."

  "We'll see each other tomorrow anyway. Drive safely, Si-hyun."

  "Okay, see you tomorrow."

  Back home, various thoughts flooded my mind.

  Though I knew Si-hyun had been popular, hearing it directly from others rather than witnessing it myself still made me uneasy.

  I even feared he might want to leave because he'd grown tired of me.

  So this time I resolved not to mess things up.

  I absolutely cannot let anyone take Si-hyun from me.