After Dark (Prompts)

Be With You - 8

"Are you feeling better now? All those interested women must be flattering?" Ha Chae Yoon asked when they left the group.

"They must not have met a lot of men for them to think I'm good looking," Im Cheol-Ryung replied.

"Oh come on," she teased. "You don't look in the mirror and think 'what a handsome face'?"

He blushed at the compliment. "I think I have an okay face. I have a great body, but a so-so face."

Ha Chae Yoon was surprised initially but quickly threw her head back and laughed. "We should have included that in your dating profile."

"What?"

"Developing a sense of humour," she said, laughing again.

Im Cheol-Ryung watched her fondly while she continued to laugh at what he said. He hesitated then carefully asked, "Do... do you have a dating profile?"

"Yes, but it's blank," she admitted. "Lee Da-bin was the one who suggested it to me, too. But I've been too lazy to update it and I doubt anyone would be interested if I said I was boring. I can't even list what my interests are."

"You're not boring," Im Cheol-Ryung stated.

"I'm not?" she asked, coyly.

He shook his head.

They walked in silence for a little while, their pace unhurried, enjoying the cool night breeze and each other's company. Ha Chae Yoon content and feeling safe in his company, Im Cheol-Ryung elated that she agreed to walk with him tonight.

After a few meters, Ha Chae Yoon spoke again. "Care to tell me what had you in such a bad mood when I arrived? Did something happen while you were patrolling the streets?"

"I wasn't in a bad mood!" he refuted.

Ha Chae Yoon stopped walking, crossed her arms and gave him a look that would have made a lesser man wither. "So there was no reason why you mentioned Min Tae Gu in your earlier grumblings?"

"I... I just..."

"Don't try to lie," she warned.

Im Cheol-Ryung frowned, dipped his head then pouted. He played with his thumbs before taking a peek at Ha Chae Yoon, who he found to still be waiting for his reply. Quickly averting his gaze, he slowly said, "I... saw you visiting him."

"Yes, I saw you there, too," Ha Chae Yoon acknowledged to his surprise.

"I just...," he wanted to make up more excuses but he knew it was futile. Sighing, he decided to be honest with her. "You don't have to mind my grumblings. I just... I just didn't like seeing it. And I... didn't like hearing you'd go for drinks with him."

"Because he's a criminal," she stated.

"NO!" he denied, sincerely this time. "Because he's a man who obviously likes you."

"And that's an issue because?"

Im Cheol-Ryung frowned. Then, in a stroke of brilliance, he smiled triumphantly and said, "I don't have to like your admirers the same way you don't like those women who pressed like and messaged me in the dating app."

Ha Chae Yoon's eyes widened and a blush quickly crept across her face. "That's not true. I don't care about those who are interested in you."

"Don't lie, Inspector. It does not suit you," he teased, paraphrasing a line she had used on him.

"I, well, it's not... UGH!" Ha Chae Yoon groaned in frustration. Her ears still felt hot and she was sure her cheeks were still red. Turning around to the direction they came from, "I'm going home!"