CHAPTER 22: A SILENT CONFESSION

Jiah had just stepped into her apartment when her phone rang. Surprisingly, the call was from Ryu Hwan—her upstairs neighbor, and the person who had never called her for anything casual before.

"Would you like to have a drink with me?" his deep voice asked. "I… can't sleep. And honestly, I'm not in the mood to drink alone."

Jiah blinked, thrown off. "A drink… with you?" she repeated, unsure for a moment. Then, after a beat of silence, she added, "Alright. I can't sleep either. I'll come."

After they hung up, she stared at the screen thoughtfully.

He's never asked me to drink with him before… What's going on tonight?

Shaking off the strange feeling bubbling inside, she climbed the stairs and rang the doorbell of the apartment directly above hers.

The door opened to reveal Ryu Hwan, who raised a brow at her.

"You know the passcode," he said, his tone teasing, "and yet, you still ring the bell?"

Jiah gave no answer, only brushed past him with a dramatic sigh, making herself at home. He chuckled faintly and followed her inside.

As she walked into the softly lit living area, she asked, "So… what brought on this sudden urge to drink with me? What do you even drink anyway? I thought you weren't really into that stuff."

Without a word, Ryu Hwan opened a wooden cabinet in his sleek open kitchen and pulled out a pristine bottle of The Macallan 30—a ridiculously expensive, high-end whiskey. He took out two crystal glasses and placed them on the counter.

Jiah, now seated on the couch, turned just in time to see the label—and her jaw nearly dropped.

Wait—WHAT?! THE MACALLAN 30?! Is he insane?! That bottle costs a fortune! Who drinks this just for fun?!

God, even one drop of this won't go down my throat peacefully now that I know how much it costs…

Ryu Hwan noticed her dazed expression and smirked. "What are you thinking about, standing there like that? Come sit."

He gently guided her to the sleek high stools by the kitchen's side counter.

Jiah gave a half-laugh. "I've got to say, you have expensive taste."

He calmly poured the amber liquid into both glasses, adding ice with precision, then handed her a glass.

As she took it, Jiah's thoughts ran wild.

Okay… just one sip for formality's sake. No way am I getting drunk tonight. I don't want to do anything stupid. Every time I get tipsy, something embarrassing happens.

Meanwhile, Ryu Hwan said nothing. He simply drank—one glass after another, silent and brooding. Jiah, sipping slowly, stared at him in disbelief.

What the hell… Is someone messing with this dragon's emotions? He's drinking like something's seriously wrong . Is he mad or something?....

She scrunched her nose, then hesitantly asked, "Hey, Dragon… what's going on? Something happened?"

Ryu Hwan paused mid-pour. He stared at his half-full glass before softly saying,

"If I told you… would you even understand? And even if you did… would it change anything?"

Jiah's smile faded slightly. His voice wasn't cold—it was tired, almost vulnerable.

She set her glass down. "Sometimes, trying too hard to hold something in only makes the pain worse. Maybe I can't fix it… but I can be here for you. You don't always have to carry everything alone."

Her voice was soft—awkward, even—but sincere. And maybe that sincerity hit harder than anything else, because the next moment, Ryu Hwan reached out and pulled her chair closer to him.

Jiah's breath hitched. Their eyes met—intense, searching, like they were both waiting for something unspoken.

Then, his hands moved gently to her waist, pulling her even closer, and his face stopped just inches away from hers.

She froze, heart pounding, lips parting slightly.

Is he… about to kiss me?

She closed her eyes.

But instead of a kiss, she felt the warmth of his head resting on her shoulder.

Startled, she opened her eyes wide—her heart caught in her throat.

Then came the words. Raw. Honest. Hurting.

"Why do you always scare me like this…?" he whispered. "Why do you keep pulling away? What do I need to do… to keep you by my side?"

"Please, Jiah… don't go away from me. I can't take it. I don't have the strength to watch you walk away again."

Jiah stared at the cold blooded dragon who now clung to her like a man on the edge of breaking. A tiny smile curved her lips, a little blush on her face by the vulnerability in this being who'd always seemed so untouchable.

But before she could respond, she felt his breath on her skin… as he pressed closer to her neck.

Her body tensed. His touch made her feel like she was melting—slowly, completely.

"I didn't know I was capable of feeling jealousy…" he murmured. "But I admit it. I hated seeing you with that doctor. I hated seeing anyone else so close to you."

Doctor Shin Joo…

Jiah blinked. So that's what this is about?

But before she could say anything, his lips brushed her skin—leaving a slow, passionate kiss on her neck.

Jiah gasped softly, her mind blanking out.

Then his voice came again—low, intense, possessive.

"Maybe… if I mark what's mine, I won't forget tonight. Maybe this way, you won't forget it either."

And with that, Ryu Hwan left a deep, beautiful, burning hickey marks on her neck—claiming her with a silent promise.