Soo-jin stood with her back to me, shoulders tense beneath her crisp white blouse, fingers hovering at her hip as if the simple act of pulling the zipper down required every ounce of courage she possessed.
She didn't say a word—actually, she didn't need to. The air between us was enough for me to understand the hesitation in her actions.
I stayed exactly where I was, leaning against the edge of the table, hands loose at my sides. "You don't have to do this if it feels wrong," I said gently. "We can call the whole thing off. I'll tell my father you tried your best and I refused to study. No consequences."
Her head turned just enough for me to see the delicate line of her jaw and the way a loose strand of hair had fallen across her cheek. "Please," she whispered softly. "Don't make this harder by pretending to be noble now."
Still, she hesitated another heartbeat. Then, slowly, deliberately, she drew the zipper all the way down. The black pencil skirt loosened and slid over the curve of her hips, pooling at her feet like spilled ink.
She stepped out of it carefully, one heel at a time, the motion graceful even in her nervousness. From where I stood, I could see her soft ass and the way it jiggled with every slight movement.
I was rock hard, and no matter how much I tried, I couldn't push out the indecent thoughts I was having.
Soo-jin turned her head a little to glance at the cherry-red gown waiting on the chair beside her. She picked it up, holding it against her chest like a shield. For a brief moment, she didn't say a word before unbuttoning her shirt.
The blouse landed softly on the ground. She raised her hair a bit and unhooked her bra, and even from where I stood, I could see the side of her massive cleavage.
"Wow."
Soo-jin glanced back, her face flushing as soon as she noticed the bulge in my pants. "Please, could you not?"
I nodded and turned my face away—from the bed to the window, anywhere but where she might feel exposed. But when she finally slipped the dress over her head and let it fall into place, I couldn't help the quiet intake of breath.
It looked even more perfect than I had imagined. The plunging neckline framed her throat and collarbones, while the open back revealed the gentle slope of her spine. The high side slits hinted at her legs with every slight movement, making her look even more beautiful.
Soo-jin smoothed the fabric down her sides with both hands, a gesture that felt almost shy, before she turned fully to face me.
Her cheeks were flushed. The professional bun she'd worn earlier had loosened slightly during the change, a few strands framing her face and making her look younger and more vulnerable.
"Well?" she asked, lifting her chin. "Satisfied with your little power play, Young Master?"
I smiled slowly. "You look beautiful, Soo-jin."
The use of her first name made her blink. For a second, the cold mask slipped completely, and something warmer, almost surprised, softened her expression. She looked away quickly, adjusting the thin strap on her shoulder as if it needed fixing.
"Don't say things like that," she murmured, but there was no real bite in it. "None of this means anything. It's just one silly date."
"One date, huh?" I nodded in agreement, stepping closer but stopping at a respectful distance. Then I offered my hand, palm up. "May I?"
Soo stared at my hand like it might burn her. Then, after a long breath, she placed her fingers in mine. They were cool, soft, and trembling just slightly.
Somehow, I felt like an asshole for doing all those things to her, but at the same time, it was thrilling.
'Maybe I'm just a bad person.'
I lifted her hands gently and brushed the lightest kiss across her knuckles—nothing more, nothing less.
"Thank you for doing this for me, teach," I said quietly.
Her lips parted, then closed, then opened again. "Don't get used to it, Young Master. Tomorrow I will be just your mathematics tutor, and you're still going to study properly and respect me."
I chuckled. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
She pulled her hand back and turned toward the door, heels clicking against the floor. Then she turned back and smiled gently.
"I'm going home to fix my hair and makeup properly," she announced over her shoulder, voice cool once more. "Could you pick me up at seven?"
I nodded, and she turned back to the door, only to turn to face me again. "And thank you for scoring forty on the test. It will at least give me a head start to get 'that.'"
I watched her go, the open back of the dress catching the light one last time before she disappeared down the hallway.
Seeing her leave, I let out a slow breath. "What the hell was that?"
Although I had been acting tough before, my heart was actually beating like crazy.
'Am I falling for her? No, no, no, that can't be right, but she is still pretty hot though. Argh!'
I collapsed onto my bed, stretching my arms to the ceiling and staring at my palm. "Maybe we can go all the way after the date."
I felt heat rise to my cheeks as I began rolling on the bed while giggling like a little girl. Who could blame me? Finally, I was going to lose my V-card.