NOTAKING
patreon
Chapter 56
🕑 Added 2025-03-10 19:59:04 +0000 UTC
Before Travis came here, he and So-Yeon had made a promise—they would meet at a hotel for a so-called "business meeting." He had scheduled it strategically, ensuring it overlapped with the tail end of his time with Na-Yeon. The hotel wasn't far from the diner, making the transition seamless. And now, the moment had arrived.
Travis paid for the meal, sliding a few extra bills onto the table before leaning back in his seat. He and Na-Yeon chatted casually, her laughter soft and warm, filling the comfortable space between them. But then, his phone buzzed. He pulled it from his pocket, glancing at the screen. So-Yeon.
Lifting his gaze, he looked out the window and spotted her standing outside, arms crossed, tapping her foot impatiently. A smirk ghosted across his lips before he casually placed the phone face-down on the table.
"I honestly need to go now," he said smoothly, slipping his phone back into his pocket. "I have a meeting with one of my partners. So if you don't mind, I'd like to be excused."
Na-Yeon tilted her head slightly, studying him. "Oh, that’s not a problem. Let me walk you out," she said with a soft smile.
Together, they exited the diner, the cool night air wrapping around them as they stepped onto the sidewalk. The streetlights cast a gentle glow, illuminating Na-Yeon’s face as she turned to him.
"Thank you for hanging out with me," she said, her voice carrying a hint of something deeper. "Maybe next time, we’ll go to our secret spot together." She held his gaze for a moment, then gave him a small wave before turning on her heel and walking away.
Travis watched her go, the corner of his lips curling into a slight smile before he turned in the opposite direction.
Across the street, So-Yeon stood with her arms still folded, her expression shifting the moment their eyes met. She smiled at first, but it quickly faded into a playful frown.
"Hmm, I’m still mad at you for what you did," she huffed, though there was no real bite to her words.
Travis chuckled, stepping closer. "Come on, you know you're not," he murmured, his hand sliding around her waist with ease. "Now, let’s go."
As they started walking down the road, the city lights flickering around them, neither noticed Na-Yeon standing just a few feet away, hidden in the shadows.
She had only pretended to head home. Curiosity gnawed at her, making her turn back at the last second. And now, what she saw had her heart pounding.
Travis. With another woman.
'Who is that? Is that his business partner?' she thought, her breath hitching.
Her pulse quickened, and for a moment, she stood frozen, trying to make sense of the scene before her. But logic failed her. There was only one thing she could do—follow them.
As they walked side by side, the conversation drifted toward their future together. Travis spoke with confidence, his tone unwavering, while So-Yeon remained hesitant.
“You know,” Travis said, glancing at her, “I don’t see this as just some fleeting thing. I mean it when I say I want to be with you.”
So-Yeon sighed softly, folding her arms as she looked straight ahead. “Travis… you’re still so young. You have your whole life ahead of you. I—I can’t be the reason you don’t experience things people your age should.”
“You’re not ruining anything,” he insisted, stepping in front of her to make her stop walking. His hands found hers, fingers lacing together. “You think I don’t know what I want? I wouldn’t be saying this if I wasn’t sure.”
She bit her lip, her gaze flickering between his eyes and their intertwined hands. “But… I’m older, and I’m your teacher. Do you know how wrong this could look to others?”
“I don’t care,” he said simply. “If anything, I’d marry you right now if that’s what it took to prove it.”
Her breath caught in her throat, and a warmth bloomed in her chest at his words. Her heart pounded, betraying the emotions she tried so hard to suppress. Slowly, a smile crept across her lips as she leaned in, her lips grazing the shell of his ear.
“If so,” she whispered, her voice dripping with both mischief and desire, “then fuck me however you want.”
Travis smirked, exchanging a knowing glance with So-Yeon before they quickened their pace down the dimly lit pathway. The city’s neon glow reflected off the damp pavement, and the sound of their footsteps mixed with the distant hum of late-night traffic. Excitement and anticipation buzzed between them as they finally arrived at the grand entrance of the hotel. The lobby was sleek and modern, the polished floors gleaming under soft golden lights.
Without hesitation, Travis approached the reception desk, his voice smooth and confident as he requested a room for the two of them. So-Yeon stood close beside him, her expression unreadable, but her fingers toyed with the hem of her coat—an unconscious sign of nervous energy.
A few steps away, Shin Na-Yeon remained inconspicuous, adjusting her bag strap as she subtly watched the exchange. As soon as Travis and So-Yeon received their key and made their way toward the elevators, Na-Yeon stepped forward, plastering on an indifferent smile as she booked a room right next to theirs.
‘Are they really just here to talk? In a hotel?’ she thought, her lips pressing into a thin line as she followed them into another elevator, careful to keep her distance. ‘Never heard of that before.’
The elevator ride was silent except for the occasional ding as they passed each floor. When the doors finally slid open, Travis and So-Yeon stepped out first, disappearing into their room without so much as a glance back.
Na-Yeon waited a few extra seconds before following. She swiped her keycard, stepping into her own room, and let the door shut softly behind her. The space was modest but comfortable—plush bedding, a minimalist desk, and warm lighting that cast gentle shadows along the walls.
She sat on the bed, crossing her legs as she exhaled slowly. Her eyes scanned the room until they landed on the sleek PCs positioned on the desk. The sight made her heart settle, if only for a moment.
‘They must be using them for their meeting,’ she reasoned, rubbing her fingers together absently. ‘That makes sense. Nothing suspicious about that.’
Still, a nagging feeling remained at the back of her mind. She glanced toward the thin wall separating her room from theirs, tilting her head slightly as if she could hear something beyond it. But for now, there was only silence.
TO BE CONTINUED
