CHAPTER 7: Rain, Candy, And Curiosity

Along With The Gods: The Two Worlds (2017-8)

Haewonmak & Deokchun doing high fives

w/ Haewonmak being a protective uncle

UNSPOKEN (말하지 않은)

genre: romance, slow-burn, fluff, angst, sexual tension, mutual pining

Chapter 9: Almost on the Line

A line was almost crossed, feelings starting to grow, but both Haein and Chaewoon choose to stay on their own sides, avoiding the tension that’s quietly building between them.

They stayed like that for a moment—neither of them moving, neither of them speaking. The only sound between them was the soft rhythm of the rain tapping against the windows, steady and unrelenting, like the silence that wrapped around them.

Chaewoon’s gaze was soft, gentle—just like it always was when it came to Haein. But tonight, there was something different in his eyes. Something unspoken. Something heavier. And she felt it too—the shift in the air, the quiet catch in his breath, the way his eyes lingered like he was searching for something… something he wasn’t sure he had the right to want.

Then his gaze dropped—to her lips.

Haein’s heart fluttered in response, unsteady and sudden. Her breath hitched, caught in her throat, and when his eyes flicked back up to meet hers, the moment stretched impossibly thin—on the edge of something neither of them dared to name.

And then—

RING.

The sudden sound of a phone call cut through the quiet like a splash of cold water. Haein startled, fumbling for her phone, yanking it free and accidentally dislodging her headset in the process.

“I—I need to take this call,” she stammered, avoiding his eyes. “You can take the rest of the day off. Goodbye.”

Before he could say anything, she was already halfway to her room, pressing the still-ringing phone to her ear, her footsteps quick and uneven.

Chaewoon sat there still in the moment, his mind still wandering on what had almost happened. One minute, he was waking up to find her beside him—closer than they’d ever been—and the next, she was running off like the walls had suddenly caved in.

His eyes dropped to his lap. Her headset.

It must’ve slipped when she grabbed her phone. He picked it up slowly, fingers curling around the tangled cord.

With a quiet sigh, he leaned back against the couch and ran a hand across his forehead.

“That was close,” he murmured to himself.

Too close.

The way he’d looked at her lips. The way he’d almost leaned in. It wasn’t just a moment— it was a line he'd never crossed, until now.

He knew he was losing his grip. And he didn’t know how much longer he could keep pretending.

Pretending that he didn’t want more. Pretending that the feelings blooming quietly inside him weren’t real. Pretending that looking at her didn’t already feel like falling.

And it was dangerous. Too dangerous.

Because the moment he let himself feel this way—let himself want more—he knew it could only end badly.

He kept reminding himself: he was betraying her even now. He was someone she should never trust.

And if the moment comes when Haein finds out the truth—that he was a spy planted inside her family—he didn’t know if she would ever be able to look at him the same way again.

And that thought terrified him more than anything else.

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Haein closed the door behind her and leaned against it, eyes shut, chest rising and falling as if she’d just run a marathon. The rain outside hadn’t let up—it kept drumming softly against the windows like a heartbeat she couldn’t ignore.

She finally opened her eyes and let out a shaky breath, walking over to her desk. The phone call had ended quickly—nothing urgent, just her secretary checking in. But it might as well have been fate yanking her away from a moment she wasn’t ready for.

She sank into her chair, elbows resting on the table, fingers threading through her hair. Her mind was still in the living room—with him. With Chaewoon.

The way he looked at her. The warmth in his eyes. The stillness in the space between them.

And the way his gaze dropped—just for a second—to her lips.

Her heart thundered at the memory, that tiny, unspoken flicker that almost turned into something more. She’d seen it. Felt it.

And she’d run.

Haein let out a soft, humorless laugh and tilted her head back against the chair.

“Idiot,” she whispered—to herself, to him, to the whole moment.

Why did he look at me that way? Was he about to lean in? Was he about to….

She halted her thoughts. It was starting to scare her. She was scared how easily she got lost in the moment. She was scared at how she wanted it. How easy it was to lean in. How natural it was starting to feel to be near him.

Her eyes drifted to the empty pouch sitting on her desk. It was where she kept her headset. The one Chaewoon was still holding onto in the living room.

She pressed her palms to her face.

“This is getting out of hand,” she muttered.

And yet…

Her hands dropped slowly to her lap as her lips curled, soft and bittersweet.

She wasn’t sure what scared her more—that he almost kissed her… or that she almost let him.

And if the phone hadn’t rung…

She wasn’t sure she would’ve stopped him.

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Chaewoon hadn’t slept well that night. His mind had been too busy, too occupied. And when morning came and he picked up Haein for work, he noticed—she hadn’t slept well either.

The air between them was awkward, heavier than usual.

The drive to the company was uncomfortably quiet. Chaewoon kept glancing at the rear-view mirror to check on her. Haein sat quietly, her eyes fixed on the window, but he noticed the little things—the way she blinked a little faster whenever she caught him looking, the way her fingers absentmindedly played with her pen.

And when their eyes met in the mirror, he quickly looked away.

He hated that.

Hated that he was the one making her feel this uncomfortable.

When they arrived, he moved to open the door for her, hesitating for a second before calling out, “Miss Haein.”

She paused on her tracks. Chaewoon took a breath, his voice steady and careful.

“I’d like to apologize for my behavior yesterday. It was inappropriate, and I made you uncomfortable. I assure you, it won’t happen again.”

Haein didn’t respond right away. She stayed still for a moment, letting his words sink in.

Then, with a small sigh, she spoke.

“What do you mean, Mr. Woo?” she said softly. “I think I should be the one apologizing. I fell asleep on your shoulder the entire afternoon. It must have been uncomfortable for you, and yet… you stayed. I don’t blame you for falling asleep too. You’re not a robot. And…”

She finally turned to face him fully, and for a moment, she almost smiled.

Chaewoon looked so much like a guilty puppy, apologizing even when he didn’t have to.

“I’m not mad or upset with you,” she said gently. “So please, don’t feel uncomfortable with me either.”

Chaewoon returned her smile.

Both of them knew it wasn’t just about her falling asleep on his shoulder, or him dozing off beside her. It was what happened after. The way their lips had almost…

But they chose not to mention it.

Two guarded souls, after all—two people who had built walls too high and too thick around themselves. So, they did what they always did: ignore the moment, pretend it didn’t happen, and let it quietly slip away.

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When they arrived at the office, Haein noticed it again—the lingering stares from the employees, especially the women. Or rather, the stares directed not at her, but at her bodyguard, Chaewoon.

Haein scoffed under her breath. Her pace quickened, the sharp sound of her heels echoing down the hallway.

Chaewoon blinked, momentarily thrown off, before quietly matching her hurried steps.

Is she upset again? he wondered, noting the slight stiffness in her stride.

When they reached her office, Haein spun around, arms crossed, expression unreadable.

“I think you should wear a mask next time,” she said flatly. Chaewoon blinked. “…Excuse me?” he asked, genuinely confused.

“You’re too distracting,” she said, almost accusingly.

“Distracting to… whom exactly?” he asked, his brows furrowing.

“To the people working here. You’re too tall, and too han—” she stopped herself mid-sentence, clearing her throat awkwardly. “—frankly, too above average in looks. You draw too much attention. A mask would… solve that.”

She was rambling now, and Chaewoon, much like yesterday, found himself struggling not to smile. She was flustered—and he was thoroughly entertained.

Chaewoon tilted his head, the corner of his mouth twitching upward.

“So… let me get this straight,” he said slowly. “You want me to cover my face because I’m too distracting?”

Haein stiffened. “Don’t make it sound so ridiculous.”

“But it is ridiculous,” he said, a soft chuckle escaping him. “Should I wear sunglasses too? Maybe a hat? Full disguise?”

“Maybe,” she muttered, turning away and busying herself with the papers on her desk, pretending to look disinterested. “It’s called being considerate to the workplace environment.”

Chaewoon stepped closer, just enough that she could feel his presence behind her.

Haein froze for half a second—barely noticeable, but enough for him to catch it.

“Or should I just wear a scary face like this?” Chaewoon said as he furrowed his brows together and pressed his lips together.

She cleared her throat again, shuffling a stack of papers that didn’t actually need organizing. “You’re here to do your job, not to be… aesthetically disruptive.”

Chaewoon laughed, low and amused.

“Understood, Ma’am,” his voice held that teasing lilt that made her ears burn. “I’ll try my best to be less… distracting.”

Haein slammed the stack of papers down a little harder than necessary.

“Good,” she said shortly, refusing to meet his gaze.

But as Chaewoon leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed, watching her try so hard to maintain her cool, he couldn’t help but think:

I’m really in trouble now.

< Chapter 8 Chapter 10 >

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Hi everyone! It's been 2 weeks since the last update (aside from the 2 special chapters) I hope you guys are still here :')

Been busy (and lowkey stressed) with work and life lately. So my mind has been so distracted. And this chapter was supposed to be longer, but I figured I should just cut it and continue it for next chapter. I also kinda had a hard time finishing this chapter because my mind is already on the later parts of the story (yoon eunsung, chaewoon background, haein's illness, family hong drama) and yet I'm still not done with the current chapters. I want to pull my hair out.

Thank you again if you guys are still tuning in! I'm more active in Twitter/X esp with updates. If you want to be friends/moots, it's @dalilmountain. Ily and thank you for the patience and support ;-;

taglist: @lvnat1c @strangerinthesecretforest <3

Oh my godddddddd Ju Jihoon. Imagine existing with a face like that. Yes even his little eye, it is so charming, fuck me uppppppppppp

UNSPOKEN: Special Chapter 1

genre: romance, slow-burn, sexual tension, mutual pining

Special Chapter: Her Dress & His Necktie

As Chaewoon helps Haein button up her dress and Haein returns the favor by tying his necktie, what starts as a simple moment of assistance quickly turns into something a little intimate.

Quick Author's note:

Unspoken will be taking a little break for the time being. I wanted to upload a special chapter, this scene will be included in one of Unspoken’s future chapters. So, I hope no one is confused and thinks there was a time jump or anything haha as you read this chapter, you will see Eunsung’s name. And yes, I will also include his character in this story as one of the main antagonists (and for jealousy arch of course!)

Well, I hope you guys enjoy it! My hands are honestly itching to upload the rest of the chapters I have in store ;-:

taglist: @lvnat1c @strangerinthesecretforest <3

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Inside her room, Haein had been struggling to button her dress for the past ten minutes.

“Come on,” she grunted, arms twisting awkwardly as she tried to reach the buttons running down her back.

Out of all the dresses in my closet… she thought with a sigh of frustration.

She hadn’t given it much thought when she picked it out. It was just another evening party, and her walk-in closet was practically overflowing with gowns. She had glanced at the elegant, navy-blue dress hanging near the door and decided, That one. Simple choice.

What she didn’t account for was the string of tiny pearl buttons that ran from the waist all the way up to the nape of her neck. It was the kind of dress that required help to wear—something Haein rarely asked for. She had staff, sure, but she was used to doing things on her own.

Still, there was someone outside who could help her.

Haein paused, cheeks warming at the thought.

There’s no way, she told herself.

But the clock was ticking, and no amount of twisting, turning, or silent pleading was going to get those buttons fastened.

With a resigned huff, she cracked open the door.

Standing in the hallway, ever composed and patiently waiting, was Chaewoon.

“…Mr. Woo?” she said, her voice quieter than usual. “I need to ask you a favor.”

“Yes?” His voice was gentle as he stepped toward her, brows lifting slightly in curiosity. When she didn’t continue, he tilted his head. “What can I help you with?”

Still standing half-hidden behind the door, Haein let out a small sigh, then slowly turned around—revealing the unfastened buttons trailing down her back.

Chaewoon blinked.

Haein looked beautiful as always. The deep navy dress hugged her figure with effortless grace, it’s color mirroring the evening sky. Soft curls framed her shoulders, and then— her bare back.

He wasn’t someone who gets easily flustered, but for a split second, something in his brain short-circuited.

Haein laughed awkwardly. “Looks like I picked the wrong dress. I didn’t realize I’d need a second pair of hands… If you could—um…”

Her words trailed off, her embarrassment palpable. Chaewoon stepped forward carefully, his fingers brushing the first button.

I’m her bodyguard. A professional, he reminded himself silently. But with each button he fastened, his composure slipped just a little more. Her skin was warm beneath his fingertips. The silence between them was thick, but not uncomfortable—just… charged.

He noticed the subtle way her shoulders rose and fell with each breath, the soft scent of her perfume lingering in the air. His fingers grazed her skin again, unintentionally, and he nearly forgot to breathe.

Across from him, Haein stood still, trying her best to appear composed. But she could feel everything—his touch, his breath near her neck, the closeness, the strange intimacy of it all. And what surprised her most was… she didn’t mind it.

Finally, with the last pearl button in place, Chaewoon let out a breath he did not realize he was holding.

“All done,” he said, his voice slightly lower than usual.

Haein turned to face him. “Thank you,” she said, a little too fast. “I’ll… make sure to return the favor.”

“There’s no need,” Chaewoon replied smoothly. “It was my pleasure to help.”

He was just about to step away when Haein reached into her room. “Oh, Mr. Woo—wait.”

She returned holding a small box. Opening it, she pulled out a necktie with a color that matches her dress.

“I thought… since you’ll be accompanying me tonight, we could…”

She didn’t finish the sentence, because Chaewoon was already smiling.

“If you still want to return the favor,” he said, his tone teasing now, “why don’t you tie it for me?”

Haein blinked, unsure whether to be relieved by his relaxed tone—or more nervous because of what he’d just asked.

Chaewoon on the other hand, had no idea why he suddenly blurted that out. For a moment, he wanted to slap himself, he expected her to scoff at him, maybe throw the necktie to him and say, “Tie it yourself.” He almost froze when Haein stepped closer.

She approached him slowly, tiptoeing as she looped the tie around his collar. “You’re annoyingly tall,” she muttered.

Chaewoon chuckled, he then adjusted his level, lowering his head a little. “Better?”

Haein blinked, her lips pursed. “I hope that’s not your way of teasing me for being short.” she said with a small glare, which he only responded to with another soft laugh. “I would never.”

As she focused on the tie, Haein found herself fumbling a little—his face was too close. Too steady.

His eyes flicked from her hands to her lips to her eyes again. And when she finally pulled the knot tight, their gazes locked.

“…Did I do it right?” she asked quietly.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

Her hands were still lightly resting against his chest, his tie gripped loosely between her fingers. He was close. Too close. And neither of them seemed eager to step back.

Chaewoon’s thoughts were a blur. He was a highly trained soldier and spy. Self-control was easy for him. And yet in this moment, he felt his self-control slowly slipping away. He had been trained to remain calm in the tensest of situations. But this—this felt more dangerous than anything he’d faced before.

His mind was telling him to snap out of it, but he felt his own body betraying him, as he slowly moved closer, and closer to her.

His gaze fell to her lips.

And hers to his.

Their noses were nearly touching. A breath away.

And then—

Knock.

The sound at the door shattered the moment.

Chaewoon cleared his throat and straightened. Haein took a step back, smoothing down the front of her dress.

Just like that, the tension dissolved—almost.

But not forgotten.

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When Haein stepped into the living room, she found Eunsung already waiting, dressed sharply and oozing confidence.

“Good evening, Haein. Ready to go?” he said, extending his arm with a charming smile.

She raised an eyebrow, one hand on her hip.

Eunsung chuckled, taking her expression as a question. “Didn’t your parents tell you? I’ll be your date for tonight’s party.”

Haein smirked. “Oh? Then I suppose they forgot to tell you something too—I already have a date.”

As if on cue, Chaewoon appeared behind her.

He looked nothing like the bodyguard everyone knew. Gone were his crisp white shirt and standard black coat. Tonight, he wore a tailored tuxedo and a sleek long coat, his navy-blue tie matching perfectly with Haein’s gown. His hair, usually neat and professional, was now styled just enough to give him that effortless bachelor charm.

Woo Chaewoon was always handsome—but tonight, he looked devastatingly dashing.

Haein’s smile widened, proud of the man beside her. She had styled him herself, and she made sure he would turn heads the moment they stepped into the venue.

She turned back to Eunsung, voice polite but edged with satisfaction. “We’ll be going now. See you at the party, Mr. Yoon.”

Without waiting for a reply, she slipped her arm through Chaewoon’s, pulling him along effortlessly. Completely unaware of the effect she had on him.

Chaewoon’s heartbeat quickened as she leaned slightly into him. Her perfume lingered between them. This was no ordinary assignment anymore.

He swallowed discreetly, as he lets himself be dragged away by Haein.

This was going to be a long night.

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----> Unspoken Chapter List

CHOI SAN: The Stage Master

Trauma Code: A Hero in Love

genre: workplace romance, comedy, mutual pinning, slow-burn, banter, suggestive

1.1 Early Symptoms of Trouble

Dr. Baek Kanghyuk wasn’t the type to get flustered. He had seen too much—disaster zones, war-torn areas, people on the brink of death. He was composed in chaos, unshaken in the face of catastrophe.

But apparently, he was not immune to Dr. Song Hye Joo.

He already knew who she was the moment she stepped into the trauma center. His old med school rival—sharp, passionate, relentless. It hadn’t even been that long since he saw her again, crouched on top of a patient’s stretcher, trying desperately to keep them conscious. That image stuck with him, etched in the same part of his brain that used to compete with her over test scores and case presentations.

He’d heard the rumors too—how she left her previous hospital because she refused to play politics, how she couldn’t stay in a system that valued power and money over saving lives. It didn’t surprise him. That fire in her had always burned bright. If anything, it had only grown fiercer.

And now, working beside her again, it wasn’t just the history that stirred something in him. There was no hesitation in her actions, no uncertainty in her voice. It was the way she moved, the way she commanded a room without raising her voice. The way she focused, with a quiet intensity that Kanghyuk found himself watching more often than he’d like to admit.

At first, he told himself it was professional curiosity. She was new to the team, after all. He had to evaluate her skills—make sure she could handle the pressure of trauma work, where every second counted.

That excuse held up.

For about three days.

Then it started to crack. Every time he caught himself watching her, every time their banter left a strange warmth in his chest, every time he found himself wondering what she was like now.

It wasn’t just curiosity anymore.

And that realization unnerved him far more than any battlefield ever had.

Which was why, on a Tuesday afternoon in the trauma center, Dr. Baek Kanghyuk found himself more distracted than usual.

“Careful, Dr. Song,” he said as he glanced over from the trauma board, catching her scribbling notes with her pen half-capped. “You’re going to stain your lab coat with ink again. That’s the third one this week.”

Hyejoo didn’t even look up. “You keeping track of my lab coats now, Dr. Baek? That’s oddly domestic of you.”

He scoffed. “Just observant. Unlike some people who are too busy scribbling like a med student cramming before finals.”

She finally turned to him with a playful smile and a glint in her eyes. “Aw, are you reminiscing about our old study nights? Don’t tell me you’re still thinking about the way you kept sneaking glances at me over your notes—trying so hard to pretend you weren’t impressed.”

Kanghyuk raised a brow, lips parting for a rebuttal. “Now hold on—”

But for once, nothing came out. His brain stalled. The mental comeback he was crafting simply… vanished, replaced by the memory of her across a library table, head tilted, the edge of her mouth curled in exactly that same way.

He blinked.

The silence lasted a beat too long.

Jaewon let out a wheeze from behind them. “Did… Did Dr. Baek just short-circuit?”

Jangmi was already clutching her chest, barely containing her laughter. “Looks like we finally have someone who can handle Dr. Baek.”

Kanghyuk exhaled slowly, shooting them both a flat look. “Don’t you two have charts to update?”

They laughed harder.

Hyejoo turned away, smug and unbothered, brushing past Kanghyuk with a chuckle. “I’ll be in trauma bay two if you want to keep score, Doctor.”

He watched her go, still trying to formulate a response. Something sharp. Something clever. Anything.

But nothing came.

Jaewon clapped him on the back. “You’ve finally met your match huh?”

“I’ve been waiting for this my whole life.” Jangmi said with a wide grin on her face.

Kanghyuk groaned, rubbing his temples. “You two talk too much.”

And yet… the corner of his mouth tugged upward.

Because maybe—just maybe—he didn’t mind losing this round.

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Trauma Code: A Hero in Love - Chapter List

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