Chapter 53: I panicked
The atmosphere inside the car was anything but quiet.
Ever since Dominic had ordered Mark to take Hannah home, she had obediently followed him out of the bar without a single complaint. But the moment she settled into the passenger seat, her drunken chatter returned with full force.
She had already asked Mark where he went to school, whether he preferred dogs or cats, if he secretly sang in the shower, and whether he had ever cried while watching a romance movie.
Mark had answered every question with remarkable patience. Until she asked the one question he least wanted to hear.
"It’s such a shame you don’t have a girlfriend, Mark."
Hannah rested her chin on her knuckles, her elbow propped against the armrest as she studied him with exaggerated seriousness.
"What woman in the world would ignore such a handsome man?"
Mark tightened his grip on the steering wheel. "...Miss Hannah, you’re drunk."
"I know."
"And you’re saying strange things."
"I’m telling the truth."
She pointed at him dramatically. "You’re tall."
Another finger. "Polite."
Another. "Reliable."
Another. "And your face isn’t ugly."
Mark couldn’t help letting out a laugh. "’Isn’t ugly’?"
"I’m trying to compliment you."
"...Thank you."
Hannah nodded proudly as if she had just accomplished something extraordinary.
"If I weren’t heartbroken, I’d even recommend you to my friends."
Mark smiled helplessly. "I appreciate the thought."
If only she knew...if only she knew that the reason he was still single was sitting right beside him.
His thoughts drifted back several years. He still remembered the first day he had seen Hannah. She had been leaving for university, wearing a simple floral dress with her hair tied into a ponytail.
She had looked so bright. So carefree. So innocent.
He had watched her happily wave goodbye to Dominic before skipping toward the gate.
That single smile had stayed with him for years.
Back then, he had already known there was someone else in her heart.
Eric.
So he buried his feelings before they had the chance to grow. Or at least... he had tried to.
"Mark?" Her voice pulled him back to reality.
"Hm?"
"What kind of girl do you like?"
He blinked.
"I can help you find a girlfriend."
Mark stared at her in surprise. "...You want to help me?"
"Of course."
She puffed out her chest proudly. "I’m very good at judging people."
Mark almost laughed. "Weren’t you dating Eric until tonight?"
"..."
She frowned. "...That’s a good point." Then she nodded solemnly. "Maybe I’m not that good."
"You think?"
She ignored his sarcasm. "So..." She leaned closer. "Do you like cute girls?"
"I suppose."
"Tall?"
"Height doesn’t matter."
"Short?"
"That doesn’t matter either."
"Rich?"
"No."
"Poor?"
"No."
"Smart?"
"Not necessarily."
"Funny?"
"It helps."
Hannah gasped dramatically. "You have no standards!"
"I didn’t say that."
"Then what do you actually want?"
Mark glanced at her. For a brief second... he almost answered honestly.
Someone like you.
Instead, he smiled faintly. "Someone kind."
Hannah stared at him.
"...That’s boring."
"I’m a boring man."
She shook her head dramatically. "No. You need excitement."
"I disagree."
"You need someone who argues with you."
"No."
"Someone who steals your food."
"...No."
"Someone who snores."
"Definitely not."
She sighed. "You’re impossible."
"So I’ve been told," he shrugged, smiling at her faintly.
The car fell quiet for the first time that night. Outside, the city lights slowly gave way to darker roads. Suddenly, Hannah sat upright.
"Stop the car."
Mark frowned. "What?"
"Stop."
She pointed toward the road ahead.
"There."
Mark followed her finger. A quiet mountain viewpoint overlooked the city below.
"...Miss Hannah?"
"Please." Her voice was much softer now. "I just... want some air."
After a brief hesitation, Mark pulled the car over. The moment the car stopped, Hannah stepped out.
The cool night breeze brushed against her face. She slowly walked toward the safety railing overlooking the glowing city lights.
Mark followed a few steps behind. For a while... neither of them spoke. Then Hannah suddenly whispered,
"...Why wasn’t I enough?"
Mark’s heart tightened.
"He said he loved me." Her voice cracked. "I believed every word."
She laughed bitterly. "I even imagined our wedding."
A tear rolled down her cheek "I kept thinking...if I loved him enough, he’d never leave."
Another tear followed. "But he still cheated." Her shoulders trembled.
"What did I do wrong?"
Mark quietly stood beside her. He watched her silently for some time before speaking.
"You did nothing wrong."
"I wasn’t pretty enough."
"You are."
"I wasn’t interesting enough."
"You are."
"I wasn’t worth staying for."
"You are."
She turned to look at him with red, watery eyes. "Then why?" she asked.
Mark searched for an answer. None came. Instead, in the clumsiest attempt to comfort her, he awkwardly reached into his pocket.
"...Here."
Hannah looked down.
"...A mint?"
Mark nodded. "I..." He cleared his throat. "...People usually feel better after eating something."
Hannah stared at the tiny mint resting in his palm. For three whole seconds. Then she suddenly burst into laughter.
"You..." She laughed so hard that tears continued falling.
"...You’re terrible at comforting people."
"I know."
"I’ve been crying my heart out...and you gave me a mint," she asked.
"I panicked."
She laughed even harder. "I can tell."
Still chuckling, Hannah took one step closer.
"So..." She looked up at him. "...What do I get for laughing instead of crying?"
Before Mark could answer, Hannah rose onto her tiptoes. She gently cupped his cheek. Then, without the slightest warning... she pressed a soft kiss against his lips.
Mark’s eyes widened in complete shock. His mind went utterly blank.
Hannah pulled away just as quickly, blinking at him with the same drunken innocence as before.
"...See?"
She smiled lazily. "You made me feel better."
Mark remained frozen in place. The untouched mint was still clutched tightly in his hand.
And for the first time in years...the calm, composed assistant completely forgot how to think. It wasn’t until his gaze met Hannah’s that he dropped his guard and cupped the back of her neck with a smooth movement, pulling her in for a long kiss.