Training to be in love

Liliana Valehart had never been good at pretending.

She could lie, deceive, manipulate, and infiltrate with flawless precision—but pretending to feel something she didn’t?

That was different.

That required vulnerability.

And vulnerability was a luxury she’d never allowed herself.

Yet here she was, standing in the middle of Ryang‑ha Song’s living room, staring at a list titled:

“Daily Married Couple Exercises.”

Ryang‑ha held the paper like it was a grocery list.

“Ready?”

“No.”

“Too bad.”

---

💞 Exercise 1: Natural Touch

Ryang‑ha stepped toward her, closing the distance until she could feel the warmth radiating off him.

“Relax,” he murmured.

“I am relaxed.”

“You’re stiff as a corpse.”

She glared. “Romantic.”

He took her hand gently, his thumb brushing her knuckles.

Liliana’s breath hitched—just slightly, but enough for him to notice.

“See?” he said softly. “You’re nervous.”

“I’m not—”

He lifted her chin with two fingers, forcing her to meet his eyes.

“Liliana. If you can’t handle me holding your hand, how are you going to survive a week pretending to be in love with me?”

She hated that he was right.

She hated even more that his touch made her heart race.

“Again,” she said through clenched teeth.

He smiled. “Good girl.”

She nearly punched him.

---

💞 Exercise 2: Eye Contact

They sat on the couch, knees touching, staring at each other.

Ryang‑ha looked perfectly comfortable.

Liliana felt like she was being dissected.

“Stop analyzing me,” she muttered.

“I’m not analyzing. I’m observing.”

“That’s worse.”

He leaned in slightly. “Your eyes change color when you’re annoyed.”

“They do not.”

“They do. They get darker.”

She blinked, thrown off. “Why are you paying attention to that?”

“Because married couples notice everything.”

His voice was low, intimate.

Too intimate.

Liliana looked away. “Next exercise.”

---

💞 Exercise 3: Sharing Secrets

Ryang‑ha handed her a card. “Lucy wants us to exchange personal details. Things only a spouse would know.”

Liliana stiffened. “I don’t do personal.”

“You do now.”

She hesitated, then forced herself to speak.

“My favorite color is black.”

He snorted. “Obviously.”

She glared. “Fine. Your turn.”

He didn’t hesitate.

“I hate thunderstorms.”

Liliana blinked. “You? Afraid of storms?”

“Not afraid. I just… don’t like them.”

She studied him.

For once, he wasn’t smirking.

He wasn’t teasing.

He wasn’t hiding.

It was the first real thing he’d ever told her.

“Why?” she asked quietly.

He looked away. “Next question.”

She didn’t push.

But she didn’t forget.

---

💞 Exercise 4: The First Kiss (Optional)

Liliana froze when she read the next line.

Ryang‑ha raised a brow. “Optional.”

“Good. We’re skipping it.”

He shrugged. “If you say so.”

But the way he said it—casual, confident, knowing—made her pulse spike.

She hated that he had this effect on her.

Hated that he knew it.

---

🕵️‍♀️ The Interruption

A sudden knock shattered the moment.

Ryang‑ha’s expression sharpened instantly.

“Stay behind me.”

He approached the door silently, hand on the concealed weapon at his back.

Liliana moved to the side, ready to strike.

He opened the door—

And a small drone zipped inside, landing on the table with a soft click.

A red light blinked.

Liliana’s eyes widened. “Is that—”

“Lucy,” Ryang‑ha finished.

The drone projected a hologram of Lucy Garcia, arms crossed, expression severe.

“Good morning, lovebirds,” she said dryly. “I hope you’re bonding.”

Liliana muttered, “Define bonding.”

Lucy ignored her. “Change of plans. The Marquez Syndicate moved up their retreat. You leave tomorrow.”

Liliana’s stomach dropped. “Tomorrow? We’re not ready.”

“You’ll have to be,” Lucy said. “Your cover identities are already circulating. The syndicate expects you.”

Ryang‑ha nodded. “We’ll be prepared.”

Lucy’s gaze sharpened. “One more thing. We intercepted chatter. Someone inside the syndicate knows there’s a mole. They’re hunting for the infiltrators.”

Liliana felt a chill. “So they’ll be watching us even more closely.”

“Exactly,” Lucy said. “One wrong move, one slip in your cover, and they’ll kill you both.”

The hologram flickered out.

Silence filled the room.

Ryang‑ha turned to her. “We need to step it up.”

Liliana nodded, but her mind was racing.

Tomorrow.

They were leaving tomorrow.

And she still wasn’t sure she could trust him.

Or herself.

---

🔥 The Almost-Kiss (For Real This Time)

That night, after hours of training, they stood in the kitchen, exhausted.

Ryang‑ha leaned against the counter. “You did good today.”

Liliana scoffed. “I almost broke your nose.”

“And yet,” he said, stepping closer, “you didn’t.”

She swallowed. “Ryang‑ha…”

He brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

Slow.

Gentle.

Dangerous.

“We need to look real tomorrow,” he whispered.

“I know.”

“Then we should practice.”

Her breath caught. “Practice what?”

He didn’t answer.

He didn’t need to.

He leaned in—slowly, giving her time to pull away.

She didn’t.

Their lips were inches apart when—

Her phone buzzed violently.

She jerked back, heart pounding.

Ryang‑ha exhaled, frustrated but composed. “Saved by the bell.”

She glared. “Shut up.”

But her cheeks were burning.

And he noticed.

---

🕵️‍♂️ The Threat

Liliana checked her phone.

A message.

No sender.

Just one line:

“We know who you are.”

Her blood ran cold.

Ryang‑ha saw her expression and grabbed the phone.

His jaw tightened.

“They’re already watching us,” he said.

Liliana met his eyes.

For the first time, she wasn’t afraid of him.

She wasn’t annoyed.

She wasn’t conflicted.

She was scared.

And Ryang‑ha stepped closer, placing a hand on her shoulder.

“We’ll get through this,” he said quietly. “Together.”

She didn’t pull away.

Because for the first time…

She believed him.

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