Chaewon looked at him curiously.
Han hesitated for a moment, then unfolded the paper with slightly trembling fingers.
He began reading.
"I'm writing this to apologize for what I said to you that day in the basketball dressing room. I know my words hurt you. They were unfair… and they came from anger.
I thought you were indeed responsible for the assault and NEXON disbanded. Everything online pointed at you. But what made me angrier was that you never defended yourself. You never said anything.
I don't know what you went through. I still don't. But I know I was wrong to judge you without understanding it."
He paused.
His grip tightened slightly on the paper.
"When I was in school… I was going through the worst time of my life. I can't explain everything. It's personal. But I know this much…"
His voice lowered.
"If I hadn't found NEXON, I don't think I would've made it this far."
Silence settled in the room.
Han's hands trembled slightly as he lowered the paper.
Then he looked straight at Chaewon.
"…I'm sorry."
For a moment, Chaewon didn't respond. His expression stayed still too still. But his eyes softened just slightly.
Mark broke the silence first with a lazy chuckle.
"Alright, alright. That's deep. But Han, you didn't have to go that far. He's not that fragile."
He leaned back on the couch.
"Sit down. Finish your noodles before they get cold."
Han gave a small, relieved smile and returned to his seat. Chaewon said nothing.
He turned away quietly and walked into the other room. When he came back later, the atmosphere had shifted. Laughter filled the living room.
Jiwoong was laughing loudly.
"Where did you even find this guy? He's insane—in a good way. Keep him here."
Han was smiling too now, more relaxed than before. Chaewon stopped at the edge of the room. He didn't interrupt. He just watched.
Something in his chest tightened.
Han looked different like this.
Not distant. Not guarded.
Just… alive.
And without realizing it, Chaewon kept staring.
Too long.
He only snapped out of it when Han's eyes briefly met him.
"Chaewon," Jiwoong called. "Aren't you going to see him off?"
Chaewon blinked.
"…He's leaving?"
Hanbin shrugged. "Yeah. You were spacing out."
Chaewon stood quickly.
Han also got up.
Hanbin waved casually.
"Come again sometime."
Han smiled.
"I will."
At the door, the space between them felt awkward again.
Han spoke first.
"Okay… I'll go."
Chaewon hesitated.
"I can drop you."
"No, it's fine. I can drive."
A pause.
Then Han added softly,
"I'm sorry… about before. I really blamed you without knowing anything."
Chaewon shook his head.
"You don't need to keep apologizing."
Then, after a beat,
"I should also apologize. That day… I didn't do it on purpose. It was an accident."
Han nodded quickly.
"…Okay. I trust you."
A small silence. Then Han added, almost quietly,
"But let's keep this between us."
Chaewon's eyes flickered slightly.
"…Alright. I promise."
Han smiled once, small and genuine, then turned to leave. He paused at the gate.
Without turning fully, he said,
"Thanks… for listening to me."
Then he left.
Chaewon closed the door. For a moment, he didn't move. His hand stayed pressed against the door, like he was grounding himself.
Then he exhaled slowly.
"…What is this?"
He turned around and froze.
All the members were standing there.