The house was unusually quiet that night.
After the farewell party, the unexpected reveal, the argument with Seo Jina, the conversation with their teacher, and finally making things right with Emily and Min-jae, Yerin felt like she had lived through an entire month in one day.
She stepped into their room and immediately dropped her bag beside the chair.
"I'm exhausted."
Do-hyun closed the door behind them.
"Same."
He took two steps toward the bed before suddenly stopping.
His hand went to his lower back.
Yerin noticed.
"Your back?"
He sighed.
"It's fine."
"You're holding your back."
"I'm still fine."
Yerin gave him a look.
"You have a terrible definition of fine."
He ignored her and walked toward the couch.
Yerin watched him sit down.
The moment his back touched the couch, his expression tightened.
She shook her head.
"That's definitely not fine."
"It's just sore."
"From the farewell?"
"Probably."
Yerin rubbed her shoulder.
"Then we're both falling apart."
Do-hyun looked at her.
"Your shoulder hurts too?"
"A little."
"Then you should sleep."
"So should you."
"I'll sleep here."
Yerin looked at the couch.
Then at him.
"You're seriously sleeping there?"
"It's comfortable enough."
"It isn't."
"It is."
"It absolutely isn't."
Do-hyun raised an eyebrow.
"You've never slept on it."
"I've sat on it."
"That's not the same thing."
Yerin sighed.
"Just sleep on the bed."
He immediately shook his head.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because you'll be uncomfortable."
Yerin stared at him.
"We've literally shared a bed before."
"That doesn't mean you have to."
She crossed her arms.
"Do-hyun."
"Yerin."
"You're being stubborn."
"So are you."
She rolled her eyes.
"Fine. Sleep on the couch and complain about your back tomorrow."
He looked at her for a moment.
Then sighed.
"You're really not going to let this go?"
"No."
He stood.
"Fine."
Yerin smiled slightly.
"But we're staying on opposite sides."
"Obviously."
They both climbed onto the bed.
Yerin moved toward one side.
Do-hyun moved toward the other.
There was almost an entire pillow's worth of distance between them.
Yerin pulled the blanket up.
"See? Completely normal."
Do-hyun looked at the space between them.
"Very normal."
"Good."
"Good."
Neither spoke again.
Eventually, the room became silent.
Hours later, Yerin slowly opened her eyes.
The room was dark.
She glanced toward the clock.
It was well past midnight.
Do-hyun was still asleep beside her.
Yerin couldn't fall back asleep.
She reached for her phone and began scrolling through the news.
Most of it was meaningless.
Then a headline caught her attention.
She stopped.
BREAKING: Authorities Investigate Alleged Illegal Development and Distribution Network Linked to Dangerous Chemical Product
Yerin frowned.
She opened the article.
The report mentioned an organization that had allegedly been developing a highly dangerous chemical compound under the cover of a private industrial project.
Several names were listed as people and companies being investigated.
Yerin slowly scrolled.
Then stopped.
Her heart dropped.
She read the name again.
Then again.
Hwang.
Her father's name.
Her fingers went cold.
"No..."
She whispered.
She looked toward Do-hyun.
He was still asleep.
Yerin stared at him.
For a moment, she considered waking him.
Her hand even moved slightly toward his shoulder.
But she stopped.
She didn't know why.
Maybe because she wasn't sure what the news meant yet.
Maybe because she didn't want to drag him into another problem.
Or maybe because she knew that once she told him, there would be no way to pretend this wasn't happening.
She opened her messages.
Her thumb hovered over Ji-hoon's name.
Then she typed.
Are you in the city?
She waited.
Nothing.
She sent another.
Are you awake?
A few minutes passed.
Then her phone vibrated.
Yes.
Yerin immediately sat up.
Can you meet me? Right now?
There was a pause.
Then—
Where?
Yerin quietly left the room.
She didn't want to wake Do-hyun.
A little later, she found Ji-hoon waiting outside.
The moment he saw her expression, his smile disappeared.
"What happened?"
Yerin immediately showed him the article.
Ji-hoon read it.
His face changed.
"You saw this?"
"Of course I saw it."
"Yerin—"
"Why is Dad's name there?"
Ji-hoon looked away.
"You shouldn't have seen this."
"That's not an answer."
He remained silent.
Yerin stepped closer.
"Ji-hoon."
He finally looked at her.
"There are things going on that I haven't been able to explain."
"Then explain them now."
"I can't."
"Why?"
"Because I don't have all the answers either."
Yerin's frustration grew.
"Then what do you know?"
Ji-hoon sighed.
"I know enough to understand that this isn't something we can ignore."
Yerin stared at him.
"What are you planning?"
He didn't answer immediately.
That was answer enough.
"Ji-hoon."
"I'm leaving."
Yerin's expression changed.
"What?"
"I'm going abroad."
Her eyes widened.
"When?"
"Very soon."
"Why didn't you tell anyone?"
"Because I don't want everyone panicking before I know what I'm dealing with."
Yerin shook her head.
"You can't just leave the country without telling Mom or Grandma."
"I can if I have to."
"No."
"Yerin—"
"No. Ji-hoon, you're talking about going into something dangerous alone."
"I'm not going there blindly."
"Then what are you doing?"
"I'm going to find out what's actually happening."
Yerin stared at him.
"And what are you going to tell everyone?"
He hesitated.
"I'll tell them I'm going out of the city for a few days."
Yerin's eyes widened.
"You're going to lie to them?"
"I'll tell them the truth when I come back."
"You don't know if you'll be back."
Ji-hoon's expression softened.
"I will."
Yerin looked down.
"Do-hyun should know."
"No."
She looked up.
"Why?"
"Because once he knows, he'll get involved."
"Maybe he should."
"No."
Ji-hoon's voice became firm.
"I need you to promise me something."
"What?"
"Don't tell anyone where I'm actually going."
Yerin stared at him.
"I don't like this."
"I know."
"I really don't."
She took a slow breath.
"Fine."
Ji-hoon nodded.
"Thank you."
"But you better come back."
He smiled faintly.
"I will."
Yerin returned to the bedroom sometime later.
The room was still dark.
Do-hyun hadn't moved.
She stood beside the bed for a moment.
She looked at him.
She wanted to tell him.
She almost did.
But Ji-hoon's words stopped her.
Don't tell anyone.
Yerin quietly climbed into bed.
She pulled the blanket over herself.
Then turned off the lamp.
Within minutes, exhaustion finally took over.
The first thing Do-hyun noticed when he woke up was the weight against his arm.
He blinked.
Then froze.
Yerin was asleep beside him.
More accurately—
she was sleeping against him.
Her head rested on his arm.
One of her legs had somehow ended up across his.
Do-hyun stared at her.
For several seconds, he didn't move.
Her hair had fallen across part of her face.
She looked completely peaceful.
He couldn't help but smile.
Very carefully, he lifted his free hand and moved a strand of hair away from her face.
Yerin stirred.
Do-hyun immediately froze.
Her eyes slowly opened.
Do-hyun immediately closed his eyes and lay back.
Yerin stared at him.
"Are you..."
She stopped.
He didn't move.
She narrowed her eyes.
"You're awake."
Nothing.
Yerin slowly pulled her leg away.
Then moved her head from his arm.
She sat up.
"Unbelievable."
Do-hyun kept his eyes closed.
But the corner of his mouth almost betrayed him.
Yerin quickly got off the bed.
A knock suddenly came from the door.
Both looked toward it.
Do-hyun sat up.
"Come in."
The door opened slightly.
A servant stood outside.
"Sir, your mother is leaving shortly. She asked if you could come downstairs."
Do-hyun nodded.
"We'll be down in five minutes."
The servant left.
Do-hyun looked at Yerin.
"She's leaving?"
"Apparently."
Yerin nodded.
"I'll change."
"So will I."
They both looked away at the same time.
Downstairs, Do-hyun's mother stood near the entrance with a small carry-on.
She looked elegant as always.
Yerin approached her.
"You're leaving today?"
"Yes."
"How long?"
"About a month."
Yerin nodded.
"Take care."
His mother smiled.
"I will."
She turned toward Do-hyun.
"And you."
"What?"
"Take care of yourself."
He sighed.
She glanced toward Yerin.
"And take care of her too."
Do-hyun looked at Yerin.
Yerin immediately looked away.
"Mother."
His mother laughed.
"I'm only saying."
A few minutes later, they watched her walk toward the waiting SUV.
A security vehicle was already positioned ahead.
Two more followed behind.
The convoy slowly moved through the gates.
Yerin watched until the cars disappeared.
Then she turned around.
The house suddenly felt much quieter.
By lunchtime, both Yerin and Do-hyun were bored.
They had spent most of the morning doing absolutely nothing.
Yerin was sitting on the sofa scrolling through her phone when Do-hyun walked in.
"Do you want to go shopping?"
She looked up.
"Shopping?"
"Yes."
"With you?"
He looked offended.
"What's wrong with that?"
"Nothing."
She stood.
"Let's go."
He smiled.
"That was easy."
"Don't get used to it."
The afternoon passed surprisingly well.
They walked through different stores.
Yerin picked up clothes and held them against Do-hyun just to annoy him.
"This would look good on you."
"No."
"Why?"
"It's ugly."
"You don't even know what it is."
"I know."
She laughed.
Later, Do-hyun bought something Yerin had been looking at.
She noticed the bag.
"You bought that?"
"No."
She stared at him.
"Then why is it in your hand?"
He looked down.
"Apparently I did."
Yerin smiled.
"Thank you."
"Don't make it a big deal."
"I wasn't going to."
They continued walking.
For a few hours, there were no mysteries.
No family problems.
No uncomfortable questions.
Just the two of them enjoying an ordinary day.
By the time they returned home, it was already evening.
Yerin placed her shopping bags down.
Her phone vibrated.
She looked at the screen.
Ji-hoon.
She opened the message.
At first, her expression softened.
Then she read the next line.
Her smile disappeared.
She read it again.
And again.
Her fingers slowly tightened around the phone.
Do-hyun, who was standing nearby, noticed the sudden change in her face.
"Yerin?"
She didn't answer.
She simply stared at the screen.
Because whatever Ji-hoon had discovered...
was far worse than what she had expected.
...To Be Continued...