…So you’re still in touch with her? Well, of course, from Hae-hyun’s perspective there’d be no reason to suddenly cut things off—but realizing it still left a bitter taste in Jae-ha’s mouth. He tried to sound casual, like he wasn’t prying too much.
“Who is it?”
“Ah… nobody.”
Hae-hyun answered half-heartedly, irritation plain on his face. Was he hiding something? Come to think of it, he’d never once given a straight answer about this “her.”
“Then answer it.”
Jae-ha jerked his chin toward the phone blaring so loudly it was practically announcing itself to the whole forest. But Hae-hyun shook his head.
“No, I’ll just… later.”
Without warning, Jae-ha reached out and clamped a hand over his mouth. Hae-hyun froze, but Jae-ha ignored him, straining his ears.
He was certain—something strange had slipped between the rings.
The ringtone was so obnoxious it was hard to be sure, but… it sounded like footsteps. Narrowing his eyes, Jae-ha fixed his gaze on the dark thicket ahead. For a second, it looked like the grass in that shadowy patch had stirred.
“…Did you hear that?”
He whispered as he pulled his hand away. Hae-hyun only blinked, silent. What was with him? Only after Jae-ha tapped his arm twice did he seem to snap out of it. Meanwhile, the ringtone still droned on.
“Wh-what?”
“There’s something over—”
Before he could finish, the sound came again. This time it was sharp, distinct, and rhythmic—like someone striding straight toward them.
“Hey, Ju Hae-hyun!”
A sharp voice rang out as someone burst through the underbrush. Instinctively, Jae-ha stepped in front of Hae-hyun, but faltered. Did they know each other?
“Are you out of your mind? What are you doing, laying your phone out like it’s part of an ancestral rite? A phone’s for answering calls, idiot.”
The woman’s voice dripped with annoyance. She had appeared suddenly in the middle of a mountain trail, her figure still hidden by the shadows, but the glow of her phone screen lit up her cheek.
Which meant… she was probably the one calling.
“You begged me to come so desperately, and now you ditch me for something else? Trying to sneak away already?”
So this is her.
The realization hit Jae-ha like a punch. Hae-hyun had come here with a girl. To Daeseong-ri, of all places. The pension village.
The conclusion was obvious.
“…I’m intruding, then.”
His voice trembled at the end. Out on a midnight stroll, were they? The chill in his tone made Hae-hyun whip his head around, startled.
“If you came here with a girl, you could’ve just said so. Have fun.”
Jae-ha immediately turned to leave, but Hae-hyun grabbed his arm in a panic. He looked genuinely confused.
“Sunbae, wait. I’ll take you back.”
“No need.”
Jae-ha wrenched his arm free. Hae-hyun flinched, then let go, staring up at him with wide, shaken eyes. But Jae-ha ignored him and started walking.
“I’m leaving.”
So I step away for one night and you take the chance to sneak out with a girl? Like you were just waiting for it?
His insides boiled. If the business department hadn’t organized this stupid ghost-story retreat, he never would’ve found out Hae-hyun had spent the night out with her.
It didn’t even make sense, but the sense of betrayal still clenched him tight. The anger, the hurt—it was unbearable.
“Sunbae!”
“Well, well.”
Footsteps caught up behind him, followed by a voice smooth and playful, completely different from the sharp, nagging tone from before.
“Running off so fast? You’re twenty-five—don’t you even check your fortune compatibility?”
The phrasing struck him with déjà vu. He hesitated. In that instant, the woman spun him around to face her.
Her face emerged from the shadows, as stunning as ever. Under the moonlight, she was a beauty impossible to forget.
“Nice to see you again. We said we’d greet each other if we met, didn’t we?”
Her wide grin radiated confidence, like she had always expected this reunion.
“There are so many buildings at your campus—it’s like a maze. I kept getting lost, and every time I regretted it. I should’ve gotten your number no matter what….”
She sighed dramatically, then suddenly grabbed both his hands. Her skin was a little dry, her palms warm as they pressed against his.
“But I was grateful. That guy had disappeared on me, and I showed up out of nowhere—it was a mess. Thanks to you, we finally met again.”
The more she talked, the more absurd it felt. He’d gone out of his way to prevent this very meeting, and yet he’d ended up making it happen. If sabotage were a skill, he’d mastered it. Speechless, he stood there, while Hae-hyun—who had been frozen—marched over, furious.
“What the hell? How do you two know each other? Sunbae, do you know her?”
His voice was sharp, almost accusing. And who the hell do you think you’re talking to like that? Jae-ha glared, but Hae-hyun didn’t even notice. He ripped the woman’s hands away from Jae-ha instead.
“Hey, what are you doing? Don’t butt in.”
She snapped at him, scowling. Hae-hyun’s brows knitted.
“Butt in? Butt in what?”
“You think it’s every day I get to see a guy this handsome? Get lost.”
With a cold rebuke, she shoved him aside and moved toward Jae-ha again. But Hae-hyun blocked her, growling.
“So why are you looking at my sunbae?”
The hostility in his voice was unmistakable.
The whole scene was ridiculous, and Jae-ha let out a bitter laugh. Was Hae-hyun seriously guarding him—afraid she might steal him away?
Exhaustion set in all at once. Pressing his fingers to his brow, Jae-ha said flatly,
“You two came here together. Enjoy yourselves. I’ve got people waiting for me.”
He was already behind, and if he delayed any longer, someone would come looking. The last thing he wanted was to play out some embarrassing love triangle in front of his classmates.
“Oh?”
Her eyes widened. She looked between them with an odd expression.
“It’s fine—you can come with us.”
…Come where?
The sheer audacity made him falter. In that moment, her carefree words landed like a blow.
“Why act all shy? You’re a date—of course you’d want to spend time together. I’ve got things to do, but a little while’s fine.”
The words registered, but his mind blanked. What the hell is she talking about? While he stared at her, stunned, Hae-hyun exploded.
“Noona! What are you saying?!”
His voice was so loud it echoed down the trail. She winced, muttering about the noise.
“Sunbae and I on a date? We’re not even dating!”
Hae-hyun’s face was hidden in shadow, but Jae-ha could swear it was flushed red. Regardless, she calmly retorted,
“Your energy’s smeared all over him. He’s marked up like a dog drooled on its toy.”
“That’s because of circumstances! We just live together. Sunbae’s got a weird curse on him!”
“Curse? Ah… now that you mention it, something is inside. So that’s why you begged for an ID to the Guardian Agency archives? But honestly, your energy’s so strong it drowns everything else out, kid.”
“It was serious at first!”
Isn’t he protesting a little too much? Jae-ha narrowed his eyes. Sure, what Hae-hyun said wasn’t wrong, but the way he was so desperate to deny it—like he couldn’t bear her misunderstanding—was grating.
“Really? So you two aren’t dating?”
She turned to Jae-ha. For a second, he considered lying. But what was the point? With a quiet sigh, he answered,
“No.”
“Ah, I see. Then I misunderstood. Sorry about that.”
She apologized easily. Bitterness welled up, but he just nodded. Then suddenly, she leaned in close.
“Then how about dating me?”
“…What?”
As Jae-ha frowned, Hae-hyun’s panicked shout cut through the night.
“Noona!”
The situation was spiraling into farce. But she ignored him and caught Jae-ha’s hand again.
“Ah, I don’t mean right this second. I mean, let’s get to know each other with that in mind. You’re single, right? I’m actually really devoted when I’m in a relationship. You’d like it.”
Hae-hyun practically jumped out of his skin. His eyes went wide as saucers.
“Noona, you already have a boyfriend!”
