Minji was still reading the note Zoya had been writing for the past several minutes.
These days, the writing pad had practically become her phone—silent messages travelling from one person to another, though for now they moved only between her and Minji.
Minji and the others had only just arrived.
Zoya had been sitting quietly in the living room, absently scrolling through television channels, her attention barely on the screen. The moment she saw them step inside, she straightened slightly and quickly held out the note she had already prepared, placing it directly in front of Minji.
Minji, who had just lifted a bottle of water to her lips, paused mid-sip and lowered it, her eyes scanning the page.
"Minji, all of you should go. Your studies are suffering too much because of me. Don't worry about me. I can stay with Mr and Mrs Donghyun. I know they'll welcome me with all their heart. I'll get my treatment done and come back. Even after just one proper dose, I can already feel some difference—the swelling feels less. I'll be back in a week. Ji-ho is here too. I'll be completely fine."
When she finished reading, Minji slowly looked up at her.
Don't stare at me like that. I'm serious. You're all losing too much because of me, and I'll be safe at Mr Donghyun's house. She wrote again.
Her eyes silently pleaded for understanding.
"Zoya," Minji said softly, "Ji-won still hasn't been arrested. They're still looking for her. We can't just leave you like this."
Without hesitation, Zoya wrote again.
I won't go out. I'll stay inside. Either at home, or I'll only leave with Ji-ho for checkups. I can even stay at the restaurant where people can keep an eye on me. She laughs softly.
"But we'll still worry," Minji replied.
Zoya's pen pressed harder this time, the strokes sharper and faster.
I don't need pity. I need your support. I've told you this before.
There was a firmness in her expression that made Minji pause.
She read the words again, then slowly lifted her gaze.
The other three had been silently watching their exchange from across the room.
Zoya turned her face away.
Guilt sat heavily in her chest.
The semester had already started. Ruhi and Hana needed to focus on finding jobs. She couldn't keep watching everyone place their lives on hold because of her.
They were kind.
Too kind.
But that didn't mean she had the right to become their responsibility forever.
She was still lost in her thoughts when Minji's voice startled her.
"Hey. Look at me."
A moment later, Zoya slowly turned back.
"Fine," Minji said at last. "We'll agree... but only if you agree to one thing too."
Zoya frowned.
What?
Minji gestured toward Hana.
Without a word, Hana reached for a gift bag sitting on the table and handed it over. Minji took it and placed it in front of Zoya.
"You're keeping this," she said firmly. "We need to stay in contact with you."
Confused, Zoya opened the bag.
Her eyes widened.
A phone.
She immediately shook her head.
"No."
"Then we're not going anywhere," Minji replied flatly.
Zoya let out a silent sigh and quickly scribbled another note.
Fine. I'll keep it. But first call Ji-ho and tell him to come right now. Honestly, "When you stepped inside, I felt like abandoning the note and walking away right before your eyes… because somehow, you had left me caged here. And there was nothing to eat. Whatever little you'd left behind, I didn't even know how to cook. I started with anger in my voice, but by the end, it melted into quiet, helpless innocence."
The accusation was so dramatic that everyone burst into laughter.
"Not yet," I called to Ji-ho later, Minji said, already pulling out her own phone. "First, I need to talk to Jeon.J."
As she dialled, Zoya frowned and wrote another line.
Minji, I'm leaving, and all of you are going too. I mean it. Staying here like this feels uncomfortable.
Minji glanced at the note, then ignored it completely as she pressed the phone to her ear.
"Will you be staying at Mr Donghyun's anyway?" Sophia asked curiously.
At that, Zoya's expression softened.
"It feels... familiar there," she said quietly. "Safe. The way Mr and Mrs Donghyun talk to me, the way they care... it feels like family."
"And Ji-ho?" Hana's question came gently.
But the effect was immediate.
The entire room fell silent.
Zoya looked up.
Every eye was fixed on her.
Waiting.
Even through Minji's phone, someone on the other side of the line had gone completely still, listening.
Zoya lowered her gaze for a moment before writing.
He's a good person.
Then after a pause, she spoke aloud, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Whenever Seoul hurt me, broke something inside me, I always found Ji-ho right there beside me, like he had been waiting all along."
On the other end of the call, Jeon.J's grip around his phone tightened.
For reasons he couldn't explain, those words stung far more than they should have.
Then—
"Oooooooooo…"
Hana, Sophia, and Ruhi dragged the sound out together, instantly dissolving into laughter.
Sophia dramatically placed a hand over her chest.
"Wow. Listen to her." She gasped theatrically. "'It feels like family there.'"
"Jeon.J?"
"Looking at it this way, Busan didn't suit you, and now even Seoul isn't working for you… So, how about we try a visit to Jeonju?" Hana said with a laugh.
A smile tugged at Zoya's lips. She quickly picked up her notepad, scribbled something down, then held it out for everyone to read.
Sophia leaned closer and read aloud dramatically,
"Say whatever you want, I'm still here… and now South Korea will just have to accept me."
The room instantly erupted into laughter.
Minji, who still had her phone pressed to her ear, glanced over at them and smiled.
On the other end of the line, inside the practice room, Joen.J sat with his head resting against the back of the sofa. He heard every single word Sophia read out.
Then leave. Korea doesn't suit you. Why don't you go?
The thought came sharp and irritated, a faint scowl settling over his face.
The sound of the girls' laughter echoed through the phone.
"Minji, are you just standing there?" Hana called out.
"I'll talk to Joen.J and come back," Minji replied before heading toward the kitchen.
They had all just returned from wandering around outside, and no one had eaten yet, Zoya too, so Minji had to prepare something while staying on the call.
The moment Zoya saw Minji heading toward the kitchen, she quietly followed.
Obviously, she wanted to see where the kitchen of this black house had hidden the dishes — the very dishes she had wasted so much of her time searching for.
As Minji stepped inside, she spoke into the phone.
Minji:
정국아, 걔가 여기 더 있고 싶어하지 않아. 어차피 우리도 곧 돌아가니까 혼자 남지도 않을 거야.
(Jeongguk-ah, gyae yeogi deo itgo sipeo haji ana. Eochapi urido got doraganikka honja namjido aneul geoya.)
"Jeon.J, she doesn't want to stay here any longer. Anyway, we'll all be back soon, so she won't be left alone."
Joen.J straightened immediately.
Joen.J:
그럼 어디 있을 건데?
(Geureom eodi isseul geonde?)
"Then where will she stay?"
Minji:
지호 집에 있을 거야.
(Ji-ho jibe isseul geoya.)
"She'll stay at Ji-ho's house."
The second Ji-ho's name left her lips, Joen.J's face hardened.
He lifted his head fully, sitting upright.
Joen.J:
걔 집이 내 집보다 더 안전해? 아니면 더 편해?
(Gyae jibi nae jiboda deo anjeonhae? Animyeon deo pyeonhae?)
"Is his house safer than mine? Or more comfortable than mine?"
Minji let out a quiet sigh.
Minji:
정국아, 나도 몰라. 그냥 걔가 편한 곳에 있게 두는 거야. 내가 억지로 못 말려.
(Jeongguk-ah, nado molla. Geunyang gyaega pyeonhan gose itge duneun geoya. Naega eokjiro mot mallyeo.)
"Jeon.J, I don't know. I'm just letting her stay where she feels comfortable. I can't force her."
As she spoke, her hand brushed the edge of the counter.
The cabinet popped open.
And there they were.
The dishes.
Zoya, who had just entered the kitchen, froze.
Her mouth fell open.
Then, without hesitation, she rushed forward, gently shoved Minji aside, and stared into the cabinet as though she'd just discovered hidden treasure.
Minji blinked at her expression, completely stunned.
How was she supposed to know that while they'd all been out for hours, Zoya had apparently spent that entire time searching for cookware?
A grin spread across Minji's face.
"Why are you staring at those dishes the way you stare at Teahun?"
Zoya spun around instantly and shot her a glare, puffing out her cheeks.
The expression was so absurdly innocent that Minji burst into laughter.
And unexpectedly, so did Joen.J.
Across the practice room, Hosu looked over.
Hosu:
왜 웃어? 누구랑 통화하는데?
(Wae useo? Nugurang tonghwahaneunde?)
"Why are you laughing? Who are you talking to?"
Joen.J laughed again.
"I'm talking to Minji."
Minjo smirked. "Ohhh. Minji?"
Joen.J shot him a glare. "Yes. Minji."
Before he could react, Teahun snatched the phone from his hand and turned on the speaker.
Instantly, everyone in the practice room fell silent, ears tuned toward the incoming voices.
Then Minji's puzzled voice rang through.
"Why are you staring at me now? First the dishes, now me? Don't tell me you're thinking of Teahun?"
The room was silent before the storm of laughter.
Teahun's ears practically perked up at the sound of his name.
Meanwhile, Joen.J was already laughing.
"Why are you laughing?" Teahun demanded.
Minji finally noticed the voice.
Realising the call was now on speaker, she set her own phone on the counter.
Then she said, smiling.
"Teahun, she was staring at those dishes the same way she stares at you."
The practice room exploded with laughter.
"What happened?" Minji asked, heading toward the fridge.
Then Teahun's mischievous voice echoed through the speaker.
"Hey, since when did the mute start talking? Minji, you're teasing Zoya, right?" Teahun teased Zoya with dramatic laughs
Zoya glared at Minji's phone, then at Minji herself as she pulled vegetables from the fridge.
Minji set the chopping board down.
Without even looking up, she replied—
"Teahun, if you don't want to become speechless yourself, you'd better keep your mouth shut."
Everyone burst out laughing.
Teahun dramatically gasped.
Then, grinning, he said—
Meanwhile, Zoya was still staring at the dishes.
Minji raised an eyebrow.
"Seriously? Still the dishes?"
Zoya puffed out her cheeks and nodded.
Then Teahun's laughter thundered through the speaker.
"Has she actually fallen in love with those dishes?"
This time, even Joen.J couldn't stop himself from laughing.
"Take care of your silent friend first. Then turn on video call. I need to see what state Jeon.J's house is in. The guy who never even lets us inside handed his place over to five girls." Teahun started his own drama again.
Minji started slicing onions and said.
"Jeon.J may have left the house with us, but he's definitely keeping an eye on everything. He's way too sensitive."
Joen.J sat up straighter.
"Sensitive?" he repeated, offended.
Hosu and Minjo laughed.
"Hnhhh—"
The sound had barely escaped when Zoya snapped her head toward Minji.
Hearing that faint little noise, Teahun burst into laughter from the other side of the phone.
"Minji, your voiceless friend has finally started making sounds. Even if it's just an hnhhh."
He said it again, grinning shamelessly.
Minji shot the phone a warning glare.
"Teahun, shut up. Or two days from now, your voice might disappear too. Then let's see how you manage your concert."
Teahun leaned back, unfazed.
"Why? Is winter arriving in two days, and planning to attack my throat?"
When had Teahun ever learned to back down?
Minji smirked.
"No. I'll become winter myself and personally press my knee against your throat."
Teahun's eyes widened dramatically.
"Wait— you're coming in two days? That means all of you are coming?"
Jinhun, who had been glancing at Joen.J, immediately leaned closer to the phone.
Minji casually continued grating the carrot.
"Yeah, we're coming. But Zoya isn't."
Zoya stood beside her, silently watching Minji's hands move.
She had to admit, Minji was ridiculously good in the kitchen.
The way she handled the vegetables, cleaned as she worked, and moved with practised ease—it was all almost too professional.
Though whether this efficiency came from her good habit obsession or fear of Joen.J's standards… Zoya couldn't tell and smiled.
Meanwhile, on another phone, Joen.J was quietly watching Zoya's expressions through the camera.
The rest of them were on a separate video call.
"At least show me your voiceless friend," Teahun whined dramatically."I missed her. And now she's not even coming with you."
His theatrics were in full force.
During this, Zoya had already stepped outside.
"She's not here. She went out. Stop your fake drama," Minji said flatly.
But when he glanced toward the living area camera, he saw her.
She was slowly walking toward the notepad, her movements careful—too careful.
Her foot injuries were clearly still deep enough to make every step deliberate.
She scribbled something quickly, then returned to the kitchen and held the notepad out to Minji.
Minji, busy frying onions in oil, had the phone propped up right in front of her.
Teahun occupied most of the screen, while Minjo lounged beside him on the sofa, lazily scrolling through his phone.
The moment Teahun spotted her, his face lit up.
"Hey, Zoya— Joya— Zoya!"
He started chanting her name like an excited child.
Even Minjo looked up.
Joen.J, who had already been watching her through the camera, lifted his gaze more sharply at Teahun's voice.
Jinhun, sprawled across the floor, cracked one eye open.
Yomin and Kim Joon were still outside.
Zoya looked toward the screen.
Teahun offered her a warm smile.
This time, there was no teasing edge to it.
No fake dramatic expressions.
Just something unexpectedly genuine.
For a second, she smiled back.
But naturally, it lasted only a moment.
Soon enough, Teahun was back to his usual self, wildly gesturing with his hands as if asking her something.
Zoya's soft smile faded into a deadpan stare.
Hosu immediately noticed.
"Teahun, she lost her voice, not her hearing."
The room erupted into laughter.
Even Minji laughed.
And despite herself, Zoya laughed too.
He really was impossible.
For a fleeting moment, she thought—
Everyone needs a Teahun in their life.
But she didn't say it.
She couldn't.
And she definitely wasn't about to write it down and let his ego inflate any further.
Yet the moment Joen.J saw her smiling at Teahun, his expression turned noticeably colder.
Jinhun lazily opened one eye and looked at him.
"Jeon.j," he muttered softly."Don't burn your own blood over this."
Then he closed his eyes again.
Joen.J shot him a glare.
"What would it take for you to stop keeping such a close watch on me?"
Jinhun opened one eye again, unimpressed.
"The day you stop thinking about her."
A pause.
Then he added lazily,
"You've started speaking her dialogues now. That's concerning."
To be continued.....
Regards
ZK