Chapter 31
The courtroom was quiet enough for the faint hum of the air conditioning to settle into the bones.
Kim Seol In's heels clicked once as she crossed the floor. She placed the final piece of evidence on the stand with deliberate calm, her fingers steady, her posture immaculate.
"The defense claims oversight," she said. "I call it negligence. The law does not bend simply because someone failed to pay attention."
Her voice never wavered. The words landed cleanly, precise as a blade. Across the room, opposing counsel scrambled for a rebuttal, but their argument frayed under Seol In's unblinking gaze. Minutes later, the verdict came down. Favorable. Predictable.
Seol In neither smiled nor lingered. She gathered her files, aligned them with habitual precision, and bowed with mechanical courtesy before stepping away from the bench.
Outside the courtroom, a colleague chirped congratulations. Seol In accepted it without pause.
"Justice always wins."
Yet when someone mentioned her upcoming break, something shifted. The change was small, nearly imperceptible. A faint smile surfaced, rare and fleeting.
"I'm visiting my little brother."
*
Cool evening air brushed against her face as she stepped out of the taxi. Seoul felt louder than she remembered, alive in ways she had long stopped absorbing. She rolled her luggage behind her, stopping before a door that felt unfamiliar, repeating the address in her mind like a case detail she had memorized.
Her knuckles hovered above the wood.
From inside, faint sounds filtered through. Muffled voices. The clatter of something dropped. A brief electrical buzz, then quiet again. Ordinary noises. Domestic ones.
They unsettled her more than any gavel ever had.
She checked the unit number once more, exhaled, and knocked.
The door swung open.
Two pairs of eyes widened. Two mouths parted in unison.
"Why are you here?"
"Aren't you supposed to be in the US?"
Seol In gasped softly, then the corner of her mouth lifted. "Don't tell me you got fired."
"How many times do I have to say it?" Ryu Chan replied. "I'm the boss."
"Of a questionable operation," she said flatly. "Nice try."
She flicked her gaze over him. "Enough about you. Why are you here?"
Ryu Chan leaned an elbow against the doorframe, blocking her entry for a second too long. "Why are you asking like I need a reason?"
Seol In tilted her head, unbothered. "I don't need a reason to visit my brother." Her eyes slid past him, sharp and assessing. "But you seem very interested in my reasons. Almost like you're hiding something."
His smirk wavered, just briefly, before settling back into place. "You're not cross examining me, counselor."
Seol In did not ask permission. She stepped past him as though the space already belonged to her, heels clicking sharply against the floor.
Halfway into the living room, she stopped.
Her gaze locked onto the stranger seated on the couch.
Black hair. Sharp features. A teacup resting in his hands with casual familiarity, as though he belonged there. He looked up at her, caught off guard, and met her stare without flinching.
Her composure faltered.
Only for a fraction of a second.
Something unreadable flickered across her eyes. She turned her head slightly, testing whether he would vanish if she looked away.
He did not.
"…Who," she asked, tone clipped, cautious, "is this?"
Ryu Chan opened his mouth. "Ah, that's—"
Her hand lifted instantly, silencing him.
Her gaze sharpened, moving between the stranger and the untouched space beside him. Her brother's seat.
"You," she said, directing her attention fully at Eun Wol now. "Who are you, and why are you in my brother's house?"
Eun Wol blinked once, expression unreadable. "I was invited."
Her brow twitched. Disbelief tightened into suspicion. "By Gyu In?"
"Yes."
Silence followed.
Her gaze snagged on him again, lingering longer this time. That same unreadable flicker crossed her face before her expression reset into practiced coolness.
"Who are you?" she asked again.
Then, with the faintest curve of her lips, sharp and humorless, she added, "Did my brother's house turn into a foster care facility while I was gone?"
*
Eun Wol sat quietly, the teacup warming his hands as he took a slow sip. The sound of footsteps drew his attention.
A woman swept into the room, long hair moving with her stride, a beige midi dress brushing just above her knees. Something about her face caught him. The curve of her eyes, the sharp set of her jaw. A faint sense of familiarity stirred, insistent and unsettling.
His gaze lingered until recognition struck.
The photograph. The one he had glimpsed on that first night he stayed over.
So this was her. Gyu In's sister.
Relief loosened in his chest before he could stop it. His shoulders sagged, tension draining away as though he had just confirmed something vital. He leaned back into the seat, breath easing.
"I am Shim Eun Wol."
The words left him without hesitation, his eyes still fixed on her. He did not notice Ryu Chan waving frantically from the side.
Ryu Chan stepped between them, clapping his hands once. "Alright. This is Gyu In's sister, Kim Seol In. Introductions done. Would you like some tea? Eun Wol brews the best tea."
"Who the hell is yours—"
"No cussing," Ryu Chan cut in smoothly, smile stretched a little too wide to be genuine.
Seol In's gaze returned to Eun Wol. "Who are you, though? Gyu In doesn't invite people over."
"He's just—"
"I'm his boyfriend."
The cup froze midway to Eun Wol's lips.
Boyfriend.
The word had slipped out before he could stop it. Now it hovered in the air, heavier than he expected.
"Boyfriend?" Seol In lifted an eyebrow, sharp and assessing. "I suppose Gyu In does have interesting taste."
Her tone remained precise, but the faint lift at the corner of her mouth suggested she was not entirely displeased.
She leaned closer. "And you actually stay here? My brother allows that?"
Heat crept up Eun Wol's neck. He set the cup down, a little too firmly. "I don't really stay here. I'm just hanging around."
"And why would you hang around when he isn't—"
"Woah. The delivery guy really got lost. He was all the way on the other side."
The voice cut through the tension.
Eun Wol turned as Gyu In stepped inside, words trailing off when his gaze landed on her. "Noona?"
"Hello, my little brother."
Her cheeks lifted, the corners of her mouth softening into a gentle, restrained smile. "I missed you."
Gyu In closed the distance in two strides, pulling her into an embrace, his face pressed against the curve of her neck. Eun Wol had never seen him like this. Open. Unguarded. Almost boyish.
Affection reserved for only one person.
For a brief moment, Eun Wol felt the warmth in the room, a comfort that had nothing to do with him.
Seol In eventually pulled back, just enough to study him, her gaze sharp but curious. "So you got yourself a boyfriend." Her eyes flicked between them. "Interesting. I didn't know you swing that way. Not that I mind."
Silence stretched.
Gyu In, still flushed from the reunion, finally stepped back. His eyes darted to Eun Wol, then to Seol In. "You've been gone too long. Completely out of the loop."
He turned toward the table, setting the food down. "Stay and eat with us, if you're not in a hurry."
Eun Wol watched as Gyu In picked at his food, taking small bites, his gaze drifting restlessly around the table. A slight frown tugged at Eun Wol's brow.
Quietly, he shifted a portion of his rice onto Gyu In's plate, careful enough that it almost looked accidental.
"Hey… what's this?" Gyu In looked up, a small smile tugging at his lips, curiosity glinting in his eyes.
"You're barely eating," Eun Wol muttered, tone casual though his gaze remained steady. "Just eat."
Gyu In let out a short laugh, shaking his head. "You're ridiculous. I can feed myself."
"I know," Eun Wol replied softly, eyes dropping back to his own plate. "Just making sure you don't starve."
"You're worried about me?" Gyu In cut in, teasing lilt present but softened by warmth.
Eun Wol glanced up briefly, expression neutral, hiding the faint flush creeping up his cheeks. "Maybe. Or maybe I don't want you wasting energy looking serious all the time."
Gyu In leaned back slightly, laughter filling the space between them. "You're impossible."
"And you're dramatic," Eun Wol shot back. He picked up a piece of vegetable, studied it for a second, then placed it onto Gyu In's plate as well. Smooth. Almost absent-minded.
"You keep doing that," Gyu In said quietly, amusement laced with fondness, "and I might start thinking you're falling in love with me."
Eun Wol stared down at his bowl, feigning indifference. "Maybe I am. Maybe I'm not."
The silence that followed settled easily around them. Chopsticks clicked softly. Small bites were taken. Their eyes met once, then again, sharing something unspoken.
Then a calm, observant voice cut through.
"Mm. Really interesting."
Both of them turned.
Seol In leaned back against her chair, arms crossed, one eyebrow raised. A faint smile played at her lips, curiosity bright in her eyes as she watched them.
Eun Wol froze, heat blooming across his cheeks.
Gyu In tilted his head, the teasing glint in his eyes matching the small curve of his smile.
"Tch. Disgustingly sweet. And that's only what you see."
"Just shut up and eat," Gyu In shot back.
Ryu Chan ignored him, burying himself deeper into the food.
*
The rest of the night passed quietly.
Gyu In gave up his bedroom to Seol In, while Ryu Chan claimed the only guest room.
Seol In sat on the bed, eyes roaming the space before landing on a photo frame. She picked it up, her thumb brushing slowly over the smooth surface.
"You're still keeping it."
"Of course." Gyu In placed a fresh blanket beside her. "I miss you."
"I know." Her voice softened. "I miss you too."
"How long are you staying?"
"A few days. Just a short break." She patted the space beside her, motioning him closer. "So. A boyfriend?"
Gyu In sat down, a small dent forming in the mattress. "…Yeah."
"You don't have to lie to me." She exhaled quietly. "I know I haven't been around much. But I still care."
"I know."
"Just promise me one thing." She rested her hand lightly on his arm. "Whatever you're doing, protect yourself first."
"Mm." Gyu In nodded, resting his head against her shoulder.
She laughed softly. "Still acting like a kid."
"Only around you."
They talked about nothing and everything, voices low, comfortable. Time had passed, but their bond remained unchanged.
*
When Gyu In finally closed the bedroom door, he found Eun Wol half sprawled on the couch, already drifting toward sleep.
He settled beside him, close enough that their knees brushed.
"You warned Eun Bin?" Gyu In asked quietly. "Told her to lay low for now?"
"Yeah." Eun Wol shifted slightly. "I didn't mention Ji Hun. I didn't want to worry her."
Gyu In responded with a soft grunt as he reached for the blanket draped over Eun Wol, tugging it closer.
"…What are you doing?"
"I'm cold."
"Take your own blanket." Eun Wol tightened his grip. "I took this one first."
"You didn't take it. I passed it to you."
"That's the same thing."
"I forgot to grab another," Gyu In dragged out, fingers still pulling. "Share with me. Bunny, please."
Eun Wol froze.
The nickname resurfaced, unexpected. It had been a long time since Gyu In had called him that.
Sensing the pause, Gyu In leaned in. "Please, bunny. You're the best."
"Tsk. You're really annoying." Eun Wol lifted the blanket, leaving only a small patch for him. "If you snatch it while sleeping, I'll suffocate you."
A quiet laugh echoed through the living room.
"Roger."