Some time passed as the four of them walked down the street.
Kwangwoon was a few steps ahead, hands in his pockets, while the three girls lingered behind him, whispering among themselves.
Irina leaned in, voice low.
"Let's head to karaoke soon."
"For the cake?" Jinkyung whispered back.
"Yeah," Irina grinned. "Hehe. We'll sing a bit first, then I'll text you guys. When the mood feels right."
"Damn," Jinkyung muttered. "You really planned all of this out."
"Just do this for me," Irina said lightly. "I'll return the favor later."
"I don't even have a boyfriend," Jinkyung sighed.
Irina quickened her pace and reached out, tapping Kwangwoon lightly on the back. "Honey, wanna go to karaoke? Sing us a love song~"
Kwangwoon stopped. When he turned around, his face was pale, a faint sheen of sweat on his forehead.
"...Rina," he said slowly, "I'm really sorry, but… I'm not feeling well."
Irina froze, watching as a bus pulled away at the stop ahead.
"Huh…?" Jinkyung blinked. "Oppa isn't feeling well? That's so sudden…"
Irina lowered her gaze. "He seemed totally fine just a minute ago…"
"Irina," Seolhyo said carefully.
"Yeah…?"
"This might sound crazy, but just come with me. I'll pay for the taxi."
"What?" Irina barely had time to react before Seolhyo had already waved one down.
They stumbled inside, the door slamming shut behind them.
The driver glanced at them through the rearview mirror.
"Where to?"
"Follow that bus," Seolhyo said firmly. "Don't lose it."
The driver raised a brow. "What is this an affair or something?"
Irina and Jinkyung both turned to Seolhyo in shock.
"What's gotten into you?" Irina snapped. "Why are you doing this? Whatever you're thinking, he's not like that!"
"She's right," Jinkyung added hesitantly. "Seolhyo… this is kind of..."
Seolhyo reached up and tied her hair back, her jaw set."I know. I know this looks bad. But still don't you think it's weird? Honestly, did it look like he was holding back because he was sick? It was obvious to me. He didn't look sick at all."
Irina stared at her, unease flashing across her face."...Even so, what is this supposed to be? Following him like this is crossing a line."
From the driver's seat, the man glanced at them through the rearview mirror, barely hiding his interest.
This is exciting...
Irina's voice hardened."Even if it's you, Seolhyo, this isn't right. I'm actually angry about this."
"Let's just check," Seolhyo said quietly. "If it's nothing, then it'll be a relief. That's all."
What the hell am I even doing… .
Her eyes flicked to the meter ₩18,000 and still climbing.
I've only got twenty thousand won left. You better not be wrong about this, Park Dong, you bastard…
Irina glanced sideways at Seolhyo, irritation simmering beneath the surface.
She doesn't even know him that well.
Hmph. If anyone should be doubted, it's your boyfriend Seojin. With a face like that, he could do it anytime he wanted.
Her thoughts continued, defensive and insistent.
And why would she doubt my boyfriend, of all people? Even when he's exhausted, he still comes whenever I ask. He must've really been sick this time.
Yeah. That has to be it.
The bus they were tailing slowed to a stop.
The doors hissed open, and Kwangwoon stepped down onto the sidewalk.
Irina's breath caught."...What's going on?" she murmured. "Why is he getting off here?"
The driver glanced at them through the rearview mirror, brows knitting together. "Why… are you stopping here? What are you planning to do?"
"P–please stop!" Irina blurted out.
The car screeched to a halt. All three of them jumped out at once and took off running after Kwangwoon. Seolhyo lagged a step behind, fumbling to pay the fare.
The driver leaned out the window, oddly invested. "Make sure you catch him!"
"He went this way," Seolhyo caught up to them and said breathlessly, pointing down the street.
Irina ran, her chest tight, thoughts spiraling.Why did he get off here? He said he was going home… Whose place is this?
—
Meanwhile, Park Dong sat slouched in front of his PC, the glow of the monitor reflecting off his tense expression.
On the screen was a freshly uploaded post on Irina's mini-homepage a photo of him, Suwon, and Seojin, all wearing matching headbands and goofy earrings.
"Ah!" His face flushed. "Damn it… when did she post this?"
His fingers flew across the keyboard as he typed a comment.
"|You're so dead. Delete this.|"
He leaned back in his chair.
"But… if she finds out about him, this mini-homepage…" he muttered to himself.
"Is she gonna delete this?"
-
Inside a nearby building, the three of them watched through one of the windows.
Below, Kwangwoon stood in front of an apartment complex, unmoving.
One hand in his pocket, the other holding a cigarette.
Jinkyung frowned. "He's been standing there for, like… ten minutes already."
Seolhyo narrowed her eyes. "Is he waiting for someone?"
"It looks like it," Jinkyung said quietly.
Seolhyo glanced sideways at Irina. "Hey… does he still smoke?"
Irina didn't look away from Kwangwoon. Her gaze was fixed, tense."Uh yeah. But not much," she said quickly, as if convincing herself. Then, under her breath, "I mean… that's not the problem right now."
Her thoughts spiraled.
What is this? Why is he here…?Her heart began to pound, each beat louder than the last.
Oh oh. Right. It's his birthday.She forced the idea into place, desperate to steady herself.
His friends probably called him out. Just to see him for a bit. A quick birthday thing.
She nodded faintly to herself.Yeah. That's it. He came because he had to. Of course.
Just then, the glass door of the building slid open.
All three of them stiffened.
A figure stepped out.
Irina's breath caught in her throat.
"…Ha–ian?" she whispered.
Jinkyung's eyes widened. "Huh? She's from our school…"
Seolhyo felt a chill crawl up her spine. "Why is she coming out of there?"
"What's going on between those two…?" Jinkyung muttered.
Below them, Kwangwoon noticed her.
He immediately flicked the cigarette from his fingers, letting it fall to the ground.
Without hesitation, he walked straight toward Hai-an.
Then
He pulled her into his arms.
Hai-an hugged him back.
For a moment, the world seemed to tilt.
Irina's vision sway.
The noise around her faded into a dull ringing as her knees buckled.
She crouched down instinctively, one hand clutching her chest.
Jinkyung gasped. "Rina!!"
She look at her worriedly. "Are you okay? Rina...!"
Seolhyo stood frozen by the window, fists clenched so hard they trembled.
Her teeth ground together, anger shaking through her body.
"Those… those fucking bastards"
Her eyes burned, tears spilling over as she whirled around."I'll kill them. I swear I'll kill those crazy bastards!!"
She took a step toward the stairs, but a weak voice stopped her.
"Don't… don't do it…"
Seolhyo froze and looked back.
Irina was still crouched on the floor, arms wrapped around herself, shoulders shaking.
"Don't, Seolhyo," Irina whispered. "Please… don't go."
Seolhyo snapped, her voice breaking as she shouted,"You idiot!! What do you mean don't go?! He's pulling that kind of shit and leaving you behind! You want me to just stand here and watch?!"
Tears streamed down Seolhyo's face."You worked so hard for his birthday. You prepared everything everything and he just threw it all away!! Are you stupid?!"
"I know…" Irina choked. "I know…"
She shook her head weakly."But don't go… please…"
Jinkyung knelt beside her, eyes glossy, her lips trembling.
Irina pressed her hands to her face, her breathing falling apart.
"I can't… I can't watch it anymore…" Her voice cracked completely.
"I'm scared… I'm so scared…"
The words collapsed into sobs.
"Hu huh hngh! Hwaaa!!"
Seolhyo dropped beside her instantly, wrapping her arms around Irina. Jinkyung joined them, pulling her close.
Irina clung to them, sobbing uncontrollably.
"I'm scared...," she cried again, her voice small and broken.