Ji-Ah was in her room, sprawled across her bed with one leg hanging off the side, half-dressed laundry abandoned on a chair like it had given up on life.
The lamp by her desk cast a warm glow, the city outside already settling into night.
Her phone rang.
She reached for it lazily—then froze.
Joon-Seo.
"…Tch." She clicked her tongue on instinct.
Then, despite herself, she smiled and answered.
"Why are you calling me, menace?" she said sweetly.
"Excuse me?" Joon-Seo shot back. "I'm the victim here."
She laughed softly, rolling onto her side. "You only call when you need help. Or money. Or both."
"First of all—rude. Second—how are you?"
She paused, then smiled properly this time. "I'm fine. Busy. Annoyed. Alive. You?"
"Hungry," he replied immediately. "And unfairly punished."
She hummed. "Sounds like a normal day."
There was a brief silence, then—
"How's Dad?" she asked, her voice gentler.
"He's fine," Joon-Seo said. "Keeps asking when you'll visit. Says the house is too quiet."
Ji-Ah swallowed. "Tell him I miss him."
"I will. He misses you too. A lot."
Another pause—this one heavier.
"Ji-Ah," Joon-Seo said carefully, "you need to come tomorrow."
She blinked. "Tomorrow?"
"Yes."
She sat up. "Why?"
"Well—" he hesitated, then rushed it out, "I may or may not have been caught climbing the school wall."
She burst out laughing. "You WHAT—"
"And the principal wants you here," he added quickly.
Her laughter stopped.
"…What?"
"She specifically said your name."
Ji-Ah stared at the wall. "…Of course she did."
"She praised you," Joon-Seo added. "A lot."
"That's suspicious."
"Then she called you a menace."
"Ah. Balance restored."
She sighed, rubbing her forehead. "So what WILL you do this time?"
"Cleaning duty. A whole month."
She winced. "Yikes."
Then her voice dropped, suddenly quieter."…How will Unnie react if I just decide to come back?"
On the other end, Joon-Seo went silent.
"…I don't know," he admitted. "She'll be mad. Very mad."
Ji-Ah closed her eyes. She could already picture it.
"But," he added softly, "come anyway. Okay?"
She nodded automatically—even though he couldn't see her.
"…Okay," she said. "I'll come."
"Really?"
"I'll book a ticket today," she continued. "Don't get into more trouble before I arrive."
"No promises."
"Park Joon-Seo."
"I'm joking! I'm joking!"
She smiled again, softer this time. "Tell Dad I'm coming home."
"I will."
They hung up.
Ji-Ah lowered her phone slowly, staring at the ceiling.
"…Looks like I'm going back," she murmured.
And somewhere deep down, she already knew—
Tomorrow wasn't going to be simple.
-
Ji-Ah stared at her phone for a long second after the call ended.
"…I have to tell him," she muttered.
There was no escaping that.
She slipped out of her room and walked down the quiet hallway toward Ha-Joon's home office.
The door was slightly open, warm light spilling onto the floor.
She knocked once anyway.
"Come in."
She stepped inside.
Ha-Joon was standing by his desk, jacket off, sleeves rolled neatly to his forearms, one hand resting on the table as he skimmed through documents on his tablet.
He didn't look up immediately.
"What is it?" he asked, tone cool, distracted.
"I need to go somewhere," Ji-Ah said.
That made him look up.
"Where."
"Home," she answered. "For a short while. My brother got into trouble at school."
He studied her face—really studied it.
The faint tension around her eyes.
The way she stood straighter than usual, like she'd already prepared for rejection.
"How long," he asked.
"Just a few days. I already planned to come back."
Silence stretched.
"No," Ha-Joon said flatly.
Ji-Ah deflated instantly. "I knew you'd—"
"You can go," he continued, cutting her off, "only if Min-Jea goes with you."
She blinked. "What?"
"He follows you. Stays with you. Comes back with you."
"That's—" Ji-Ah frowned. "Why?"
He set the tablet down and folded his arms. "I want you safe."
The words were simple.
Too simple.
And somehow heavier than she expected.
"But Min-Jea works," she argued quickly. "He can't just leave."
Ha-Joon didn't even hesitate. "He works at Hanryeon Foods."
Ji-Ah froze.
"…You knew that?"
"I know," he said calmly. "I'll handle it."
She searched his face for any hint of joking. There was none.
"If you go alone," he added, voice lower now, firmer, "you don't go at all."
She bit her lip, thinking fast.
Then—slowly—she nodded.
"…Okay."
His shoulders eased just a fraction.
"You'll leave later," he said. "I'll have Seo-Jun arrange everything."
Ji-Ah hesitated at the door, then turned back. "Thank you."
He gave a short nod, already reaching for his tablet again.
As she left the office, her heart felt oddly unsteady.
Min-Jea. Hanryeon Foods.
He really had thought this through.
"…Cold tyrant," she whispered under her breath.
But she didn't miss the way his voice had changed when he said—
I want you safe.
--
Ji-Ah broke the news that same evening.
They were all in the living room.
Nisa was curled into one corner of the couch, phone in hand, thumbs moving a little too fast.
Do-Hyun sat beside her, lazily scrolling through something that looked suspiciously like wedding ring ideas, his face carefully neutral, as if denial might erase browser history.
"I'm going home for a few days," Ji-Ah said lightly. "And Min-Jea is coming with me."
Nisa froze. Slowly, she lowered her phone. "Coming… with you?"
"Yes," Ji-Ah nodded. "Just a short trip."
Nisa stared, then groaned dramatically and flopped backward. "Great. Wonderful. Who am I supposed to complain to now?"
Do-Hyun chuckled. "You'll survive."
"Barely," Nisa shot back, then turned to Ji-Ah with a pout. "You better come back soon."
Ji-Ah smiled and leaned closer, lowering her voice. "I will. Take care of Earth and Chak for me, okay?"
She paused, then added with a grin, "And the tyrant."
Nisa snorted. "That one's the hardest."
Just then, footsteps approached.
Seo-Jun entered the living room, professional as ever, posture straight, expression composed. "Ms. Park, we should go on now."
Ji-Ah nodded and grabbed her bag.
As she passed Nisa, she whispered, "I'll be back soon."
Seo-Jun adjusted his watch. "Min-Jea is already waiting."
Ji-Ah's smile widened. "Of course he is."
She walked out with Seo-Jun, the door closing softly behind them.
Upstairs, Ha-Joon stood by the window of his office.
He watched silently as Ji-Ah stepped into the car, her figure briefly illuminated by the streetlight before the door shut.
His hand tightened around the curtain.
A quiet breath left him.
Then, with a smooth motion, he closed the blinds, sealing the room back into stillness.