The police station hummed with its usual activity—phones ringing, officers moving between desks—but for Soo Bin, the background noise barely registered. Her attention was locked on So Hee, who was busy sorting reports near the evidence room.
Ha Eun had appeared earlier in the station, lingering near So Hee with a casual smile and a light laugh that drew subtle glances. Soo Bin noticed every detail: the way Ha Eun's fingers grazed So Hee's arm as she reached for a file, the soft tilt of her head when laughing, the gentle warmth in her tone that So Hee seemed oblivious to.
Soo Bin's chest tightened. A strange heat rose in her stomach, and her fingers curled into fists at her sides. Why am I feeling like this? she thought. Jealousy, protectiveness, confusion—they all collided inside her.
So Hee, meanwhile, remained focused on her work, unaware of Soo Bin's growing tension. She noticed Ha Eun but didn't interpret the lingering attention. She was polite, neutral, simply helping when asked.
Soo Bin's mind, however, raced. Every casual gesture Ha Eun made toward So Hee felt like a personal intrusion. She had trusted herself to stay calm, to be confident that So Hee was hers—but seeing this… it ignited something fierce inside her.
Later, Ha Eun moved near the restroom, deliberately adjusting her jacket. "So… could you help me with this zip?" she asked softly, a playful glance aimed at So Hee.
So Hee, thinking only of being helpful, leaned in and zipped it for her. She smiled politely, oblivious to the storm unfolding nearby.
Soo Bin, passing by at the exact moment, froze. Her eyes widened as she saw the closeness, and a hot surge of possessiveness swept through her. Her hands clenched. Her jaw tightened.
No one touches her like that. No one, Soo Bin thought fiercely.
Without a word, she turned sharply and walked out of the station, leaving a silent trail of tension behind her. So Hee noticed her abrupt departure, frowned slightly, and tried calling Soo Bin multiple times—but each call went unanswered.
Soo Bin didn't answer because her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts: jealousy, fear of losing So Hee's attention, and the uncomfortable realization that her feelings were deeper than she had admitted, even to herself.
Meanwhile, So Hee grew concerned. Why isn't she picking up? Did I do something wrong? she wondered, her heart tightening with worry. She had no idea that Soo Bin had witnessed the interaction with Ha Eun, nor did she know the jealousy and protectiveness that had flared inside her.
Hours passed. Soo Bin sat quietly at home, replaying the scene over and over: Ha Eun's hand brushing So Hee's arm, the soft laugh, So Hee's polite smile. Each memory made her chest tighten, her thoughts tangled with frustration and longing.
She wanted to talk to So Hee, to explain why she felt this way—but pride and the sting of jealousy kept her silent.
By the end of the evening, the tension between them had grown thick and unspoken. So Hee worried, her concern simmering, while Soo Bin remained silent, brooding, and fiercely possessive.
Everything had shifted: a single, brief interaction had layered their relationship with jealousy, protectiveness, and unspoken emotions, setting the stage for the next encounter—one that would finally force them to confront their feelings.