“Eunwoo.”

Meeting him here.

Even Sulhee, who wasn’t the most perceptive, knew that Eunwoo didn’t have good feelings about I-hyun. Getting caught walking with I-hyun, whom she knew Eunwoo didn’t like, felt awkward.

She hadn’t done anything wrong, but for some reason, she didn’t want to be caught.

Eunwoo’s gaze landed on I-hyun’s fingers, still lingering on Sulhee’s cheek. The fingers unnecessarily traced her skin.

“……What are you doing?”

Eunwoo’s deep voice filled the air.

Unlike the flustered Sulhee, I-hyun didn’t flinch at Eunwoo’s sudden appearance. He lightly tapped Sulhee’s cheek and removed his hand.

“No big deal. Just checking something on Sulhee’s face.”

“…….”

“And what brings you here, hyung?”

I-hyun tilted his head, looking at Eunwoo.

“I live here.”

“Here at Sulhee’s apartment building?”

“It’s my place.”

“So you’re saying you live with Yu Sulhee?”

I-hyun’s voice still carried a teasing tone. However, Eunwoo’s brows furrowed, observing the closeness between I-hyun and Sulhee.

“Who said that?”

“…….”

“We live in the same building.”

“Oh, do you? Didn’t know that.”

Eunwoo had previously said his relationship with I-hyun was nothing special. Just acquaintances.

But right now, there was palpable tension between I-hyun and Eunwoo. Eunwoo was clearly hostile towards him, and I-hyun seemed to enjoy provoking him.

I-hyun’s lips curled up again.

“I’ll leave you two then. Sulhee, you said you had an appointment. Ah, is it a meeting with Eunwoo hyung?”

Sulhee had made up the appointment just to leave.

“No, it’s not that.”

“Alright. Anyway, I really enjoyed today.”

I-hyun’s hand reached Sulhee’s shoulder again, gripping it firmly.

“Hope we can spend time like this next week too.”

And before she could respond, I-hyun walked away, just as unilaterally as he had set up today’s walk.

After I-hyun left, only Gomgom, Sulhee, and a silent Eunwoo remained at the apartment entrance.

Eunwoo didn’t leave or speak, just quietly observing Sulhee. The silence was suffocating, making Sulhee lift Gomgom and smile awkwardly.

“Are you going somewhere?”

Though she hadn’t done anything wrong, she felt guilty.

“Going to handle some business.”

“Alright, take care.”

As she turned to enter the apartment, something made Sulhee stop and turn back.

“Eunwoo.”

“Yes?”

“……About today, going out with I-hyun, it was just… he said his dog needed a friend, so I went.”

“…….”

“I don’t know why I’m explaining this, but anyway, it was just about the dogs’ walk.”

Holding the wriggling Gomgom, she tried to smile convincingly.
As Sulhee rambled on, Eunwoo tilted his head, his neck muscles tensing.

“Sulhee.”

“Yes?”

“It’s okay. You don’t need to explain that to me. Where Yu Sulhee goes, who she meets, that’s your freedom.”

He raised his wrist to check the time.

“I have things to attend to.”

And with that, he left, not looking back even once.

That felt strange, considering he said it was okay.

The sizzling sound of meat grilling reached her ears, but Sulhee stared blankly at the cooking meat.

“Sulhee, are you okay?”

“……Yes? Yes.”

At Chae Rin’s query, Sulhee nodded, agitating the meat that was burning in the oil.

Today was the workshop day.

It was supposed to be a workshop, but it was more like a leisure trip. They were at the Yangpyeong villa of the hospital director, Sulhee’s uncle, to commemorate the departure of the pregnant deputy director, Choi. It was a 1-night, 2-day trip of just eating and relaxing.

Chae Rin, the youngest technician, had volunteered to grill the meat, and Sulhee had followed to help.

“You seem tired. Why don’t you go in and rest? You worked hard today. I’ll take care of this.”

Sulhee shook her head at Chae Rin’s suggestion.

“No, I was just distracted.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m fine now.”

Wanting to be helpful but ending up causing worry, Sulhee busied herself with placing vegetables and meat on the grill.

The atmosphere at the workshop was warm and lively.

There were seven people currently working at Dolmare Animal Hospital, excluding Sulhee and the newly joined I-hyun. Most had been working together for over three years and were close, except for Eunwoo and I-hyun.

Eunwoo was particularly quiet today. Usually not very talkative, today he was even more so.

Her gaze drifted to Eunwoo, standing in the shade under a tree, unpacking.

The wind blew. His hair fluttered, revealing his neatly lined forehead. His long eyelashes cast shadows over his eyes, obscuring whatever thoughts he might have had.

What could he be thinking?

While pondering, Chae Rin leaned in, flipping the meat and whispered.

“But, you know.”

“Yes?”

“That new vet, Choi I-hyun. Isn’t he a bit strange?”

“Choi I-hyun?”

“Yes.”

Chae Rin rolled her eyes.

Despite being in her early twenties, she was spirited. Right after high school, she handled difficult clients well and remained calm in emergencies.

She usually didn’t speak ill of others, but now she was.

“Yeah, he’s a bit lax at work, chats a lot, and last time…”