“Me?”

Kyung Jun frowned as if it was utterly ridiculous. Of course, he actually found it extremely absurd.

“That’s right. Ryu, Ryu Secretary, you’re in that kind of relationship with Jo Seo Ha! Oh, oh, today too, getting out of the car, the two of you being affectionate…!”

Ji Soo trailed off with a start. The reason was that Kyung Jun’s eyes, which until now had seemed indifferent and apathetic as usual, suddenly turned cold. Feeling an inexplicable pressure, Ji Soo abruptly turned her head to look at Lee Seung Oh.

“Elder brother…”

Lee Seung Oh sighed lightly and patted Ji Soo’s shoulder halfheartedly.

“Anyway, since it’s come to this, Team Leader Lee should lead well. Help out from the side, teach what’s not known. That’s what a team leader should do.”

“I don’t want to!”

Ji Soo almost screamed as if just hearing it was horrifying.

“El-elder brother, you know. How much Jo Seo Ha tormented me? I can’t work with her. If you’re going to keep making me com-come to work, I’d rather not show up at all. Sob…”

This was welcome news to hear. Kyung Jun felt a strong urge to immediately pull out a resignation letter and press Ji Soo’s thumb on it.

If there was only a guarantee that Ji Soo would really leave the company so easily, he would have put it into action right away.

How much more is she going to torment Jo Seo Ha when she goes back.

Jo Seo Ha wasn’t one to be tormented just because someone tried to torment her. Looking at temperament alone, even Yoon Seo Ha wasn’t a woman to be messed with.

Though he knew this, it still irritated him. He hated seeing her working alone in an empty design room, groaning, or with her cheeks swollen from being slapped.

“… Then, let’s do this.”

Kyung Jun opened his mouth stiffly. It’s not personal feelings. This is just more efficient work processing.

“Team Leader Lee Ji Soo doesn’t want to accept Jo Seo Ha as a team member, and Jo Seo Ha probably feels the same. After all, no one would want to work under someone who slapped them.”

Ji Soo glared fiercely at Kyung Jun from behind Lee Seung Oh. Kyung Jun ignored her, of course.

“What do you think, CEO? How about creating another design room while we’re at it?”

“Design room?”

“What do you mean by that!”

Lee Seung Oh asked with interest, while Ji Soo shouted sharply.

“I see Jo Seo Ha as the potential of Kang Yoon.”

The stage was empty. All the people who had been sitting in the audience were gone, and the busy staff had finished cleaning up and disappeared. The models who had shown off their glamorous walks under the lights were also gone.

“… Why does it feel so empty.”

Seo Ha slowly moved her steps along the runway. Click, click, click, click.

Only when she reached the end did she realize the reason for this emptiness.

No one had congratulated her.

As soon as the results were announced, Ji Soo was the first to glare at Seo Ha as if she wanted to kill her. With the newly returned team leader glaring so openly, there was no one to say “well done” or “you worked hard.”

No, no. Is that the only reason?

A bitter smile formed on her lips.

The stronger the light, the darker the shadow.

In this glamorous fashion industry, designers worked in a way that could be aptly described as being ground down. From market research, concept selection, to every single fabric and accessory, there was no part untouched by the designer’s hand.

Still, everything was enjoyable. If she had been alone, it wouldn’t have been so enjoyable.

It was thanks to the team members who, throughout all those processes, laughed together no matter how hard it was, encouraged those who fell behind, and gave generous applause to those who were ahead.

Seo Ha sat down at the edge of the stage, swinging her legs playfully.

Still, she thought she had become a little attached. When team members subtly helped her, she almost felt the camaraderie of the past.

“You did well. Your skills aren’t dead. This is just the beginning.”

Seo Ha’s voice echoed off the walls, returning as if someone was encouraging her. It made her feel a little better.

Thump.

Suddenly, footsteps from behind interrupted her thoughts. Startled, Seo Ha turned around and recognized the owner of the footsteps, letting out a sigh of relief.

“You scared me.”

“Why are you here like this? Not answering your phone.”

“Phone?”

Rummaging through her pockets, she found no phone. It must be in the bag she had thrown in the backstage.

“I left it in my bag. Did you know I was here when you came?”

“I thought you might be.”

Just as Seo Ha had done earlier, Kyung Jun walked steadily along the runway. His long, straight legs in a perfectly fitted suit, white skin, and sharp gaze were impressive enough to easily overshadow any ordinary model.

Kyung Jun walked over and plopped down next to Seo Ha. Now there were two pairs of legs swinging at the end of the runway.

“Your design was good today.”

“It will be good in the future too.”

A smile flickered at the corner of Kyung Jun’s mouth and disappeared.

“Ji Soo is in an uproar. She’s saying I manipulated the vote because I have that kind of relationship with Jo Seo Ha.”

“What should I refute first? That we don’t have that kind of relationship? Or that even if we did, Secretary Ryu wouldn’t manipulate the vote?”

“You saw me as such a cold-blooded person?”

“Should I say I saw you as someone who distinguishes well between public and private matters?”

Really, she doesn’t back down even a bit.

Kyung Jun smiled again and gazed at the dim audience seats.

Actually, he had come looking for Seo Ha to congratulate her. To say she did well. That her efforts had paid off. To tell her it was the first time a new designer had set a record of twenty-four pieces.

He didn’t know why these words felt so awkward. Is it because he had never said them before?

“Ahem, ahem.”

As Kyung Jun cleared his throat a couple of times to get rid of the awkwardness, Seo Ha suddenly started humming a song.

“I am Seo Ha, dreaming Seo Ha…”

A surprised gaze landed on Seo Ha’s profile. Not noticing that gaze, Jo Seo Ha continued humming.

“In dreams, I can become anything. I am Seo Ha, Seo Ha who doesn’t sleep…”

It can’t be. But it can’t not be.

No matter how identical, Jo Seo Ha can’t be Yoon Seo Ha. But if she’s not Yoon Seo Ha, it doesn’t make sense. They’re so alike. Everything is similar.

Instead of the words of congratulation lingering in his mouth, Kyung Jun suddenly grabbed Seo Ha’s hand and stood up abruptly.

“Eek!”

Seo Ha let out a surprised sound and stood up, inadvertently holding Kyung Jun’s hand.

“I almost fell! Why are you suddenly like this!”

“Let’s go somewhere. Right now.”

“Where are we going? I need to go to the company and organize things!”

“Do that tomorrow.”

Kyung Jun held Jo Seo Ha’s hand tightly and walked out with large strides, taking the elevator. He didn’t let go of her hand until he opened the passenger door and pushed Seo Ha in.

“Fasten your seatbelt.”

“Where are we going? Kidnapping?”

“Hospital.”

“Why the hospital?”

“To meet your friend.”

He wanted to see if Yoon Seo Ha was still lying in the hospital. Of course, a single phone call would tell him even what position she was lying in, but he felt he needed to confirm it with his own eyes.

“… You mean Yoon Seo Ha?”

Kyung Jun silently nodded. Maybe it was his imagination, but Seo Ha’s voice asking that also seemed a bit awkward and strange.

From then on, the two didn’t exchange a single word until they reached the hospital. It was the same when they swiped the card and got in the elevator. Kyung Jun was confused by his own strange behavior, and Seo Ha…

“Do you have to see? Why?”

She was afraid.

In Seo Ha’s memory, Yoon Seo Ha was always happy. She shone the brightest and was loved the most wherever she was. Would such a Yoon Seo Ha still retain her former appearance after years in a coma state? Absolutely not.

“Didn’t you say she’s your best friend? You said you’d come to the hospital too.”

That’s not today. Today I was too shabby. I was celebrating the success of the fashion show alone, with no one else.

“I’m just, not mentally prepared yet.”

“Let’s go. We need to tell her that you’re excellently carrying on Yoon Seo Ha’s place.”

Kyung Jun firmly grabbed Seo Ha’s hand as she tried to step back. With her fingertips still caught by Kyung Jun, Seo Ha walked down the corridor and stood in front of the hospital room.

Thump.

Click.

The sound of two people’s footsteps echoed in the large hospital room.

Seo Ha unconsciously gripped Kyung Jun’s hand tightly in return. The tension increased as they got closer to the bed hidden behind the white curtain. Her palm had become damp with sweat without her realizing it.

−Beep, beep, beep, beep…

The machine sound indicating that Yoon Seo Ha’s life was continuing grew louder.

“Yoon Seo Ha.”

Kyung Jun opened his mouth. Seo Ha reflexively turned to look at him, then quickly turned her gaze back to the curtain, realizing it wasn’t directed at her.

“I’m here. Your friend is here too.”

What’s this. Why are you speaking informally again?

Even in this situation, Seo Ha wanted to point out his way of speaking.

Kyung Jun’s hand touched the edge of the white curtain. The shape of a person lying neatly was slowly revealed as the curtain was drawn back. Feet, knees, waist, chest, face.

“Gasp…!”

Seo Ha covered her mouth with one hand.

It was an indescribable feeling. Does it make sense to see one’s own body, just breathing in a coma state, from another person’s perspective?

“Aren’t you going to greet her?”

Kyung Jun asked dryly. Meanwhile, his checking of Yoon Seo Ha’s hair and posture, and confirming that the life support equipment was properly attached, showed the skill of someone who had visited more than once or twice.

“Greet. I should, greet.”

Seo Ha removed her hand from her mouth and took a deep breath. The strong smell of disinfectant rushed into her nose all at once, as if it had been waiting.

“Yu, Yoon Seo Ha.”

After uttering her own name aloud, a tangible fear suddenly washed over her. The ‘Yoon Seo Ha’ lying in front might suddenly open her eyes wide and sit up.

A strange premonition filled her mind that if that happened, she would never be able to regain her body.

“Um, I, I…”

“Why are you shaking so much?”

Kyung Jun’s hands grasped both of Seo Ha’s shoulders. Only then did Seo Ha realize she was trembling. Her stomach churned even though she hadn’t eaten anything.

“Just a moment. Bathroom…”

“We’ll just say hello and go. The doctor said she might be able to hear voices even in a coma state, so at least tell her you came. Tell her to wake up soon.”

No. Don’t wake up now. Don’t wake up in my body, Jo Seo Ha!

“No!”

Seo Ha unknowingly shook off Kyung Jun’s hands forcefully, pushing him back. As a result, her body swayed and her hand, losing its place, flailed in the air.

“Eek!”

“No!”

The voices of the two people echoed in the hospital room simultaneously. The oxygen mask that had been caught by Seo Ha’s flailing hand dangled, hanging by its cord.