The twilight had long since settled, darkness blanketing the road.

The jet-black sedan, resembling its owner, was driving at neither a fast nor slow speed.

“Hah……”

Ki Yeon, letting out a deep sigh and gripping the steering wheel tighter, was silently fuming.

Having overheard the conversation between the two earlier and somewhat grasping the situation, Yoo In kept glancing at him sideways, continuously pondering.

Whether it would be better to say something, or to go along with his silence like this.

Chewing her lips and stealing glances for the umpteenth time. Suddenly, a snicker was heard from beside her.

“What are you pondering so much about?”

Though faint, Ki Yeon’s lips were slightly curved upwards.

Has his mood improved a bit? While Yoo In was unsure, a calm, subdued voice rang out.

“I’m sorry. That……”

Ki Yeon starts to say something but stops. His jaw clenched tightly, his firmly closed mouth soon opens again.

“That person ruined our entire evening. Let’s go somewhere else. Is there anything you want to eat?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“You barely ate anything.”

Stopped at a red light, Ki Yeon made eye contact.

His smooth features, shadowed by the pale moonlight, looked a bit colder when faced in the darkness.

Seeing his face as if carved from ice, a strange, intangible sense of alienation spreads from deep within.

“Really, I’m okay.”

“Nam Yoo In always says she’s okay. How is everything always okay?”

“It’s not me… You’re the one who’s more upset, sir.”

At that, a crease formed between Ki Yeon’s brows. Yoo In, watching his reaction, tightly closed her lips.

After a moment of silence, the man, staring blankly at the headlights of the car in front, said:

“What did you talk about?”

Yoo In, who had been looking at the flickering red lights along with Ki Yeon, stared at him with a puzzled expression.

“With that person earlier. Tell me in detail from the beginning.”

“Um… We didn’t say much.”

“If it’s nothing, then tell me. I’m curious.”

Though perplexed as to why he was curious about their brief exchange, Yoo In thought it wouldn’t hurt to relay it since it was nothing significant, as he said, and began explaining calmly.

“He came and asked if I knew him. When I said I didn’t, he said he just wanted to know one thing.”

“One thing? What?”

“He asked how I was preparing. Whether as an actress or idol. I didn’t answer, and that’s when you came, sir.”

Finishing her explanation, Yoo In first observed Ki Yeon’s expression. Somehow, it felt like she should.

The streetlights planted at regular intervals flickered past the dark interior. Because of this, the man’s face, frozen ice-cold, repeatedly brightened and darkened.

It looked just like a warning light signaling great danger, so Yoo In, inhaling sharply, unconsciously averted her gaze.

A moment later, Ki Yeon spoke in a deliberately gentle voice.

“Yoo In. Did you understand what he meant by that?”

Yoo In, not comprehending the intent of the question, asked back.

“What do you mean? Didn’t he ask because I was with you, sir?”

“Hmm. Then that’s fine.”

Not understanding what was fine, Yoo In cast hopeful glances at Ki Yeon several times for a more detailed explanation, but he just smiled slightly and patted her head as usual.

Even when the sedan stopped near her home, Yoo In couldn’t let go of her lingering curiosity and blinked her puppy-like eyes at Ki Yeon, but the man just smiled faintly.

“I’m sorry about today. Get home safely.”

The sweet baritone voice showed no signs of elaborating.

Finally giving up, Yoo In nodded and got out of the car. Ki Yeon, watching until her delicate silhouette disappeared from view, took out his phone from inside his jacket.

Pressing a familiar number at the top of the list, the dial tone cut off almost immediately.

-Yes, Director.

“There’s a drama KRS recently did a reading for, right?”

-Yes.

His black eyes, tinged with a chilling light, flashed sharply like a keen blade, as if recalling the scene at the restaurant.

“There’s a rookie actor there with a modeling background. Tell them to remove him immediately.”

-…Pardon? Why so suddenly… Did something happen?

“A rookie male actor with a modeling background. Tell them to cut him. If not, I’ll withdraw the investment funds. Make sure they understand that. Got it?”

-I understand, but… Could you at least explain why you’re doing this−.

The absurd order received in the middle of the night created a crack in Jin Seok’s usually unshakeable tone.

But Ki Yeon, not caring about such things, growled roughly:

“Don’t ask for reasons, just relay the message and handle it. I’ll only receive reports of it being cleanly resolved.”

-…Yes. Understood.

As soon as he heard the response, Ki Yeon ended the call and tossed the phone aside, sighing as he leaned back against the headrest.

Covering his eyes with his hand as if tired, he remained motionless there for a while.

****

“Every time we go to a restaurant, something always happens… It’s strange.”

Yoo In, shielding her eyes from the hot May sunlight, muttered to herself as she recalled the events from a few days ago.

In the end, Ki Yeon had completely clammed up about the recent incident, so Yoo In couldn’t ask anymore.

Instead, all that remained in her mind was that Ki Yeon had been very angry about it, and that she had gained consecutive unpleasant memories at the restaurants she went to with him.

And also, that his angry appearance had been quite frightening.

“But why isn’t he coming yet?”

Yoo In, shaking off her brief reverie, looked around for her still-absent companion.

At this time when the deepened spring was gradually fading away, there was an event that Yoo In didn’t particularly welcome – the Seonhyeon University festival.

Every year, Seonhyeon University, known for producing capable students, held a festival famous for being grand and full of attractions, which many people looked forward to. But Yoo In, who had been attending for nearly 4 years, had never participated.

When this time came around, she always maintained complete indifference and didn’t even come near the school. So she had planned to do the same this time, but her friend wouldn’t leave her be.

“Nam Yoo In! Nam Yoo In!”

A woman with striking looks who had just gotten out of a taxi came bounding over like a rabbit.

Yoo In’s appointment partner for today, Han Jae Hee.

“Why are you always late when we’ve made plans?”

“Ah, sorry sorry! I went to a meeting with a new company and they wouldn’t let me go! It was so annoying I thought I’d die!”

Jae Hee, wrinkling her nose in apology, linked arms with Yoo In and pulled her along.

Seeing the crowds swarming from the entrance to the school, Yoo In frowned as if she’d seen something she shouldn’t have. Jae Hee lightly patted Yoo In’s back and chuckled.

“This is your last time participating as a student. You should join in at least once. What will you say later if an interviewer brings up the festival?”

“Why would they bring up the festival in an interview?”

“They could. In a world where they ask when you’re getting married, is that so difficult? Asking about the festival would be mild in comparison.”

To an outsider, it might look like a senior giving life lessons to a junior, but in reality, it was just a casual conversation between same-age friends.

“Our Yoo In, what do you want to eat? What do you want to do? Your unnie will treat you to everything today!”

“I don’t want to eat or do anything. Take me home.”

“Oh, customer. Sorry, but no returns. Just enjoy yourself!”

Jae Hee dragged her smaller friend here and there with ease.

She stuffed a hot dog in Yoo In’s mouth despite her protests, suddenly thrust a water balloon into her hands and urged her to hit the target.

Next, swayed by a hawker, they got tarot readings, then plopped down where a busking performance was happening, with Jae Hee poking Yoo In’s side to listen to the guitar playing.

Not long after, Yoo In was pulled up again, and a non-alcoholic cocktail was placed in her hand instead of the forbidden alcohol.

“Ah~ This is fun. Right?!”

Jae Hee said with a smile so refreshing it made even onlookers feel cool.

Yoo In, completely exhausted from dealing with Jae Hee and the sea of people, slumped her body and scrunched up her face.

“Fun, you say? This?”

Yoo In passed the blue-tinged drink back to Jae Hee without even taking a sip.

“Not fun? Then should we quickly go see something else?”

“No. We’ve done enough, what more is there to do? I’m dying of exhaustion. Let’s sit somewhere.”

“See, this is because you only sit and study, so you have no stamina. Let’s enjoy life a bit more from now on, Yoo In. Don’t act like you’ve seen it all!”

Yoo In was about to retort that it was because Jae Hee had too much energy, when suddenly she felt a sense of déjà vu and swallowed her words.

It feels like I’ve heard something similar somewhere. Who said it? What did they say…?

Just as the memory was on the tip of her tongue, a loud voice called out to the two of them from afar.

“Nam Yoo In! Han Jae Hee!”

Yoo In and Jae Hee turned their heads simultaneously.

Ji Han, wearing a comfortable-looking hoodie and light blue jeans, was running towards them with a bright smile.

Drawing the gazes of not only Seonhyeon University students but also the women around, Ji Han approached with a mischievous grin, clearly pleased about something.

“Wow. How long has it been since we’ve met? It feels like it’s been ages.”

“You’re the one who kept backing out saying you were busy with play rehearsals.”

“How is that backing out? I was doing my job. Hey, Han Jae Hee. Is this how you greet someone you haven’t seen in a while?”

“Our Yoon Ji Han~ Seeing you after so long makes me want to pick fights, you know?”

As Jae Hee draped her arm over Ji Han’s shoulder, he pushed her away with an annoyed expression. Jae Hee cackled as if enjoying Ji Han’s misfortune.

Watching her friends who were the same no matter when they met, Yoo In smiled weakly. Ji Han asked her kindly:

“Nam Yoo In. Have you been well?”

“Yeah. You know me.”

“Got dragged around by Han Jae Hee again, huh? You look drained.”

Yoo In nodded listlessly. Ji Han smiled gently and patted Yoo In’s head.

“Have you been very busy lately? You haven’t been in touch much.”

“Mmm, have I?”

Yoo In smiled awkwardly and slowly rolled her large eyes downward.

It was hard to meet Ji Han’s gentle gaze because it felt like someone was pricking her conscience with a needle, making her insides tingle uncomfortably.

Ji Han, who had been looking only at Yoo In, wouldn’t miss that. His smiling face briefly hardened before returning to normal.

“Yeah, I felt a bit hurt. Even when I asked, you wouldn’t tell me properly. Do you have secrets from us now?”

“Huh?”

Yoo In blinked rapidly in surprise.

More than anything, the word ‘us’ stopped Yoo In in her tracks. That meant that not only Ji Han, but Jae Hee had noticed something too.

Yoo In unconsciously looked at Jae Hee. Jae Hee, who happened to be looking at Yoo In, smiled awkwardly and then cheerfully intervened between the two.

“Hey! Why ask about that? Yoo In will tell us when the time is right.”

“……”

“……”

Despite Jae Hee’s efforts to lighten the mood, the air around the three became increasingly awkward.

Judging that a revival was impossible at this rate, Jae Hee pushed Ji Han’s deflated back.

“Yoon Ji Han. Didn’t you say you had to go for rehearsal?”

“…Yeah.”

“What if the lead is late? Hurry and go! We’ll talk later, later!”

Ji Han, unable to take his eyes off Yoo In, reluctantly turned away at Jae Hee’s urging.

Responding to Jae Hee’s encouragement to do well in the final practice, Ji Han looked briefly at Yoo In, who was staring at the ground, before disappearing into the crowd.

Jae Hee waited until Ji Han’s silhouette was no longer visible, and once she confirmed that the bright green hoodie had completely vanished from sight, she grabbed the arm of the dejected Yoo In.

Jae Hee’s eyes, always sparkling with mischief, had turned serious.

“Nam Yoo In. What are you hiding from us these days?”