Although Ji Han had sent several messages and contacts, each time the heavy and serious face of Ki Yeon automatically appeared before her eyes, so Yoo In kept putting it off.

She needed time and effort alone to try to understand the confused questions about why Ji Han had said such things.

After spending a few days like that, Jae Hee, who had never set foot in the library before, came looking for Yoo In, who had been holed up, and frowned as she drank carbonated hangover remedy.

“What? What did Yoon Ji Han say?”

Yoo In quietly swallowed the cold ion drink and cast her gaze at the bright blue sky.

Then, Jae Hee’s angry voice, which seemed about to get excited, said.

“I mean, not only in front of the director, but what? What’s going on? Is he completely crazy? Who does he think he is to say such things.”

This time, as she let out a deep sigh, Jae Hee thumped her chest area as if frustrated.

“You were just accepting that? If he crossed the line, you should have at least said ‘You crazy bastard, mind your own business!'”

“I thought he was so worried. And when I actually heard it, I was so surprised and weirded out that I couldn’t say anything.”

“That’s not worry!… Ah, never mind. Anyway, if he does it again, contact me right away. I’ll drop everything, filming or whatever, and come.”

“Do you know why he’s acting like this?”

“…I don’t know. That’s why you must tell me.”

Jae Hee’s expression looks quite disgruntled. Somehow seeming even more heated than Yoo In, Jae Hee gulped down the remaining cola and roughly threw it into the metal trash can, then abruptly turned around.

“Hey, did you tell the director about that?”

“No. How could I… I can’t.”

She couldn’t even bring it up knowing they didn’t have good feelings for each other, but Ki Yeon at the arboretum, where it felt like they were the only two left in the world, acted as if he had seen everything without being told.

After giving her a sweet night that felt like wandering through a distant dream, he told her to look only at him and trust only him, nothing else.

Why does that man, who had so exquisitely pinpointed Yoo In’s anxious worries, seem to know everything?

“Right. I think it’s better not to… Separately from that, I guess the lovey-dovey is going well?”

When Yoo In looked at her with a face that said ‘What are you talking about?’, Jae Hee’s eyes sparkled mischievously as they turned towards Yoo In’s right arm.

The weather had gotten warmer, so she had worn a short-sleeved knit, leaving no place to hide. Moreover, Yoo In wasn’t one to usually wear accessories, so it stood out even more.

Somehow recognizing what Ki Yeon had given her, as Yoo In subtly lowered her arm, Jae Hee approached with an even more playful smile.

“Why are you hiding it? When you’re showing it off so openly? Let me see it closely. Wow! Is this possibly a diamond?”

“What diamond? I don’t think so.”

“Tsk. This luster, it’s not ordinary. Didn’t you see any certificate in the box?”

“No. The director put it on me himself…”

Eyes raised like a cat’s, now not just sparkling but starting to glitter. Raising her eyebrows as if to say ‘Tell me more’ and shaking the arm she had grabbed, it was more than a little burdensome.

Even when Yoo In said ‘That’s all’, Jae Hee, who wouldn’t give up, laughed so heartily that even the people in the smoking area next to them turned to look.

“Oh, Nam Yoo In. Pretending not to, but already receiving gifts~ You’ve been doing very well on your own. No need to worry. You’ve grown up well, grown up so well!”

“Did you raise me? Since when? That’s news to me.”

“Yes. Only you don’t know, only you.”

Before leaving for a shoot, Jae Hee, who had been giving a few more unnecessary words of advice, once again urged Yoo In.

“If Yoon Ji Han talks nonsense again, make sure to tell me right away! Make sure!”

Seeing Jae Hee off with a troubled smile, Yoo In entered the library reading room and tried to continue the assignment she had been working on, but after writing a few characters, backspace. A few more characters, then backspace again repeatedly.

Jae Hee said Ji Han had crossed the line. Yoo In thought so too. Ji Han had always been like that with her, but this time it couldn’t just be brushed off as a friend’s overprotection or overreaction. That’s why she had no choice but to avoid him even more.

As soon as she thought it would be good to clarify things, Yoo In packed up and left the library.

On the way home, she should leave a short message to Ji Han asking when he’s free.

Ji Han, who had been reading messages but not replying, called Yoo In just as she was getting off the subway.

“Yes, Ji Han.”

-Yoo In. Will you talk to me now?

The inaccurate and twisted pronunciation that came as soon as she answered. Behind Ji Han’s uneven voice, very loud music and mixed voices of men and women could be heard.

Yoo In unknowingly furrowed her brow.

“Are you drinking?”

-…Huh, Yoo In. I’ll come now. Where are you?

“No, let’s talk later. You seem too drunk right now.”

The end of the sentence was subtly sharp. He pretended to be anxiously concerned, wanting to apologize, but how should she interpret him being soaked in alcohol before early evening?

“I’m hanging up. Drink moderately and go home.”

-Yoo In, wait. Nam Yoo In. Don’t hang up!

Yoo In sighed at the loud voice coming through the receiver.

“What?”

-Let’s talk now. I want to talk.

It had become clearer than his previous words, but that didn’t mean the effects of alcohol had retreated. There was still chaotic noise continuing around Ji Han, and Ji Han was still there.

Yoo In pressed her suddenly throbbing temples firmly with her thumb and said.

“Ji Han. You’re drunk right now. What are we going to talk about? Don’t be stubborn and just finish what you were doing and go home. It won’t be too late to see me later.”

-…Who says it’s not too late?

“I do.”

-No, it’s not. It’s already too late. Right, isn’t it.

“No… I’m telling you it’s not, Ji Han.

-If not, then tell me where you are now. I’ll come right away.

Maybe because he was drunk, Ji Han’s unreasonable stubbornness and clinging to words were unbearable.

Was Yoon Ji Han’s drunk behavior always like this?

Reflecting on the past, ridiculously, she could conclude that Ji Han had never been drunk in front of her until now.

Oh. Before she could be dumbfounded by this completely unexpected result, Ji Han persistently whined.

-Yoo In. Is it school? No, it wouldn’t be. Then home? I’ll go to your home. I’m going to catch a taxi now.

As if backing up his words, the noisy surroundings suddenly became quiet and the sound of cars on the road was heard instead.

This is really driving me crazy. Why is he acting like this? Aside from not listening, she was worried that he might get into an accident.

“Hey. Yoon Ji Han! Be careful of cars. Watch where you’re going properly. And sober up a bit!”

-…

“Why did you drink so much when you don’t usually drink well?… Hello? Ji Han?”

With no voice heard and only the sound of whizzing wind coming through, Yoo In became needlessly anxious.

“Ji Han. Are you listening?”

-…Yeah. I’ll be there soon.

Click.

Staring blankly at the empty phone that had been carelessly hung up, Yoo In took as big a breath as she could to try to soothe her completely blocked and tangled insides. It wasn’t much help and was in vain, but.

Anyway, she had to wait for Ji Han, who had given quite a hefty preview of coming no matter what. Unable to go inside, how long had she been pacing anxiously in front of the apartment main gate?

Just as the bag containing her laptop was getting heavy and one shoulder was drooping down, a taxi stopped by the road and shortly after, a tall man got out.

That man recognized Yoo In, who was looking at him with her head tilted sideways, and raised his arm high.

“Nam Yoo In! Did you wait for me?”

Even that ridiculous gesture seemed to smell of alcohol.

As Yoo In was looking at him crookedly and running her hand through her hair, before she could take a step forward, Ji Han came striding over and suddenly crashed into her as if he was going to eat her up, then staggered backwards and dropped his forehead onto Yoo In’s shoulder that had been pushed back.

As his hot face came down, one side of her shoulder felt as if it was burning.

“Yoo In. I missed you.”

She tried to lift up the large body that strongly smelled of alcohol, perfume, and tobacco, but Ji Han’s back didn’t budge, like a sponge soaked in water.

Haah. There was no end to the sighs. Yoo In had no choice but to pat Ji Han’s arm.

“Try to lift your body. Just how long have you been drinking to be like this?”

“Don’t know…”

“What do you mean you don’t know. Oh geez, hey. Ji Han!”

He seemed pretty sober when he got out of the taxi and walked over, but why was he staggering again as if completely drunk? Yoo In barely managed to hold onto Ji Han, who was more than a span taller than her, and had to find a place to sit.

Fortunately, there was a playground near the entrance, and while dragging and pulling Ji Han who was practically clinging to her, she heard something ringing in her bag, but she was so distracted that she soon forgot about it.

“Hey, sit down. No! Sit here, I said. Here!”

Lowering Ji Han, who looked lean but unexpectedly had a broad back and muscles, even though it was a cool breezy day, beads of sweat formed on Yoo In’s forehead.

Throwing her bag down next to Ji Han and panting, Ji Han, who was curled up with his face almost buried in his knees, mumbled.

“Yoo In. I’m sorry. I was wrong… Really.”

“…”

“But I didn’t mean it that way. Really, I didn’t. But… but you know, Yoo In.”

Ji Han slowly raised his pale face flushed with alcohol and met Yoo In’s eyes. Yoo In stared at Ji Han with her mouth tightly shut after somewhat calming her rough breathing.

“But really, can’t you not see that person? He doesn’t suit you at all. How can you… with someone like that… It doesn’t make any sense. Someone like you with that person, does that make sense?”

“Ji Han.”

“Do you know how that person looks at you? Like he’s going to completely devour you, like he’s going to make it so you can’t even breathe, that’s how he looks at you. Does that seem normal to you? No. Absolutely not. He’s going to ruin you. It’s obvious he’s going to hurt you. Why don’t you know that?”

“…Yoon Ji Han.”

Yoo In’s white cheeks, receiving the pale moonlight, had completely cooled. Her round forehead, her small curved nose tip, everything had frozen.

Yoo In, armed with cold rationality, spoke in an even chillier voice.

“Why have you been so desperate to tear down the director since last time? Why are you doing this?”

“I’m not tearing him down. I’m just telling it like it is. Because it seems like you don’t know, I’m trying to let you know.”

“Why wouldn’t I know? It’s the person I like, how would you know better than me? Does that make sense?”

Ji Han’s thin face instantly contorted. His pupils, full of darkness, trembled finely but did not leave Yoo In.

“I was going to wait until later since you’ve been drinking, but I’ll just say it now.”

“…”

“No matter what you say, I’m not going to change my mind. This won’t change no matter what you say. Even if I get hurt, I’ll get hurt, and if there are misunderstandings, I’ll deal with them. You can’t do that for me. And there’s no need for you to. What you’re doing now… it’s excessive meddling.”

A sinking silence cut between the two. Ji Han didn’t take his eyes off for a moment and breathed hot breaths rapidly, but Yoo In had long since turned her gaze to the night street.

“Don’t say anything bad or gossip about the director in front of me anymore. I won’t do it about you either.”

“…Yoo In.”

“I’ll call you a taxi. Take it and go.”

Was the discord with Ji Han a foreseen event? It seemed like pouring out the things she had been holding back would make her feel a little better, but actually saying it out loud didn’t feel that way.

Rather, she felt so upset, disappointed, and just like crying.

To the point of just passing by Ki Yeon’s number piled up with missed calls, burdensome emotions were weighing down on Yoo In.