[Morning 8:00Am]
Taekyun had just finished breakfast.
He sat at the dining table, posture straight, expression calm.
Haru sat beside him, her legs dangling from the chair, while Haneul sat across from them, slowly eating his bread.
Haneul noticed it.
Taekyun hadn't said a word since sitting down.
His gaze was distant,
As if his body was present but his mind was somewhere far away.
Before Haneul could say anything, a staff member approached Haru.
"The driver is here, Haru. Let's go."
Haru nodded obediently.
Haneul immediately stood up and helped her get down from the chair.
He picked up her bag and carefully placed it on her shoulders.
She leaned forward and kissed Haneul's cheek.
Haneul smiled and hugged her gently.
"Study hard,"
He said softly.
"And make sure you eat your lunch, okay?"
Haru nodded again.
Haneul knelt down slightly and kissed her back before standing up.
Haru then walked toward Taekyun.
Taekyun looked at her and gave a small nod.
Haru bowed properly.
A staff member gently took her hand and led her outside.
She waved back at Haneul as she left.
Haneul waved back, smiling, then slowly returned to his seat.
The dining room felt quieter.
After a moment,
Haneul looked at Taekyun and asked carefully,
"Are you okay?"
Taekyun seemed lost for a second.
Then he looked at Haneul and gave a slow nod.
Haneul lowered his gaze and continued eating, but worry crept into his expression.
Did I make him worried?
Maybe it's hard for him to search for Jiwon hyung…..
He already has so much work.
Haneul looked up again.
"I'm sorry if I made you worried last night."
Taekyun met his eyes.
"It's okay,"
He said calmly.
"It's nothing."
Haneul nodded, though the worry didn't fully leave his face.
Just then, a staff member entered.
"Sir, Lihan has arrived."
Taekyun nodded and stood up.
At the same time,
Bora entered from the side, bowing.
Taekyun picked up his phone from the table and turned toward Haneul.
"I won't be coming tonight,"
He said.
"Look after Haru."
Bora paused slightly.
For the first time,
Taekyun didn't tell her to look after Haru.
He told Haneul instead.
Haneul looked at Taekyun and gave a small nod.
As Taekyun turned to leave, Haneul moved closer and gently held onto the sleeve of his coat.
"Are you going somewhere?"
The servants exchanged glances at the unexpected action.
Taekyun's jaw tightened.
He looked at them.
They immediately lowered their heads.
Bora noticed and waved them away with her eyes.
They quickly left.
Haneul was still holding Taekyun's sleeve, looking up at him.
Taekyun slowly pulled back, pretending to adjust his tie so Haneul wouldn't feel rejected.
"I have some important work tonight,"
He said.
"It'll take some time."
Haneul nodded.
Taekyun added quietly,
"Eat your meals on time."
Bora turned her face away, cheeks slightly red.
Why is this so awkward and cute?
Omo….
As,
Taekyun walked out.
Bora bowed, then moved closer to Haneul.
"You're really something, Haneul-ah."
Haneul looked at her calmly, confidence steady.
"What do you mean"
Bora shot him a sideways glance, a teasing smirk tugging at her lips.
"Why can't I be?"
Haneul said slowly.
"I like him"
Bora laughed softly and gave him a teasing smack on the shoulder.
"You still have a lot to face before you can really be with him."
Haneul smiled.
"Ahh"
"You did the work I asked, right?"
Bora nodded.
"I ordered it. But if sir finds out"
"He'll be really angry."
She placed a hand on Haneul's shoulder.
"In my whole life, I've never done anything against the Kim family's will,"
She said seriously.
"But for you, Haneul as your big sister, I'm doing this."
"I know what'll happen after that,"
She added.
"But for Haru's sake and yours I'm doing it."
Haneul looked at her.
"Yes I know I know"
"You're just like people from our world,"
He said softly.
"Too generous."
Bora smiled.
"Don't flatter me.
Let's go check the rest of the work."
Haneul nodded.
(Meanwhile)
Inside the car.
Lihan glanced at Taekyun.
"Sir,"
He asked carefully
"Why is the information I provided still not enough?
Why are you opening this case again?"
Taekyun stared straight at the road.
"At that time, my father forced me to close Harin's case,"
He said.
"Because of the company."
"But I still think we missed something."
He paused.
"I'm still sure Harin told me she and Jiwon were coming back with the driver."
Lihan frowned.
"But sir, the CCTV footage from all locations proved Jiwon was driving,"
He said.
"Miss Harin was sitting in the back seat."
Taekyun nodded once.
"We'll see."
[2 PM]
Haneul sat in the kitchen with Bora.
"Bora,"
He said suddenly.
"I have a question."
"Hm?"
"Where is Liya?"
Bora's give him a tired look.
"Don't mention that ungrateful person."
Haneul looked at her.
"I'm just asking. She disappeared after that incident. I haven't seen her."
"Sir sent her away,"
Bora replied.
"She won't be coming back."
Haneul frowned.
"Away? What do you mean?"
Bora hesitated.
"You really don't know what sir can do,"
She said quietly.
"I don't know much, but Lihan said he handed her to Mingi.
After that I don't know."
Haneul looked worried.
"What if something bad is being done to her?"
Bora walked closer.
"Haneul,"
She said firmly.
"People like her never change."
"I've worked here a long time.
I saw her since she was sixteen.
She grew up here under me because her sister trusted me."
"I did everything I could for her."
"But in the end, she didn't even care about her sister's reputation.
Then who am I to her?"
"Also, this isn't the first time."
"That kid always knew how to be ungrateful."
Haneul lowered his gaze.
"But maybe something happened to her,"
He said softly.
"Or she was just hurt."
Bora smiled faintly.
"Leave it. You won't understand no matter what I say."
She began placing items back on the kitchen shelf.
"Don't worry,"
She added.
"Whatever punishment she received
it's probably already over.
She's likely transferred somewhere else to repay her actions."
Just then
"Umma!"
Haru's voice echoed from outside.
She had returned from school.
Haneul's eyes lit up.
He immediately rushed out.
"Haru!"
He said brightly.
He crouched in front of her.
"You're back?"
Haru nodded and quickly pulled out a drawing from her bag a picture of a garden.
Haneul looked at it.
"It's so good,"
He said warmly.
"You drew this yourself?"
Haru nodded proudly.
Haneul kissed her cheeks.
"You're really intelligent."
"Did you eat your lunch?"
Haru nodded.
"Did you share it with your friends?"
She gave a happy thumbs-up.
Haneul smiled.
"Good. Change first.
Then we'll eat something and do some work."
Haru nodded and followed him upstairs, holding his hand.
[Night]
Haru fell asleep beside Haneul in her room.
Haneul stared at her for a long time.
Then he picked up his phone.
The screen was blank.
He dialed Taekyun's number then hesitated.
He had never called Taekyun himself before.
What if he minds?
What if he's busy?
But I want to talk to him.
[Meanwhile /Hotel Room]
Taekyun sat on the couch, glasses on, laptop open.
Lihan sat across from him with several files spread out.
"Sir,"
Lihan said.
"What if Miss Han Ji doesn't take it seriously again?"
Taekyun didn't hesitate.
"Then I'll end all deals with the company,"
He said coldly.
"We'll release a full statement.
Separate ways."
"And block them from every international pharmaceutical conference."
Ad his phone rang.
He glanced at it.
Bora 2
He froze.
That phone
The one he gave Bora for Haneul when he kicked him out.
The same number.
But Haneul had never called before.
Something felt wrong.
Taekyun answered immediately.
"Hello?"
"How are you?"
Haneul's voice came soft and slow.
Taekyun froze.
"Oh.... good."
He looked at Lihan.
Lihan noticed the change instantly.
The softened tone.
The pause.
"I'll go buy something,"
Lihan said quietly, standing up.
Taekyun nodded.
After Lihan left,
Taekyun asked,
"Is everything okay?"
"Yes...."
Haneul replied.
"I was just worried about you."
"I'm fine,"
Taekyun said.
He didn't know why his voice wouldn't steady.
"Haru"
He added.
"Is she asleep?"
"She is,"
Haneul said.
"I'm next to her."
Silence.
Then...
"When will you come home tomorrow?"
Haneul asked.
Taekyun hesitated.
"I might not be able to,"
He said.
"There are some schedule changes."
Haneul's voice dropped slightly.
"Come home soon."
It hadn't even been a full day.
Yet Haneul said this.
Taekyun realized something between them had really changed.
"Sleep on time,"
He said quietly.
"You too."
As Taekyun ended the call, a soft murmur slipped through the line.
"I miss you."
The call ended.
Taekyun stared at his phone.
He tried to focus on the laptop.
He couldn't.
"Just my delusion,"
He muttered.
But his heart wouldn't settle.
He closed the laptop, removed his glasses, and leaned back on the couch.
He covered his eyes with his arm.
His heart beat faster.
Maybe
It was real.
(Back at the Residence)
Haneul hugged his phone to his chest.
His heart raced.
"I really do miss you,"
He whispered.
"Even one glance after you come back would be enough."
He smiled softly.
"Please stay safe,"
He murmured.
"And come back soon."
He lay back, phone resting on his chest, eyes slowly closing still smiling.