Three days had passed since Han visited Chaewon.
That evening, Han stood in front of the vending machine in his apartment building, absentmindedly feeding coins into it.
His thoughts were somewhere else entirely.
Tomorrow's practice.
The upcoming assignments.
And unfortunately...
Chaewon.
Why isn't he coming to university?
Han stared at the spinning drink inside the machine. Maybe he's still afraid. After everything that happened, facing people couldn't be easy.
Or maybe...
Han sighed.
Maybe he's still angry at me. The thought made him feel guilty again. Everything he had learned recently kept replaying in his mind. The disbandment wasn't Chaewon's fault. The scandal wasn't his fault. The company had used him, pushed him, and then abandoned him when things became difficult.
Yet people still blamed him.
And Han had been one of them.
On screen, NEXON had always looked perfect. Always smiling. Always happy. No one could have guessed what was happening behind the cameras.
That stupid Diabill company deserved to be exposed.
"Hyung, your drink."
Han blinked.
The shopkeeper's voice pulled him back to reality.
"Ah. Thank you, Yujin."
Taking the can, Han turned around. Then froze. Someone had just entered the elevator. For a split second, Han recognized the profile.
Chaewon.
His heart skipped. Wait… What? Han stared at the closing elevator doors. Why would he be here? This building was private. Visitors couldn't enter without permission.
A few seconds later, Han laughed at himself.
Impossible. I'm imagining things. Still shaking his head, he returned to his apartment and spent the next hour watching television.
His phone suddenly rang.
"Hello, Mom."
"Han-ah, your sister is landing in an hour. Go pick her up."
Han groaned.
"She could've told me earlier."
"And bring Seungmin with you."
Before he could protest, the call ended.
Han stared at his phone.
Then sighed dramatically.
After changing into a fitted suit, he left the apartment and called Seungmin. To his surprise, Seungmin answered immediately. That alone felt suspicious.
"Hello?"
"Seungmin, be ready. I'm picking you up. Mother wants you to come home too."
As Han stepped into the elevator, he glanced up. His breath caught. For a second time that day
He saw Chaewon.
Standing near the far end of the corridor. Han frowned. Then the elevator doors closed.
On the phone, Seungmin spoke.
"What are you wearing?"
Han blinked.
"What?"
"What colour is your suit?"
Han laughed.
"Since when do you care?"
Silence.
Han smirked.
"Dark grey."
"Hm."
Then Seungmin asked,
"And why did you suddenly stop talking?"
"I thought I saw someone."
"Who?"
Han hesitated.
"Chaewon."
A brief pause followed.
Then—
"Who?"
Han laughed.
"Nothing. I probably imagined it."
Another pause.
Then Seungmin said,
"Call me when you're outside."
"Okay, bye-bye."
The line immediately disconnected.
Han stared at his phone.
"...He hung up on me."
A smile slowly appeared on his face. What is wrong with him these days?
The airport was unusually quiet. The evening crowd hadn't arrived yet. Han stood near the arrival gate holding a sign that read:
JIWOO NOONA
A few minutes later, the doors opened. Jiwoo appeared. Walking beside her was Christine.
Han instantly lit up.
"Christine noona!"
Without caring about appearances, he dropped the sign and ran toward her. Christine laughed as he wrapped his arms around her.
"I missed you."
"I missed you too."
She pinched his cheek affectionately.
"And I brought you a gift."
Han gasped dramatically.
"A gift?"
"A very expensive one."
Han immediately looked ready to cry from happiness.
Jiwoo walked past both of them.
"You can discuss gifts at home."
During the drive, Christine sat in the passenger seat while Jiwoo sat in the back. As Korean rock music filled the car, Han and Christine sang every song terribly and confidently.
Jiwoo watched them from behind. Annoying. But somehow comforting.
Halfway through the drive, Han suddenly remembered.
"Oh right. We need to pick up Seungmin."
The car pulled up outside the Choi residence. The gates opened. A few moments later, Seungmin appeared. As usual, he looked calm and perfectly composed.
He got into the car and sat beside Jiwoo.
"Hello, noona."
Jiwoo nodded.
"How are you?"
"I'm fine."
Then Seungmin turned toward Christine.
"How are you, noona?"
Christine smiled brightly.
"I'm good. How's our cute baby Seungmin?"
Seungmin's expression remained completely serious.
"I'm fine."
Then he turned to look out the window. The car exploded with laughter. Even Han nearly missed a turn. Christine pointed at him.
"Jiwoo, you guys are definitely siblings."
Jiwoo looked horrified.
"Please stop."
Han laughed harder.
For the rest of the drive, Christine and Han continued singing loudly while Jiwoo and Seungmin sat silently in the back like two people attending a funeral.
At one point, Christine shoved her phone between them.
"Sing."
Both stared at her.
Neither moved.
"Sing."
Reluctantly, they joined for exactly one line. Then immediately retreated into silence again. The entire car burst into laughter.
Even Seungmin looked mildly offended.