[ INT. Sun-woo's Luxury Sedan – Continuous]
(The interior of the sleek car is enveloped in a thick, heavy silence. Both Sun-woo and Ma Ha-rin sit stiffly, the quietness between them filled with a strange, nervous energy. Sun-woo keeps his eyes glued to the dark road ahead, his hands gripping the steering wheel tight, while Ha-rin sits rigid in the passenger seat, staring straight out the windshield. The only illumination comes from the soft, pale blue glow of the dashboard lights.)
(Sun-woo clears his throat awkwardly, trying desperately to break the ice. He lifts his left hand slightly off the steering wheel, gesturing toward his wrist.)
SUN-WOO: "Oh... by the way, Ha-rin, this wristwatch you gifted me... it's incredibly beautiful. I really, truly like it. But... it is a little peculiar, isn't it?"
MA HA-RIN: (Thinking to herself, her heart skipping a beat in sudden panic) 'Of course it's peculiar! It's definitely not a normal watch, it's a couple watch! Wait... oh my god, where on earth is my matching watch?! Oh no... I completely forgot it and hid it underneath the documents back on my office desk!'
MA HA-RIN: (Forcing a nervous smile, answering quickly) "Ah... yes, sir. It's just a unique design."
SUN-WOO: (Thinking to himself, frantically racking his brain) 'Ugh, what else should I say? Come on, Sun-woo, think of something! Ask her something personal to keep the conversation going.'
SUN-WOO: (Trying to sound casual) "So... Ha-rin... are you currently single?"
MA HA-RIN: (Thinking to herself, her eyes widening in pure shock) 'Wait... what?! Why on earth is he suddenly asking me about my relationship status? This is so incredibly out of nowhere!'
MA HA-RIN: (Stuttering slightly, turning to look at him) "Oh... um, yes, sir. I am single. But... why do you ask?"
SUN-WOO: (Blushing slightly, turning the wheel) "Oh, it's nothing! No reason at all, just... just asking out of casual curiosity. But actually, Ha-rin... there is something highly important that I've been wanting to tell you.
"MA HA-RIN: (Her heart pounding frantically against her ribs, thinking to herself) 'Oh my god, please no! Dear Lord, don't tell me he somehow found out the truth about the watch freezing time?!'
MA HA-RIN: (Gulping nervously, looking at his profile) "What... what is it, sir?"
SUN-WOO: (Thinking to himself, his chest tightening with a deep, roaring nervousness) 'Just say it, Sun-woo. Stop being a coward and just confess your feelings right now! Just say the words!'
SUN-WOO: (Taking a deep, ragged breath, his voice trembling slightly) "Ha-rin... I... I lo..."(Before the final word can fully leave his lips, the smooth sedan rounds a sharp corner and comes to a gentle halt. The bright headlights illuminate the front gates of her residential complex.)
MA HA-RIN: (Glancing out the side window, instantly interrupting him with a loud sigh of relief) "Oh! Look, sir, we've already arrived! We're here! Wait... what were you trying to tell me, sir? Please tell me quickly. It's already incredibly late, and my family is sitting upstairs waiting for me anxiously. You were just saying 'I lo...' something?
"SUN-WOO: (His face turning bright red, completely freezing as his courage vanishes, waving his hands dismissively) "Huh? Oh! No, no, it's absolutely nothing! It's not important at all. I'll just tell you some other time. Go on, you should head upstairs now."
MA HA-RIN: (Slightly confused, grabbing her bag from the seat) "Oh... alright then. Thank you so much for the ride, sir. I really appreciate it."
(She opens the car door and steps out into the crisp night air. As she walks toward the entrance lobby, she thinks to herself with a soft, fluttering smile.)
MA HA-RIN: (Thinking to herself) 'What on earth was he trying to say to me? Lately, his behavior toward me has been getting so incredibly sweet and caring... it actually feels really nice.'
(Lost completely in her happy thoughts, Ha-rin fails to notice a raised concrete block on the pavement. Her foot catches the edge sharply, and she violently stumbles forward.)
MA HA-RIN: (Choking out a sharp cry of severe pain) "Ahhh!"(Inside the car, Sun-woo sees her fall through his rearview mirror. His heart jumps into his throat. He throws the car into park, tears open his door, and sprints out onto the dark pavement, rushing straight to her side as she sits on the ground, clutching her foot.)
SUN-WOO: (Kneeling down next to her, his voice frantic with pure panic) "Ha-rin! Oh my god, what happened? Are you okay? Are you hurt?!"
(Without waiting for her reply, he gently reaches out and carefully begins to slide her high-heeled sandal off her injured foot to inspect the damage.)
MA HA-RIN: (Her cheeks flushing warm with sudden, overwhelming embarrassment, trying to pull her leg back) "Huh?! Sir! What are you doing?! Please don't do that, let it be! I'm completely fine, really!
"SUN-WOO: (Speaking in a firm, commanding, yet deeply worried tone) "Stop moving, Ha-rin! Just hold still for a second!"
(He carefully removes the sandal, exposing her foot under the pale glow of the streetlamp. He winces as his eyes lock onto a nasty, deep gash right near her toes.)
SUN-WOO: (His brow furrowing in deep concern) "Look at this! You're bleeding! There is literally blood coming out of the scrape. What on earth were you thinking about? What kind of thoughts were you so lost in that you didn't even see the pavement?!
"MA HA-RIN: (Stammering nervously, her heart hammering as she looks at his close face) "Sir... it's just a tiny stumble, really. I am perfectly fine. I can manage. I'll just head upstairs now, you should go back home."
(Ha-rin stubbornly grabs her detached sandal in her hand, placing her injured foot down on the cold ground to stand up and walk away. But the moment she tries to take a step, the sharp sting of the cut makes her flinch.)
(Before she can even process the pain, Sun-woo steps in close. He reaches out, firmly but gently grabbing her by the waist from behind to steady her. In one swift, effortless motion, he sweeps her completely off her feet, lifting her up into his arms in a classic bridal carry.)
MA HA-RIN: (Gasping out loud in absolute shock, her eyes widening as she grips his shoulders for balance) "S-Sir?! Put me down! What are you doing?!"
SUN-WOO: (Staring directly into her eyes, his expression completely resolute and stubborn as he begins walking straight toward the apartment building elevators) "I told you to stop arguing. You can't even walk straight. I am personally carrying you all the way to your apartment door, and that is final.
"(Ma Ha-rin goes completely silent, her face burning red as she hides her face against his chest, while Sun-woo carries her securely into the building, heading straight toward the confrontation that awaits at Kim Seo's doorstep.)
[ INT. Kim Seo's House – Living Room – Late Night]
(The elevator doors slide open and Mr. Sun-woo walks into the corridor, carrying a deeply blushing Ma Ha-rin securely in his arms .Her heart is hammering heavily against her ribs. He steps up to the door and presses the doorbell firmly. Inside, Junu hears the chime and immediately rolls his wheelchair over to swing the door wide open. The very second the door opens, his eyes widen into absolute, unadulterated shock at the sight of Ha-rin in Sun-woo's tight grip.)
JUNU: (Staring open-mouthed, pointing a stunned finger) "What... what on earth is all this?! Ha-rin?! Who is this guy and why are you in his arms?!"
(Hearing the sudden chaotic commotion from the entrance, Kim Seo immediately stops typing and gets up from her workspace table. The moment her gaze locks onto the tall man walking through her door, her jaw drops.)
KIM SEO: (Gasping out loud in profound shock) "S-Sir?! Mr. Sun-woo?! What are you doing here at my house? And Ha-rin... what is this?!"
SUN-WOO: (Completely ignoring the chaotic questions, gesturing firmly to a stunned Junu) "Move back for a minute, Junu."
(Junu instinctively rolls his wheelchair backward to clear the narrow entryway. Sun-woo walks past him straight into the cozy living room, stepping right up to the sofa. He carefully and gently lowers Ma Ha-rin onto the soft cushions, ensuring her injured foot is perfectly comfortable.)
SUN-WOO: (Softly, fixing her position) "You stay right here and rest. I will take my leave now."
MA HA-RIN: (Looking up at him with starry, grateful eyes, her face bright pink) "Thank you so much, sir... and bye."
JUNU: (Rolling his wheelchair close, completely breaking the silence as his eyes dart between them) "Wait a minute! Hold on! What on earth is going on here? Who is this stylish guy anyway? Is he the exact same dude who brought you that massive bouquet of flowers at the corporate party? Or wait... is he your secret boyfriend?!"
SUN-WOO: (Turning his head away slightly, a soft, highly amused, and secretly proud smile breaking across his lips as he thinks to himself, 'Boyfriend? Well, that's a title I wouldn't mind at all.')
KIM SEO: (Her face burning red with deep sibling embarrassment, stepping forward instantly to smack her brother's shoulder) "Junu! Shut up! What are you blabbering about?! He is absolutely not her boyfriend! He is our new top boss, the CEO of our entire company, Mr. Sun-woo!"
JUNU: (Frowning heavily, looking at Sun-woo suspiciously) "Then why on earth did the company CEO come all the way here past midnight just to drop Ma Ha-rin off?!
"SUN-WOO: (Completely composing his expression, speaking in a calm, professional tone) "Oh, actually, it got extremely late at the office tonight. I wanted to make sure she got home safe, so I insisted on driving her. But as she was walking to the entrance, she took a highly nasty stumble. She couldn't even stand straight or walk properly, so I had no choice but to carry her up to your doorstep.
"KIM SEO: (Looking down at Ha-rin's bandaged foot, letting out a heavy sigh) "Oh, thank you so much, sir! Seriously, thank you for looking after her and bringing her all the way up. I am extremely grateful.
"JUNU: (Scratching the back of his neck, his defensive stance instantly dropping) "Huh... okay. And... sorry, sir. I completely misunderstood the situation.
"SUN-WOO: (Nodding politely, pulling his coat straight) "It's completely fine. I will take my leave now. Besides, we all have to clear out and leave early in the morning for our big journey. Bye, and please take care of yourself, Ha-rin."
(He gives a warm, lingering glance to Ma Ha-rin, who nods shyly. Sun-woo turns around and walks out, closing the front door gently behind him. The moment the lock clicks, Junu wheels himself right up to the sofa, narrowing his eyes.)
JUNU: "Wait a minute! What did your boss just say? You have to leave early in the morning? What on earth does that mean, Ha-rin?!"
MA HA-RIN: (Blinking in surprise, turning her head sharply toward Kim Seo) "Wait... Kim? Did you literally not tell him anything?!"
KIM SEO: (Slapping her forehead in pure exhaustion) "Oh my god... I completely forgot to mention it to him! My mind was so incredibly packed with the pending reports and files [Scene 13] that it completely slipped my mind."
JUNU: (Shouting in absolute betrayal) "What?! You completely forgot about me?! So you both are basically just leaving me behind like this?!"
MA HA-RIN: (Quickly explaining) "Oh, listen, Junu! Our entire company is heading out tomorrow morning on an official business trip. We are going deep into the mountains for a massive tourism and temple project, so we have to leave town."
JUNU: "Yeah, all that is completely fine, but what about me?! What am I supposed to do here all alone in this apartment on a wheelchair? And did you both completely forget that this is the exact week I was scheduled to go back to Dehan University Hospital to get this heavy plaster cast removed?!"
MA HA-RIN: (Nodding anxiously, looking at Kim Seo) "Oh, yes! Kim, he's right. If we're gone for the whole week, who on earth is going to take him to the clinic? Our project work might take at least until next weekend to fully wrap up."
KIM SEO: (Sighing deeply, rubbing her temples) "Then what are we supposed to do? Why don't you just go stay with Mom and Dad for a few days? Everyone can look after you over there.
"JUNU: (Shaking his head instantly, highly stubborn) "No way, sis! I absolutely do not want to go there. I want to stay right here, and my cafe is extremely close to this area too, I need to look after it. And I promise... I completely promise, I will never ride my bike fast ever again!
"KIM SEO: (Narrowing her eyes, walking over to his wheelchair, her sisterly concern turning into a strict lecture) "Yeah, but who is going to look after you here alone on this wheelchair? And besides, you wouldn't even be able to face Mom and Dad. I haven't told them a single word about your injury! They would get completely stressed out for no reason from so far away, which is why I hid it. Now tell me, what should we do?"
MA HA-RIN: (Suddenly raising her hand, her eyes lighting up) "Wait, I have a brilliant idea!"
JUNU: (Looking at her suspiciously) "No! I definitely do not want any of your ideas. You always end up creating a massive disaster!"
MA HA-RIN: (Snapping at him) "Hey! Just listen to me first!"
KIM SEO: "Yeah, go ahead, Ha-rin. What's the idea?"
MA HA-RIN: "Why don't we hire a professional caretaker for Junu? Just until this weekend. Once the doctors at Dehan University remove his plaster cast, he will be able to walk perfectly fine on his own feet and manage everything.
"JUNU: "Yeah... that idea is actually completely fine."
KIM SEO: "Alright, fine. I will look into arranging a good caretaker first thing in the morning before we leave. Now, I am completely exhausted, so everyone go to sleep. Today has been an incredibly heavy and draining day for all of us."
MA HA-RIN: (Standing up carefully, stretching her arms) "Yeah, that is absolutely true."(As she walks slowly toward her bedroom, she clutches her pocket, thinking to herself with a nervous shudder.)
MA HA-RIN: (Thinking to herself) 'Ugh... I have a massive task tomorrow morning. I completely forgot and left that unique antique watch hidden right on my office desk I have to fetch it before the bus leaves! If someone accidentally finds it and presses the side button... huh! It will be a total disaster!
'(The scene cuts briefly as Kim Seo gently guides Junu back to his bedroom. Themidnight hours slip away, and the house drops into a quiet, brief rest.)