It was the summer of 2014, the kind that made the asphalt ripple like it was alive. The streets were deserted, except for the occasional high schooler wandering home after class. Ji-hoon, drenched in sweat, decided to take the shortcut through the alley. No way the hoodlums would hang out in this heat, he thought.
He was wrong.
Halfway through, he froze. A group of older boys lounged against the graffiti-stained walls, shirts slung over their shoulders, cigarettes glowing faintly. Their laughter was sharp, echoing in the alley.
Before he could turn back, one of them called out.
"Little boy."
Ji-hoon exhaled slowly and turned.
"Planning on running away?" sneered Jay, smoke curling from his lips.
"I don't want trouble," Ji-hoon replied evenly. "Just say what you want and let me go."
The group exchanged amused glances. In-ha laughed, flicking his cigarette aside.
"Yah, high schooler, bold mouth you've got there. What do you even have to offer?"
"He looks rich," Hoon muttered, stepping closer.
"I said take what you want," Ji-hoon repeated, voice steady.
Then Kang—the leader—stepped forward. His smile was lazy, dangerous. He leaned close until Ji-hoon could smell the smoke on his breath.
"What I want isn't money. I want to see you bleed. Care to give me that?"
Ji-hoon stared straight into his eyes, not flinching.
Kang raised his hand—
"Alright, that's enough!" a sharp voice cut in.
All eyes turned. Ga-young strolled into the alley, her hands shoved in her pockets, expression bored.
"Seriously? Don't you losers have part-time jobs or something?"
Jay let out a laugh. "Ohhh, if it isn't the Min-jae fangirl."
"So you do know me," Ga-young smirked. She marched right up to Ji-hoon, grabbed his wrist, and tugged him toward the exit. "We're leaving."
"Leaving? Who do you think you are?" In-ha stepped forward. "Even Min-jae wouldn't save you."
The boys closed in.
"If you're so tough, why don't you touch me first?" Ga-young challenged, tilting her chin up.
Kang grabbed her wrist. "I don't like your attitude—"
Before he could finish, Ga-young sank her teeth into his arm. Hard.
"Ahh! You crazy—!" Kang recoiled in pain, releasing her.
The others lunged, but Ga-young was faster—she flung a fistful of ground chili pepper from her pocket straight into the air. The alley filled with stinging dust.
"Run!" she barked.
Ji-hoon didn't hesitate. They bolted, sneakers slapping against the pavement until they burst onto a crowded street, gasping for air.
"Are you okay?" Ga-young panted.
"I'm fine. Are you?" Ji-hoon asked, just as breathless.
Ga-young brushed sweat from her forehead, glaring at him.
"Are you insane? Why would you go through that alley? You know what happens there. Imagine if I didn't show up."
"I thought the heat would keep them away," Ji-hoon muttered. "Besides… I had it under control."
She snorted. "Control? You'd be in a hospital—or a cemetery." She exhaled sharply. "Just thank your stars Hari saw you heading that way. Now go home."
"Then let me escort you first," Ji-hoon said stubbornly.
Ga-young stopped, her eyes narrowing. "Park Ji-hoon, they're going to come after you again. You need to tell your parents before you end up in pieces."
But he only smiled. "The police probably got them already. I'll be fine."
She rolled her eyes, walking ahead. "I wouldn't even blink if something happened to you."
Still, he followed her. They walked in silence until they reached her front door. Ga-young stepped inside and was about to slam it when his voice stopped her.
"Ga-young."
She paused, one hand on the doorframe. "What?" she asked flatly.
"…Thanks. For today."
Her expression softened for half a second—but then she masked it with a scoff.
"This doesn't make us friends. We're still rivals. If you really want to thank me, then keep hating me. Don't change that."
Ji-hoon smiled faintly. "I promise."
"And no smiling either," she snapped.
He nodded obediently. The door shut in his face.
Ji-hoon chuckled as he turned away. "She's so cool, though."
BACK TO PRESENT
Golden light spilled through the curtains, brushing her face with warmth. Ga-young's lashes fluttered, catching the glow as she slowly blinked awake. A soft smile curved her lips as she stretched lazily under the cream sheets, feeling the world hum gently around her. A loose strand of hair fell across her cheek; she tucked it behind her ear and inhaled the quiet morning, the faint scent of roasted coffee drifting in from outside.
Her energy buzzed unusually high that morning. After a quick bath, she slipped into a pair of tailored, wide-leg beige trousers and an off-shoulder white knit top with fitted sleeves. She swept her hair into a loose, scattered bun that framed her face effortlessly. A hint of blush warmed her cheeks, and she caught her reflection smiling back at her — soft, content, almost glowing.
A few moments later, she was in her office, the morning sun pooling across her desk. A hot cup of coffee warmed her hands as she flipped through documents.
As always, Ji-hye barged into the room like a gust of wind, her smile as mischievous as ever.
"I was told you look intentionally pretty today," she said, sauntering closer.
Ga-young only smiled and shrugged.
"So tell me," Ji-hye said, dragging a chair closer. "Why are you so happy today? Did you get proposed to?"
"Ji-hye," Ga-young said, setting her documents aside with a sigh, "not everything is about men. Plus, I just woke up this way."
"Mm-hm." Ji-hye narrowed her eyes dramatically. "Did you hear? Ji-hoon has left."
"Yeah, I know." A smile tugged at Ga-young's lips before she could stop it.
Ji-hye gasped. "So that's why you're happy?" She pointed at her with mock accusation. "I knew you were bad, but heartless?"
"Hey!" Ga-young laughed. "Don't put it that way. I'm just… happy I didn't hurt his feelings."
"So it was actually about a man" she said and paused dramatically "Wait — did he actually ask you out?" Ji-hye's eyes widened.
Ga-young hesitated, then sipped her coffee. "Maybe."
Ji-hye's jaw dropped. "No way!" She leaned in closer. "Then what did you say?"
Ga-young gave her a sly look. "I said, 'you have work to do, Ji-hye.'"
"Yah!" Ji-hye swatted the air. "Why are you like this? Just tell me."
"I'm not interested." Ga-young gestured toward the door.
"Who said you have to be interested?" Ji-hye teased.
"It's better with soju," Ga-young replied with a wink.
"Omo!" Ji-hye clutched her chest dramatically. "You know me too well." Then she paused, tilting her head. "By the way, where's your boss?"
"My boss?" Ga-young repeated, a little too quickly.
"Yeah. You're the one who considers him a boss as for me he's my friend, my very close friend" Ji-hye said, grabbing Ga-young's cup for a sip.
"To be honest, you guys were never that close. How did you two bond so much?" Ga-young asked curiously.
"I'd never tell," Ji-hye said with a grin. She took another sip. "Is this from across the road?"
Ga-young nodded.
"I should buy it too." Ji-hye set the cup down. "So, where is he?"
"I have no idea. He just said he'd be late… or absent."
"He's not the type to miss work. You think he's okay?"
"He seemed fine on the phone," Ga-young replied, a little too casually.
Ji-hye clicked her tongue. "That's suspicious. Anyway, I should get back so I can finish early and drink my life out with you later."
Ga-young shook her head with a small smile. "You're wasted even when sober."
"It's a flex," Ji-hye said proudly, striding out with the half-empty coffee cup in hand.
The office grew quiet again. Ga-young leaned back in her chair, staring at his seat. Her smile faltered.
Min-jae was never late.
Her fingers tapped against the desk, restless. She told herself it was nothing, but a tiny, uninvited thought slipped in, making her chest tighten: What if something happened?
She shook her head, picking up her pen and forcing her attention back to the documents. The letters swam on the page, her mind still replaying his last phone call, the sound of his low, calm voice.
"Please be fine" she said with a long exhale.