Hyun-woo started coming home earlier.
Not every day. Just enough for me to notice.
When I walked in after class, he was already there, sitting at the table with his laptop open. He looked up the moment he heard the door.
"You're late," he said.
"So are you."
He shut the laptop. "Who were you with?"
I dropped my keys. "You ask that a lot."
"Because you avoid answering."
"I don't have to answer."
He leaned back in his chair, eyes fixed on me. "You didn't use to mind."
That landed harder than it should have.
"I used to think it was normal," I said.
"And now?"
"Now I think you're checking on me."
He stood up. "I'm not."
"Then what is this?"
He didn't reply right away. His jaw tightened, just slightly.
"You don't like it when I'm not here," he said instead.
"That's not true."
"You notice," he corrected. "You always do."
I looked away.
He moved closer, stopping in front of me. Not touching. Never touching when it mattered.
"I don't care who you go out with," he said.
"That's a lie."
His eyes darkened. "Prove it."
I laughed once, sharp. "You're impossible."
"And you're still here."
That shut me up.
That night, my phone buzzed while I was brushing my teeth.
Unknown Number: Is this Ha-eun?
I stared at the screen.
Before I could reply, another message came.
Unknown Number: This is Min-jae. We met yesterday.
I froze.
From the doorway, Hyun-woo watched me.
He didn't ask who it was.
He already knew.