The rest of the day in the VVIP suite was the quietest Ara had experienced in months.
No flashing lights, no "Ara-ssi, look over here," and no pressure to be the curated version of herself.
She actually ended up falling asleep on the sofa for an hour, curled up in the oversized, slightly ridiculous cartoon hoodie.
Plus, there was a Smart TV in the room, so she ended up watching some series.
She usually does not have time to watch series, but she did since she was free.
She opened one of her series and began to catch up.
Sometimes she felt cringe at her own acting.
Sometimes she was genuinely impressed by herself.
Overall, she learned some of her own negatives and positives in acting.
She also read the script of her new drama on her phone.
After this, she decided to eat something, so she ordered some fast food.
She usually does not eat fast food due to her commitments and to maintain her fitness, but sometimes it is okay.
When the sun finally dipped low enough to paint the Seoul skyline in bruised purples and burnt oranges, the heavy door clicked open.
Jin-woo came to her room.
He had changed into something more formal, still a black suit but more shiny, with a silver mechanical watch—an Excalibur Spider.
She remembered seeing this watch somewhere; it is a very expensive watch.
He was still scrolling on his phone while coming inside.
He then looked at Ara and said, "Let's go."
Ara quickly stood up and followed him outside.
She looked at herself and then at Jin-woo and began to think: Does it not look like I am some middle-class girl and Jin-woo is some rich second generation who fell in love with her?
But she quickly put this thought away and began to follow him.
They did not speak along the way, as there was not much to speak about.
They are only acquaintances or simple friends at most.
Jin-woo asked, "Where is your home?"
Ara replied, "I live in the Hannam-dong (Yongsan-gu) area, but I have to meet a friend at a club cafe near there."
Listening to her talking about the Hannam-dong area, Jin-woo said, "I also have to meet someone in that area, so I will drop you there. Tell your driver about this."
Ara nodded to him and called Moon Tae-il.
"Hello Moon Tae-il, you do not need to come; my acquaintance is dropping me at a club cafe, and I will go home from there as it is nearby. Yes, yes, no need to come. Do not worry, I will be fine."
After this, they went to the parking area of the mall and took Jin-woo's car.
As Jin-woo began to drive, the atmosphere in the car was too silent and awkward, so Ara started a conversation.
"Do you usually work like today?"
Jin-woo, while focusing on the road, nodded and said, "Yeah. I work in this time interval daily."
After this, they again became silent; Ara, seeing that Jin-woo is not one for idle talk, just began to stare out of the window.
Finally, the Club Cafe signboard became visible from the window.
Jin-woo parked the car near the cafe and Ara got out.
Jin-woo rolled his window down and said to Ara, "Take care Miss Ara, I am leaving."
Ara bowed and said, "Thank you Jin-woo for your help."
Then Jin-woo closed his window and went to the address for Cha Tae-jun which Eun-soo had already sent him.
Jin-woo looked at the house after arriving and parked in the parking area after confirming with the security guard.
The house rose like a sculpture of light and angles, its sharp white walls catching the fading glow of the sky.
Glass stretched across its face in silent confidence, reflecting the world while revealing just enough of the life within.
Dark brick crowned the upper floor, a quiet contrast to the purity below, while warm wooden panels grounded the structure, as if reminding it that it still belonged to the earth.
Balconies floated outward like suspended thoughts, edged with transparent railings that seemed to vanish into the air.
A staircase ran along the side, exposed and deliberate, climbing upward like a path meant not just for movement, but for arrival.
Interestingly, the path to enter was from the first floor through stairs rather than the ground floor.
Jin-woo took the stairs and reached the first floor, where a furnished wooden door slowly opened.
A maid in western-style black and white clothes welcomed him into the house and the living room.
The living room was black and white in color, with some abstract black and white paintings here and there.
There was not much; just a black sofa extended in two directions in an L-shape and a black table in the middle.
Jin-woo sat on one side, then the maid went inside and brought out some snacks.
After this, she asked, "What would you like, sir? Tea or coffee?"
Jin-woo politely replied, "Coffee, please."
The maid offered a short, practiced bow and disappeared toward the kitchen.
Jin-woo remained still, his eyes scanning the room.
He adjusted the Excalibur Spider on his wrist.
The maid returned with a coffee, which Jin-woo accepted and began to drink slowly.
After ten minutes, a man stepped into the living room, dressed in relaxed black pajamas.
This was Cha Tae-jun.
He looked like he had just taken a shower.
"Mr. Jin-woo," Tae-jun said.
He came near Jin-woo to shake his hand.
Jin-woo also stood up from his seat and bowed slightly before shaking hands.
"Hello, Mr. Tae-jun."
After this, they sat on opposite sides of the L-shaped sofa.
"I hope I did not make you wait for long; I was actually taking a shower after work."
Jin-woo slightly shook his head and said, "Not at all, I just arrived and was enjoying this nicely brewed coffee."
Tae-jun looked at the coffee and said, "This coffee was specially imported by our hotels from Africa; I hope you enjoyed it."
Jin-woo nodded and said, "I really like the bitter taste of this coffee."
After this, both became silent for some time.
On the other side, Ara entered the club cafe.
This club was known for providing juices, snacks, coffee, and pastries instead of alcoholic drinks.
There was no dancing area, but rather various rooms that were brightly lit and available for friends to enjoy their time in a peaceful environment.
This place was like heaven for peace-loving people.
Ara moved through the corridor and arrived at the door of room number five.
She opened the sliding door and entered the room, which was off-blue in color with white cloud-like patterns lit in white light.
There was a white table in the middle with comfortable white sofas around it.
She then looked at the three girls in the room who were waiting for her.