Love warning; Miss Park

Jihyo forced a smile as Sungbin held her waist, pretending for what felt like hours, though it had barely been less than one. She nodded for what seemed like the thousandth time in a minute, sighing inwardly. All she desperately wanted was to escape the uncomfortable grip of Sungbin, the meaningless chatter of the people around her, and find Sana—to see her, to talk to her…

Speaking of Sana, where the hell had she gone?

Jihyo had been scanning the room, and although she was surprised not to find Sana at the table where she had left her, she didn’t worry too much. Sana wasn’t exactly a social butterfly, but she knew how to navigate a crowd. She probably went to the bathroom, ran into Momo, or stepped outside for a breather.

She bit her lip, leaning in further in a desperate attempt to catch a glimpse of the girl, but to no avail.

Sighing again, she caught a glimpse of Sungbin as he spoke, taking sips from his wine glass. Jihyo resisted the urge to roll her eyes; he seemed far too comfortable, much to her dismay.

Turning her gaze back to the room, Jihyo reminded herself that she needed to focus on what the people were saying—the partners, the men who could propel her career even further with just a word. However, she couldn’t care less. Her attention shifted, and she frowned slightly as she spotted Donghae in the distance, standing alone in one corner of the room. To her relief, that meant Sana wasn’t being bothered by him. Yet, as she watched, she noticed something off about him. He looked… nervous? There was a look on his face she had never seen before, almost like fear. He held his phone to his ear, speaking rapidly.

Jihyo huffed quietly, pulling her gaze away from him. She needed to concentrate. She continued scanning the room, freezing momentarily as she spotted Momo a few steps ahead of her. How had she gotten there without Jihyo noticing? But what alarmed her even more was that Sana wasn’t with her.

Jihyo’s heart raced. Where was Sana?

Before she could come up with a flimsy excuse to walk over to Momo, Sungbin caught her attention. She turned to him, forcing a smile as she said, “I’m sorry, what was that?”

He studied her for a moment, tilting his head slightly. “You seem a bit distracted, honey. Is everything okay?”

Irritation flared within Jihyo at his obvious fake concern. She plastered on a wider smile and replied, “Oh, everything is perfect!”

Just then, Mr. Park stepped forward, holding a large glass of red wine in his hand. “Ah, Jihyo! I’ve heard wonderful things about you and your firm,” he said warmly. “Mr. Kim really goes above and beyond when it comes to you. I also hear you’re working on the Hwang case. That’s a tough one, especially with what it entails.”

Jihyo felt a slight flush of pride at his words. “Thank you, Mr. Park. I’m truly honored to be recognized by you and Mr. Kim, and it's a privilege to work on a case like that.”

Mr. Park smiled, nodding in approval. “How are you handling it?”

“Surprisingly, better than expected,” Jihyo replied. “Thanks to the entire team working on the case.” She hesitated for a moment before adding, “Speaking of the team, I believe I see Miss Hirai nearby.”

As she spoke, she smiled faintly, taking the opportunity to separate herself from Sungbin just as Mr. Park turned slightly to call out to Momo, gesturing for her to come closer. Momo noticed and excused herself from the other people she had been talking to, walking slowly towards them.

Once she was near, she performed a small bow, greeting Mr. Park with a polite smile. As she looked at Jihyo, a broad smile spread across her face.

“Ah, finally! I hope we’re not interrupting,” Mr. Park said, his voice warm and inviting.

“Not at all!” Momo replied cheerfully, her eyes twinkling.

Mr. Park smiled again, saying, “I was just speaking with Jihyo about the Hwang case.”

Jihyo chimed in, “I was telling Mr. Park that you have been a significant part of the investigation and the case.”

Momo nodded, her smile brightening even more. “It’s been a challenging but rewarding experience,” she said, her enthusiasm evident.

Jihyo watched their interaction with a small smile, nodding along as they spoke. Despite the throngs of superficial, wealthy men surrounding them, Mr. Park was genuinely kind. There was something refreshing about him; he seemed truly honest, and he was pretty much enamored with his wife, and Jihyo had never seen anyone else quite like that. It was heartwarming, and for a moment, it helped to distract her.

She nodded a bit more, glancing sideways at Sungbin. He didn’t seem as comfortable as before, and Jihyo noticed it. It was something that always happened; Sungbin would act jovial, laughing and making jokes here and there until Jihyo genuinely started discussing her work. Suddenly, he had nothing more to say, and it was clear he couldn’t even pretend to be interested.

Deciding she didn’t care, Jihyo took a firm breath, watching Momo nod and laugh. “If you’ll excuse me,” she interjected, forcing a smile, “I need to grab another glass of wine.” Mr. Park and his wife nodded in agreement, as did Momo, and Jihyo smiled at them before turning to walk away.

However, just as she was about to leave, she felt a tug on her hand. “I’ll go with you” Sungbin said and Jihyo swallowed her irritation but kept walking, weaving her way through the crowd until they reached the large table filled with wine.

Once there, she poured herself a glass, serving herself a bit more than usual. Turning around, she noticed Sungbin was too close for her comfort. She had to bite her tongue to keep from saying anything. Instead, she turned her gaze away, still searching for Sana. Now she was genuinely worried. Where the hell had she gone? “Damn it,” she muttered under her breath, taking another sip of wine.

As she stood there, she felt Sungbin inch closer until his chest was brushing against her back, his hand sliding around her waist. Jihyo felt her stomach twist, and before she could speak, Sungbin turned her to face him, their bodies now uncomfortably close. With a furrowed brow, he asked, “What’s wrong?”

Caught off guard, Jihyo hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to respond. All she could think about was finding Sana and the growing discomfort of being so close to Sungbin. “It’s nothing,” she finally said, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

Sungbin looked at her, his expression a mix of concern and curiosity. “You seem distracted. Are you looking for someone?”

Jihyo sighed, meeting his gaze. “Yes, Momo. I need to talk to her, but as you can see she’s busy.”

Sungbin raised an eyebrow, clearly not believing her. “Well, I think you should lay off the wine a bit before you have too much,” he suggested, his tone condescending.

Jihyo frowned, feeling irritation bubble up inside her. “This will be my last glass. I’m not going to get drunk here, especially when I need to…” She stopped short, catching herself before saying Sana’s name. Instead, she cleared her throat, forcing a smile. “It doesn’t matter.”

She lifted her gaze, only to find Sungbin staring at her intently, as if he were examining her. There was something in his look that made her uneasy. But then his gaze dropped to her lips, and Jihyo immediately knew where this was headed.

‘Hell no’ she cursed silently in her mind, mentally screaming a thousand times. She tried to take a step back, but it was as if her feet were glued to the floor. Finally, she surrendered, letting out a quiet sigh.

Going against everything she wanted to do in that moment, she reached up to grab the back of Sungbin's neck, pulling him toward her. Their lips met, and Jihyo closed her eyes tightly. When had it been the last time she let her husband kiss her? She couldn’t remember, and honestly, she didn’t care.

But the kiss was everything she had dreaded. It was uncomfortable, dry, and awkward. Sungbin’s lips felt rough against hers, stiff and unyielding. They were nothing compared to the soft, sweet kisses she had shared with Sana, who always tasted like strawberries.

She tried to pull away slightly, feeling that the kiss had already lasted longer than she wanted. However, Sungbin didn’t allow it. He pulled back just a bit and then tilted his head to kiss her again. Jihyo squeezed her eyes shut, feeling utterly strange, and tightened her grip around the back of Sungbin's neck—not in pleasure, but in a subtle gesture of rejection. Sungbin, however, didn’t notice and attempted to deepen the kiss once more.

Jihyo quickly stopped him, placing a firm hand on his chest to push him away. She needed to breathe—not because of the kiss but due to the wave of nausea that had settled in her stomach. Sungbin looked at her with a strange, almost dreamy expression, as if he couldn’t believe what had just happened.

She didn’t feel guilty at all. Clearing her throat, she stepped back, lowering her head and discreetly wiping her lips with the back of her hand. A small smile formed on her face, and unfortunately, it must have been convincing because Sungbin returned it, leaning in again as if to kiss her once more.

But just then, Jihyo's eyes caught a glimpse of Momo making her way toward them. Relief flooded through her, and she almost shouted her friend’s name. “Momo!”

Momo smiled and quickened her pace, approaching them with an eager expression. Jihyo sighed in relief and instinctively stepped away from Sungbin, focusing on the girl. “Are you coming for more to drink?” she asked, trying to keep her tone light.

“No, I think I’ve reached my limit,” Momo replied with a chuckle.

Jihyo nodded, then awkwardly glanced at Sungbin. Clearing her throat, she turned to him. “Uh honey, do you think you could grab my coat? I’m feeling a bit cold,” she asked sweetly, hoping to prompt him to move away.

Surprisingly, Sungbin didn’t argue. The kiss must have truly affected him more than she anticipated. He nodded, still looking a bit dazed, and walked away to fetch her coat.

As soon as he was out of earshot, Jihyo turned to Momo, her expression shifting to one of concern. “I was looking for you!”

“I’ve been right here all night!” Momo replied “Unlike you, I’ve been socializing—what this party is supposed to be for!”

Jihyo rolled her eyes playfully. “I’ve been socializing too!” she protested.

Momo laughed lightly. “I saw you sitting in a corner with Sana!”

Jihyo raised her hands in a hush gesture. “Shh! I needed to ask, have you seen her?”

“I did, a bit earlier,” Momo said. “I was actually going to approach her since she was alone, but then I got distracted by someone else and lost sight of her. I thought she might have decided to go home or was hiding with you.”

Jihyo sighed. “No, she wouldn’t leave without telling someone. I haven’t seen her since…” Her voice trailed off as she noticed something out of the corner of her eye. A couple of people who definitely weren’t part of the gala were rushing out, and they looked like paramedics.

Jihyo frowned, a knot forming in her stomach. She didn’t dwell on it for long, though. “We need to find her,” she said, her voice firm. “I would call her, but…” She hesitated, glancing back at Sungbin who was now returning.

Momo huffed, “I noticed. Looks like you have a bodyguard now.”

Jihyo rolled her eyes, also watching as Sungbin approached. She turned back to Momo. “Just help me look for her, please.”

Momo nodded earnestly, determination in her eyes. Just then, Sungbin returned, draping Jihyo’s coat around her shoulders.

“Here you go,” he said, his voice still a bit soft.

“Thanks,” Jihyo replied, forcing a smile, hoping to mask her growing anxiety.

Before she could say anything else, Jihyo noticed more movement near the large doors. A group of paramedics was rushing out, and it was clear they were trying not to attract attention, but it was impossible to ignore the urgency of their presence. Jihyo frowned, her heart racing. “Is someone hurt?” she asked aloud, taking a few steps closer to see if she could distinguish anything.

But before she could get too far, Sungbin grasped her hand, gently but firmly. “It’s probably nothing,” he reassured her. “Someone might have just fallen from too much alcohol. It’s nothing out of the ordinary.”

Jihyo opened her mouth to protest, but Sungbin wouldn’t let her. “We should go back,” he insisted, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Just then, Momo chimed in, “That’s probably for the best. I need to head to the bathroom, but I’ll join you both soon.”

Sungbin nodded, pulling Jihyo along with him, not giving her a chance to voice her concerns. Jihyo felt a mix of frustration and worry as they moved away from the commotion. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong, especially with Sana missing.

“Let’s just get away from here for now,” Sungbin said, leading her through the crowd. Jihyo couldn’t help but glance back, trying to catch a glimpse of what was happening, but the throng of guests blocked her view.

Jihyo couldn’t concentrate for the rest of the night; It was impossible. All she wanted was to get far enough away to call Sana. She wanted to believe everything was fine, that maybe Sana had gone home without telling anyone, but Sungbin didn’t seem to want to let her out of his sight for even a moment. The feeling in her chest was heavy, telling her that something was wrong, yet she couldn’t articulate what it was.

Before she knew it, she was robotically saying goodbye to people, her mind far away as Sungbin guided her toward the large doors. Jihyo braced herself, ready to face a scene of chaos outside, but when they stepped out, there was nothing—no sign of injury, no paramedics, no ambulances. She frowned, confusion washing over her. If someone were hurt, surely they would still be there.

With a sigh of exasperation, Jihyo thought, “I really need to call her.” She didn’t protest much when the valet brought her car around or when she slid into the passenger seat, shutting the door behind her. She waited impatiently for Sungbin to join her and start the engine.

After what felt like an eternity, he finally did, pulling away from the venue at a crawl that felt agonizingly slow to Jihyo. She couldn't help but glance out the window, her knee bouncing up and down in frustration. She was impossibly impatient, just wanting to get home, rip off that ridiculous dress, and call Sana. The pressure in her chest was mounting, and worry gnawed at her insides.

“Can you drive any faster?” Jihyo blurted out, unable to hold back her irritation. “Please”

Sungbin glanced at her, surprise flickering across his face. “I’m trying to be careful,” he replied.

Jihyo didn’t protest. No, Sungbin was behaving too well for her to ruin it by starting a fight just because she was irritated. She took a deep breath and nodded, muttering, “I’m just tired. I want to get home and sleep.”

Sungbin nodded in response. “We’ll be there soon,” he assured her, stretching out his hand to rest on her thigh. Jihyo felt a wave of discomfort wash over her but chose to ignore it, grateful that the coat covered her legs a bit. She turned her gaze back to the window, watching the streetlights blur by as they drove.

The journey felt slow, even if Sungbin was driving relatively fast. When they finally turned onto the familiar street, a sense of relief washed over Jihyo. As soon as they parked, she didn’t wait for Sungbin to open the door. She hurriedly exited the car, not looking back, and rushed to the front door of their house.

It was silent and dark inside, a stark contrast to the chaos of the gala. Tzuyu must be sound asleep, and Jihyo hoped her mother was too. The last thing she wanted to deal with was her questions tonight. She kicked off her heels and hung up her coat, feeling an odd sense of urgency.

Without wasting any time, Jihyo grabbed her phone and dashed up the stairs, her heart racing. She needed to call Sana and make sure she was okay. The worry gnawed at her insides, and she felt a wave of anxiety wash over her as she reached her room. She flung the door open and quickly dialed Sana’s number, praying that she would pick up.

She pressed her phone tightly against her ear but just as she heard the unmistakable sound of Sungbin entering the room, she quickly lowered the phone, her instincts kicking in. She took four swift steps to the bathroom, closing the door slowly and locking it behind her.

Once inside, she raised her phone to her ear again, only to be met with the dreaded voicemail. “Damn it,” she muttered under her breath, dialing Sana’s number once more. The line rang—once, twice, three times—before it once again went to voicemail. Frustration boiled over as she shut her eyes tight, feeling the weight of worry pressing down on her chest.

She quickly opened Sana's contact and sent her a flurry of messages, hoping one would get through. After another failed attempt to call, she paced the small bathroom, her mind racing with worst-case scenarios. What if something had happened to Sana? What if she was hurt?

Jihyo bit her lip in distress, her nails digging into her palms as she tried to think. If only she could go to Sana’s apartment and check on her. But Sungbin would definitely have something to say about that. And she didn’t have Mina or Dahyun’s numbers to reach out to for help.

As she paced, almost chewing on her nails in frustration, a soft knock on the door startled her. “Jihyo, are you done in there?”

“Ugh, just a minute!” Jihyo grunted in response, irritation bubbling up once again. She felt trapped, both in the bathroom and in her situation. What was she supposed to do?

“You’ve been in there for a long time. I need to use it,” Sungbin's voice came through, a note of impatience creeping in.

“Coming!” She swung the door open abruptly, not bothering to say anything else as she stepped out and walked straight to the bed, sitting down tensely.

Sungbin didn’t say a word; he simply entered the bathroom and shut the door behind him. Jihyo sighed heavily, running her hands over her face in frustration. She felt the weight of the night pressing down on her, and it only intensified as she stood up and walked to her vanity.

She started to remove as much makeup as she could, her movements automatic. Afterward, she let her hair down, feeling it cascade over her shoulders. She exhaled slowly, realizing that sleep was far from her mind tonight.

Moving to the closet, she noticed she was still wearing the dress. Jihyo rummaged through the hangers, not paying much attention, when she heard the bathroom door open. Sungbin walked out, but she didn’t turn around. She just grabbed the first pair of pajamas she found and laid them on the bed.

As she turned to remove her dress, she felt Sungbin’s gaze on her, but she chose to ignore it, focusing on her own task. The chill of the air hit her once she was left in just her underwear, and she quickly slipped into her pajamas, feeling a bit more comfortable.

Sungbin followed suit, effortlessly shedding his suit and settling onto the bed without another word. Jihyo remained standing, her mind racing, not quite ready to join him. She felt like she was on the edge, caught between her worries for Sana and the tension hanging in the air with Sungbin.

“Are you okay?” Sungbin finally asked, breaking the silence.

She hesitated, unsure of how to respond. “Tired,” she replied, her voice lacking conviction.

Sungbin nodded, humming softly as he raised his hand, holding something up. Jihyo’s heart skipped a beat as she looked up and froze at the sight of her phone in his hand.

“It looks like you have a missing call from an unknown number,” he said, casually.

Jihyo frowned, her anxiety spiking. “Did you answer it?”

“No, I figured it was just a wrong number,” he replied, shrugging.

“Still, you should have answered it,” Jihyo insisted, reaching out for her phone.

Sungbin pulled it away, shaking his head. “It’s late. Who would be calling you at this hour?”

Jihyo glared at him, frustration bubbling over. “Give me my phone back, please”

“Why? Do you have something you don’t want me to see?” he teased, raising an eyebrow.

Jihyo snapped, “No, but I want it back”

Sungbin shrugged again, looking dismissive. “It’s late. We should just sleep.”

But just then, the screen on the phone lit up, and Jihyo recognized the name flashing on the display—Momo. A heavy weight settled in her chest. “Give me the phone. It’s Momo; it must be important!”

Sungbin opened his mouth to protest, but Jihyo didn’t give him a chance. She snatched the phone from his hand, moving away a little as she answered. “Momo, what’s going on?”

“Where are you?” Momo’s voice came through.

“I’m at home. Why? What happened?” Jihyo’s heart raced, fear creeping in.

There was a brief pause before Momo sighed heavily on the other end. “I found Sana… she’s at the hospital.”

—

When Sana tried to open her eyes, she noticed two things: first, that she was lying on an extremely uncomfortable and hard bed, and second, that she was definitely not in her room.

She frowned, turning her head only to be hit by a blinding light, followed by a strange sound—was that a monitor?

Suddenly, she jolted her eyes open, sitting up in bed faster than she should have. A wave of dizziness and nausea crashed over her, and she let out a small scream. Frowning, Sana tried to focus her vision, and to her surprise, she saw Mina in front of her. Mina's mouth was moving, forming words that Sana couldn’t quite process at the moment.

But she could see the look of concern on Mina’s face as she gripped Sana's shoulders, gently urging her to lie back down on the bed. Sana didn’t fight or resist; she simply let herself be guided back down, eventually finding her voice.

“What happened?” she croaked, her throat dry and rough.

Mina sighed, sitting on the edge of the bed. “You collapsed. The doctors couldn’t tell me much, just that someone found you lying on the floor.”

Sana frowned again, lifting a hand to touch her face, only to grunt in pain when her fingers made contact with the small bandage on her brow.

“Be careful,” Mina said gently. “You hit your head pretty hard. They had to put two stitches in your eyebrow.”

Sana grunted again, feeling a mix of annoyance and concern. “How long have I been here?”

“Just a couple of hours,” Mina replied, her expression softening. “The paramedics said they couldn’t contact anyone because they couldn’t find anything to identify you—until they found your bag and were able to call me.”

Sana's heart sank. She felt a rush of anxiety, realizing how scared Mina must have been. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, feeling a wave of guilt wash over her. “I didn’t mean to worry you.”

Mina shook her head, squeezing Sana’s hand reassuringly. “What matters is that you’re okay now. Just take it easy. You scared us all.”

Sana took a deep breath, trying to process everything. “I just... I don’t remember anything,” she admitted, her voice tinged with confusion.

“Don’t worry too much,” Mina said softly. “The doctors think it was probably the alcohol. Your body just didn’t react correctly. They took some blood for tests, and they should bring the results in any moment.”

Sana nodded, exhaling a sigh of relief. “What time is it?” she asked, glancing around the dimly lit room.

“It’s past two in the morning,” Mina replied.

Sana’s eyes widened in surprise. “It’s late! You should be at home, sleeping!” She attempted to sit up again, urgency creeping into her voice.

Mina quickly shook her head. “No, I’m not going anywhere. Dahyun went with Momo to grab some coffee. They’ll be back soon.”

Sana’s mind raced. “Is Momo here too?” she asked, feeling a mix of relief and concern.

“Yeah, she arrived a little after I did,” Mina confirmed.

Sana groaned, closing her eyes in frustration. “Has she done anything embarrassing since she got here?” she inquired, her voice tinged with worry.

Mina chuckled softly. “I don’t think so. She actually got along really well with Dahyun.”

Sana let out a relieved sigh, nodding slowly. “That’s good to hear, I guess.”

Mina nodded, standing up from the bed and walking over to one of the chairs, sitting down. “It is. Now, you should get comfortable, sleep,” she suggested with a sigh.

Suddenly, Sana sat up more straight, looking around the room. “Where’s my phone?” she asked, a hint of panic creeping into her voice.

Mina sighed, trying to calm her down. “Sana, wait—”

“No! I need—” Sana started, but Mina looked at her firmly.

“You need to call Jihyo,” Mina stated, and Sana nodded, feeling the urgency.

Mina sighed again, “I already tried calling her several times, but there was no answer. I checked your phone, and you have multiple missed calls and messages from her.”

Sana groaned, feeling the weight of guilt settle in. “She’s probably really worried.”

Mina nodded, handing Sana her phone. “Here, take it.”

Sana took the phone, unlocking it and scanning through Jihyo’s messages, she grunted, scrolling through the messages before opening Jihyo’s contact. But just as she was about to dial, she hesitated. It was two in the morning; Jihyo was probably exhausted. If she called, she might wake Tzuyu... and Sungbin too.

Sana sighed, turning off the phone and tossing it aside on the bed. “She’s probably sleeping. I’ll call her in the morning.”

Mina nodded, agreeing. “That’s probably for the best.” They fell into a silence for a moment, both lost in their thoughts, until the door suddenly swung open.

Dahyun walked in, followed closely by Momo. Momo let out a big sigh of relief as she spotted Sana. “You scared me to death!” she exclaimed, rushing over to Sana’s bedside.

“I’m sorry,” Sana said quickly, feeling the weight of Momo’s concern. “I don’t know what happened, I just…I don’t know, one moment I was looking for you and the next I was feeling sick!”

Momo sighed and turned to look at Mina. “Is there any news?” she asked, concern etched on her face.

Mina shook her head. “No, no one has come to see her yet.”

Momo nodded and walked over to one of the chairs, sitting down with a heavy sigh. As Sana glanced at her friend, she realized Momo was still wearing the gala dress.

“Wait, you haven’t gone home all night?” Sana asked, furrowing her brow.

“Of course not! When I found out you were in the hospital, I dropped everything to get here,” Momo replied, her tone firm.

Sana felt a pang of guilt. “You didn’t have to do that! You’re probably exhausted. You all need to rest!”

Dahyun chimed in, “We aren’t going anywhere. Plus, I don’t think Mina would let you be alone for even a second.”

Sana turned to Mina, who shook her head in agreement.

Sana sighed, carefully touching her forehead. It throbbed with pain, a dull reminder of the night’s events. The dizziness had faded, but she still felt… off. It was like she wasn’t entirely herself. She couldn’t shake the feeling of confusion—what had happened? How much had she actually drank to end up unconscious? She wasn’t entirely inexperienced with alcohol; she should have had more tolerance than this.

Trying to piece together the fragments of her memory, she recalled the last moments: getting up, looking for Momo, bumping into Donghae... and then, everything went dark. Just as she was about to voice her thoughts, the door swung open abruptly.

Sana didn’t have time to process the very agitated Jihyo standing in the doorway before Jihyo lunged toward her. In an instant, Sana felt the impact of Jihyo’s body against hers.

“What—?” Sana attempted to ask, but Jihyo didn’t give her a chance to finish.

Stepping back slightly, Jihyo took hold of Sana’s cheeks, her eyes wide with concern. “Are you okay? What happened?” she asked, her voice filled with urgency.

Sana opened her mouth to respond, but the questions kept coming, overwhelming her. Jihyo’s gaze fell to the small bandage on Sana's eyebrow, and her frown deepened.

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry! I tried looking for you at the gala; I shouldn’t have left you alone, and then I couldn’t find you, and—”

Sana finally reacted, grabbing Jihyo’s hands gently but firmly. “Hey, hey, calm down! I’m okay,” she said, her voice soothing.

“But—“ Jihyo looked ready to protest, but Sana shook her head, smiling softly.

“I promise, I’m fine,” she reassured, squeezing Jihyo’s hands still resting on her cheeks. “Everything is okay.”

Jihyo sighed, closing her eyes as she leaned in to hug Sana tightly, careful not to hurt her. Sana accepted the embrace, closing her eyes and burying her head in Jihyo's neck, taking in the familiar scent. She gently ran her fingers through Jihyo's hair, whispering, “It’s all good.”

“You scared me so much,” Jihyo murmured, pulling back slightly to look at Sana. She raised a hand to caress Sana's cheek again, her expression filled with concern.

Sana leaned into Jihyo’s hand, feeling the warmth and comfort it provided. “I’m sorry,” Jihyo continued, her brow furrowed. “I shouldn’t have left you. I knew something was off, but I didn’t do anything and I—“

“Hey” Sana shook her head, turning her face to kiss Jihyo’s palm. “It’s okay. I just woke up. I was going to call you, but I thought you were sleeping and didn’t want to bother you,” she explained.

Sana frowned as a new thought crossed her mind. “Wait, how did you even know I—?” she began to ask, but before Jihyo could answer, Momo suddenly burst into the conversation.

”I fucking knew it”

Jihyo’s head whipped around, finally noticing that Sana wasn’t alone in the room. Mina and Dahyun were sitting in one of the corners on a small couch, watching the interaction with interest, while Momo stood, pointing at them with a serious expression.

“I knew it!” Momo exclaimed. “It was obvious! All those outings! Sana going out with Jihyo every day! The hickey! It all makes sense!”

Sana felt her cheeks flush as she glanced between her friends “W-Wait” she stammered, looking at Jihyo, who seemed equally flustered.

Jihyo managed to chuckle nervously, “Momo, that’s not—”

“No! It totally is!” Momo interrupted, her eyes wide with excitement. “You two have been spending so much time together! I just knew something was happening!”

Sana’s mind raced, not sure how to respond. “We were just—”

Dahyun chuckled, clearly enjoying the chaos. “Looks like someone has been putting two and two together,” she teased, nudging Mina with her elbow.

Sana groaned, feeling a mix of embarrassment and amusement. “Can we not do this right now?” she pleaded.

Jihyo looked at Sana, her expression a blend of shyness and mischief. “Well, I guess we can’t hide it anymore,” she said softly, a smile creeping onto her lips.

“Definitely not,” Momo chimed in, still grinning. “You two are adorable!”

Sana grunted, shaking her head. “Momo, shut up”

Momo laughed, shaking her head. “No can do! I should have placed a bet on this!”

Sana shot her a glare. “You’re kidding, right?”

“Nope!” Momo replied, a teasing glint in her eyes. “But for the record, I always knew!”

“Of course not!” Sana exclaimed, incredulously.

“Of course, yes!” Momo countered, crossing her arms. “I might be a little clueless, but I’m not blind, Sana.”

From the small couch, Mina shrugged, an amused smile on her face. “Honestly, it was just a matter of time before someone else found out,” she said casually.

Momo turned to Mina, her eyes wide. “You knew? How long have you known?”

“Since the beginning,” Mina replied nonchalantly.

Momo’s jaw dropped in disbelief. “How could you tell her before me?!”

“I live with her!” Sana sighed, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks again. “And I didn’t know how you would react!” she protested.

Momo turned back to Jihyo, her gaze sharp. “And you! Why didn’t you tell me?”

Jihyo shrugged, “I really thought you would figure it out on your own. I was trying to save us all from the drama.”

Mina chimed in with a smirk. “How’s that working out for you?”

Jihyo shrugged again, taking Sana’s hand and squeezing it gently. Ignoring the small yelp Momo let out, she looked back at Sana. “How are you feeling?”

Sana smiled softly, grateful for Jihyo’s concern. “I’m fine. I’m not dizzy anymore, and the stitches don’t really hurt. I just feel… weird? I guess I’m just tired.”

Jihyo nodded, her expression turning serious. “It’s late, isn’t it?”

“Yeah,” Sana replied, then her eyes widened as a thought struck her. “Wait, why are you here so late?! What about Tzuyu? What about Sungbin?!”

“Don’t worry about any of that,” Jihyo said quickly, trying to alleviate Sana’s concerns.

Sana protested, “But—”

“Everything is fine!” Jihyo cut in, her voice firm but gentle. “Tzuyu was asleep, and I called Joohyun to come by in the morning to explain everything to her.” She paused before adding, “And are you really worried about Sungbin?”

Sana bit her lip, contemplating her response. “I’m just worried about how he might react. Did he get mad at you?”

Jihyo shrugged, a hint of uncertainty in her expression. “I didn’t stay long enough to find out, but I’m sure I’ll hear from him and my mother soon.”

Sana started to say she was sorry, but Jihyo shook her head. “No, no, it’s nothing. Besides, I wasn’t going to leave you alone here.”

Sana sighed, nodding. “Still, you should get some rest.”

Jihyo smiled softly, shaking her head. “I’m not tired at all, but you definitely should. I won’t leave, and I don’t think any of the others will either.”

Sana turned to look at Momo, Mina, and Dahyun, who all shook their heads in unison. “We’re not going anywhere,” Mina said, her expression reassuring.

Sana sighed again, feeling a mix of gratitude and exhaustion. “Okay, then. I guess I’ll try to sleep.”

Jihyo nodded, smiling warmly. Then she got up from the bed and picked up the small bag she had dropped when she arrived. “Here, Momo,” she said, handing it to her.

Momo took it with a grin. “Thanks! I wasn’t sure how long I’d be stuck in this dress.” She opened the bag and looked inside. “I asked Jihyo for a change of clothes. I didn’t think I could stand being in these heels all night.”

Without another word, Momo walked to the bathroom and closed the door behind her.

Jihyo turned back to Sana, smiling encouragingly. “Get comfortable and sleep. We’ll be here in the morning.”

Sana nodded, feeling a wave of warmth wash over her. She leaned forward a bit, pulling Jihyo closer by the neck and giving her a soft kiss on the lips, ignoring the sound of disgust that Dahyun made from the back of the room.

Jihyo smiled at her, a soft blush creeping onto her cheeks. “Rest well, okay?”

Sana nodded, settling back into the pillows “I will,” she murmured

Time passed quickly after that, and surprisingly, the girls settled in easily. Mina and Dahyun cuddled together on the small couch, wrapping themselves up in Dahyun’s jacket, while Momo found a way to curl up in one of the chairs, tucking her legs up and falling asleep almost instantly but Jihyo didn’t comment, the girl had a knack for sleeping anywhere, at any time; it was her superpower.

Jihyo, on the other hand, remained beside Sana on the bed, carefully positioning herself in a corner to avoid disturbing her.

But at some point, Sana reached out, pulling Jihyo closer until she could rest her head against Jihyo’s chest, listening to the steady beat of her heart. Jihyo wrapped her arms around Sana, occasionally playing with her hair, and even though it was the middle of the night and she suspected she wouldn’t sleep much, she felt content.

With a soft sigh, Jihyo leaned down to place a gentle kiss on Sana’s forehead. Sana smiled slightly, moving closer to Jihyo, cherishing the warmth and comfort of being so close.

In a hushed voice, Sana said, “This is the first time we’ve spent the night together.”

Jihyo sighed, a hint of amusement in her tone. “I thought you were asleep.”

“No, I tried, but I couldn’t,” Sana admitted, a small frown crossing her lips.

Jihyo began to hum softly, a playful smile on her face. “Technically, it’s not our first night. That trip we took still counts.”

Sana pouted, playfully furrowing her lips. “Maybe,” she conceded, a smile creeping back onto her face. “But this feels different.”

Jihyo nodded thoughtfully. “Still, I would have preferred to spend the night at your apartment instead of a hospital bed.”

Sana made a soft sound of agreement. “We will, someday. A little sleepover.”

Jihyo smiled, resting her cheek against Sana’s hair. She sighed contentedly. “I’d like that.”

After a moment of comfortable silence, Jihyo slowly asked, “Do you remember what happened?”

Sana’s expression shifted as she let out a sigh. She propped herself up on one elbow, hovering almost over Jihyo, her gaze dropping as she bit her lip. “Not really. When you left, I felt… alone. I ended up drinking some wine, and after a while, I decided to go look for Momo…”

Jihyo frowned, concern etching her features. “And then?”

“Look…” Sana took a deep breath. “You have to promise me you won’t do anything after I tell you. Just promise.”

Jihyo nodded earnestly. “I promise.”

Sana looked serious, her eyes locking onto Jihyo's. “I mean it. You can’t storm out in a fit of rage, and you can’t do anything until we know what really happened.”

“I won’t, just tell me,” Jihyo urged gently.

Sana sighed, her voice barely above a whisper. “It’s not like me to accuse people or think badly of them. It’s just… no matter how unbearable someone can seem, it’s not my place to judge. But… when I went to look for Momo, I ran into someone… Donghae.”

Jihyo's expression shifted slowly, concern etching her features as she tried to sit up. However, Sana quickly grabbed her shoulders, holding her back gently. “You promised.”

Jihyo clenched her jaw and nodded, her eyes filled with determination.

Sana took a deep breath, feeling the weight of her words. “It was like he intercepted me. I was a bit dizzy from the alcohol at that point, and when Donghae tried to offer me a glass of wine, I didn’t want to take it. I tried to leave, but he insisted.”

Jihyo frowned, her fists clenched tightly in her lap. “And did you…?”

“Yes,” Sana admitted, her voice wavering slightly. “If I’m being honest, I was a little angry, so I just took the glass and started drinking. But then… I started to feel strange. At first, I didn’t notice anything different; it felt normal. But then, suddenly, everything became blurry. I started to feel sick. He offered to take me outside for some fresh air, but I didn’t want to go with him,” Sana explained, her heart racing as she recalled the memory. “I just felt off, like something wasn’t right.”

Jihyo’s eyes widened, and she leaned in closer. “Why the hell didn’t you say anything before?”

Sana looked down, her fingers fidgeting. “I didn’t want to do it in front of the girls. I know what Momo thinks about Donghae, and if I’m wrong about him, I don’t want to ruin his reputation, even if he is an idiot.”

Jihyo shook her head in disbelief. “You can’t be serious.”

“I am,” Sana insisted. “That’s why I want to wait for the results of my blood tests. If there’s anything, it should show up, and then we can do something.”

Jihyo began to shake her head, but Sana gently held her cheek, forcing her to look into her eyes. “We have to wait. Hopefully, we’ll know everything by tomorrow, and then you can think about what to do. We all can.”

Sighing, Jihyo closed her eyes for a moment. “I already know what I’m going to do. I’ll kill him.”

Sana’s eyes widened. “You can’t do that!”

Jihyo shot her a fierce look, but then softened as she saw the worry in Sana’s eyes. “Please, just… don’t do anything reckless. I don’t want you to get hurt. I don’t want anything bad to happen to you. And if what we think happened really did happen, we can finally be rid of Donghae. We won’t have to see him again, ever.”

Jihyo sighed, running a hand over her face in frustration. “You’re too good for your own good, Sana.”

“Maybe,” Sana replied softly, her expression earnest. “But I’d rather be good and safe than reckless and regretful.”

Jihyo sighed deeply, her expression a mix of frustration and concern. “I can’t let him get close to you again, not ever. Nothing would have happened if I hadn’t left you alone. If I had stayed, none of this would have happened.”

Sana shook her head gently, trying to reassure her. “You can’t change what happened, honey. I understand why you had to go. I don’t blame you.”

“But you don’t understand,” Jihyo exclaimed, her voice rising slightly as she gestured around the room. “Look at this place, It’s a hospital room, for heaven’s sake. This is the best-case scenario, but what if Donghae hadn’t heard you? What if he had followed you? What if whatever he was planning had worked? We’d be having a very different conversation right now”

Sana took a deep breath, her heart racing. “Yes, but it didn’t happen. I’m okay.”

Jihyo let out a frustrated growl. “No, you’re not okay! I’ve been telling you that since I got here, and it’s not true. You’re not fine!”

Sana looked intently at Jihyo, the tension hanging in the air as they both paused, hearing Dahyun murmuring something softly from her spot.

Jihyo sighed, the weight of the situation pressing down on her. Sana mirrored the action, glancing down at her hands before speaking up. “I’m okay. I don’t have to lie about it… I never have. Especially not to you. I can’t do that.”

She paused, taking a breath. “Maybe I trust people too much, but that’s just who I am. I can’t change that.”

Jihyo met Sana’s gaze, her expression softening slightly, but the concern remained. With a weary sigh, she finally spoke, her voice low. “I-I’m sorry. I should be comforting you, not the other way around. This isn’t your fault—none of this is. It’s just… I can’t even imagine what would have happened if just one thing had been different. It’s sickening.”

Sana nodded, understanding the turmoil in Jihyo’s heart. “I get it, I really do. But we can’t keep tormenting ourselves over something that didn’t happen and isn’t going to happen”

Jihyo looked at Sana for a moment and finally nodded, though the worry still lingered in her eyes. Sana studied her, examining the subtle changes in her expression, her emotions, and the fear that seemed to be hiding just beneath the surface.

“Please don’t worry so much,” Sana said gently, her voice soothing. “I’m okay. Look at me.” She reached out, taking one of Jihyo’s hands and guiding it to her chest. “Feel that? It’s my heart. It’s beating really fast, but it’s okay. Everything is okay.”

Jihyo looked down, her heart aching as she felt the rhythm of Sana’s heartbeat beneath her palm. She met Sana’s gaze, trying to steady herself as tears threatened to spill. “I just… I’m scared,” she admitted, biting her lip to hold back her emotions. It was painfully reminiscent of Seungwan, and it felt foolish how much that memory weighed on her.

Sana noticed the shift in Jihyo’s demeanor, the way her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “You don’t have to be scared,” Sana assured her, her voice steady and comforting. “I’m not going anywhere, I promise. I’ll always be here.”

Jihyo’s heart raced, not just from fear but from the overwhelming concern she felt. “When Momo told me you were in the hospital, my mind went straight to the worst-case scenario,” she confessed, her voice trembling slightly. “I didn’t blame her; she didn’t know the details. But those minutes felt like an eternity. Changing clothes, dodging Sungbin’s stupid questions, I didn’t even have an excuse ready. I just told him what happened and left.”

As she spoke, Jihyo felt the weight of those moments crashing down on her. The fear, the helplessness, and the overwhelming urge to protect the person she cared about most made her heart ache.

“I was so scared on the way here,” she continued, her voice barely above a whisper. “What if I lost you, Sana? I can’t even bear the thought.”

Sighing, Jihyo added, “I don’t want to seem dramatic, or overwhelm you with all this mushy stuff, but what happened—what I know will show up in the test results—it’s serious. Very serious. And you’re treating it like it doesn’t matter. I can’t understand why you’re doing that, not when we both know what the outcome could be. We know the answer.”

Jihyo took a deep breath, her voice trembling. “I was terrified, Sana. Really. I can’t lose anyone else, I-I just can’t. It’s too much.”

Sana looked at Jihyo, her brow furrowing with concern. She wanted to ask, who else had Jihyo lost? Who else had left her life to make her feel this way? The intimidating and sarcastic Jihyo she knew seemed so small and vulnerable now. In fact, Jihyo had always seemed small and vulnerable, but lately, it was even more pronounced.

She sighed softly, knowing she couldn’t force Jihyo to share anything she wasn’t ready to. She wouldn’t push her, but there were so many questions swirling in her mind. Even though she thought she knew Jihyo well, it was clear that there were aspects of her life that remained unspoken, hidden beneath layers of sarcasm and bravado.

But Sana didn’t blame her; everyone had their battles. Jihyo’s strength was often a shield, a way to protect herself from pain. And as much as Sana wanted to help, she knew that true healing would come when Jihyo was ready to open up.

Unable to voice her thoughts, Sana simply reached out and wrapped her arms around Jihyo, pulling her into a warm embrace. She pressed a gentle kiss to Jihyo’s cheek, closing her eyes

Jihyo accepted the hug, closing her eyes as she leaned into Sana’s warmth. In that moment, she felt a sense of safety that she desperately needed. As she pulled back slightly, Jihyo pressed a delicate kiss on Sana’s jaw.

Sana smiled softly at the contact, her heart fluttering. “There are so many things I’m unsure about right now,” she began, her voice filled with sincerity. “But if I can promise you one thing, it’s that now that you’re in my life, I’m not going to let you go so easily.”

Jihyo pulled back slightly, gazing into Sana’s eyes, her heart racing at the sincerity she saw reflected there. As if drawn by an invisible force, she leaned in and pressed a delicate kiss on Sana’s lips.

When she finally pulled away, Jihyo looked at Sana with gratitude shining in her eyes. “Thank you,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

—

Jihyo didn’t realize when she fell asleep; she assumed it was shortly after Sana hugged her. They hadn’t said anything after that, perhaps because Jihyo knew that if she did, she would end up telling Sana everything that was going on, and she didn’t believe it was the right place for that.

But then, what would be the right place? She had always talked to Seungwan about Sana, about introducing them if Seungwan woke up, about their dates, about everything they did together. Yet, Jihyo had never told Sana anything about Seungwan; in fact, Sana didn’t even know about her existence. It wasn’t intentional.

Or maybe it was. Seungwan was the most vulnerable part of Jihyo; she always had been. And she didn’t feel guilty for having to hide that part, even if she knew Sana would never do anything to hurt her. She had proven that time and time again. Even when Jihyo acted foolishly and let her anger take over, Sana was different. She understood; she listened.

Sighing, Jihyo brushed some hair that had fallen over Sana’s eyes and examined her. Even with the small bandage on her brow, sleeping against Jihyo’s chest, Sana was beautiful. She always amazed her; it was astonishing.

As Jihyo turned her gaze, she began to examine the room. It couldn’t be more than 7 in the morning, judging by the soft bustle in the hallways and the light filtering through the curtains. She also spotted the girls: Dahyun was sound asleep, completely sprawled over Mina, while Momo was still in the chair, in a position that Jihyo could only consider extremely uncomfortable. Yet, Momo didn’t seem to mind, letting out a snore every now and then. Jihyo smiled a little and tried to adjust herself better in the hospital bed, feeling Sana breathe and move a bit suddenly.

As Jihyo turned slightly, she made a careful effort not to wake Sana while searching for her phone. She pulled it out of her pocket and turned it on, noticing several missed calls from Sungbin and her mother. Rolling her eyes a bit, she decided to ignore them for now. Then, she saw a message from Joohyun. Curiosity piqued, she opened it and found a photo of Joohyun and Tzuyu, seemingly taken at the park. A smile crept onto Jihyo's face. How did Joohyun manage to convince her mother to take Tzuyu out? Jihyo had no idea, but it was enough to bring her some comfort.

Sighing, she examined the photo, feeling a twinge of guilt—just a little—for leaving Tzuyu alone. All she wanted was for the girl to have a routine, something constant without abrupt changes. Jihyo couldn’t help but think that the only thing that had happened lately was those very abrupt changes. She knew Tzuyu was happy; she could see it every day when she came home to find Tzuyu throwing herself into her arms, and she could see it on weekends when they spent the whole day together, playing and talking. But still... deep down, Jihyo was aware that she couldn’t control everything, even though many times, she truly wished she could.

Suddenly, a soft voice interrupted her thoughts. “Tzuyu looks so cute,” murmured Sana, her eyes still half-closed. Jihyo was surprised to see Sana awake, her expression warm and sleepy. A smile crept onto Jihyo's face as she turned off her phone.

“She really is,” Jihyo replied, letting out a soft sigh as she looked at Sana. “Good morning.”

Sana smiled back, her eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief. “I could get used to waking up like this every day,” she said, her voice still a little groggy.

Jihyo felt her heart flutter and leaned in to kiss Sana gently, but Sana playfully stopped her.

“Hey, let me kiss you” Jihyo grumbled, feigning annoyance.

“No,” Sana replied, shaking her head. “We haven’t brushed our teeth yet.”

“I don’t care,” Jihyo retorted, stubbornly.

“I do,” Sana insisted, a knowing smile on her lips. “You know I do.”

Jihyo sighed dramatically, rolling her eyes. “I thought you only said it that one time because you were embarrassed that it was one of our first kisses.”

Sana chuckled softly. “I was a little embarrassed”

“What about now?” Jihyo pouted, looking at Sana with playful eyes.

“Doesn’t change a thing,” Sana replied, a teasing smile on her face.

Jihyo nodded, accepting the playful banter. Instead of pressing the issue, she leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to Sana’s forehead. “How are you feeling?” she asked softly, looking into Sana’s eyes with genuine concern.

Sana's smile widened, and she replied, “Better.”

“That's good,” Jihyo said, returning the smile. “With a bit of luck, they might discharge you today if everything goes well.”

Sana nodded and turned her head to look at the girls. A smile spread across her face as she saw them. Jihyo also smiled, feeling a sense of warmth in the room as she watched her friends peacefully sleeping. They fell into a comfortable silence, and Jihyo even thought that Sana had drifted off again.

But then she felt Sana's hand tracing an invisible pattern on her stomach, and Jihyo couldn't help but smile a little, cherishing the quiet moment between them.

Finally, no more than ten minutes later, a gentle knock on the door interrupted the peace. Jihyo sat up just in time to see a doctor enter the room. He appeared to be no older than forty, with a small smile on his face. Sana also tried to sit up, and Jihyo helped her a bit.

The doctor glanced around the room, noticing the girls sleeping. “Looks like you’ve had quite a few visitors, Miss Minatozaki,” he said with a chuckle.

Sana nodded, smiling at the doctor. “Yeah, they’ve been really supportive.”

The doctor sighed softly and approached her. “How are you feeling today?” he asked.

“I’m good,” Sana replied. “I’m not dizzy anymore, and everything feels better.”

The doctor nodded, pulling out a small flashlight to examine her eyes, checking for proper reaction. After that, he listened to her heartbeat, nodding again. “Everything seems to be in order. You were very lucky to not have a concussion from the fall. You’re reacting well.”

Sana's eyes sparkled with relief. “So, can I go home soon?”

The doctor smiled. “Probably this afternoon, if everything continues to look good.”

Sana nodded and smiled at Jihyo, but the doctor cleared his throat, bringing Sana’s attention back to him. “There’s still a matter we need to discuss,” he said, glancing over at the sleeping girls. “Do you think this is the best place to talk about it?”

Sana started to speak, but Jihyo interjected before she could say anything. “You’re right; it might be better to have more privacy.”

The doctor turned his gaze to Jihyo, raising an eyebrow. “Are you two close friends?”

Sana opened her mouth to say yes, wanting to keep things simple and avoid complicated labels for now, but Jihyo interrupted again, saying, “I’m Sana’s girlfriend, and I think, if Sana allows it, you could speak with me alone to avoid disturbing the others.”

Sana’s eyes widened in surprise, and the doctor looked expectantly at her. After a moment, Sana finally reacted and nodded, saying, “Yes, um… Jihyo can know everything.”

The doctor nodded, saying, “Alright then.” He walked towards the door, and Jihyo followed closely behind. “I’ll send a nurse in to check your vital signs and other things,” he added.

Sana nodded, and just before the doctor stepped out, Jihyo turned back to Sana, giving her one last, reassuring smile. “I’ll be right back,” she promised.

When Jihyo closed the door behind her, she turned to face the doctor with a serious expression. The doctor sighed, preparing himself to deliver the news. “As you know, they ran some tests. The man who called the ambulance reported that he found Sana lying on the ground, bleeding and seemingly unresponsive. The paramedics said she was acting as if she were intoxicated and could smell alcohol on her.”

Jihyo's heart sank at the words, and her fists clenched tightly at her sides as she listened intently.

“The tests revealed the presence of ketamine in her system,” the doctor continued, his tone grave. “This would explain why she fainted. Combined with the alcohol, Sana is lucky that there aren’t more severe side effects and that she was able to stay awake long enough to get away from whoever gave her the drug. The levels in her blood are low, which suggests that, fortunately, they didn’t use a strong enough dose.”

Jihyo frowned deeply, anger bubbling within her as she processed the information.

The doctor glanced at her, noticing her distress. “I have notified the relevant authorities. They will need to take Sana's testimony to initiate a formal investigation.”

“Does she remember anything about what happened?”

“Yes, she remembers everything,” Jihyo sighed, feeling a mix of relief and dread.

The doctor nodded. “That’s good. With a bit of luck, she’ll be able to identify the person who did this.”

Jihyo nodded, then hesitated before asking, “Is it safe for Sana to be discharged even with the drug still in her system?”

“It is,” the doctor replied reassuringly. “The drug will leave her system on its own, and as you can see, there are no immediate side effects or complications. We just have to wait.”

Jihyo nodded again, feeling a little more at ease. “When will the police get here?”

“They should arrive shortly. Since this is a drug-related issue, they will treat it seriously,” the doctor said.

Jihyo sighed, grateful for his professionalism. “Thank you, doctor.”

He nodded, wishing them luck before stepping away. Jihyo watched him leave, then exhaled deeply, running a hand over her face in frustration. She was fighting the urge to go to Donghae’s place and confront him. She should have known better; she should have realized that Donghae was more than just an idiot trying to impress Sana. All those actions, all those accusations—she should have done something. She should have fired him a long time ago.

Cursing under her breath, she pulled out her phone and dialed Joohyun’s number. It rang just once before Joohyun picked up.

“Jihyo?” Joohyun’s voice came through, and Jihyo could hear Tzuyu’s laughter in the background. She bit her lip, feeling a pang of longing.

“Hey, can we talk?” Jihyo asked, trying to keep her voice calm despite the turmoil inside.

“Sure, just a second,” Joohyun replied, telling Tzuyu something quickly before stepping away. “What’s going on? I thought you’d want to talk with Tzuyu.”

“I do, but I need to talk to you first,” Jihyo said, her heart racing. “It’s important.”

Joohyun’s tone shifted. “What’s going on? Is Sana okay?”

Jihyo clenched her fist, her nails digging into her palm. “She will be,” she replied, her voice trembling with anger. “But it was that idiot—he drugged her.”

Joohyun fell silent for a moment, absorbing the weight of Jihyo’s words. “What do you want me to do?” she asked, her voice more serious now.

“I don’t think Donghae knows that Sana remembers everything,” Jihyo said, her voice tight. “But he’s in a panic. I remember, I saw him last night. He looked scared; he knows he messed up, and he’s going to make a mistake. With all the evidence and Sana's testimony, there’s no way he’s going to walk free.”

Joohyun made a sound of approval. “I’ll contact Seulgi. She’ll know what to do, especially considering the scandal this will cause for the firm.”

“I don’t care about any of that,” Jihyo replied fiercely. “All I care about is Sana. I need to protect her. I won’t let Donghae get anywhere near her again, or any other woman for that matter.”

Joohyun nodded, even though Jihyo couldn’t see her. “Then focus on Sana for now. Me and Seulgi will handle everything else.”

Jihyo sighed, feeling a little of the weight lift off her shoulders. “Thank you,” she said sincerely. “And… please tell Tzuyu that I love her and I’ll see her soon.”

“I will,” Joohyun promised

Jihyo sighed again and hung up, trying to wipe the annoyance off her face before stepping back into the room. When she opened the door, she saw Sana sitting there, waiting for her. Carefully, so as not to make any noise, she approached the bed. Sana looked up at her, expectant.

“Sana…” Jihyo began, taking a breath. “You have ketamine in your system.”

Sana stared at her with wide eyes, processing the information. Jihyo continued, “The police will be coming for your testimony. They’ll open a formal investigation.”

Sana didn’t say anything, she just nodded slowly. Jihyo swallowed, feeling the pressure in her chest. “The drug will leave your system naturally. There’s nothing more that can be done, and if the police conduct the investigation properly, Donghae will go to jail.”

Sana nodded again, and Jihyo just looked at her, trying really hard not to explode. Because, as she had said, Sana wasn’t to blame at all. And she had promised: she wouldn’t do anything.

Jihyo sighed, sitting on the bed. “Do you want to tell the others?” she asked softly.

Sana nodded, saying yes, that she would. Jihyo nodded as well, feeling a bit of relief. “Okay, we’ll do it together,” she said, taking Sana’s hand and squeezing it gently.

Sana looked at their intertwined hands and sighed. “I’m such a fool,” she murmured, her voice heavy with frustration. Jihyo watched her closely, sensing the sadness in the air. Sana scoffed humorlessly, saying, “I really thought everything would be resolved without so much fuss. But now this… an investigation? The police? Jail?”

“It’s something you have to do,” Jihyo replied, her tone firm but understanding. “If you don’t, Donghae could hurt someone else. And to be clear, I care about nothing more than you.”

Sana looked at her, her eyes filled with uncertainty. “But you love your job,” she said, her voice almost a whisper.

“A lot, but I care about you more,” Jihyo assured her. “And I promise I’ll love it even more when I see that idiot behind bars.”

Sana sighed, and Jihyo smiled at her, trying to instill some confidence. “Everything is going to be fine. You’re talking to the best lawyer in all of Seoul.”

Sana scoffed again, but this time with a hint of resignation. “Yeah, you’re right.”

Jihyo nodded and leaned in a little closer. Sana started to protest, but Jihyo gently interrupted her, “Please, just let me kiss you. It’ll be just this once.”

Sana sighed and finally nodded, giving in to Jihyo’s request. Jihyo’s smile widened as she caressed Sana’s cheeks, bringing her closer. Then, she kissed her.

It was a slow kiss, unhurried and full of tenderness. Jihyo leaned in more, feeling the connection between them intensify. This kiss was different from the one she had given Sungbin the night before; this was everything Jihyo wanted and more. It was sweet, it was perfect, and as she leaned in deeper, she felt the outside world fade away.

Jihyo moved even closer, smiling into the kiss as she noticed the monitor Sana was connected to quicken its pace. However, she pulled back slightly and asked, “Are you nervous?”

Sana huffed, looking into Jihyo’s eyes. “You cause it. Besides, you can’t blame me… girlfriend.”

Jihyo froze, her eyes widening in surprise. “I only said that so the doctor would tell me everything,” she quickly clarified. “I’m sorry, I didn't think about how you would feel. I should have told you earlier—”

Sana laughed, enjoying the moment. “Who’s the nervous one now?” she asked, a cheeky smile on her face.

“You’re mean,” Jihyo replied, but she couldn’t help smiling back. Sana stole another kiss, silencing Jihyo in the process. It was Jihyo’s turn to sigh and smile, but just as she was about to deepen the kiss, Jihyo’s phone rang.

She pulled away, sighing and groaning at the sight of Sungbin’s contact. “No, I’m not answering,” she murmured, starting to decline the call.

“Wait,” Sana stopped her. “You should answer.”

“But I don’t want to,” Jihyo protested.

“Do it,” Sana insisted. “I hate Sungbin too, but you shot out of there early in the morning without a word. You at least need to tell him you’re okay.”

Jihyo sighed, feeling trapped between her desires. Finally, she nodded, giving in. “Fine.” She took the phone and reluctantly got up from the bed, preparing to answer the call.

At that moment, a nurse opened the door and walked in, smiling at Sana. Like an alarm, Momo also made a noise from the chair, causing Jihyo to sigh. Giving Sana a gesture that she would step out, she nodded, and Jihyo headed toward the hallway.

As she stepped outside, she answered the call. Sungbin's voice came through on the other end. “Why did it take you so long to answer?”

“I was busy,” Jihyo replied, trying to sound calm.

Sungbin hummed, clearly not believing her. “I thought you’d be home by now. Joohyun took Tzuyu to… do something or whatever.”

Jihyo sighed. “Yeah, I called her; I thought it was for the best.” She bit her lip. “And I’m sorry, but I think I’ll get home in the afternoon.”

Sungbin scoffed. “Why?”

“Because I have to stay with Sana,” Jihyo said, feeling Sungbin’s tone become more inquisitive.

“Doesn’t she have family or friends?” he asked.

“Yes, but still, I’m staying. I don’t want to leave her alone, and she has to talk to the police,” Jihyo replied, keeping her voice steady.

There was a moment of silence on the other end, followed by a cough from Sungbin. “Why would Sana need to talk to the police?”

Jihyo frowned, sensing the tension rising. She was being honest; she had already revealed too much to Sungbin for her comfort, but she still said, “She needs to give her testimony… about something.”

Sungbin cleared his throat again, showing discomfort. “So she remembers what happened?”

Jihyo frowned, a bit annoyed. “Of course she does,” she replied in a curt tone. After a sigh, she decided it was better not to delve deeper. “Forget it. I have to go. I’ll see you later.” Without another word, she hung up.

Sungbin could be extremely weird sometimes, and it frustrated her. She huffed, turning around and walking back to Sana’s room, trying not to think about the conversation any longer.

—

He tapped her foot impatiently on the floor as the elevator went up and up. The patience was wearing thin, and he had one thing on her mind: getting to that idiot Donghae. He couldn’t believe he had done something so stupid.

The instructions were clear and brief; how could he mess up such a simple plan?

He grunted under her breath, stepping out as soon as the doors opened and walking quickly through the apartments. He continued until she found Donghae's number and rang the doorbell, deliberately stepping aside so the door camera wouldn’t catch his silhouette. He heard footsteps soon, and as Donghae opened the door with a confused expression, he didn’t waste any time. He balled her fist and landed a direct punch to his cheek.

Donghae groaned as he fell to the floor. Sungbin didn’t waste any time, stepping into the apartment and closing the door behind him with his leg. Donghae looked up at him, processing what was happening, and Sungbin leaned down, hitting him again.

“You had one chance, just one, and you blew it!” he shouted, his face filled with fury.

Donghae winced, raising a hand to touch his cheek. “I didn’t know it wouldn’t work! That bitch… Sana didn’t react quickly to the drug.”

Sungbin landed another punch and stood up, sighing. “Well, now you’re screwed! Sana remembers everything. She’ll talk to the police and tell them what she knows.”

Donghae, trying to get up from the floor, shouted, “It’s not my fault! Besides, we’re both screwed. Do you really think I’m going to let you walk free?!” He stood up as best as he could, spitting blood onto the floor. He laughed sarcastically and added, “If the police do anything to me, you’ll go down with me! And Jihyo will find out who she married.”

Sungbin clenched his jaw, feeling anger bubbling inside him. He stepped closer, but Donghae was quick this time, shoving him and landing a punch. Sungbin recovered, dodging the next blow and kicking one of Donghae’s legs to make him fall. He hit the ground with a muffled scream.

Sungbin leaned in close to his face, looking directly into his eyes. “I won’t let anyone ruin what I’ve been building for years. No one is going to ruin it. Seungwan couldn’t, that bitch Sana won’t either, and I assure you, you won’t either,” he said firmly before hitting Donghae, feeling the pain in his knuckles as they connected with his face.

Growling, Sungbin finally dropped Donghae completely to the floor, watching him grunt and spit blood. “You better not say anything, nothing about me, or I’ll kill you,” he warned, feeling adrenaline coursing through his body. Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving Donghae on the ground.