Happy beach day, happy life [M]
When Sungbin entered the bar, he was surprisingly met with a crowd much larger than he had expected. He grunted, because the last thing he wanted was to be bothered by noise and drunken idiots earlier than he would like.
But he couldn't go home; it was too early, and if he knew anything, it was that Jihyo was still awake.
He clenched his jaw and walked heavily to the bar, taking a seat with a thud.
Sighing, he looked around and finally decided to order a drink—the strongest one they had. After placing his order, he settled in, listening to the murmur behind him, people chatting and laughing. He could see a couple further back, sharing a drink, and he scoffed, taking a sip of his own. The burn in his throat made him grunt again; it was stupid. He didn’t know why he was there. Maybe it had become a routine, every weekend, from morning to night, getting drunk was better than being at home, listening to Jihyo. He clenched his fist but shook his head; it wasn’t worth it...
He kept drinking, watching as the bar gradually filled up even more. The seat to his right remained empty, and Sungbin hoped he wouldn’t have to endure any more idiots than usual that night. His wish was granted; half an hour later, as he finished his third drink, he felt a strange sense of relief wash over him.
But then, just when he thought he could enjoy his solitude, an explosion of laughter echoed behind him, followed by the unmistakable sound of someone tripping over a chair. Sungbin sighed, bracing himself for the inevitable intrusion, hoping it wouldn't be too much to handle.
The guy next to him laughed even louder, ordering a drink with a big smile and settling more comfortably into his seat. Sungbin glanced at him out of the corner of his eye but didn't pay him much attention. He finished his drink and grunted when he noticed his phone vibrating in his jacket. He pulled it out and rejected the call without even looking at who it was; he didn't care.
Beside him, he could feel the guy's gaze on him, examining him before speaking, still chuckling. "Got problems in paradise?"
"What do you care?" Sungbin replied defensively. The guy raised his hands in a peace gesture, grimacing.
"Easy, man. Can’t a guy ask anything around here, huh? I just wanted to start a conversation."
Sungbin ignored him, or at least tried to. The guy looked young, maybe just a couple of years younger than him. The suit he was wearing was expensive too, and he had an almost irritating smile.
"So, spill it," he said again. "Are you waiting for someone? Did your date stand you up, huh?"
Sungbin sighed, clenching his jaw. "No, I'm not waiting for anyone."
"I see, so you’re looking for some kind of adventure tonight then?" he scoffed. "I can introduce you to someone."
Sungbin turned to look at him and sighed. "I already have someone, thanks."
"Ah, then I was right," the guy nodded. "How long have you been with your girlfriend?"
Sungbin corrected him, "It's my wife."
The guy let out a laugh. "God, it's worse than I imagined. What did you do now? Forget to take out the trash?"
Sungbin sighed again, signaling for another drink. He shrugged at the guy and said, "I don’t know, man. My wife... is a bitch."
The guy burst into laughter, taking the drink the bartender offered him. "Is it that bad, huh?"
Sungbin shrugged again. "Yeah." Then he took a sip of his new drink and added, "But it won't be for much longer."
The guy scoffed and asked, "Are you going to divorce her?"
Sungbin shook his head. "I'm not the type to give up. Besides, I wouldn't make it that easy for her."
The guy scoffed again, saying, "You should get yourself another one. That's what I would do." Then he took another sip and continued, "Or maybe you should push a little harder, get a bit rough. Women like that, right? It always seems to work."
Sungbin looked at him and replied seriously, "Not with her; it's different. She insists on being stubborn." He scoffed humorlessly and said, "I haven't been able to get her into bed for months. At some point, I consider just stopping asking and doing it."
The guy laughed and said, "Well, she's your wife after all. Letting loose a bit isn't a big deal. That's what she signed up for, right?"
Sungbin let out a sigh and took another sip of his drink. "And what about you? I guess you're not married."
The man shrugged. "Marriage isn't my thing. I prefer to be free and do what I want. But lately... there's a girl I can't stop thinking about."
Sungbin looked at him with curiosity. "Have you had any luck with her?"
The guy shook his head. "No, but I will. She's playing hard to get. Women think that makes them interesting."
Sungbin stared at him and said, "Maybe you should take your own advice and get a bit rough."
The guy laughed. "What? No way! I'll win her over first. It shouldn't be hard. I've sent her all those cheesy things: flowers, chocolates. It's all crap, but in the end, I might just get lucky enough to fuck her."
Sungbin frowned. "You seem pretty confident in yourself."
The guy smiled. "I am."
Sungbin sighed and asked, "And what if the girl doesn't pay you any attention?"
The guy shrugged. "I know the type she is, young and naive. Gold diggers or something like that; it's the kind of girl who would do anything for money, I'm sure."
"You seem to know a lot about her," Sungbin said.
"I work with the girl," he replied. "Which makes it easier; I'm practically her boss."
Sungbin raised an eyebrow. "And yet, it seems like you're underestimating her. I can help you if you want. A little liquid courage is always good... or something else."
"And here I thought you didn't have the guts. Is that how you've kept your wife for so long?" Sungbin shrugged, and the guy looked at him, raising an eyebrow and smiling. "I gotta say, I like the way you think, man." Then he extended a hand and said, "I'm Choi Donghae, nice to meet you."
He accepted the handshake, squeezing his hand. "Sungbin."
—
Jihyo's alarm went off as usual, but surprisingly, when she opened her eyes, she didn't feel tired. Even though those days had been exhausting, there was something relieving about it—perhaps knowing that her mother was no longer there.
She didn't think much about it because, even if she didn't know where she had ended up, what mattered was that she stayed away from there, away from her home, away from her and little Tzuyu.
Jihyo sighed, sitting up in her bed and rubbing her eyes. There were still traces of sleep on her face, and her senses weren't fully back yet, but one sound pulled her out of her world and made her look around. Sungbin wasn't there; she hadn't expected him, but she also didn't expect the laughter and barking—thanks to little Kaya—that were coming from the girl's room. She frowned because her daughter only woke up when Jihyo was about to do so. Had Joohyun come by unexpectedly?
No, that wasn't possible.
Sighing, she got out of bed without bothering to put on her slippers and walked to Tzuyu's room, hearing the little girl's laughter and another voice more clearly. Frowning, she quickened her pace and opened the door. She froze, still with her hand on the doorknob, when she saw Tzuyu standing there, already dressed and groomed, with Kaya standing on the bed, clearly excited, and then she saw Sungbin... leaning down and laughing with the two of them.
Tzuyu turned to look at her and shouted, "Mommy!"
Sungbin scooped her up before she could run and slowly approached Jihyo, a smile on his face.
"Daddy woke me up today!" Tzuyu exclaimed, full of joy. "And he put on my favorite dress."
Jihyo examined her, noticing how beautiful she looked, and then glanced at Sungbin, who was watching her with a smile. However, Jihyo frowned, feeling out of place. Had she woken up in some kind of parallel universe? What the hell was going on?
Jihyo reacted when she felt the little puppy at her feet and cleared her throat. "I see," she said, smiling. "Tzuyunnie, you look beautiful."
"Thank you, Mommy!" Tzuyu exclaimed, smiling proudly.
Jihyo looked at Sungbin and said, "I didn't know you were going to go out early."
Sungbin smiled and replied, "I'm not. I'll be going to work at the usual time, but I thought I’d get Tzuyu ready."
Jihyo nodded, watching him closely, waiting for him to say something to ruin it all, but he didn’t. Sungbin set Tzuyu down when the little girl started squirming and then began to run around the room, looking for something, with Kaya following closely behind.
Sungbin watched them with a smile, enjoying the scene, and then turned to Jihyo, stepping a little closer. "I was thinking... I could take her to school today."
Jihyo opened her mouth to protest, but Sungbin planted a big kiss on her cheek, looking her in the eyes. "What the hell...?"
Jihyo felt the urge to pull away, to push him, but she didn’t. "No," she finally said. "I’ll take Tzuyu. And I should get ready because Nayeon will be here any minute to drop off Chaengie and..."
Sungbin gently interrupted her. "I can take both of them."
This time, Jihyo took a step back because she knew Sungbin had never been a big fan of Chaeyoung. She thought it didn't make sense because the girl was adorable, but again, Sungbin could be really stupid.
"I think..." she started to say, but Tzuyu interrupted her.
"Yes! I want Daddy to take me to school. I want him to meet my other friends!" the little girl exclaimed, lighting up the room with her enthusiasm.
Sungbin looked at Tzuyu and lifted her into his arms, smiling. "Then I will. We’ll have a lot of fun."
Jihyo continued to feel confused. Sungbin baffled her, but this time she wasn't going to be naive. She knew he would find a way to ruin it, a way to ask for something in return. What would it be now? Money? Sex? She didn’t even want to think about it.
She sighed, feeling trapped between the desire to protect her daughter and the discomfort she felt with Sungbin. "Alright, Daddy will take you for today," she finally said, resigning herself.
Tzuyu smiled, hugging Sungbin tighter, who held her tenderly. Jihyo, without another word, leaned in and placed a kiss on her daughter's cheek, giving Sungbin a pointed look before leaving the room, feeling a mix of frustration and confusion as she headed to get ready for the day.
And no more than half an hour later, Jihyo was downstairs, preparing breakfast for Tzuyu. The girl was in the dining room, sitting patiently and waiting. Sungbin was still upstairs, getting dressed. Jihyo placed the food in front of Tzuyu, and the little girl began to eat with delight.
Then, Jihyo went to the small pantry, looking for Kaya's food. She served her plate and watched as the little puppy ran over to eat. She smiled, bending down to pet her a little. The puppy was adorable; she reminded her so much of Sana. She smiled even more and stood up just in time to hear the doorbell ring.
"Looks like Chaengie is here!" Jihyo said, smiling at Tzuyu.
The girl almost ran at the sound, and Jihyo let out a small laugh, stopping her to wipe a bit of food from her cheek. They both walked toward the door, and Jihyo opened it. As expected, Nayeon and little Chaeyoung were there.
"Chewy!" Chaeyoung shouted, throwing herself into Tzuyu's arms. The height difference was becoming more noticeable now, and Chaeyoung had to stand on her tiptoes to hug the girl properly. Tzuyu smiled again, lighting up the atmosphere with her happiness.
Nayeon sighed, watching the scene. "She has a bit more energy than usual today," she commented, smiling at Jihyo.
Jihyo returned the smile. "I can see that. It's nothing I can't handle."
Chaeyoung pulled away from her hug with Tzuyu and approached Jihyo, hugging her around the waist. "Good morning, Jihyo unnie!"
"Good morning, Chaengie!" Jihyo replied, feeling warmth in her chest from the little girl's contagious energy. "Are you ready?"
Chaeyoung nodded vigorously. "Yes!"
Jihyo smiled. "Alright, first, let’s have breakfast, okay?"
Chaeyoung nodded again, and the girls went inside. "I’ll serve you in a moment," she added with an enthusiastic smile. Both girls nodded and walked to the dining room, filled with laughter.
Jihyo sighed as she watched them go and, with a smile on her face, turned to see Nayeon at the door. Nayeon smiled back and said, "I’ll pick up Chaengie in the afternoon. I won’t take too long."
"Don't worry," Jihyo replied. To be honest, she had never stopped to ask what Nayeon did for a living. She knew she was some kind of journalist, but she had never thought much about it. She also knew that Jeongyeon worked at a company, but that was about it.
Jihyo sighed and bit her lip. "How is Jeongyeon doing with her arm?" she asked, genuinely interested.
Nayeon replied, "She's doing well, getting better. She needs to keep the cast on for a couple more weeks and then go to rehab to strengthen her hand again. For now, she’s working from home, but it really doesn’t let her do much."
Jihyo huffed, understanding the girl’s frustration. "I get it. If she ever needs anything else, I’m available."
Nayeon smiled, grateful. "I know, thank you so much."
Jihyo wanted to continue the conversation. She saw Nayeon almost every day; she knew her from afar, but did she really know anything about her? It felt silly because Sana's entrance into her life made her realize how poorly she had been doing. She didn’t know anything about anyone; she hadn’t allowed herself to have friends in years. She wanted to start now, but she didn’t know how, and the thought scared her. She sighed, ready to just give up and say goodbye, but Nayeon was quicker.
"Jihyo," Nayeon said with that characteristic smile, "I know that... we don’t usually do this. I think talking to you is more of a Jeongyeon thing, but I want you to know that I consider you my friend... And if you ever need anything, I’m here to listen."
Jihyo looked at her, a bit frozen, but she felt that relief in her chest again. A smile began to form on her lips. "Thank you, Nayeon ah..."
Nayeon smiled back and nodded. "Well, I think I should get going now."
Jihyo nodded, telling her, "Take care." With a quick wave of her hand, Nayeon turned around and started walking toward her car.
Jihyo sighed, closing the door. She turned around and walked to the dining room, glancing quickly at the girls. She hurried to serve a plate for Chaeyoung, who was watching with curiosity. "Here you go, sweetheart," she said, smiling as she handed over the plate.
Chaeyoung took the plate with enthusiasm and began to eat. Jihyo sat down in front of her, simply watching them, feeling a little lighter in her chest.
She managed to distract herself by just watching them eat and joke around. Tzuyu seemed more animated, and Jihyo felt a slight pang of guilt. She knew she should have handled things with her mother better. What she did in front of Tzuyu was crucial too, and she knew, above all, that Tzuyu loved her grandmother. In her mind, Jihyo had only been the person who got rid of her, and she didn’t want her daughter to think that way.
As she watched them, she was pulled from her thoughts by the sound of footsteps coming from the stairs. She didn’t turn around, but she could see how Chaeyoung tensed slightly, looking at Sungbin with fear. Jihyo frowned, hating that the little girl was afraid of him. She hated even more that Sungbin did everything to appear more intimidating. But she said nothing; instead, she got up from her seat and walked over to Chaeyoung.
She placed a hand on Chaeyoung's shoulder and said gently, "If you're done, it's time to go."
Chaeyoung looked at her with wide eyes, a bit confused. "Aren't you coming with us?" she asked in a small voice.
Jihyo sighed, feeling the weight of Chaeyoung's question. But before she could respond, Tzuyu was quicker. "Daddy offered to take us!" she said excitedly, lighting up the atmosphere.
Jihyo smiled at Chaeyoung. "It's just a quick trip, I promise," she assured her, trying to instill confidence.
Chaeyoung nodded, seeming a bit calmer. "Okay," she said with a small sigh.
Sungbin, walking with his briefcase, asked, "Are you ready?"
Both girls nodded and got up from their chairs. Jihyo watched as they went to grab their little backpacks. "I’ll see you later in the afternoon," she told them, wishing them a good day.
Tzuyu, curiously, asked, "Will you come to see us after school?"
"Yes, sweetheart, I will," Jihyo replied. "I have a little free time now at work."
Sungbin gave her a strange look but said nothing. Instead, he took Tzuyu's hand and began to guide her toward the door, with Chaeyoung following closely behind.
Jihyo sighed, taking Chaeyoung's hand and stepping out behind Sungbin. When they reached the car, Sungbin helped Tzuyu in, making sure her seatbelt was securely fastened.
Jihyo approached Chaeyoung, helping her fasten her seatbelt. "Stay close to Tzuyu, okay?" she said, and Chaeyoung nodded with determination.
Jihyo gave one last smile, looking at Tzuyu. "Take care, I hope you have a great day," she told them, feeling a knot of worry in her chest. Without another word, she closed the car door and turned to look at Sungbin.
"Will you be back at the usual time?" Jihyo asked, trying to keep the conversation light.
The man looked at her with a thoughtful expression. "I forgot to tell you, but I might have to take on a bit more work. There's a big conference coming up out of town, so I’ll be getting home late for a few days until I have to leave for the trip."
Jihyo nodded, feeling a slight pang of discomfort. "That's fine. I have to get to work now," she said, trying not to let her frustration show.
"Isn't it a bit early for that? Even more than you usually do," Sungbin replied, raising an eyebrow.
"I just need to check a couple of things," Jihyo responded, feeling like the conversation was dragging on longer than she wanted.
Sungbin nodded, but before he could step closer, Jihyo moved away, turning around. "Take care of the girls," she told him, and without another word, she walked back to the door, entering and closing it behind her.
Once inside, she sighed in annoyance. She walked to her room to grab her things, taking her time to ensure that Sungbin wasn’t going to come back. She didn’t know what the hell was going on with him today, nor would she bother to find out. She had more important matters to focus on.
Finally, she left the house and walked to her car. As she started it, she felt the tension slowly dissipate. With one last glance at the house, she drove out onto the road.
—
She hadn’t thought about what she would do if she ran into Donghae. She knew it would take all her strength not to throw herself at him and hit him until she couldn’t anymore. She was better than that; she had to stay calm. But still, what was she supposed to do? She always ignored him because she knew he was just another idiot, but now she had to ignore him knowing he was the same idiot who had drugged her... girlfriend?
Her Sana.
She growled, gripping the steering wheel tightly. Even though she had told herself that all of this would take time, she wondered if enough time had passed for them to arrest him. She accelerated a bit, feeling the adrenaline rise as she ran a hand over her face. She just hoped Joohyun had completed her mission and had tried to sort everything out with Seulgi.
She kept driving, lost in her thoughts, until she finally saw the familiar building in front of her. She entered the parking lot, looking for her spot and stopping the car. She slowly gathered her things and got out of the vehicle, walking toward the elevator while trying to calm her racing heart. The elevator ride was slow; once on the ground floor, no one got on, and fortunately, she didn’t see Donghae. The next floors were just as uneventful, with a couple of people getting on and off in a hurry.
When she finally reached her destination, she put a smile on her face and stepped out. However, she didn’t expect to find Sana there, already sitting at her desk, writing something. Upon hearing Jihyo’s footsteps on the floor, Sana turned her gaze and a big smile spread across her face.
"Jihyo!" Sana exclaimed.
Jihyo, feeling a bit lighter at the sight of Sana, walked over to her desk. "Isn't it a bit early for you to be here?" she asked, raising an eyebrow with curiosity.
"Maybe," Sana shrugged, a playful smile on her face. "Good morning, Miss Park," she replied cheerfully.
"Good morning, Minatozaki," Jihyo smiled, looking around. She cleared her throat, gathering the courage to ask. "Do you want to go to my office? Momo won’t be here for a while, and we could talk."
Sana looked at her, biting her lip as if considering the proposal. Finally, she nodded with a smile. "Sure! Let’s go," she said, getting up and taking Jihyo's hand to guide her.
They walked together toward the office, and once inside, Jihyo closed the door behind her. Just before she could do anything else, Sana was on her, her arms around her neck, pulling her in tightly. Jihyo let out a surprised noise but quickly reacted, wrapping her arms around Sana's waist and closing her eyes as she stroked her hair.
Sana squeezed her even tighter, leaving a soft kiss on her jaw. "I missed you," she whispered, placing another kiss in the same spot. "I missed you so much, Jihyonnie."
"Jihyonnie? Are we giving each other nicknames now, Sana yah?" The girl nodded against her neck, and Jihyo sighed, letting out a small laugh. "I missed you too, love," she replied, feeling her heart fill with warmth.
Finally, Sana pulled back a little, looking at her with a radiant smile. "You’re here early too, did something happen?"
Jihyo shook her head. "No, not really," she said, stepping away from Sana and walking to her desk to drop off her things. She turned back to face her. "I just... had help dropping off Tzuyu and Chaeng at school."
Sana looked at her with curiosity. "Help?" she asked, eager for details.
"Sungbin," Jihyo explained, taking a seat at her desk. Sana followed her, standing in front of her. Jihyo looked at her and asked, "How are you feeling?"
"Good," Sana replied, smiling. "Nothing out of the ordinary for me."
Jihyo nodded and smiled back. "That’s good then, very good."
Sana nodded, looking at her with a mix of tenderness and seriousness. Then she sighed, pulling Jihyo's chair away from the desk, turning it slightly, and sitting in the girl’s lap. Jihyo looked at her in surprise but said nothing, just offering a slight smile as she examined Sana's eyes.
Sana, for her part, began to gently run her hands along Jihyo's neck, pulling her closer and making her lean against her chest. "Are you okay?"
A lie almost slipped from Jihyo's lips. It was easier than having to explain all the drama that seemed to never leave her. But Sana didn’t deserve that.
However... there was also the point that Jihyo actually felt good. The burden of having her mother living under the same roof, the pain, the memories, were no longer there. She smiled, snuggling deeper into Sana's chest. "Yeah, I'm okay," she finally said.
Sana nodded, watching Jihyo closely. "I’m glad to hear that," she replied, but the unease in her gaze didn’t go unnoticed by Jihyo.
Jihyo sighed and said, "...I haven’t seen that idiot. He usually gets here by this time."
Sana tensed a little, but she didn’t let Jihyo question her. Instead, she pulled the girl away slightly, cupping her cheeks gently. "I’m glad he’s not here then," she said, her voice a bit firmer. "I don’t think... I don’t think it would have been ideal for you to run into him."
Jihyo looked at her, frowning. She raised a hand and took Sana's, speaking seriously: "You know you don’t have to be here. I know you want to, but you don’t have to. What happened was... horrible. If you need a couple of days to feel safe, once Donghae is arrested, then..."
Sana interrupted her, her eyes fixed on Jihyo's. "Jihyo, you make me feel safe," she said sincerely, squeezing Jihyo's hands a little tighter. "No matter what happens, I always want to be by your side."
"And... and I will always be here for you," Jihyo replied, her eyes wide open.
Sana looked at Jihyo with a bright smile. "Then everything will be okay."
Jihyo sighed, nodding as she placed a soft kiss on the palm of Sana's hand. Sana's reaction was instant; her smile widened, crinkling her nose adorably. Without thinking twice, she leaned in to kiss Jihyo. It was a slow, deep kiss, and Jihyo noticed that Sana seemed more excited than usual. She pulled her closer, almost trapping her in the kiss, nibbling on her lips and using just enough of her tongue to make Jihyo tighten her hold on Sana's waist to pull her away, breaking the kiss with a wet sound.
Jihyo took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she murmured, feeling her heart racing. "It's just that... you just got out of the hospital, and you need to rest. I don’t think doing those things is good for you."
Sana looked at her incredulously, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "I'm just kissing you," she replied, playfully challenging Jihyo.
Jihyo nodded, trying to maintain a serious expression. "Yeah, but that counts as exercise," she said, trying to sound convincing.
Sana burst into audible laughter, shaking her head. "Are you kidding? That can't be true."
"I'm not!" Jihyo insisted, feeling the need to defend her argument. "There are articles, and it burns calories, you can..."
Sana interrupted her, a mischievous smile on her face. "I'll look it up later. But right now..." Without another word, she caught Jihyo again, leaning in to kiss her once more.
This time, Jihyo melted into the kiss, sighing as Sana smiled against her lips, kissing her fiercely. Sana took her neck and pulled her closer, running her hands over Jihyo's shoulders and then down to her chest. The kiss intensified, and Sana bit Jihyo's lip, never letting her go.
For her part, Jihyo sighed, slowly wrapping her arms around Sana's waist and keeping them still, occasionally caressing her. The contrast between the softness of her touches and the intensity of Sana was evident, but before Sana could complain too much, the door swung open abruptly.
Jihyo barely had time to react before Sana was standing up, adjusting her skirt and comically moving almost three feet away from Jihyo. Jihyo's eyes widened, feeling her face heat up. She knew she probably didn’t look great: red lips, flushed cheeks, and heavy breathing. But she felt a bit reassured when she saw Joohyun standing in front of her, arms crossed, examining her with an arched eyebrow. Next to her was another girl... Seulgi.
"Good morning," Joohyun said, a mix of surprise and amusement in her voice, while Seulgi simply watched them. Jihyo felt the blush on her cheeks intensify, and she couldn’t help but clear her throat.
"You should have knocked," Jihyo murmured, trying to regain her composure.
Joohyun smiled and replied, "I don’t think that would have made a difference."
Jihyo took a deep breath, feeling the tension start to dissipate. Seulgi beside her said, "Jihyo... it’s good to see you again." Jihyo looked at her, the heat in her face still there, but it had faded a bit.
"Seulgi," Jihyo said, her heart racing as she got up from the chair and hugged her tightly. Meanwhile, Sana watched the whole exchange from the corner where she had jumped, trying to regain her composure. Joohyun glanced at her and smiled, "Sana yah," gesturing for her to come closer.
Sana hesitated for a moment, but seeing Jihyo step away from the girl she was hugging and give her a nod, she complied. "I’m sorry for how you found us..." she began to say, fixing her hair as she walked slowly toward them, her legs a bit shaky.
Joohyun responded with a soft laugh, "It wouldn’t be the first time," and seeing Jihyo's expression, she added, "Nothing new for us."
Jihyo frowned at her, feeling a mix of discomfort and annoyance at the same time. "Why do you always say that?" she asked, trying to keep her tone light despite the situation.
"Because it’s true, isn’t it?" Seulgi shrugged, smiling. Sana, who had been observing the conversation, looked at her with curiosity. The girl was pretty, dressed elegantly, and looked at her with interest.
Sana opened her mouth to introduce herself, but at the last moment, she hesitated, feeling a bit awkward. Joohyun noticed her unease and smiled kindly. "Right, I should introduce you," she said. "This is Seulgi, my wife."
The girl smiled, extending her hand with a grin.
"I'm Minatozaki Sana," she nodded, smiling back. "It's a pleasure to meet you," she replied, shaking her hand.
"The pleasure is mine," Seulgi said, returning the smile. "Irene... has told me a few things about you."
"Just the basics," Joohyun interjected, glancing at Jihyo.
Jihyo sighed, feeling the conversation take a more serious turn. "It was only a matter of time, I suppose. What’s the point of having a secret that everyone knows, right?"
"A well-known secret, let’s call it that."
"Yeah, yeah, I guess," Jihyo said, biting her lip. "Although I’m happy to see you both, especially Seulgi... I assume you’re here about the Donghae situation."
Seulgi sighed, nodding. "Yes, that’s what we wanted to talk about," she said, glancing at Sana. "But..."
Sana understood the implication and quickly said, "I think I should leave now..." She started to walk toward the exit, but Jihyo stopped her.
"No," she said firmly. "You’re involved. You can hear everything... if you want."
Sana looked at Jihyo in surprise, then shifted her gaze to the other two girls before nodding. Jihyo exhaled lightly, and they all took a seat. Sana felt a bit out of place, sitting next to Jihyo while observing the girls in front of her. Suddenly, the atmosphere had turned serious, even more than what she was used to seeing from Jihyo, and the two girls in front of her intimidated her.
She glanced at Seulgi, who sighed before speaking. "I’ve talked to my contact at the police," she said. "They will execute the arrest warrant for Donghae immediately. The investigation is already underway, as you know. I will also request a search warrant for Donghae's apartment. If he’s as much of an idiot as they say, he’ll have evidence of the drug everywhere, possible accomplices, and so on. I won’t leave any detail unchecked."
Sana listened with a furrowed brow, trying to process the information. Seulgi... was she some kind of police officer? Chief, maybe?
Joohyun then spoke, her voice serious. "It seems Donghae doesn’t know anything. He doesn’t suspect. The police won’t waste any time now, so it’s likely they’ll come for him soon. And when that happens, they certainly won’t do it quietly."
Jihyo nodded, frowning as she considered the implications. Then she asked Seulgi, "Can’t you make the police act in a quiet operation?"
Seulgi contemplated the question, her expression thoughtful. "I could do that, but with the press, it would never stay under wraps. If Donghae were part of another firm, it might be easier, but given that he’s involved in this... they will go after Mr. Kim and, in the worst-case scenario, after you, Jihyo."
Jihyo took a breath, feeling more resolute. "I’m ready for that. And for everything else too. I wouldn’t be surprised if they start investigating me."
Seulgi looked at her, her tone reassuring. "Don’t worry about that. I’ll make sure nothing happens, aside from the scandal. The only thing the others can lose is their reputation. You’ll be intact once the press calms down, and Donghae pleads guilty."
Jihyo nodded, feeling a bit more relieved. Joohyun then spoke, her voice firm. "We’ll try to calm the press as much as we can, keeping the details to a minimum if anything comes out."
Sana, listening, felt a mix of admiration and concern for the girls' determination. "Is there anything I can do to help?" she asked, feeling a bit out of place but wanting to contribute.
Seulgi replied, "There’s not much you can do right now. They might call you to testify, depending on the defense or if Donghae decides to fight it. Other than that, we hope everything can go as smoothly as possible, with no more damage than necessary."
Sana nodded, taking in the information. Joohyun continued, "Still, you should be careful. People tend to stupidly blame victims. You need to learn not to be bothered by some comments they might make, and both of you should avoid talking to people about the case. As I said, the fewer details we share with outsiders, the better chance we have of putting this all to rest."
Jihyo sighed, feeling a bit weighed down by the situation. "That’s true, as long as Mr. Kim doesn’t buy Donghae’s ticket out first. Money works wonders too."
Seulgi looked at her seriously. "If something like that happens, I’ll find out and act. Don’t worry about it."
Jihyo nodded, running a hand over her face, feeling the tension. "Okay... thank you for doing all this."
Seulgi smiled softly. "It was nothing. We’re family, after all."
Jihyo smiled back, feeling comforted. "Thank you anyway."
A somewhat awkward silence settled in the room, and finally, Joohyun broke the ice. "Now that we’ve cleared up everything we’ve been doing, we should get going so you two can continue with... your things."
Sana blushed at that, while Jihyo murmured something under her breath, feeling the situation become a bit uncomfortable. Joohyun and Seulgi stood up, and Seulgi launched into another hug with Jihyo.
"I’ll see you soon," Seulgi said, smiling. "And I hope to see little Tzu too."
Jihyo responded with a smile, "You will, I promise."
Then, Seulgi turned to look at Sana, and before she could expect it, she launched herself into a hug. Sana tensed for a second but then accepted the embrace. "It was a pleasure to meet you," Seulgi said. "And thank you too."
Sana frowned, unsure why Seulgi was thanking her, but decided not to say anything to contradict her. Finally, they separated, and Seulgi began to walk toward the door. Joohyun was already waiting there, giving her a smile.
Before they finally left, Joohyun stopped, saying, "I almost forgot." She pulled out a small box from her bag and handed it to Sana.
Sana took the box, looking at it with curiosity. "What is this?" she asked, feeling intrigued.
Joohyun smiled, leaning a bit toward Sana. "It's a little surprise you can use later," she said, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I think Jihyo will enjoy it too." With that, she whispered and left the room, followed by Seulgi, who gave one last smile before closing the door.
Once they were alone, Jihyo looked at Sana with curiosity. "What did she say to you?" she asked, leaning a bit forward, eager to know more.
Sana, feeling her cheeks flush, hesitated before answering. "It’s... nothing."
Jihyo frowned but at the same time smiled, intrigued. "Nothing?"
Sana nodded, her voice soft. "Yeah, it’s probably just... some necklace."
Jihyo laughed and shrugged. "Well, only you would know."
Sana didn’t open the box but sighed, saying, "I need to get back to work now. Momo will be here soon."
Jihyo looked at her and nodded. "Yeah... it’s probably for the best if we don’t want anyone else interrupting us."
Sana smiled and said, "Still, you owe me a couple more kisses."
Jihyo hummed, playing with the idea. "I’ll give them to you once you’re better... but for now, you should come back with me today, to my house."
"But I thought I couldn’t because your mom—" Sana looked at her, starting to ask, "Would it really be okay? I don’t want to get you in trouble."
"You would never," Jihyo replied firmly. "No one will bother us. It’ll just be us and the girls."
Sana pouted, scrunching her eyes in a funny way. "And Kaya?"
Jihyo rolled her eyes. "Yes, Kaya too," she said playfully.
Sana smiled even wider, feeling the conversation lighten up. "Well... it’s another date."
Jihyo scoffed, leaning in to give her a chaste kiss. "Yes," she said with a smile. "Definitely another date."
—
"Do you think now that I know everything about you and Park, I could bribe her?" Momo asked curiously to Sana.
"You could, but I don’t think you’d have a job to go back to afterward," Sana replied, not even looking away from her computer.
"I don’t know how many times I have to tell you that Jihyo loves me!" the Japanese girl complained. "Before you got here, I was in your place!" Sana rolled her eyes.
"You should have made her fall for you before I took her away then," Sana responded, smirking as she finished typing and closed the program. "Could you send me the case document, please?"
Momo sighed, moving to look at her own computer to do what the girl had asked. "I never thought Japanese girls would be her type," she muttered under her breath, and Sana scoffed beside her.
"Maybe you’re just not her type," Sana said in the same tone.
Momo grunted and finished sending the document. "You’re lucky we’re friends, and that Jihyo is practically made of rainbows and flowers now."
"She’s always been like that," Sana raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, but still, now she’s more... 'soft'?" Momo replied, and Sana looked at her incredulously.
"Are you serious?" Sana asked, but Momo continued, "It’s true, but you don’t notice because you’re always busy looking at her and kissing her."
Sana was about to protest, but at that moment, the door opened, and both of them fell silent. Jihyo stepped out with a big smile and approached them.
"The doors are glass, in case you hadn’t noticed," Jihyo said, looking at her friends.
"Well, Momo wasn’t being particularly quiet either," Sana retorted, rolling her eyes.
"Yeah, yeah," Momo said with a grin. "Anyway, there are people here who actually do their job." She got up from her seat and started gathering her things. "I’m going to talk to a couple of clients."
"Make sure you don’t stay too late, Momo yah," Jihyo told her. "Take care."
Momo shot a glance at Sana. "See what I mean?" The girl shrugged with a silly smile.
"Alright, I’m off. Enjoy my life," the Japanese girl said one last time before walking toward the elevator and entering.
Jihyo turned to Sana, asking, "Are you ready?"
"Yeah, but it’s still a bit early, don’t you think? I feel like I haven’t worked at all," Sana replied, glancing at the clock.
"In my defense, we have to go pick up the girls. Otherwise, I’d let you work yourself to death for hours," Jihyo said with a smile.
Sana rolled her eyes and shut down her computer, gathering her things and her bag. Then, she took Jihyo's hand and intertwined their fingers. "I’ll find a way to work one way or another," she told her.
Jihyo smiled, and they began walking toward the elevator. They entered and watched the doors close in front of them. As the floors passed by, Jihyo noticed that Sana tensed up a bit. She stepped forward, making sure her bag covered their intertwined hands, and without thinking, she squeezed Sana's hand.
She held her breath, knowing what was happening: it was Donghae's floor. She could also feel the same anxiety coursing through her when the elevator stopped and the doors opened. But instead, a woman entered, and the air returned to her lungs.
However, Sana didn’t relax; her shoulders remained tense, and Jihyo could see the muscles in her jaw clenching as well, but she didn’t say anything—she couldn’t. A few more floors passed, and once they reached the parking lot, they exited the elevator at a leisurely pace. They walked to Jihyo's car, where she took Sana's things and tossed them into the trunk. Then, she walked to the passenger door and opened it, allowing Sana to get in. The girl did so after casting a funny glance, and without further ado, Jihyo got in as well, started the car, and began to drive away.
As she drove, Jihyo stole a glance at Sana. "Are you okay?" she asked softly, concerned about the evident tension in her body.
"Yeah, everything’s fine," Sana replied, looking out the window as the buildings passed by.
Jihyo bit her lip, watching the road in silence. She took a deep breath and then took Sana's hand, intertwining their fingers in the girl’s lap. This pulled Sana out of her thoughts.
"Do you want to eat something specific?" Jihyo asked, trying to break the silence.
"Eh, not really. Anything is fine," Sana replied, feeling a bit more at ease.
Jihyo nodded, squeezing Sana's hand one last time before refocusing on the road. Silence settled between them, which was unusual but not necessarily bad. It felt different in some way, but Jihyo didn’t dare to question it.
Finally, when they arrived at the girls' school, Jihyo stopped the car and leaned a bit toward the door, seeing a couple of kids scattered around the area. She sighed and looked at Sana. "Do you want to get out with me?"
Sana nodded, releasing Jihyo's hand to exit the car. Jihyo followed her out, and once outside, she frowned, trying to spot Tzuyu and Chaeyoung.
And soon she did; she saw them coming from a distance, holding hands and laughing about something. Jihyo raised her hand to get their attention, and soon enough, she succeeded. She watched as their faces transformed into surprise upon seeing Jihyo and Sana by their side, and she noticed the urgency with which they began to approach, Chaeyoung trying to keep pace with Tzuyu.
When they finally arrived, Tzuyu shouted and jumped into Sana's arms, who caught her with laughter. Chaeyoung did the same, leaping toward Sana with a big smile on her face. "Miss Sana! You're here!" Chaeyoung exclaimed, hugging the girl tightly.
Sana laughed, embracing both of them. "Hello, girls," she said cheerfully.
Chaeyoung pulled back a bit and asked, "I thought you were in the hospital, what happened? Did you get hurt?"
"I had a little accident, but I'm better now," Sana explained, smiling to reassure them.
"That's great!" Tzuyu shouted excitedly. "I have something for you!" She hurriedly pulled out her backpack and, with her small hands, opened it to take out a piece of paper.
She handed it to Sana with a big smile. "It's a gift, to help you get better!" she said enthusiastically, her eyes shining.
Sana accepted the drawing, her smile widening as she admired the artwork. "It's beautiful! I'll keep it with the other one you gave me," she said, feeling touched.
Tzuyu nodded, happy that her gift was appreciated.
Seeing the interaction, Jihyo decided to get the girls' attention. "Alright, now that you've seen Miss Sana, how about we head back home?"
Both girls nodded eagerly, ready to return. Sana moved to open the car door, helping the girls get in.
Jihyo also moved to assist, but Sana stopped her, brushing her fingers gently against her arm. "I've got this," she said with a smile.
Jihyo smiled back, grateful. "Okay, thanks," she replied, walking toward the driver's seat.
Sana climbed into her seat a couple of seconds later, and Jihyo wasted no time starting the car and driving off.
—
"Don't forget to wash your hands, girls!" Jihyo shouted once she opened the door and the girls rushed inside.
"Yes, Mom!" Tzuyu replied, quickly climbing the stairs, followed by Chaeyoung.
Jihyo let out a breath, closing the door and placing her keys on the entry table. Sana looked around; she had been there several times before, but it was as if she was searching for one more sound, aside from the laughter of the little ones.
And she found it. Upon hearing a happy yelp, followed by barks and the sound of little paws hitting the floor, Kaya soon ran toward her. Sana crouched just in time to catch her.
Smiling, she let the puppy give her a few kisses. "Hello, Kaya!" Sana exclaimed, laughing.
"She’s grown a bit since the last time you saw her," Jihyo commented, watching the interaction with a smile.
"Yeah, but she’s still just as adorable," Sana replied, petting the puppy's head. Kaya let out another bark before Sana set her down, and she scampered away, full of energy.
Jihyo took Sana's hand and said, "Come in, you know the drill. Make yourself at home."
Sana nodded, allowing Jihyo to guide her. They entered the kitchen, and Jihyo asked, "Do you want something to drink?"
"No, I'm good," Sana replied with a smile.
Jihyo nodded and walked over to sit at the bar. Sana did the same, falling into a comfortable silence for a moment. After a few seconds, she asked, "What are we going to do now?"
"When the girls stay this late in class, they eat at school, so I don’t think they’ll be hungry," Jihyo explained. "They’ll probably just sleep. Nayeon will come to pick up Chaeyoung early, so that gives us some time to do whatever we want."
"Sounds perfect."
"Did you want to do something specific?" Jihyo asked, curious.
"No, not really," Sana admitted with a mischievous smile. "Despite what you say, I don’t think you’ll let me work."
Jihyo smiled, feeling like she had brought Sana there to relax. Sana looked at her, making sure none of the girls would come down suddenly. Then, she took Jihyo's cheeks, pulling her in and leaving a chaste kiss on her lips. She pulled away but didn’t move far, their lips still brushing softly.
Jihyo sighed, feeling trapped in that moment, and couldn’t hold back any longer. She pressed another kiss to Sana's lips, followed by another and another, until Sana was breathless and finally pulled back, smiling with a mix of surprise and happiness.
"Now that I think about it, I have something else in mind that we could do," Sana said, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
Jihyo swallowed hard, nodding as she licked her lips, still feeling the warmth of the kisses. "What would that be?" she asked, looking into Sana's dark eyes, feeling her mouth go dry.
"I really want to lie down for a bit," Sana replied honestly.
Jihyo smiled, feeling the moment fill with tenderness. "Sure, we can do that. Would you like to do it on the couch, or do you prefer the guest room?"
"No, I want to be with you," Sana said, her gaze firm.
"Then we can stay in my office. It's comfortable too," Jihyo suggested.
"Sounds good," Sana replied, getting up and taking Jihyo's hand as they left the kitchen.
Before heading to the office, Jihyo stopped at the bottom of the stairs and called out, "Tzu! Chaeng! We'll be in my office! If you need anything, just let me know!"
They received enthusiastic shouts of affirmation in response, and without further ado, it was Sana who gently pulled Jihyo down the hallway. In a bold move, Jihyo let go of Sana's hand, wrapping her arms around the girl's waist from behind as they walked, planting a soft kiss on her neck. Sana let out a giggle, the sound warming Jihyo's heart.
Once they reached the office, Jihyo closed the door behind them without letting go of Sana. The moment the door clicked shut, Sana turned in the embrace and kissed her deeply. Jihyo melted into the kiss, smiling against Sana's lips.
They slowly backed up until Sana was almost leaning against the office desk. As they kissed, Jihyo heard a couple of objects fall to the floor, but neither of them broke the kiss. Instead, Jihyo pulled back just enough to look into Sana's eyes, her heart racing with excitement and affection.
"Maybe we should be more careful," Jihyo joked, her voice soft and playful.
Sana smiled, her cheeks slightly flushed. "But where's the fun in that?" she replied, leaning in to give her another kiss, their laughter mingling as they got lost in the moment, the outside world fading away.
Jihyo pulled back a bit, leaving a trail of kisses along Sana's cheek to her neck, stopping at her collarbone. Sana closed her eyes, running a hand along Jihyo's back, encouraging her to continue. Jihyo smiled and obliged, leaving a gentle bite where her neck met her shoulder, causing Sana to let out a muffled gasp.
"I thought we couldn't do this because I needed to rest," Sana said, her voice breathless.
"But you're not doing anything right now, are you?" Jihyo replied, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Sana let out a laugh that quickly turned into a muffled gasp of surprise as she felt Jihyo's hand sliding down her shirt, playing with the buttons. "Jihyo..." she murmured, nodding as Jihyo began to unbutton one by one. Each button that opened let in the cool air, making her shiver, but before she could fully process the sensation, Jihyo pulled away from her, creating space between their bodies.
"What are you doing?" Sana asked, a bit confused and anxious, reaching for Jihyo again. "Don't leave me like this..."
Jihyo looked into her eyes, a mix of playfulness and desire in her gaze. "Like what, Sana?"
Sana let out a whine from her lips, groaning in frustration, and without wasting any time, she pulled Jihyo by her tie, bringing their lips together once more. Jihyo groaned into the kiss, completely surrendering as she took Sana by the waist and swiftly sat her down on the desk.
Sana broke the kiss in surprise, her eyes wide open, but Jihyo didn’t stop. She returned to her place on Sana's chest, leaving a trail of delicate kisses and soft bites. Sana's legs wrapped around Jihyo, pulling more on the tie to keep her from moving away.
The muffled moan that escaped Jihyo only intensified the heat Sana felt, and her heart raced. "Jihyo..." she whispered, feeling the mix of excitement and desire. "I'm getting tired of you doing this."
"And what is 'this'?" Jihyo replied, her voice laced with mischief as she continued to plant kisses on Sana's chest. "I'm just enjoying the moment."
Sana bit her lip, feeling the tension between them grow. "It's not fair," she protested, though her tone lacked conviction. "You know you drive me crazy."
"And you drive me crazy too," Jihyo admitted, lifting her head to meet Sana's gaze, her eyes filled with complicity. "So, what are we going to do about it?"
Sana tightened her grip on the tie, pulling Jihyo closer to her lips. They kissed quickly, fiercely, and deeply, and Sana tugged on Jihyo with more force, causing Jihyo's breath to quicken, her movements following suit. Suddenly, Sana was no longer sitting on the desk; Jihyo lifted her into her arms.
Sana broke the kiss, letting out a surprised squeal and tightening her grip around Jihyo's waist with her legs. She knew Jihyo was strong; she could see it, and often found herself staring at her muscles a little longer than usual, but she had never seen her actually do something like this.
The girl chuckled softly, holding her tighter. "Relax," she said, as she began to walk toward the couch. "I'm going to set you down here."
She felt the coldness of the couch as she was deposited on it, but she didn't have time to think about that before Jihyo settled on top of her and began to leave kisses again across Sana's face: her forehead, her eyes, her cheeks, and finally her lips, before descending toward her neck. Sana sighed, squeezing Jihyo's locks of hair and pulling her closer.
Jihyo moved even further down her chest, opening the shirt she had already begun to unbutton further. She pulled away a little, looking into her eyes. “Are you okay?” she asked, her voice soft and concerned.
“Yes,” Sana replied, her breathing ragged. “Just... go on.”
Jihyo smiled, not taking her eyes off Sana as she leaned into her again, lips tracing down the girl's chest. She bit here and there, eliciting soft gasps and moans.
The sound encouraged her and pushed her to go further.
Her fingers reached for the last button and, with a flick opened the blouse all the way, revealing the lacy bra underneath. She took a moment to admire the view, her eyes roaming the garment, the curve of Sana's breasts. She could see her nipples straining against the fabric, begging for attention.
Sana nodded, with pleading eyes. Jihyo needed no more encouragement. She leaned down and her lips pressed the valley between Sana's breasts. She could feel the girl's heartbeat, wild and erratic, beneath her lips. She kissed softly, flicking her tongue out to taste the sweet skin.
Sana moaned and arched her back slightly. “More” she gasped, reaching up to tangle her hands in Jihyo's hair.
Jihyo looked up and her eyes met Sana's. She reached up and her fingers hooked into the cup of Sana's bra. She tugged and slowly pulled it down, exposing her chest inch by inch. She leaned back and took in the spectacle. Sana's breasts were perfect, round and firm. Just as she remembered
Without another word, Jihyo leaned toward her and her lips circled around one sensitive nub. She sucked gently, her tongue swirling around. She could feel Sana's moans vibrating through her, urging her on. She closed her eyes, surrendering to the feel, the taste, the touch of Sana in her mouth.
The way she was writhing beneath her, the moans escaping her lips music to her ears.
The room filled with sighs and gasps, the air charged with desire.
Sana, unable to contain herself any longer, gently pushed Jihyo, signaling that she wanted to take control. Jihyo, surprised but pleased, let herself be guided. Sana sat up, her eyes shining with a mixture of lust and tenderness. “I want to see you,” she whispered, her hands moving to the buttons of Jihyo's blouse. She nodded, her heart pounding in her chest.
She watched as Sana unbuttoned each button with torturous slowness, her fingers brushing against the bare skin she was revealing. Just as Sana was going for the third button, there was a knock on the door that made her jump “What the...?”
Jihyo barely had time to react before the door began to open. Panic set in, but she quickly grabbed a pillow and threw it at Sana, hitting her in the face. Sana complained but quickly took the pillow to cover herself, just in time for little Tzuyu to walk in.
The little girl looked around with an innocent expression. "Are you busy, Mommy?" she asked, completely unaware of the situation.
Jihyo smiled, trying to remain calm. "No, sweetheart, I was just... working a little," she replied, her voice a bit higher than usual.
Tzuyu furrowed her brows, looking at her mother with suspicion. "Are you sure, Mommy? You seem a little... flushed. Are you going to get sick soon?"
"It's just the heat, sweetheart," Jihyo said, trying to keep her composure.
Sana, still covered by the pillow, struggled to contain her laughter as she watched Jihyo attempt to appear serene. "Do you need anything, Tzuyunnie?" Sana asked, trying to sound casual.
Tzuyu frowned, glancing between her mother and Sana. "I just wanted to know if we could play together," she said, completely oblivious.
"Of course, we can do that," Jihyo replied, feeling a mix of relief and frustration at being interrupted. "Give me a second, and I'll catch up with you, okay?"
"Alright," Tzuyu said with a smile before leaving the office. Once the door closed, Jihyo collapsed onto the couch, covering her face with the pillow that was on top of Sana and letting out a scream into it.
Sana let out a giggle, adjusting her bra and sitting up. She cleared her throat, trying to compose herself as she fixed her hair. Gently, she stroked Jihyo's back until she stopped screaming.
When Jihyo finally calmed down, she looked at Sana with a pout. "This isn't fair," she complained, her voice still a bit whiny.
Sana laughed, enjoying the moment. "In my defense, I just wanted to lie down," she said, grinning mischievously.
"I didn't hear you complaining!" Jihyo shot back, raising an eyebrow.
Sana laughed even more, her laughter filling the room. "Don't worry so much; it's good that Tzuyu didn't see anything," she said, trying to reassure Jihyo.
Jihyo sighed, grumbling and nodding. "Yeah, it would be better if we got out of here before she comes back with Chaeyoung," she suggested, feeling the adrenaline start to fade.
Sana nodded, getting up and offering her hand to Jihyo. "Come on, it'll be fun," she said with a smile.
Jihyo stood up with shaky legs, avoiding looking at Sana's unbuttoned shirt. "Yeah, yeah. Sure," she murmured, feeling a slight blush on her cheeks.
Jihyo let out a soft grunt as she buttoned her own shirt, running a hand over her face in an attempt to calm down. Sana, with a playful smile, took her hand and pulled it away from her face, smiling at her before giving her a quick kiss. "We'll continue another day."
Jihyo sighed and said, "Yeah, that's fine." They both walked toward the door, and when Jihyo stepped out, Sana followed her but stopped halfway. "Wait, I forgot my phone," she said, turning around.
"I'll help you look for it," Jihyo offered, turning back to assist her.
"No, no, I can do it. Go with the girls," Sana replied, smiling to reassure her.
Jihyo nodded, feeling a bit relieved, and headed toward the living room.
Once Jihyo was gone, Sana returned to the office and stepped inside, looking around curiously. She approached the couch but didn’t see her phone. She bent down but had no luck. Finally, she glanced at the desk, moving closer to search. She frowned when she didn’t find anything, but as she bent down again, she finally spotted it. She smiled and reached for it, only for her hand to bump into something else in its place.
"What is this?" she muttered, picking up the object without looking at it and placing it on the desk. Then she took her phone and stood up, ready to leave, but before she could, the object caught her attention.
It was a picture frame. Sana paused, moving closer to take another look at it.
She recognized Jihyo in the photo, smiling with shorter hair than she had now. It was clear that it was an old picture; Jihyo must have been around 17 years old. Beside her was Joohyun, with her arms around another girl who was also smiling, while Seulgi held some books, looking happy and carefree. Two other girls were in the photo, laughing heartily, clearly enjoying a good day together.
But what caught her attention the most was the girl hugging Jihyo from behind, smiling excitedly at the camera. It was the same girl she had seen in the hallway photos, and a sense of intrigue washed over her. Who was she?
Sana ran her fingers over the photo, feeling the texture of the paper and the warmth of the memories emanating from it. Her curiosity deepened, and unable to resist, she flipped the frame over to look at the words written on the back.
"Son Seungwan and Son Jihyo, happy beach day, happy life."
"Seungwan?" she murmured to herself, trying to connect the dots. "Who is Seungwan?"