Episode 6
In the middle of everything, Jung Eui-hon stood frozen, blinking rapidly in shock.
Myung Jae-hyun suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist.
“Let’s go.”
Myung Yoon-jo reacted instantly, grabbing Jae-hyun’s arm as if to say, “No way.” This wasn’t the mood a second ago—yet suddenly, the atmosphere had turned ice cold.
Though no punches were thrown, the tension between them was razor-sharp, as if they were locked in some kind of strange wrist-grabbing contest. Feeling the mounting pressure, Eui-hon gulped nervously.
“What are you doing? Let go.”
“You let go of her. I’m not done talking to her.”
“Talk later. I’m here as her teacher, not her junior.”
“Jae-hyun.”
Yoon-jo’s tone had a warning edge to it, but Jae-hyun didn’t care. Even though there was a five-year age gap, Jae-hyun clearly didn’t care about hierarchy. If anyone saw this scene, it would look bad.
With a heavy sigh, Eui-hon reached out and grabbed Yoon-jo’s wrist. Now it looked like a game of Red Rover, with everyone linked in an awkward triangle.
“Sunbae… please let go of his hand.”
“Alright.”
The moment she asked, Yoon-jo released Jae-hyun. Eui-hon then quickly pulled her own hand away and turned to Jae-hyun.
“You too. Let go.”
But as if ignoring her words, Jae-hyun tightened his grip and began pulling her away.
“H-Hey! Jae-hyun, wait a second—!”
He didn’t seem to hear her. As he dragged her off, she glanced back to see Yoon-jo standing on the terrace, laughing softly in disbelief.
“This is getting interesting.”
The grip on her wrist was so tight, it stung. Once they reached the room, Jae-hyun finally let go.
“Ow! That hurt!”
A faint red mark was left on her pale wrist. Rubbing it with her other hand, Eui-hon glared at him.
“That seriously hurt.”
“Then why were you flirting around? This isn’t the first time, you know.”
“What?”
“This is the third time now—third time you’ve thrown me away.”
She laughed bitterly. If anyone heard this, they’d think she was some villain and Jae-hyun was the poor wounded soul.
“If I said I was going to the bathroom, I obviously should have gone there. What’s with the detour, huh? You’re so… unreliable.”
“Ugh, I told you, that wasn’t my intention. Whatever.”
It was her fault for not actually going to the bathroom, so she backed down a little.
“Fine. I’ll just say it’s my fault.”
“You have any idea what a huge sin you’ve committed against me, Jung Eui-hon?”
“Are you serious right now? What ‘crime’ did I even commit?”
“Whatever. Don’t talk.”
He suddenly opened the second drawer and pulled out a first-aid kit, slamming it on the desk. One of her eyebrows twitched.
“What is that?”
“Give me your arm. I’ll apply ointment.”
“No thanks. This isn’t some ‘hurt and heal’ scenario. I’m not even bleeding.”
“I hurt you, so let me take care of it. Jung Eui-hon.”
She knew better than to argue. If she didn’t give in, he’d just keep being stubborn. With a sigh, she held out her arm.
Without warning, he slathered antibiotic ointment all over her wrist. Even though there was no real wound, the glossy cream made it look worse than it was.
“That’s enough. You’re not my grandma blowing on a scraped knee.”
He ignored her and started wrapping her wrist in gauze like she’d been seriously injured.
“Jung Eui-hon. I’m planning to study all night.”
She said nothing, just stared at him.
His eyes demanded a response, like he was waiting for her approval.
“Don’t overdo it. You still have school tomorrow.”
“Let’s study together tonight.”
“…What?”
She looked at him, stunned.
“If Yoon-jo wants to eat dinner, let him do it alone. You’re not going home tonight.”
Ah, so this was his plan all along. Studying was just the excuse. With no way out, she nodded.
That list on the desk—“Eui-hon’s Demands”—kept bothering her.
“…Fine.”
Jae-hyun’s college entrance exam was finally over.
He came home looking pale and hollow. One glance and she could tell: he’d bombed it.
Still, what did it matter? He had done great in mock exams, almost reaching perfect scores. Even if it wasn’t his dream school, any university in Seoul would be enough.
It’s okay, Jae-hyun. Everyone said this year’s CSAT was brutal, starting from the Korean section—
“Jung Eui-hon.”
She looked at him, worried, and he smiled faintly.
“Well, looks like I’ll be seeing you a lot more.”
“…Huh?”
“From teacher-student, to sunbae-hoobae… I wonder what we’ll become next.”
His sly grin lingered in her memory.
To thank him for all his hard work, she went out to get him a special gift. She couldn’t afford luxury brands, but wanted to give him something meaningful.
His drawers were already filled with expensive watches, so she searched for something different.
Her eyes landed on a pocket watch in the display case. It was simple, vintage—something he didn’t have.
“I’ll take that one.”
“It’s the last in stock,” the employee replied, then hurried to wrap it.
Eui-hon hummed softly, excited to see Jae-hyun’s reaction. She just knew he’d love it.
Then her phone buzzed.
[Where are you? Weren’t you throwing me a party today?]
—Jae-hyun
Smiling, she typed her reply.
[Hang on, I’m almost done—]
But her thumb froze.
Her gaze landed on a man standing nearby—with a woman clinging to his side.
Their closeness was unmistakable.
The woman was Jung Gyu-ri—her cousin, but closer to an enemy. Throughout high school, Gyu-ri had made her life miserable. Related by blood, yes, but they weren’t family.
“Aww, oppa, why are we at the department store? I want to get to the hotel already.”
The smile disappeared from Eui-hon’s face.
So, the woman he was dating wasn’t who she thought—it was her.
“Miss? Your purchase is ready.”
The staff repeated it, noticing her distracted state.
At that moment, Gyu-ri and the man turned toward her.
“…Huh? Jung Eui-hon?”
Eui-hon quickly handed over her card and took the wrapped gift, pretending not to hear. But it was too late. Gyu-ri had already spotted her and approached.
Her lips curled upward, smug.
“Saw me and pretended not to, huh? Long time no see, Jung Eui-hon.”
Eui-hon stayed silent.
Gyu-ri chuckled, then called out sweetly to the man behind her.
“Oppa, come here. It’s Eui-hon! Can you believe I ran into her here?”
The man—Myung Yoon-jo—walked over calmly, Gyu-ri slipping her arm through his.
As if to say, See this? He’s mine now.
His brow furrowed slightly, but he gave Eui-hon a soft smile.
“Fancy seeing you here, Eui-hon.”
—
A champagne cork popped loudly, landing on the carpet.
Eui-hon poured herself a glass, filling it to the brim, then downed it like water. The fizzy, fruity taste barely registered.
Gyu-ri had been gushing nonstop about her and Yoon-jo.
“Eui-hon, you should congratulate me! Today marks Day One for me and Oppa.”
Technically family, yet more like strangers, they’d spent their lives competing, fighting, hating.
Now Gyu-ri wanted congratulations.
Eui-hon wanted to smile. She really did.
But her lips betrayed her, twitching in all the wrong ways. She looked like a fool.
She used to think any other girl would be fine—just not Gyu-ri. Why him, of all people?
The girl who’d spread all those rumors, who was always pretending.
Why, sunbae? Did your standards fall? Why not say your girlfriend was the one you kissed that night at Illuso?
Why her? Why now?
You’ve made it impossible for me to keep hoping.
Do you even know how much I liked you?
No—how much I loved you?
Another glass, poured too full, went down in seconds.
You told me I was special. That you wanted to treat me better than the others.
If I was really special, why did you leave me hanging with words like that?
Sunbae, that kind of sweet line isn’t something you throw out lightly. Because of those words, I’ve been trapped.
Like a frog hit by a rock—you didn’t mean it, but I still fell in love.
Just then, the door lock beeped.
A man in a long black coat stepped inside.
Jung Eui-hon, drinking alone, turned—and Myung Jae-hyun’s eyes narrowed coldly.
–
