You stirred awake as a soft beam of sunlight filtered through the car window, accompanied by the faint honk of a passing car. Your eyes fluttered open, the unfamiliar sight of a car's interior coming into view. A blanket was draped over you, its warmth cocooning you as you slowly pieced together your surroundings.
Glancing to your right, you spotted Hae-in in the driver’s seat, his hands steady on the wheel, his expression calm but focused. The faint signs of exhaustion were etched into his face—dark circles beneath his eyes and his complexion pale.
You shifted slightly, and his eyes flickered toward you. “Oh, sorry,” he said softly. “Did I wake you up?”
You blinked, still a little groggy. “No, it’s fine. I was just… confused.” Your voice was hushed as memories of the previous night came flooding back. A faint heat rose to your cheeks as you recalled everything—your conversation, the quiet intimacy of the hilltop, and… the kiss.
You adjusted the blanket around yourself, clearing your throat. “How… how did we end up here? In the car, I mean?”
Hae-in glanced at you briefly before returning his attention to the road. “You fell asleep after we talked,” he explained. “It was pretty late, and I finally managed to find a spot with enough signal to send my location. In-yeop came at dawn with his car.”
Your eyes widened. “Wait… so how did I…?”
A small, almost bashful smile tugged at his lips. “I carried you to the car,” he admitted. “You looked really tired, and I didn’t want to wake you up.”
Your face flushed, and you sat up straighter, the blanket slipping from your shoulders. “You carried me? Down the entire hill?”
“It wasn’t that far,” he said, trying to sound casual, though the faint hint of a sheepish grin betrayed him.
“You must have been exhausted,” you said, frowning as you noticed his tired eyes again. “I mean, after everything that happened… and now you’re driving too?”
Hae-in shrugged lightly, his smile softening. “It’s no big deal. You needed the rest more than I did.”
You couldn’t hide your flustered reaction, your hands fidgeting with the edge of the blanket. “Still… that’s really…” You trailed off, unsure how to articulate the mix of gratitude and guilt swirling in your chest.
He chuckled quietly, sensing your unease. “Seriously, it’s fine. I’m used to carrying heavy things.” His tone was teasing, but his words only made your cheeks burn hotter.
You decided to change the subject. “What about your car? What happened to it?”
“In-yeop’s handling it,” Hae-in said with a reassuring nod. “It should be fixed soon. Right now, this is his car.”
You nodded, feeling a bit more at ease. The ride continued in comfortable silence, the hum of the car engine and the soft morning breeze through the slightly cracked window lulling you into a calm state.
Before long, Hae-in pulled up in front of your home. He parked and turned to you, offering a small smile. “Here we are.”
You hesitated for a moment, clutching the blanket before handing it back to him. “Thank you,” you said earnestly, your gaze meeting his. “For everything.”
His smile grew, warm and genuine. “Anytime.”
You stepped out of the car, the crisp morning air brushing against your skin as you turned toward your house. But before heading inside, you glanced back at him. Hae-in gave you a small wave before driving off, the car disappearing down the street.
As you walked into your home, your heart felt uncharacteristically light. The memory of his smile, his thoughtfulness, and the quiet strength he had shown lingered with you, filling you with an unfamiliar but comforting warmth.
As you unlocked the door and stepped inside, you were greeted by the unmistakable sound of Freya’s yawn, followed by her shuffling footsteps. She appeared in the hallway, her hair a wild mess and her eyes still heavy with sleep. But the moment she saw you, her drowsiness vanished.
“You!” she exclaimed, suddenly wide awake as she took in your appearance—specifically, your rumpled dress that wasn’t quite what you had left in.
Her eyes widened, then narrowed mischievously. She pointed a finger at you. “Why are you wearing that? And why weren’t you home last night?” Before you could say a word, she practically launched herself at you, hugging you tightly before pulling back to inspect you more closely.
Her lips curved into a devilish grin, her teasing tone unmistakable. “Ohhh, someone’s got some stories to tell. Did you get up to something fun with Hae-in? Spill, spill!”
You groaned, your face instantly heating up. “Freya, stop! It’s not what you think!”
She crossed her arms, clearly not buying it. “Oh really? You come back in a different outfit, looking all flustered, and you expect me to believe nothing happened? Girl, you better start talking before I come up with my own version of events.” She wiggled her eyebrows, her expression delightfully wicked.
You buried your face in your hands, trying to will away the blush spreading across your cheeks. “Okay, okay! I’ll explain everything. Just… don’t make it weird, okay?”
“No promises,” she said, leaning against the wall with an expectant look.
You sighed and began recounting the events of the previous night, from getting lost on the hill to the moment Hae-in carried you to In-yeop’s car. As you spoke, Freya’s expression shifted from teasing curiosity to genuine concern.
“You fell asleep outside on a hilltop?” she said, her voice rising an octave. “And you didn’t have cell service? Do you know how worried I was when you didn’t come back last night? I was about two seconds away from calling the cops!”
“I’m sorry,” you said earnestly, guilt pooling in your chest. “I didn’t mean to worry you. Everything just… happened so fast, and I lost track of time.”
Freya sighed, her expression softening slightly. “Okay, I get it. But you seriously should’ve let me know sooner. I was imagining all sorts of worst-case scenarios.”
“I know,” you said, placing a hand on her shoulder. “I’ll be more careful next time. I promise.”
Her eyes narrowed again, though this time with a glimmer of amusement. “Fine. But that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. I want details. Every. Single. One. Especially about Hae-in carrying you all the way down a hill. Like, are you two a rom-com now or what?”
You rolled your eyes, but the heat in your cheeks returned with a vengeance. “Freya…”
“Oh, come on!” she said, her grin returning. “Don’t leave me hanging! What’s going on between you two? Is this a thing now?”
“It’s not a thing,” you said quickly, though your heart betrayed you with its sudden flutter. “He was just being nice, that’s all.”
Freya raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. “Uh-huh. Nice. Sure.”
You sighed, knowing you wouldn’t hear the end of this anytime soon. Freya wasn’t the type to let a story like this go without milking it for all its worth, but her teasing was underpinned by genuine care. And honestly, a part of you didn’t mind sharing—because, despite your embarrassment, the thought of Hae-in’s kindness made your heart feel a little lighter.
After wrapping up your work earlier than expected, an idea struck you—why not visit Hae-in? The thought made you smile, and you decided to make it a little special. You gathered some cookie dough and spent a bit of time baking, the sweet aroma filling your kitchen as you packed the warm cookies into a tin. Feeling satisfied with your efforts, you set out for the jung mansion, the thought of surprising Hae-in lifting your spirits.
When you arrived at the grand gates of the jung mansion, something felt different. The usual bustle of activity seemed muted, and the house had an unusual stillness about it. As you entered, you noticed some staff moving around hurriedly, their expressions tense yet purposeful.
“Is everything okay?” you asked one of the maids nearby.
The young maid turned to you with a polite smile. “Oh, yes, miss. Everything’s fine. It’s just that Halmeoni isn’t home today.”
“Halmeoni isn’t home?” you repeated, slightly taken aback. It was rare for her to leave the mansion, let alone during the day.
“Not today,” she confirmed. “She went on a picnic to her old village with some friends. She’ll be back tomorrow.”
Your curiosity piqued, and you immediately pulled out your phone. Scrolling through your contacts, you found Halmeoni Jung’s number and dialed.
The familiar, warm voice answered almost instantly. “Hello, dear! Is that you?”
“Halmeoni!” you exclaimed, smiling as you walked into a quieter corner of the hall. “I just heard you’re out having a picnic. And here I thought you’d be at the mansion all day.”
Halmeoni laughed softly, the sound full of joy. “Ah, yes! Some of my old friends insisted I join them. We’re at my old village, reminiscing about the good old days. You should see the scenery here—it’s beautiful, even now.”
“I bet you’re the life of the party,” you teased. “Are you showing off your legendary picnic packing skills?”
Her laugh deepened. “Of course! They wouldn’t let me come without bringing my kimchi and sandwiches.”
You chuckled, the image of Halmeoni happily enjoying her day filling you with warmth. “I’m glad you’re having a good time. Enjoy yourself, okay? Don’t worry about anything back at the mansion.”
“Thank you, dear. And tell Hae-in to behave himself if you see him,” she said with a playful tone.
“I will. Have a safe trip back, Halmeoni!”
After hanging up, you tucked your phone away and glanced around. You hadn’t spotted Hae-in yet, which felt odd. Normally, he’d be hovering somewhere nearby.
“Excuse me,” you said to Head Maid Lina, who was directing some of the staff in tidying up the house. “Do you know where Hae-in is?”
Lina turned to you with a small smile. “When Halmeoni isn’t home, Hae-in usually stays at his apartment. He says it’s quieter for work.”
“Oh,” you said, a little surprised. You hadn’t realized he had a separate place. “Do you happen to know the address?”
Lina nodded, scribbling it down on a piece of paper. “Here you go. It’s not far. Are you planning to visit him?”
“Yeah, I thought I’d drop by,” you said, tucking the note into your pocket.
“Well, I’m sure he’ll appreciate the company,” Lina said warmly.
With the address in hand, you called a cab. As you waited for it to arrive, you glanced at the tin of cookies in your hand, feeling a flicker of nervous excitement. You wondered how Hae-in would react to the surprise, especially since it wasn’t often you sought him out like this.
When the cab pulled up, you climbed in, giving the driver the address. As the car began to move, you looked out at the passing scenery, your thoughts drifting to Hae-in and the soft, unspoken connection that seemed to linger between you.
