WAK 12

Chapter 12

“I went to a hotel, and it happened to be the hotel where your brother was staying.”

“And?”

“Room 2405, the suite your brother stays in long-term, right?”

Hyunsoo’s eyes lit up with interest.

“Right.”

“Your brother had a woman with him, didn’t he?”

“What do you mean?”

Unlike the other men in his lustful family, Jeonghan had always kept his distance from women.

“I thought he might be gay because he avoided women so much. But he’s not.”

“What are you saying?”

Instead of answering, Sangjin smiled meaningfully and held out a photo on his phone.

It showed a woman in a black suit, slightly messy, coming out of room 2405 with a worried expression.

Hyunsoo stared at the woman’s face. She was unfamiliar, but somehow looked familiar.

> “The timing was perfect, wasn’t it?”

“How did you take this?”

“I was just leaving a room too. You know my habit—taking photos when leaving after a one-night stand.”

“Just say it straight.”

“I was getting ready to take a selfie to remember last night, and she came out of 2405. I instinctively switched screens and took the photo.”

“The camera must have made a sound. Didn’t she notice?”

“Oh, that? I modified it to be silent. She didn’t even know I was taking it. Heh heh.”

Hyunsoo made a disgusted face. It was obvious why Sangjin modified his phone.

> “And that woman, she left in a hurry without looking around at all.”

Sangjin took the phone from Hyunsoo’s hand.

At that moment, Hyunsoo suddenly remembered someone—the woman from earlier at the department store who had apologized and given him her business card!

He grabbed Sangjin’s phone back.

“Whoa! What’s going on?”

Ignoring Sangjin, Hyunsoo zoomed in on the photo. His eyes shook. If he wasn’t mistaken, it was the same woman from the department store.

He quickly found the business card she had given him.

Law Firm Jeonghae, Lawyer Kang Hana.

> “Oh, she’s a lawyer?”

What a coincidence. Hyunsoo couldn’t help but laugh nervously.

—

The phone on the desk vibrated. Hana’s eyes stayed glued to her papers while her hand fumbled to reach it.

When her fingertips touched the phone, she answered without checking the caller ID.

“Hello, this is Kang Hana……”

Her voice was lifeless, her mind still buried in paperwork.

[It’s me.]

Hana lifted her head at Jeonghan’s voice. Pain shot through her stiff shoulders.

“Ugh……”

[What’s wrong?]

“Nothing. Why did you call?”

She frowned and tapped her neck and shoulders with the pen in her hand. She sounded frustrated, maybe because fatigue had reached her head.

[Not leaving work yet?]

“Leaving work? Did you say leaving work?”

Hana glared at the piles of documents on her desk. How could he even think of leaving with all this work?

Her sigh must have carried through the phone, because he chuckled softly.

[Seems busy.]

“No, why does everyone have so many divorce cases?”

Finally, Hana complained.

[Many realize too late that marriage is a graveyard.]

“Then why do people even get married? At least it pays the bills.”

A quiet laugh came from the phone.

[You said you’d treat me to a meal.]

The topic changed suddenly.

“What?”

[Three times. Forgot?]

Of course she hadn’t forgotten.

[I’m hungry.]

Hana laughed softly.

[Let’s eat.]

Hearing the word “eat” repeatedly made her stomach signal too. She had skipped lunch and drank only coffee all day.

[You need to eat before working, right?]

Hana leaned back in her chair, throwing down the pen she had been holding. She craved something spicy, like ramen.

But imagining eating ramen with Jeonghan didn’t seem right.

“What do you want to eat?”

She ignored the pile of work waiting for her. After working late two nights in a row, maybe it was okay to go home early today.

[What do you want, Kang Hana?]

“You choose, senpai. I’ll eat anything.”

She unconsciously looked at Jeonghan’s childhood photo while talking.

[I want to eat what you want.]

She thought hard about what to eat but kept imagining ramen. Spicy soup, triangle kimbap, and even a hot bar—it would be heaven.

[Why so quiet?]

Imagine the elegant Ryu Jeonghan sitting at Hangang Citizens Park, eating convenience store ramen. Just thinking about it made her giddy.

She stifled a giggle.

> “You know Hangang Citizens Park?”

[I know. Why?]

“We’ll meet at the parking lot there.”

[Which parking lot?]

The park was huge.

“I’ll send the address by message.”

[Okay.]

Hana ended the call, glanced at her papers for a moment, then stood up without hesitation.

—

Jeonghan was visibly flustered for the first time.

The cool river breeze, people relaxing in small groups, the colorful night view—everything was surprising. The most absurd part was the silver mat bought from the convenience store.

> “We’re eating this here?”

He asked as Hana climbed onto the mat with her food—instant ramen, a hot bar, and triangle kimbap.

“This place is so nice. It’s been so long.”

Hana ignored Jeonghan’s awkwardness.

“Take off your shoes and come up quickly.”

He hesitated but took off his dress shoes. Unlike the casual people around, they were still in dark suits.

Hana handed him chopsticks.

> “Hmm. Smell this. Isn’t it amazing?”

Hana looked genuinely excited. Jeonghan relaxed a bit and ate a bite of the ramen from the foil container. Warm food in the chilly air felt good.

“How is it? Isn’t it amazing?”

“Not bad.”

He was starting to feel comfortable.

> “I didn’t realize how much I needed this soup.”

The warmth from the spicy food spread through her. Jeonghan smiled quietly at Hana.

“Eat a lot.”

They finished quickly. Hana packed the trash.

The night air was cool but pleasant. Hana leaned back, looking at the sky. Few stars were visible, but she relaxed anyway.

> “Haaah……”

She yawned, covering her mouth with her hand.

“Tired?”

She nodded while closing her mouth.

“I’ll get something warm.”

Jeonghan got up, put on his shoes, and left. Hana watched him go, then yawned again. She closed her eyes, intending just to rest, but drifted into sleep.

When Jeonghan returned with warm tea, he saw Hana asleep and speechless.

About 30 minutes had passed since they spread the mat. In that short time, she ate and slept—he was impressed.

He quietly sat beside her without making a sound.

The wind made her shoulders curl; he gently covered her with his suit jacket. She stopped moving, sensing the warmth.

> “Sleep well, Kang Hana.”

He whispered, chuckling quietly at himself.

He looked around—the bright night view, the calm people. It finally looked peaceful.

After sitting for a while, he lay down beside her. They watched the sky lazily, yawned, and closed their eyes.

Hana found warmth beside Jeonghan in her sleep; he responded. They slept facing each other.

Her arms wrapped around his waist, his arm under her head. Close together, bodies touching, breathing almost synchronized.

The cool wind brushed Hana’s forehead and nose. The pleasant chill turned cold.

Hana suddenly woke, startled. The first thing she saw was Jeonghan’s handsome face.

Jeonghan slowly opened his eyes. When their eyes met, Hana’s pupils widened.