Chapter 17: An Unwanted Guest

The filming studio wasn’t that far from my place.

So the drive didn’t take long.

While Jeongwon was focused on changing lanes and not looking my way, I carefully pulled out my phone and sent a message.

No reply.

That wasn’t unusual—she wasn’t the type to reply quickly anyway, and she could be pretty unpredictable.

And more than anything, with all the hate comments from the recent scandal, she probably wasn’t in the best state of mind.

This wasn’t just about today being Day 50 of Jeongwon’s so-called countdown.

Or about him saying we were “dating” and then trying to come over to my place.

Jeongwon had actually been very respectful.

Aside from those occasional remarks and impulsive moments, I thought he was a genuinely good guy.

Really.

At least, to everyone else, he was just the obedient youngest member of the group.

The real issue was—

today was the day Yoon Jina said she was coming over.

She’d called earlier, crying.

Jina had been getting torn apart online because of a recent article.

Even I—someone who avoids news and comments—knew how bad it was.

I tried to calm her down over the phone, but she cried so much that I eventually just told her to come.

The problem was—

there had been a small, insignificant dating rumor about us before.

We hadn’t even properly dated.

Just something that almost started and didn’t.

The article had been wrong.

Her agency had basically thrown it out there as a smokescreen before a bigger scandal hit.

Back then, I let it slide.

It had already happened, and if that rumor hadn’t come out, something worse would’ve.

Plus, she’d begged me, crying.

Since then, we were just colleagues who spoke casually.

Because of that, my company and the members didn’t like her.

And Jeongwon—

especially Jeongwon—

had always disliked her.

This wasn’t about Day 50.

He’d disliked her from the start.

It was already evening, and there were other people in the elevator.

Jeongwon and I both instinctively lowered our heads, avoiding attention.

Thanks to that, I could forget about what had happened in this elevator before.

The ride to the 4th floor was short.

Once we got off, it was just the two of us again.

I hesitated in the empty hallway.

From behind me, Jeongwon asked,

“Aren’t you opening the door?”

“Yeah… wait. Um… what was the password again?”

I tried to stall with the weakest excuse imaginable.

Barely buying a few seconds.

Then suddenly—

a hand reached past me and pressed the keypad.

Eight digits.

Perfectly entered.

And the door unlocked.

Stunned, I asked as he walked in ahead of me,

“How do you know my password?”

“When you were drunk last time.”

“You saw it then?”

“You kept messing it up, so I listened and entered it for you.”

“…Oh.”

So that happened.

I vaguely remembered fumbling with the keypad, but I thought I’d managed it myself.

Jeongwon took off his shoes and walked in like it was his own place.

He watched me silently as I took mine off, then said,

“You said you remembered.”

“Ah… well…”

“I figured.”

He shrugged, not really expecting an answer, and headed toward the kitchen.

Even though it was my place, I was the one feeling restless.

From inside, his voice rang out.

“Hyung! Want some ramen?”

“Ramen? The manager’s going to kill me.”

“Still.”

“Check the cabinet. There should be some.”

I shamelessly made my guest cook, and he didn’t even complain.

There was some suspicious clattering from the kitchen, but that wasn’t what I needed to worry about right now.

I quickly pulled out my phone and sent another message.

Told you—come later. Late at night.

Still no reply.

Then—

the intercom rang.

I was already standing next to it, so I pressed the button before it even finished ringing.

On the screen—

a woman stood there, face mostly hidden under a cap, only her sharp chin visible.

Yoon Jina.

These days, the hottest name in gossip—

no, she’d always been top-tier.

Seeing her standing there, clearly trying to hide her identity—

my headache got worse.

From the monitor, she looked like nothing more than a silhouette.

From the kitchen, Jeongwon called out loudly,

“Should I add eggs to the ramen?”

“Uh… yeah. Do whatever you want.”

Then I leaned closer to the intercom and whispered,

“Come later—”

But maybe she couldn’t hear me.

Her voice came back, irritated.

—“Just open the door already. What if someone sees me?”

Seriously…

Should I just leave her there?

But if she got exposed right in front of my place, that’d be even worse.

What do I do…

Before I could decide, someone else entered the building behind her with a keycard.

Jina slipped in right after them.

Just like that.

I stared at the screen as the glass door closed behind her.

“…Great.”

Now the two of them meeting—

That’s…

Not good.

I waited by the door.

From the kitchen, the smell of ramen started to fill the air.

Despite the noise, I remembered Jeongwon cooking ramen for us back at the dorm.

He was actually pretty good at it.

My empty stomach reacted instantly to the smell—

but I couldn’t move.

Then—

footsteps.

After a moment of hesitation, I opened the door first.

Even if I didn’t, she’d just knock anyway.

The moment the door opened, she stepped inside and pulled off her cap.

Her long black hair fell messily around her face.

Her pale, sharp features were revealed.

“Seo Jaehya, why didn’t you open the door right away? Want another article to come out?”

“You were just standing there. Why would that make news?”

“This is your place! They’ll connect it to that dating rumor!”

“Did I release that article? Your company did.”

“Whatever. I told you I was coming—why didn’t you—”

She stopped mid-sentence.

Her gaze shifted past me.

Then she looked back at me, expression blank.

“…You had someone over.”

Honestly, more than her reaction—

I was worried about Jeongwon’s.

I turned slowly.

My heart was pounding.

But his expression—

was calm.

Almost too calm.

He looked between me and Jina, then put on a polite face.

Didn’t seem like he planned to introduce himself, so I stepped in.

“You know Jeongwon, right? Our youngest. We just came back from the shoot—he stopped by for a bit.”

“Oh, I see. Hello. I just came to see Jaehya for a bit—didn’t know you had plans.”

Technically, she was the earlier plan.

Just… a very forceful one.

Before I could answer, she sniffed the air and smiled brightly at Jeongwon.

“Looks like you’re making ramen.”

“Yes.”

“I’m starving. How many packs do you have?”

“…Not sure.”

“Should I go buy more?”

Without answering, Jeongwon turned and went back into the kitchen.

I grabbed Jina’s arm before she could follow.

“What are you doing?”

“What? I’m eating ramen too.”

“Don’t mess with Jeongwon.”

“What? I’m just eating.”

“You don’t talk like that unless you’re up to something.”

“…You really catch on fast. Fine. I won’t mess with your precious youngest.”

“I mean it. Don’t do anything.”

“Got it.”

She brushed her hair back and walked in.

But I couldn’t shake the unease.

Seriously… just don’t try anything with him.

The three of us ended up sitting at the small table.

A pot of ramen sat in the center.

I set out bowls and utensils, glancing at the portion.

Three, maybe four packs.

Probably not enough.

Jina took her portion, blowing on the noodles before eating.

She’d suddenly become quiet and well-behaved.

Honestly, it felt fake.

I thought she’d come in crying and swearing—

but this silence was worse.

Just eat and leave, please.

I served Jeongwon his portion.

“Looks good. Thanks.”

Then I took a bite of mine.

And that’s when I noticed—

The table was too quiet.

Even for people eating.

I glanced at Jeongwon.

Then at Jina.