{KOREAN-ENGLISH}
"What happened?" Hye Sua asked, sipping her drink with narrowed eyes.
They sat across from each other at a quiet coffee restaurant. The sunlight filtered in through the windows, casting a soft glow on the table between them, but the mood was far from warm.
Joon So Min kept her gaze down as she quietly told her everything,about the party, the encounter with Jung Hyun, Seo Jun's coldness, and how it had all spiraled into silence and confusion.
Hye Sua's face twisted into a scowl by the time she was done.
"So Min, it's alright. He probably got jealous seeing you with Jung Hyun. But Jung Hyun! That bastard,how dare he? After all the hurt he caused, now he suddenly wants you back?!"
She slammed her hand on the table, drawing a few startled glances.
"You shouldn't have helped him get the contract. I swear I'll tell him off myself—"
"No," So Min interrupted firmly. "I'll handle him on my own. Please don't start a fight."
Hye Sua folded her arms with a huff. "Okay, my dearest friend. Then let's go out tonight. The club. Loud music. No drama."
So Min blinked at her, then slowly nodded.
"Sure," she whispered. She just needed to escape.
Even if only for a few hours.
"Yay!" Hye Sua exclaimed, making nearby tables turn their heads.
They both giggled softly. For a brief moment, it felt like nothing else mattered.
⸻
Back at Lee Seo Jun's office, the air was frozen. His employees moved like shadows, keeping their heads down.
Mr. No, his trusted assistant, approached cautiously.
"What is the matter, sir?" he asked.
Seo Jun didn't lift his eyes from his screen. His face was blank, but the air around him was suffocating.
"What?" Seo Jun finally asked, voice low and sharp.
Mr. No swallowed hard. "N-Nothing, sir. You just seem... distracted."
Seo Jun stared at the blinking cursor on his laptop. His jaw clenched.
"I need a drink," he muttered, shutting the laptop with force.
He stood, took his car keys, and walked out without another word.
⸻
Seo Jun found himself in front of Lee Min Jun's apartment.
He rarely visited, but tonight felt different. Something had shifted in him,and it scared him.
"Seo Jun?" Min Jun blinked in surprise when he opened the door. "You okay?"
Seo Jun walked inside the well-decorated space. It was cozy and modern,but nothing compared to his own place. Still, it felt more human.
"Let's have a drink," he said.
Min Jun's eyes widened. That was rare. Seo Jun barely drank,especially not with company.
He nodded and ordered the maid to bring champagne.
They sat quietly on the leather couch, the golden liquid swirling in their glasses.
"What's wrong, seo Jun?" Min Jun asked gently.
"I just wanted a drink," Seo Jun said.
But his eyes were somewhere else.
⸻
Meanwhile, Joon So Min was at a bar, already a few drinks in.
She leaned against the counter, pouting at the bartender.
"Ma'am, I think you've had enough," the bartender said politely.
"You don't want to get me my drink?" she slurred. "Fine. I'll call my boyfriend."
She fumbled with her phone, smiling stupidly as she found his contact.
The line rang.
"Hello?" Seo Jun's voice came through.
"Hubby!" she said, grinning.
He immediately knew. "So Min... are you drunk?"
"No! You're the drunk one for leaving me alone!" she cried, her voice breaking. "You're so mean... you don't even care."
His heart tightened. "Where are you, So Min?"
She sniffled. "I'll send you the address. But don't come! I don't want to see you!"
He was already grabbing his keys.
"So Min—"
The call ended.
She sent the location.
⸻
At the club, a blonde-haired foreign man approached her.
"Hey there," he said in English, licking his lips. "You're a beauty. How about I have you for a night?"
So Min blinked, confused. She didn't understand him, but something about his gaze made her uneasy.
He moved closer, touching her arm.
She tried to push him off, but she was weak, dizzy.
"I like them feisty," he grinned, grabbing her tighter.
Her eyes widened in fear.
Suddenly—
A hand yanked the man back by the collar.
Lee Seo Jun.
"How dare you," he said, voice trembling with rage.
Then—a punch.
The man's nose cracked, blood spurting as he crashed to the ground.
Seo Jun wasn't done. Another punch. Then another.
"Brother, stop!" Min Jun ran into the scene, trying to restrain him. But Seo Jun shoved him aside, driven by fury and alcohol.
"Nobody touches what is mine!" Seo Jun roared.
He lifted the man again and slammed his face into the table. The man went limp.
So Min sat frozen, eyes wide. Her whole body shook.
Seo Jun turned to her.
"So Min... are you alright?"
She tried to speak.
Then everything went black.
She fainted.
Seo Jun caught her in his arms, panicked. He looked down at her pale face.
"Get her friend," he barked to Min Jun. "And take care of the mess."
Min Jun nodded, stunned. He'd never seen his brother like this,unhinged, desperate, protective.
Seo Jun didn't say another word.
He carried So Min out, holding her like she was the most precious thing in the world.
He didn't care if it was fake anymore.
Because right now, she was his.