[Downstairs]
As Haneul stepped down the last stair,
Nayeon was already standing near the entrance with Jina.
"Haneul-ah,"
Jina called softly before pulling him into a sudden hug.
"I'll really miss you."
Haneul froze for a second,
then smiled, returning the hug awkwardly.
His cheeks were still warm, still faintly flushed from earlier.
and he could feel it himself.
Jina pulled back and narrowed her eyes.
"Wait are you having a fever?"
Haneul immediately lifted a hand to his face, then to his forehead, startled.
"No..... no, I'm fine,"
He said quickly.
Jina didn't look convinced, but she sighed instead.
"Take care of yourself. And Haru too.
I'll visit again soon."
Haneul nodded.
"You too."
Across the room,
Taekyun turned his head slightly.
Haneul noticed.
Their eyes met.
Taekyun's gaze lingered for just a moment longer than necessary before he turned away.
Haneul swallowed and gave small bow to Nayeon.
She smiled at him.
Then she turned and walked out.
Jina followed.
Outside,
the car door closed.
From the window, Jina leaned out and waved enthusiastically.
"Haneul!"
"Bye bye"
"Love you"
Haneul lifted his hand, waving back with a small smile until the car disappeared beyond the gate.
The silence that followed felt heavier than before.
Taekyun walked past him without a word.
Lihan was already inside the car.
Taekyun got in, the door shut, and the car drove away.
Haneul stood there for a moment.
Then he turned back inside.
[Inside]
Bora was sitting on the couch.
Haneul hesitated, then walked over and sat beside her.
She was quiet.
Too quiet.
He had noticed it since yesterday Bora wasn't talking the way she usually did.
No gentle scolding, no small jokes, no warmth slipping naturally into her words.
"Bora,"
Haneul asked softly,
"are you okay?"
She blinked, then turned to him with a smile that came a little too fast.
"Oh, yes. I'm good. Why?"
"Oh,nothing just asking"
"I'm fine."
Haneul nodded slowly.
He could still sense it the emptiness, the weight she was carrying behind that smile.
But he didn't press.
He just gave her a small smile back and sat there quietly with her.
[2:00 PM /Taekyun's Office]
Inspector Minsoo sat across from Taekyun, files neatly arranged in front of him.
Lihan sat beside the inspector.
Taekyun flipped through the documents, then raised his head.
"So,"
He said calmly,
"it's confirmed there was a driver from the beginning."
The inspector straightened immediately.
"Yes, sir. We sincerely apologize for the earlier oversight.
I spoke directly with Mr. Leewon.
This time, we'll investigate thoroughly."
Lihan's eyes narrowed.
"Inspector,"
He said coolly,
"we still want to know what made you close the case so suddenly in the past without even consulting us."
Minsoo hesitated.
"Actually….. we're not entirely sure ourselves.
The order came from above.
We were instructed to close it."
Lihan leaned forward.
"If we hadn't provided the five-year-old local street CCTV footage,"
He said flatly,
"this case would've remained buried for another decade."
The inspector swallowed.
"Yes, sir. That's why we're grateful. Truly."
He paused, then continued carefully.
"The person involved is still with us.
I was specially sent to apologize and to request that you meet him personally."
Taekyun's gaze sharpened.
"Who?"
"Lee Haesu,"
The inspector replied.
Lihan said.
"Oh, it's Lee Haesu"
From Gwanrim Hanok Estate.
He was employed by Mrs. Kim at the time."
Lihan added quietly,
"He arrived a week before Miss Harin's accident.
Her original driver had already left.
Mrs. Kim personally sent him."
Taekyun nodded once.
Remembering.
"We've arrested him,"
Minsoo continued.
"He's confessed to being the one who drove that day.
However, he's refusing to explain why in other footage
he wasn't in the driver's seat, and Jiwon was instead."
Taekyun closed the file.
"I'll come on Monday,"
He said.
"By then, I expect this case to be solved."
"Yes, sir,"
The inspector said quickly.
"We're also pulling Neopharm's records from that period.
Everything will be reviewed."
Taekyun nodded.
The inspector stood and bowed deeply.
"Thank you, sir. It was an honor."
Lihan stood as well, following him out.
As they left.
Taekyun sat back down.
The room fell silent.
Then his phone rang.
"Jackson"
He answered.
"Are you free, Taekyun?"
"Yes. Go on."
"I have good news,"
Jackson said, voice bright.
"What is it?"
"Actually, our first Eunoia project is complete.
Final transmission goes through in two days. I'm confident it's going to succeed."
Taekyun's chest tightened for reasons he couldn't explain.
"Hello?"
Jackson laughed lightly.
"Are you listening?"
"Yes."
"I'll be coming to Korea soon,"
Jackson continued.
"It'd be better if you prepare that Omega.
I'll take him with me."
Taekyun said nothing.
"Don't worry,"
Jackson added casually.
"Even if things don't go perfectly, he'll return unharmed as long as he doesn't enter Eunoia itself.
You don't need to stress."
"Hm,"
Taekyun replied coldly.
"You sound busy,"
Jackson said.
"We'll talk later."
Taekyun said and ended the call.
He stared at his phone for a while.
He was the one who had told Jackson he'd send Haneul back.
So why did his chest feel so heavy?
He leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes.
I want to understand myself
but I can't.
On one side, the truth about his late wife about her death was finally within reach
Even if he already knew the likely outcome, the weight still pressed down on him.
On the other side
His present.
And perhaps his future.
"Haneul"
Both were slowly becoming too heavy for his heart to carry.