Scene 1: The Possessive Attendant
[Location: Jin's Car, En Route to the Park. Early Afternoon.]
Jin drove the car, his usual sharp focus marred by a deep, exhausting sadness. He hadn't slept, haunted by So Hye's beautiful, heartbroken song from the previous night. He knew he was the cause of her pain, but the fear of losing her to Hyun Soo outweighed his guilt.
Before leaving the mansion, he had performed a ritual of possessive caring.
JIN: (Handing her a thick, wool jacket, his voice low and tired) The temperature is dropping later. You must wear this.
SO HYE: (Annoyed) Jin, it's seventy degrees. I don't need a winter jacket.
JIN: (Fixing her with an unyielding gaze) You will wear it. And take this.
He handed her a meticulously wrapped cup from her favorite boutique café, the one she usually saved for special occasions. It was a clear attempt to be the good older brother while maintaining absolute control.
So Hye accepted the drink and the jacket reluctantly. She knew he was compensating for stealing her phone, but she also saw the heavy, dark circles under his eyes—a sign of his own internal struggle. His sadness was evident, yet his command remained absolute.
Scene 2: The Eavesdropper
[Location: City Park, Near the Gazebo. 15 minutes before the agreed time.]
Jin pulled into a remote parking spot, telling So Hye he had an important call. So Hye, relieved to escape his tense presence, quickly rushed toward the meeting spot.
Jin did not make a call. He had already read the message: Meet me at the large oak tree near the gazebo at 4:30. He was ready and waiting.
He settled behind a cluster of thick bushes, his heart pounding a frantic rhythm against his ribs. He felt like a common thief, yet his desire to witness (and stop) the intimacy was overwhelming.
At 4:30 PM sharp, Hyun Soo arrived, carrying a small bouquet of wildflowers.
JIN'S INTERNAL MONOLOGUE: (He arrived exactly on time. Too eager. Too bold.)
Hyun Soo smiled warmly, and So Hye's face instantly brightened—a genuine, unguarded smile Jin realized she rarely gave him anymore. The sight was a punch to his gut.
They talked easily. Hyun Soo then reached into his jacket pocket.
HYUN SOO: Did the locket bring you happiness today?
SO HYE: It really did. It felt like a small shield.
Hyun Soo gently took the silver chain. His fingers brushed the nape of her neck as he adjusted the locket, securing it around her. It was a brief, tender moment of physical contact that symbolized their burgeoning relationship.
Scene 3: The Rapid Intervention
Seeing Hyun Soo's hand linger near So Hye's neck was the tipping point. Jin's control snapped. The sadness was instantly replaced by a white-hot possessiveness. He emerged from the bushes with a speed that startled both of them, his large frame casting a sudden shadow.
JIN: (His voice calm, almost dangerously soft, yet amplified by suppressed fury) So Hye.
So Hye jumped back, clutching the locket.
SO HYE: (Gasping) Jin! What are you doing here?
Jin walked straight past Hyun Soo, completely ignoring his presence. His eyes were only for So Hye, locking her in his gaze.
JIN: (Reaching out and gently pulling the cuff of the possessively chosen thick jacket over her wrist) I told you the temperature was dropping. You are already shivering. We are leaving. Now.
He treated Hyun Soo not as a rival, but as an invisible inconvenience.
HYUN SOO: (Stepping forward, visibly confused and irritated) Excuse me, who are you? So Hye and I were talking—
Jin finally shifted his attention, meeting Hyun Soo's challenge with an intimidating, dead-eyed stare.
JIN: (Cutting him off sharply) I am her guardian. And she has an engagement she cannot postpone. You may call her later. If she is available.
He placed a firm, non-negotiable hand on the small of So Hye's back, steering her away. She glanced back helplessly at Hyun Soo, but the strength and authority in Jin's grip allowed no argument. The encounter had lasted less than ninety seconds, but Jin had successfully asserted his dominance and shattered their secret moment.