The salon door opened with a soft chime.
At first, no one paid attention.
Then the girl walked in.
Cute.Small.Bright smile.Short hair tied neatly.The kind of girl who looked harmless and friendly at first glance.
"Elpy!" Maya said automatically.
Elpy waved and stepped inside, eyes sparkling.Then she stopped.
Her gaze locked onto the shampoo chair.
"…Wait," she blinked."Laddu?"
The stylist froze mid-wash.
Laddu froze harder.
"…Elpy?"
Elpy tilted her head, confused."You always go to that weird barber near the bridge. Since when do you come to a normal salon?
The tension dipped slightly.
Candy whispered, "Friend."Maya nodded. "Temporary safety."
Elpy stepped closer, standing right beside Laddu while the stylist finished rinsing his hair.
Then she smiled brightly.
"Oh! Laddu… someone was asking for you today."
The air shifted.
Laddu wiped water from his forehead slowly.
"…Someone?""Asking for me?"
Elpy nodded firmly."Yes!"
Mochi's stomach tightened instantly.
Candy leaned forward like a detective.Maya whispered, "Round three of chaos incoming."
Laddu sighed.
"…Who was asking for me?"
Elpy blinked at him like he'd said something incredibly stupid.
"How can you forget her?"
Everything stopped.
Scissors paused.Hair dryers clicked off.Even the background music felt quieter.
Mochi stiffened.
"H-Her?" Laddu swallowed."Which… 'her'?"
Elpy crossed her arms.
"You know. THAT HER. The one who keeps looking for you."
Laddu's face drained of color.
"Elpy…""…please tell me you're joking…"
Elpy smiled sweetly.
"Nope! I already messaged her."
Laddu's soul evacuated his body.
"She's on her way!"
Absolute panic.
Laddu shot up from the chair so fast the stylist screamed.
"WHAT?! SHE'S COMING HERE?! NOW?!"
Elpy nodded happily."Yes! Ten minutes!"
Survival instincts activated.
Laddu grabbed a towel, wiped his hair violently, threw on his jacket backward, jammed his shoes onto the wrong feet.
Candy yelled, "Oppa, where are you going?!"Maya shouted, "ARE YOU RUNNING AWAY?!"Mochi stammered, "L-Laddu?! Who is she?!"
Laddu was already moving.
"Nope. No. Not today. I'm gone."
He threw cash on the counter.
"Auntie! This is for the bill! Keep the change! Sorry for breaking the chair earlier!"
Maya yelled,"YOU DIDN'T BREAK ANY CHAIR!"
"I WILL IF I STAY!!" Laddu screamed back.
He slammed the door open and bolted down the street like a criminal escaping a crime scene.
Silence swallowed the salon.
Candy whispered, stunned,"…Oppa is scared of someone more than my sister?"
Maya nodded slowly."This is serious."
Mochi swallowed."W-Who… is she…?"
Elpy smiled innocently.
"Oh! She's very nice. Very sweet. Very…"She paused."…obsessed."
Everyone:"......…"
Mochi's eye twitched.
Candy whispered, "Oppa is not surviving today."
She Arrives
Candy immediately grabbed Elpy's arm.
"ELF! ELF! WHAT SHOULD UNNIE ASK?!"
Elpy giggled."Oh! If she wants to understand… she should ask Laddu about…"
She leaned in dramatically.
"…her."
Mochi's eyes widened.
"M-Me? Why should I—"
"No, no," Elpy corrected gently."Not you. The other her."
Maya gasped."This is better than Netflix."
Candy nodded seriously."Unnie. This is IMPORTANT."
Mochi's heart pounded."I-I don't know if I should…"
"You should," Elpy said softly."Because she's—"
DING-DONG.
The salon door opened again.
Everyone turned at once.
A tall girl stepped inside.
Six feet.Slim.Sharp eyes.Perfect posture.Expensive clothes.A confident walk that made the room feel smaller.
Even the lights seemed to follow her.
Stylists whispered.
"She's so pretty…""Who is she?""She looks dangerous…"
Candy's jaw dropped.Maya immediately started recording.Mochi swallowed hard.
The girl spoke calmly.
"Where is he?"
Silence.
Elpy raised her hand like a school student.
"He ran away."
The girl blinked.
"…He what?"
"He ran away," Elpy repeated."Fast. Like a scared rabbit."
Maya snorted.Candy clapped.Mochi stood frozen.
The girl sighed.
"I knew he would do that…"
She scanned the room.
"Where did he go?"
Mochi whispered,"W-Why is she looking for him…?"
Elpy replied softly,"She really, really likes him."
Mochi's stomach twisted.
"…And," Elpy added,"he really doesn't like her."
Candy whispered,"Unnie… your love triangle arc has officially started."
The girl spoke again, voice firm.
"When he returns… tell him I won't leave until I find him."
The entire salon gulped.
Mochi didn't know whether to feel scared, jealous, or curious.
Ember
Elpy cleared her throat nervously.
"Ember… this is Maya's family salon."
Maya's mother stepped forward politely.
"Dear… why are you looking for that boy?"
Ember turned slowly.
Her eyes were calm.Too calm.
"Why?" she echoed.
She stepped closer.
"…Why does a girl look for a boy?"
The salon gasped.
Candy whispered, "Drama villain energy."Maya murmured, "Final boss confirmed."
Mochi's heart slammed.
"W-What does that mean…?"
Ember brushed her hair back.
"I want him."
Mochi's soul exited her body.
Candy grabbed her arm."UNNIE—DON'T FAINT!"
"W-Why do you want him?!" Mochi asked desperately.
Ember smiled, sharp and confident.
"That's between me and him."
Maya whispered, "She came for war."
Ember stepped closer, towering just an inch above Mochi.
"You will understand," she said softly."Very soon."
Elpy rushed between them.
"Ember! You're scaring her!"
Ember sighed.
"I'm not here to fight. I just want to find him."
The Truth
Ember sat down gracefully, like royalty.
Elpy spoke carefully.
"Maybe… you should tell them why."
Ember lifted her fingers.
"I offered him everything.Money.House.Protection.A life without struggle."
Maya whispered, "She wanted to cage him in luxury."
Candy nodded. "Golden prison."
Elpy added innocently,"You broke up with him."
The salon exploded.
"WHAT?!""SHE DUMPED OPPA?!""THIS KEEPS GETTING BETTER!"
Mochi stared.
"Y-You… broke up…?"
Ember clenched her jaw.
"…Because he didn't want anything from me."
Silence fell.
"He didn't want my money," Ember continued."He didn't want my power.""He said he wanted someone he could start equally with."
Everyone slowly looked at Mochi.
Her cheeks burned.
Ember's voice softened.
"He wanted something real."
Candy whispered,"…That's unnie."
Ember looked toward the door Laddu escaped through.
"And that's why he left me."
The salon stayed silent.
And for the first time…
Mochi finally understoodwhy Laddu ran.