Morning sunlight poured through the curtains of the small house.
Birds chirped outside.
Peaceful.
Calm.
And on the bed, wrapped like a burrito inside blankets, slept Ji-Ah.
Curled tightly against her chest was a tiny fluffy kitten.
Type.
Ji-Ah snuggled the kitten closer and mumbled sleepily.
"Five more minutes…"
Her phone rang.
It rang again.
And again.
And again.
The screen lit up with the caller name:
Grumpy Sir.
Across town, standing outside her gate with a phone pressed to his ear, was Ha-Joon.
His patience was currently dissolving.
"Pick up the phone," he muttered.
The call ended.
He called again.
Nothing.
Again.
Nothing.
He stared at the phone.
Then at the silent house.
Then sighed deeply.
"…Unbelievable."
He pushed open the gate and walked inside.
The front door wasn't even locked.
That alone irritated him.
"Who lives like this," he muttered.
He stepped into the living room.
Empty.
Quiet.
The kitchen.
Also empty.
He frowned.
Then walked toward the bedroom.
The door was slightly open.
He pushed it gently.
And there she was.
Still sleeping.
Curled like a lazy cat.
Blankets everywhere.
Hair everywhere.
The kitten sleeping peacefully on her chest.
Ha-Joon stood there staring.
His eyebrow twitched.
"Ji-Ah."
No response.
He stepped closer.
"Ji-Ah."
Still nothing.
She snuggled the kitten tighter.
"…Don't take my fries…"
Ha-Joon blinked.
"…What."
He rubbed his forehead.
"JI-AH."
Nothing.
He exhaled slowly.
Then grabbed the edge of the blanket and yanked it off.
Ji-Ah shot up instantly.
"WHO DARES—"
She froze.
Her eyes landed on Ha-Joon.
Her face twisted into pure horror.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY ROOM?!"
Ha-Joon stepped back slightly, startled by the sudden volume.
"You weren't answering your phone!"
"That doesn't mean you BREAK INTO MY HOUSE!"
"You left the door open!"
"That's still ILLEGAL!"
Type woke up and meowed dramatically.
Ji-Ah clutched the kitten protectively.
"And now you traumatized my child!"
"It's a cat."
"He has emotions!"
Ha-Joon pinched the bridge of his nose.
"I called you thirteen times."
She squinted suspiciously.
"…Thirteen?"
He showed her the call log.
Ji-Ah stared.
"…Oh."
Then she immediately pointed at him again.
"STILL."
"You're late for work."
Her brain paused.
"…What."
He checked his watch.
"It's ten."
Ji-Ah blinked.
"…What."
Ha-Joon nodded calmly.
"Ten."
Her eyes widened slowly.
Then she screamed.
"WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY THAT FIRST?!"
"I tried!"
She jumped out of bed and ran in circles.
"My job!"
"My reputation!"
"My dignity!"
"You have none of those," Ha-Joon muttered.
"SHUT UP!"
She ran toward the closet.
Then stopped suddenly.
Turned.
And stared at him.
"…Why are you still here?"
"I'm making sure you actually leave."
She narrowed her eyes.
"That's creepy."
"That's responsible."
She grabbed a pillow and threw it at him.
He caught it midair.
They stared at each other.
Type meowed loudly between them.
Ji-Ah crossed her arms.
"You scared me."
Ha-Joon looked unimpressed.
"You scared me."
She blinked.
"…How?"
"I thought you were dead."
She gasped dramatically.
"You came into my house thinking I was dead?!"
"Yes."
"And you didn't call the police?!"
He shrugged.
"I was checking first."
Ji-Ah stared at him in pure disbelief.
"…You're unbelievable."
Ha-Joon turned toward the door.
"You have fifteen minutes."
She groaned loudly and collapsed back onto the bed.
"I hate mornings."
Type flopped beside her like a tiny white loaf.
Ha-Joon paused at the door.
"…You have ten minutes now."
Ji-Ah screamed into the pillow.
Ten minutes later the bedroom door opened.
Ji-Ah stepped out, now dressed in her usual office clothes. Her hair was tied neatly back, though a few strands had escaped like they refused to obey the schedule.
She walked into the living room, adjusting the strap of her bag.
Leaning near the door stood Ha-Joon, arms folded, looking like he had already judged the entire morning.
He looked her up and down once.
Then raised an eyebrow.
"Good," he whispered.
Ji-Ah squinted at him.
"Why are you whispering?"
"I'm acknowledging progress."
"You sound like a disappointed teacher."
"I am disappointed," he replied calmly. "You were late."
She rolled her eyes and walked past him.
"Let's go before you start writing a report about my breathing habits."
A few minutes later they were in the car.
Ha-Joon drove while Ji-Ah leaned back in the seat, still waking up properly.
After a moment he asked,
"Do you like the house?"
Ji-Ah looked out the window, watching the street pass by.
"…Yes," she said honestly.
"I really like it."
"It's quiet. And comfortable."
Ha-Joon nodded slightly.
Then he said casually,
"That house actually belongs to someone."
Ji-Ah turned toward him immediately.
"…What?"
He kept his eyes on the road.
"The woman you saw in that photo."
Ji-Ah frowned.
"That's the house we used to stay in."
She blinked slowly.
"…Used to?"
He nodded.
Ji-Ah lifted a hand.
"Wait. Pause the mysterious CEO story."
He glanced at her.
"Can you please tell me who she is and why you know her?"
Ha-Joon answered immediately.
"No."
Ji-Ah stared.
"…No?"
"Find out yourself."
Then he looked forward again like the discussion was closed forever.
Ji-Ah scoffed loudly.
"You're ridiculous."
Silence filled the car for a moment.
Then Ha-Joon spoke again.
"Anyway."
"My mother asked me to meet her tonight."
Ji-Ah turned slightly.
"At nine."
She frowned.
"…Why should I go? That's your family meeting."
Ha-Joon shook his head.
"It's not just mine."
She blinked.
"What do you mean?"
He glanced at her briefly.
"Min-Hyuk is introducing someone."
Ji-Ah perked up instantly.
"Oh?"
"Who?"
Ha-Joon answered calmly.
"Seo-Yeon."
Ji-Ah's brain paused.
"…Wait."
Ha-Joon continued driving like he hadn't just dropped a bomb.
"He's introducing her as his girlfriend."
Ji-Ah turned fully toward him now.
"My sister? Really?"
He nodded once.
"Yes."
Ji-Ah blinked.
Then blinked again.
"…My sister. Finally."
Ha-Joon nodded again.
"So you should come."
Ji-Ah leaned back slowly in the seat.
Her expression shifted from confusion… to realization… to a slow smile.
"Oh."
Then she laughed softly.
"Well."
She crossed her arms.
"This meeting just became very interesting."
Ha-Joon glanced at her.
"…Why do I feel like chaos is coming?"
Ji-Ah smiled sweetly.
"You'll find out yourself."