Ha-Joon's office carried that quiet, controlled atmosphere that made even paper feel disciplined.
He sat behind his desk, coat draped neatly over the back of his chair, sleeves slightly rolled, glasses resting low on his nose as he scanned through a stack of documents.
The morning light cut across the desk, catching the edges of the pages as he flipped one, then another.
Precise.
Focused.
Unreadable.
A knock came.
"Come in."
The door opened, and Yura stepped in first, posture straight, a file held carefully in her hands.
Seo-Jun followed behind her, more relaxed, already glancing around like he owned half the building.
"Director Ha," Yura said politely, offering the file. "This is from Director Min-Hyuk."
Ha-Joon didn't look up immediately. He finished reading the page he was on, then reached for the file and opened it.
Silence settled as he read.
Yura stood still.
Seo-Jun leaned slightly, trying to peek.
Ha-Joon turned a page, then another, then finally spoke.
"Tell him the projections are wrong."
Yura blinked.
"…wrong, sir?"
"The third section," he said calmly, tapping the paper once. "He adjusted the numbers without correcting the baseline data. It looks impressive, but it won't hold under review."
Yura nodded quickly, already memorizing.
"Yes, sir."
"And tell him if he submits this as it is," Ha-Joon added without looking up, "I will reject it personally."
Seo-Jun let out a quiet breath.
"Harsh."
"Accurate," Ha-Joon replied.
Yura gave a small nod.
"I'll inform him."
She hesitated just a second, then stepped back.
"I'll take my leave."
"Mm."
She exited smoothly.
The door clicked shut.
Silence again.
Then—
Seo-Jun dropped into the chair across from the desk without invitation.
"Where's Ji-Ah?"
Ha-Joon didn't look up.
"At home."
Seo-Jun frowned.
"She skipped work? That's suspicious."
"She didn't skip," Ha-Joon said. "She was told to stay."
"By who?"
"Madam."
Seo-Jun leaned forward.
"…why?"
Ha-Joon finally looked up.
"Nisa is pregnant."
There was a beat.
Then—
"What?"
Seo-Jun blinked.
"What??"
The door opened again without warning.
Yura's head popped back in.
"Did you say pregnant?"
Ha-Joon didn't react.
Seo-Jun turned.
"Yes—"
Before he could finish, Yura walked all the way back in.
"No way—who—how—wait, obviously how but—WHO?"
"Nisa," Seo-Jun said.
Yura gasped.
Then grabbed Seo-Jun by the shoulders.
"SEO-JUN!"
He nearly fell out of his chair.
"Why are you shaking me like this—"
"She's pregnant??"
"Yes!"
"Like actually??"
"Yes!"
"Not rumor??"
"YES!"
She shook him harder.
"This is huge!"
"I KNOW—STOP MOVING ME—"
Ha-Joon watched them for two seconds.
"…Are you both done?"
They froze.
Yura slowly released Seo-Jun.
"…yes, sir."
Seo-Jun fixed his jacket.
"…almost died."
Yura clasped her hands excitedly.
"That's amazing…"
Seo-Jun nodded, still recovering.
"…yeah. That explains Ji-Ah staying back."
Ha-Joon looked down at the documents again.
"It wasn't optional."
Seo-Jun smirked slightly.
"Of course it wasn't."
Then—
his eyes dropped.
To Ha-Joon's hand.
He paused.
"…what's that?"
Yura followed his gaze.
And saw it.
The ring.
Simple.
Clean.
Undeniable.
Her smile faded instantly.
Seo-Jun leaned back slowly.
"…that's new."
Ha-Joon didn't move.
"I'm engaged."
Flat.
Yura blinked. "…to?"
"Min-Ji."
Silence.
Heavy.
Seo-Jun rubbed the back of his neck. "…I'm sorry I didn't come."
Ha-Joon looked at him briefly. "You were busy."
Seo-Jun nodded toward Yura. "…yeah. She was—"
Yura cut in quickly. "I had work."
Seo-Jun gave her a look. "You had panic."
"It was organized panic."
Ha-Joon said nothing.
Seo-Jun leaned forward again, elbows on his knees. "…are you okay?"
That made Ha-Joon pause.
Not long.
But long enough.
He looked at Seo-Jun properly this time.
Not as a colleague.
Not as background noise.
But really looked.
Seo-Jun didn't smile.
Didn't joke.
Just waited.
Ha-Joon held his gaze for a second.
Then—
nodded.
Small.
Quick.
"Yeah."
Seo-Jun didn't push it.
But he didn't fully believe it either.
Yura stayed quiet now.
For once.
And Ha-Joon returned to his documents…
as if nothing had shifted.
Yura adjusted the file in her hands and stepped forward again.
"Is there anything else you'd like me to relay, sir?"
Ha-Joon didn't look up this time.
"No."
She nodded once.
"Understood."
He handed the documents back to her without hesitation. She took them carefully, then turned slightly and tapped Seo-Jun on the back.
A silent let's go.
Seo-Jun got up, but paused at the door, glancing back.
"Take care of yourself."
Simple.
No teasing this time.
Ha-Joon gave a small nod.
"I will."
Seo-Jun didn't say anything else. He just followed Yura out, the door closing softly behind them.
Silence returned.
The kind that stretched just a little too long.
Ha-Joon leaned back slightly in his chair.
Then his gaze dropped.
To his hand.
To the ring.
He stared at it for a second.
Then he exhaled lightly and rolled his eyes.
Not dramatic.
Just… tired.
Calm.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.
Paused.
Then dialed.
At the mansion Ji-Ah picked up almost immediately. "What."
No greeting.
Just attitude.
Ha-Joon's voice stayed even. "You answer calls like a threat."
"Because it might be you."
"…it is me."
"Exactly."
A small pause.
Then "…are you working?"
"Yes."
"Boring."
"…why did you pick up?"
She huffed. "Because I'm a responsible person forced into unpaid nursing duty."
"You volunteered."
"I was forced."
He leaned back slightly. "How's Nisa?"
Ji-Ah's tone shifted, just a little softer. "She's okay. Just… tired."
A pause.
"Early pregnancy things, I guess. She says she's fine, but everyone is treating her like she might disappear if she stands up."
"That's normal."
"No, it's dramatic."
"You're dramatic."
"I'm expressive."
He almost smiled again.
Almost.
Then he said quietly,
"If you need anything, tell me."
There was a tiny pause on the other end.
Then "I need ice cream."
Immediate.
Zero hesitation.
He blinked once. "…that was fast."
"I've been thinking about it."
"What kind?"
"All kinds."
"That's not specific."
"Surprise me."
He sighed softly.
"…I'll get it."
There was a small giggle.
Soft.
Unfiltered.
"Thanks."
Another pause.
Not awkward.
Just… there.
Then she added lightly,
"Don't eat it on the way."
"I won't."
"You will."
"I won't."
"…you will."
"I won't."
"…okay, maybe just a little."
"Ji-Ah."
"Fine. Bring extra."
He shook his head faintly.
"Anything else?"
"…no."
Then, softer—
"…just come back in one piece."
He didn't respond to that immediately.
Then—
"Stay inside."
"Bossy."
"Careful."
"Annoying."
A beat.
Then—
"…bye."
"Bye."
The call ended.
Ha-Joon stared at his phone for a second.
Then placed it down.
His hand rested on the desk again.
The ring still there.
Unchanged.
But for some reason—
it felt… heavier.
He picked up his coat.
And stood.