The elevator doors slid open with a soft ding.
The hallway on the twenty-third floor was almost unnaturally quiet.
Thick cream-colored carpets swallowed every footstep.
Golden wall lamps cast a warm glow against the polished wooden panels, making the entire corridor feel peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Ji-Ah and Yoo-Na walked side by side.
Yoo-Na was still mumbling to herself. "I drank too much juice."
Ji-Ah laughed. "You drank three glasses."
"They kept refilling it."
"You kept saying yes."
"It would've been rude to refuse."
"...You were the one asking for refills."
"I was supporting the hotel business."
Ji-Ah shook her head, smiling. "Go to the bathroom."
"I'm trying!"
They reached Yoo-Na's room.
She searched every pocket dramatically. "My key card..."
Ji-Ah watched her. "...Left pocket."
Yoo-Na immediately checked. "...You're right."
"I've known you for too long."
"You really have."
The door clicked open.
Yoo-Na hurried inside. "Don't leave!"
"I won't."
"I mean it!"
"I'll wait."
"If you disappear, I'm suing."
"You can't sue me."
"I'll figure something out!"
The bathroom door shut.
A second later... "WHY ARE THESE HOTEL TOILETS SO FANCY?!"
Ji-Ah covered her mouth, trying not to laugh. "You're unbelievable..."
She leaned lightly against the wall opposite Yoo-Na's room.
Across the hallway...
Just a few doors down... Was Ha-Joon and Min-Ji's suite.
The hallway returned to silence.
Ji-Ah folded her arms, letting her eyes wander toward the large windows at the end of the corridor where Vancouver's city lights sparkled below.
"...Pretty."
Then...
A muffled voice.
She frowned.
It came from Ha-Joon's suite.
At first she ignored it.
Hotels carried sound strangely.
But then she recognized the voice.
Min-Ji.
Calm.
Controlled.
"...I'm giving you one chance."
Ji-Ah's brows drew together.
One chance?
Another voice answered.
Male.
Young.
His voice was rough around the edges.
Annoyed. "...You always say that."
"You always disappoint me."
"I already told you. I'm done helping you."
Silence.
Then...
Min-Ji laughed.
Not loudly.
Just enough to send a chill through the quiet hallway.
"No. You aren't."
Another pause.
The man let out a frustrated sigh. "...Leave me alone."
"I can't."
"You can."
"I won't."
Ji-Ah slowly straightened.
Something about the conversation made her stomach tighten.
She knew that tone.
It wasn't the way people spoke to friends.
It wasn't even the way lovers argued.
It sounded...
Like someone being cornered.
Then another familiar voice joined in.
Hea-In.
She laughed lightly.
Almost teasing.
"So..."
"...Is he the man you kept talking about? who is he to you?"
The man groaned. "Oh, come on You clearly know who I am."
Hea-In continued, amusement dancing in her voice. "I'm curious."
She laughed again. "What exactly can he do?"
Min-Ji answered without hesitation.
"If he wants me back..." Her voice lowered. "...then he'll do exactly what I tell him."
The hallway suddenly felt colder.
The man clicked his tongue. "...You're unbelievable."
"I know."
"I shouldn't even be here."
"But you are."
"...Fine."
The word sounded almost painful.
Reluctant.
Forced.
"What. Do. You. Want."
Min-Ji didn't answer immediately.
She enjoyed the silence.
Then... Her voice became soft again. "So obedient."
"Don't push it."
"I'll push as much as I like."
"...Just tell me."
Min-Ji smiled.
Ji-Ah couldn't see it.
But somehow...
She could hear it.
"I need you to do something for me."
"...What."
"And when it's finished..."
She paused.
"...Maybe..."
"...I'll think about coming back."
The man's laugh held no happiness.
"...You're using me."
"I prefer..."
"...persuading."
"You call this persuasion?"
"I call it opportunity."
He muttered something under his breath that Ji-Ah couldn't quite hear.
Then finally...
"...Fine." A heavy sigh. "...This is the last time."
Ji-Ah frowned deeply.
Coming back?
Back where?
Who is he?
And why is Min-Ji speaking to him like that?
None of it made sense.
But one thing did.
She's planning something.
She was absolutely certain of it.
Before she could think any further...
The bathroom door opened.
Yoo-Na stepped back into the hallway, drying her hands with a towel.
"...Those hand dryers sound like airplane engines."
She looked at Ji-Ah. "...Why are you standing like a detective?"
Ji-Ah immediately raised one finger. "Shhh."
Yoo-Na blinked. "What?"
"I heard voices."
"...Whose?"
Ji-Ah leaned closer until she was almost whispering into Yoo-Na's ear.
"I heard Min-Ji."
"Mhm?"
"Hea-In too."
"Mhm?"
"...And another man."
Yoo-Na froze.
Her eyes became impossibly wide.
"..."
Then she whispered...
Far louder than necessary.
"SHE'S CHEATING ON HA-JOON?!"
Ji-Ah slapped a hand over Yoo-Na's mouth. "What?!"
"Mmph!"
"No!"
"Mmm?"
"That's not what I said!"
Yoo-Na pulled her hand away. "Then what?"
"I think..." Ji-Ah glanced toward the suite. "...they're hiding someone."
"Hiding?"
"I don't know."
"But..." She looked thoughtful. "...Min-Ji was telling him to do something for her."
"And?"
"He sounded angry."
"And?"
"He sounded like he didn't want to help."
"And?"
"He finally agreed."
Yoo-Na folded her arms. "...She's plotting."
"I think so."
Yoo-Na sighed dramatically. "I swear that woman wakes up every morning and chooses evil."
Ji-Ah couldn't even disagree.
"Should we..."
She hesitated.
"...Check?"
Yoo-Na's grin slowly spread.
"I volunteer as tribute."
Ji-Ah grabbed her sleeve.
"Don't scare people."
"I never scare people."
"You absolutely do."
"I surprise them."
"That's worse."
Before Ji-Ah could stop her...
Yoo-Na marched confidently toward Ha-Joon's suite.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
Silence.
Then, without waiting very long...
She pushed the door open just enough to peek inside.
"...Helloooo?"
Inside...
Everything was quiet.
Hea-In appeared almost immediately from the living room.
She smiled pleasantly.
"Oh."
"Hi."
Yoo-Na narrowed her eyes.
"...Where's Min-Ji?"
"Sleeping."
"Already?"
"The medicine made her sleepy."
Ji-Ah stepped beside Yoo-Na, smiling apologetically.
"We just wanted to check on her."
"That's sweet."
Hea-In nodded.
"I'll let her know."
Ji-Ah looked past her.
The room looked ordinary.
Suitcases.
Coats.
A television quietly playing the news.
Nothing suspicious.
No man.
No third voice.
Nothing.
Ji-Ah forced herself to smile.
"Tell her to rest."
"I will."
"Good night."
"You too."
The door closed softly.
Click.
The two women stood in the hallway.
Yoo-Na scratched her head.
"...Did we imagine the guy?"
Ji-Ah slowly looked back at the closed door.
"No."
"I'm sure I heard him."
"So am I."
Inside the suite...
No one spoke for several seconds.
Hidden behind the closed bedroom door, the young man finally exhaled the breath he'd been holding.
"...That..."
"...was way too close."
Hea-In locked the front door before leaning back against it.
She let out a shaky laugh. "I told you. Yoo-Na doesn't knock ..She invades."
Even Min-Ji, who rarely admitted anyone else was right, sighed quietly. "...Thank goodness it was Yoo-Na."
The young man frowned. "...What does that mean?"
Min-Ji looked toward the door with unreadable eyes.
"It means... If Ji-Ah had insisted on coming inside .our little conversation would've ended very differently."
The smile on her lips slowly returned.
"But... They're suspicious now."
She didn't sound worried.
She sounded...
Interested.
"As long as they don't know who you are..."
She looked at the young man.
"...Everything is still going according to plan."