Chapter 02
Moving day had come up suddenly.
The date was January 1st, over a year into the calendar. A number perfect for a fresh start.
The big luggage had already been moved in advance by the movers, so only the small items needed to be packed into a bag—then all that was left was to move myself.
All that remained was to wait, since the uncle was supposed to come pick me up.
But…
“Sorry, Se-yeon. Mom will be back soon, so be good and listen to Jinhyung!”
Bang.
Mom closed the front door and left.
‘Goddammit.’
Things had gone completely to hell.
Plop.
I flopped onto the sofa, silently retracing in my head how it had all turned out this way.
One hour ago: My uncle, who was supposed to return from his business trip today, got delayed due to an urgent matter and wouldn’t be back in Korea for another week.
Thirty minutes ago: A call came saying my grandmother had collapsed and been hospitalized, and Mom had to leave for a hospital in the countryside to care for her.
Now: It was just me and Seo Jinhyung living together in a house with neither Mom nor Uncle around.
“What… the hell…”
I sighed and buried my face in my hands, but it didn’t make me feel any better.
Buzz.
The phone on the desk vibrated. I quickly checked it, half-hoping.
[Mom: Daughter! Just in case, we’ve arranged for the housekeeper to stay here with you for a while. So don’t worry too much—Mom will check on Grandma and come back as soon as possible. Call me immediately if anything happens.]
“…….”
Confirmation strike.
‘Well, at least that’s something….’
It wasn’t the worst if someone else was staying in the house with me.
I sent a casual “okay” and checked the time.
7:51 PM. Seo Jinhyung, coming to pick me up instead of Uncle who was delayed abroad, should be arriving soon.
I had purposely set the meeting in the evening because of Uncle’s late arrival, but if I had known it would be like this, I should’ve just gone in the morning.
‘Just wasted time at home for nothing.’
Ding-dong—
“!”
Speak of the devil. The doorbell rang just at that moment.
I slung the backpack full of miscellaneous stuff over my shoulder and headed to the front door.
Click.
When I opened the door, I saw a face I hadn’t seen for about three months—and wasn’t happy to see.
“Hi, Se-yeon.”
“…….”
I lifted my head to meet his eyes, and there it was: the same fake, self-satisfied smile.
‘Damn, he’s annoyingly handsome.’
Seo Jinhyung had only a few redeeming qualities: tall, handsome. That’s it.
‘…And smart?’
With that brain and physique, he’d probably sweep through the White Killers. And me and Mom, too.
Suddenly, a gloomy feeling settled over me.
I stood there without answering. Jinhyung extended his hand.
“Give me your bag. I’ll carry it.”
“Get lost. Who calls themselves ‘oppa’?”
I snapped irritably, shutting the door behind me. Jinhyung just smiled without flinching.
‘Crazy bastard.’
I pressed the elevator button for the first floor. As the numbers ticked up slowly, I thought of Mom, rushing away.
‘She must be on the train by now.’
These days, tears came before anger.
It wasn’t even about me dying—it was impossible to accept that Mom could die.
In my past life, I was an orphan.
So after reincarnation, having parents was unbearably joyful.
That was until I realized that, in the story, my entire family would die prematurely in the near future.
If only Seo Jinhyung didn’t exist, Mom and I would’ve lived luxuriously at the chairman’s house….
‘Really want to kill him.’
I lowered my gaze, staring at Jinhyung’s shoes as if I could crush them with my eyes. My eyes started to ache from the strain just as…
Ding.
The elevator arrived. I finally relaxed my eyes and got in after Jinhyung.
“…….”
There was no one in the elevator except me and Jinhyung.
Trapped in a quiet, enclosed space with just the two of us, a thought crossed my mind.
‘…Should I kill Jinhyung first?’
I rolled my eyes, filled with murderous intent, and glanced at him through the mirror—almost fainting.
“!”
Jinhyung had already been looking at me through the mirror, and our eyes met perfectly.
“W-what… are you looking at?”
“Why were you looking at me, Se-yeon?”
“Enjoying it.”
Just then, the elevator reached the first floor.
I stepped away from his side as quickly as I could. My heart was pounding loudly.
‘C-crazy….’
Just from eye contact, I was this scared—murder? Forget it.
I decided to accept my limited life quietly. As long as I didn’t do anything stupid to shorten it, I’d have at least a year guaranteed.
“Wow… this… house…”
Jinhyung’s house was something straight out of a movie.
A two-story detached house with a yard. Huge, really huge.
I followed him upstairs to the second floor. My room was supposedly there.
“So this… this is my room?”
My voice trembled at the luxury beyond imagination. How was this a high schooler’s room?
“Yeah. The luggage has been sorted out in advance, so you can use it comfortably.”
It annoyed me that he was showing off for work he didn’t even do.
“It’s late, so let’s finish the rest tomorrow. You must be tired. Get some rest.”
“Wait, the person who’s working here? I heard someone’s supposed to live with me.”
There was no sign of anyone in the house.
Granted, I had only seen part of the first floor and my room on the second floor, but the silence felt exaggerated.
Wouldn’t they at least say hello?
“If you mean the aunt… she’ll come tomorrow afternoon.”
“What? Why?”
It didn’t match what I had been told. Jinhyung just smiled slightly.
“Who knows.”
That bastard?
He definitely knew the reason but brushed it off lazily.
I stared suspiciously, but Jinhyung didn’t care and walked past me into the next room.
‘…Wait, the next room?’
I widened my eyes and ran after him, throwing the door open.
“Why are you going in there?!”
“Um, this is my room?”
Jinhyung smiled awkwardly.
Please, stop laughing. Especially that laugh. That smile pretending to be gentle but awkwardly responding!
“This is way too close! Why do I have to use the room right next to yours?”
Since Uncle had been overseas on business, this must’ve been Jinhyung’s decision.
Seeing my confused expression, he sighed lightly and approached me.
“True. I’m fine, but I guess it could feel a bit uncomfortable for you.”
“What? Don’t come.”
Thunk.
He placed his hand on my shoulder and pulled me toward him. No time to resist—I was drawn in.
“……!”
We were so close that our lips almost touched. I swallowed hard without realizing it.
‘Crazy. What is this development? Wait, is this… my first kiss? Please!’
My inner scream echoed loudly in my head.
Surely he didn’t delay the housekeeper just to do this, right? Surely!
Jinhyung’s crimes were limited to White Killers and murder.
‘B-but who knows? Maybe it’s just not in the story!’
But all my fantasies were in vain—Jinhyung leaned closer and whispered near my ear.
“Just write it. I want to get closer to you, Se-yeon. You understand, right?”
“Ugh….”
His grip on my shoulder tightened. The pain almost crushed my bones. I had no choice but to nod repeatedly.
Then he released me and hugged me tightly.
I couldn’t resist. Not even a startled reaction came out.
Blinking stupidly, I heard a low voice close by.
“Ha ha, good.”
“…….”
“I’ve actually wanted a younger sister for a long time. Being alone is lonely, you know.”
He let go and gently ruffled my hair.
“Let’s get along from now on, Se-yeon.”
“…No, I’m not your sister!!!”
I shoved him off with all my strength and dashed into my room, frantically locking the door.
‘Even after pushing with full force, he didn’t move… insane.’
He could’ve caught me but didn’t. Chilling.
Spending a whole week with him, I felt utterly hopeless.
‘…But with a house this big, we’ll probably barely cross paths. The housekeeper comes tomorrow anyway… Tonight, I’ll lock the door and sleep. It’ll be fine, nothing will happen.’
Nothing had to happen. If it did, there was nothing I could do. It would be beyond my control.
Knock knock.
A faint voice called my name while I was half-asleep.
I ignored it. I was a heavy sleeper.
‘He’ll figure it out himself.’
But he was more unreasonable than I thought.
“…Ah.”
Damn it.
“Ah, you’re awake.”
I opened my eyes to see Jinhyung looking down at me.
Even though the door was locked.
“Ah, I didn’t hear a response, so I opened it with the key. I thought you might be sick.”
His face was too smooth, like he had read my thoughts. Pure lies, 100%.
There was no way I couldn’t have heard him sleeping.
And he didn’t seem like he was trying hard to lie convincingly either.
“I want to show you the first floor before the aunt comes. And we can have breakfast too.”
“…Okay.”
I reluctantly followed Jinhyung outside.
