Chapter : 4
“Hyuna, it’s me—Daeik.”
When she handed him her business card, she had known that someday he would contact her.
“It’s been a while. I was thinking the three of us—me, you, and Jaehyuk—could grab a meal together. Are you busy these days?”
“…Jaehyuk too?”
What she had momentarily forgotten was that she had always been with Daeik and Jaehyuk together. And that Daeik was not bold enough to suggest meeting her alone.
“Yeah. Just the three of us. Is that okay?”
There was no reason to refuse Daeik’s offer right away. Cyclone’s people were already tailing him.
If Daeik were ever summoned by the agents, Hyun planned to step back—but until then, it was her duty to keep an eye on him.
Now that he had reached out, it was an opportunity for her.
The problem was that Ahn Jaehyuk might think so too.
“…Sure. Sounds good. When should we meet?”
Jaehyuk was uncomfortable to deal with. But avoiding the meeting wasn’t an option.
“Uh, Jaehyuk said tonight works for him. What about you?”
Just as she expected, Jaehyuk didn’t let the opportunity slip.
There happened to be no new orders, and with time to spare, Hyun headed to the place Daeik had named as soon as she finished getting ready.
[Sorry, traffic’s bad. I think I’ll be about ten minutes late.]
She regretted arriving early when she saw Daeik’s text—and Jaehyuk already seated in front of her.
“You must not be that busy. Going out for relaxed dinner plans and all.”
She wondered if Jaehyuk was still investigating Jo Chihoon. That was why she had spoken first to him, who had arrived even earlier than she had.
“I knew you’d come.”
“Do you have something you want from me?”
“You never answered my question.”
“And if I answer, you’ll drop it?”
The table Daeik had reserved was in a private room. Since no staff had come in yet, it was quiet—allowing them to speak freely.
“So. Why do you know about Daeik’s father? And why are you telling me to stop?”
“What would you even do if you knew?”
At Jaehyuk’s low voice, Hyun rested her chin on her hand and met his eyes.
Something about the slightly cocky look on her face made his brows knit together. It was still unfamiliar to him—this Hyun who now showed him the face behind the mask without restraint.
Instead of answering, he changed the subject and asked about her identity.
“You’re not on our side. Or what—are you some thug chasing after Jo Chihoon?”
“Oh? That’s pretty rude. A thug?”
“Or what, are you Interpol or something? Like in the movies?”
At his question, the corner of Hyun’s lips twitched upward for a moment.
Does he know something?
Probably not. He had likely just rolled the idea around in his head and landed on a ridiculous conclusion.
There weren’t many organizations in South Korea that knew about Jo Chihoon without being connected to the police like him.
Still, he had succeeded in getting under her skin.
Fortunately, before Jaehyuk could press her for an answer, the door to the private room opened.
“Sorry, did you wait long?”
Both of them turned to Daeik at the same time. He was slightly out of breath, as if he had run from the parking lot.
Only Hyun noticed the way Jaehyuk shot him a brief glare for interrupting before he could get the answer he wanted.
“It’s been so long since the three of us ate together like this. Have you both been well? Hyun, are you still painting?”
Perhaps because he was so genuinely happy to see his old friends, Daeik kept talking nonstop even as he took off his coat and sat down.
“Yeah. Come to think of it, we lost touch when I went abroad. I thought you two would still keep in contact.”
While Hyun smiled at Daeik—a smile she never showed Jaehyuk—Jaehyuk stared at the menu in front of him. But his ears were clearly tuned to her.
Hyun had majored in art. She left the country at twenty, saying she was going abroad for university.
Jaehyuk knew that much.
Now, though, everything about it felt questionable.
Hyun studied his expression. At the mention of studying abroad—her lie—he showed no reaction at all, merely tilting his water glass to drink.
“Why did you two lose touch, anyway?”
“Ah, Jaehyuk was super busy. And I was swamped retaking exams.”
Daeik answered casually, as if it were nothing. Jaehyuk seemed to agree.
Just then, a server entered to take their order. Daeik naturally ordered a full course meal.
“What wine would you like?”
“Hyun, did you bring your car?”
At the server’s question, Daeik looked at her first.
Since she had expected to drink a little, Hyun replied that she had taken public transportation. Daeik ordered a suitable bottle of wine.
“Jaehyuk, you don’t drink, right?”
Only then did Daeik confirm with him. Jaehyuk had never been one to touch alcohol.
Come to think of it, he hadn’t drunk at the funeral either—but she hadn’t realized he didn’t drink at all.
Hyun was slightly surprised by this new piece of information but didn’t let her gaze linger on him.
“So, what have you two been up to? Tell me how things are going.”
As Daeik asked after them, the dishes were served quickly.
The wine was sweet. The food was excellent. The steak, cooked to a perfect medium, was a delicacy she hadn’t tasted in a long time.
Throughout the meal, Daeik tossed out casual questions and shared stories about himself.
“By the way, Jaehyuk, are you seeing anyone?”
At that question, Hyun’s hand slowed unconsciously as she cut her steak. She wasn’t curious at all—or so she told herself—but somehow all her senses focused on him.
Her gaze remained on her plate, but she didn’t hear his voice respond.
In the end, she lifted her head slightly.
And the moment she did, her eyes met Jaehyuk’s.
She froze.
What? Was he looking at me the whole time?
The longer the silence dragged on, the more suspicious Daeik would become. When Jaehyuk still didn’t answer, Daeik changed his question.
“If you’re not dating, would you go on a blind date?”
“No.”
Jaehyuk’s gaze, which had been locked with Hyun’s, shifted back to Daeik.
Only then did she release a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.
Why was he staring at me like that?
The look in his eyes had been so suspicious—like he could see straight through to the depths of her heart.
“Hyun, what about you? You said you had a boyfriend, right? How long have you been together?”
Daeik turned his attention to her. Both men’s eyes landed on her at once.
Now the focus of the question, Hyun popped a forkful of sautéed vegetables into her mouth, buying herself time to think of an answer.
The two men waited silently as she chewed.
Finally, with no more time to stall, she replied vaguely.
“Not that long. It’s the best part, you know.”
As she answered, she thought she heard a faint scoff slip between Jaehyuk’s lips—but she dismissed it as her imagination.
“I see. The best part, huh.”
When she heard the subtle sarcasm in his voice, she couldn’t blame it on imagination anymore.
Unlike Jaehyuk, Daeik visibly deflated at the mention of her boyfriend and drained his wine glass in one go.
He quickly changed the subject.
The conversation flowed on without pause.
Until Daeik began receiving urgent phone calls and stepped out several times during the meal.
“Ah, sorry. Work’s been crazy lately. I think I need to head out first. Will you two finish eating?”
Without even putting his phone down, Daeik hurriedly gathered his things and left—urging them to finish the remaining courses.
Left behind, Hyun calmly finished the food in front of her without worrying about appearances.
A long time passed after Daeik’s voice disappeared from the room.
“I never got your answer.”
Jaehyuk, who had long since put down his utensils and had been watching her eat, finally spoke.
“What, about being Interpol?”
Hyun paused mid-spoonful of lemon sherbet. The dessert was bright and refreshing—perfect for her taste.
She replied nonchalantly, as if Interpol were nothing special.
There probably wasn’t much meaning behind his suspicion. He had likely just thrown it out there.
That was what she told herself as she brushed it aside.
