"...Hmm...."
It was an unfamiliar morning.
Sohee opened her eyes. A white ceiling, an awkwardly quiet room.
It only occurred to me that this was not home.
'Contract Prison'
No, more precisely, it should be called a prison designed by Park Jimin.
As I sat on the bed with my lips parched, there was a knock on the door.
“Come down in 30 minutes. I have to eat breakfast and start work.”
It was Jimin.
His voice was dry as usual, and he didn't bother to show his face.
That actually made people more nervous.
Sohee washed up and went downstairs.
The table was already set with food. The Korean food was surprisingly neat and appetizing.
Seaweed soup, scrambled eggs, kimchi, and warm rice...
It had been so long since she had seen such a neat table that Sohee even felt awkward about it.
“…Who does something like this? There’s no one home...”
"I."
Jimin answered very briefly.
Sohee stopped picking up her chopsticks and looked at him.
“…? That’s unexpected.”
“You have to eat to live.”
“You said you would kill me if I didn’t pay you back.”
"That's why I made you work to pay it back."
"But why are you giving me food?"
“...Do I look like such a bad person?”
“Yes. He said he was going to break my finger or something.”
Jimin laughed. Surprisingly, he wasn't angry at all at that.
Instead, he tilted his head slightly.
“But I guess I’m the kindest person in this house.”
That remark lingered strangely for a long time.
A good person? The boss of this organization? Does that make sense?
And yet… it didn’t sound like a lie.
After breakfast, Jimin took Sohee down to the basement.
The place I followed without knowing anything was — surprisingly, it wasn't a warehouse or a torture chamber.
It was a well-appointed office.
A few computers, some document files, a phone, and a desk where someone is already working.
At that moment, a strange man stood up from his seat.
“Oh, that person?”
Jimin gave a brief introduction about the man.
“Kim Hae-jin. I am Yeonseong’s internal financial manager. I will be in charge of your education from now on.”
Haejin had a gentle impression, but his eyes seemed to be able to read people quickly.
And… somehow, the moment I saw Sohee, a slightly surprised expression crossed my mind.
“Have I... seen you before...?”
“..There isn’t..?”
Sohee looked at Haejin as if she didn't know.
At those words, Haejin shrugged his shoulders and said.
“Hmm... I guess I was mistaken. Anyway, let’s start today by organizing some simple documents.”
The work was more monotonous than I thought. Organizing documents, checking numbers, taking simple notes....
But what was stranger than that—
Jimin was always by my side.
Without saying a word, without expression, he even brought coffee and left it on the desk.
It's a subtle line that makes it hard to tell whether this is surveillance or consideration.
That made it more uncomfortable.
Eventually, Sohee couldn't hold it in any longer and asked Jimin while Haejin was away for a moment.
“Why do you keep watching?”
“I’m trying to do my job properly.”
“…Do I have to stay with you all day to check that? I’m not running away.”
“That’s an excuse.”
Jimin sat down with the corners of his lips raised.
“Be honest. Don’t you want to see my face?”
Sohee averted her eyes.
I hated that expression, that tone of voice, the way it evoked feelings that were somehow familiar.
“Yes. I don’t like it. But what I hate more than that is…”
“What is it?”
“You know that and yet you still smile at me.”
Jimin tilted his head without saying anything after hearing that.
Then he pulled my arm strongly and brought Sohee in front of him.
“…That way I can keep you longer.”
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Sonting❤️
(It's a little late ㅠ I'll come here often from now onㅜ🥹)