I'm not a private person!
Closer distance
Inside the police station.
Kyo-eun carefully entered with the documents and approached the employee, speaking in a small voice.
하교은
"...This is Ha Kyo-eun. Regarding the complaint..."
???
"Yes, just a moment."
The employee tilted his head as he checked the documents.
???
"...This has been cancelled?"
하교은
"yes??"
Kyo-eun opened her eyes wide in surprise.
하교은
"Really? Really?"
The employee nodded absentmindedly.
???
"Yes, it's done. You can go."
Kyo-eun came out. She took a long time to clear her chest.
하교은
"Haa... Thank goodness, I'm really thankful..."
For the first time, the fear that had been choking me for weeks felt like it was being released.
Kyo-eun let go of her tense shoulders and stood in the sunlight.
Just then, the phone rang.
???
[New Message] "I have something I'd like to contact you about today. Would you like to meet me at the studio?"
• Sender: Seventeen's Lee Ji-hoon (Woozi)
Kyo-eun stopped. Thump.
My heart pounded cautiously, but surely.
하교은
'...Why. Why is it like this...'
Kyo-eun took a moment to catch her breath and replied briefly: "Yes, I understand."
The studio. It was still—a slightly scary place for Kyo-eun, a mixture of tension and excitement.
Hive's underground workshop. Kyo-eun cautiously steps into the unfamiliar air.
Inside the studio.
Woozi sat in front of his laptop with earphones in. Unaware of the darkness outside, he was composing a song with a deeply engrossed expression.
Kyo-eun stood there, speechless, overwhelmed by the overwhelming atmosphere.
After a few minutes, no, dozens of minutes, Wooji slowly felt a presence.
우지(지훈)
"Oh, when did you come?"
Woozi turned his head and took out his earphones.
우지(지훈)
"If you're here, tell me. Have you been waiting long?"
하교은
"Uh, ah... no. It's okay..."
Kyo-eun waved her hand cautiously.
우지(지훈)
"Come this way."
Wooji pointed to the seat next to him, and Kyo-eun nodded slightly and walked over to sit down.
A tense breath. Wooji took out the documents next to his desk and pushed them toward Kyo-eun.
우지(지훈)
"First of all, this is the album cover design. The members and I participated in it together."
하교은
"Oh, yes...!"
우지(지훈)
"...and."
Wooji paused for a moment and looked at Kyo-eun. His gaze was solemn and cautious.
우지(지훈)
"First of all, I'm sorry. After looking into it... it turns out you weren't the person in charge of Kyo-eun. The person I was trying to sue."
하교은
"...Oh, yes..."
우지(지훈)
"That person...has been harassing me for a really long time, much more viciously than any other sasaeng."
우지(지훈)
"While tracking the information... I think it was mistakenly received by the person in charge."
Wooji lowered his head.
우지(지훈)
"Once again, I'm so sorry."
Kyo-eun carefully touched her fingertips and then nodded.
하교은
"It's okay. I'm glad the misunderstanding has been cleared up..."
Then, mustering up the courage, I glanced at Wooji. There was no longer any coldness or wariness in his eyes.
There was only regret and... cautious warmth.
우지(지훈)
"I thought you might have been hurt by what I said."
Woozi spoke softly.
하교은
"...No, it's really okay."
Kyo-eun smiled faintly.
하교은
"Thank you for telling me so directly."
Seeing Kyo-eun's faint smile, Woo-ji followed suit.
Short, cautious, but clearly a smile directed at each other.
It was a moment when the distance between them became just a little, just a little closer.