Ji Eun could feel the air chill as her voice echoed through the small hallway, lights seeping through the windows. The cold gray of the door probably matched well with Ji Eun's state of mind. It was a cruel way to solve a problem, but it would work nonetheless.

Frankly, Ji Eun was too selfish at the moment to care about her victim's feelings (or her best friend's), she just needed a way to release and clarify her special talent to herself and Eunji.

She could feel the night wind scratching her cheeks despite the fall season, and the sounds inside the apartment had disappeared like someone had quickly switched their phone on mute.

Ji Eun waited patiently, listening closely.

A shuffle.

A series of urgent whispers, followed with a small thump of footsteps.

Ji Eun clenched her fists with a meritorious warmth that spread her fingers and to her heart. She didn't let herself smile since she wasn't 100% sure of whose footsteps those were, but she was inching closer to success as she mentally noted that there was more than one person.

Her heart thumped with anger in response to the satisfaction, the thought of catching her best friend's boyfriend cheating, ireful.

"Oppa? Are you there? I left behind something." She knocked again, this time making the sound echo in a more timid way.

There was a rushed but muted sound of a door closing and then the heavier pair of footsteps trotted towards Ji Eun.

It slowed and the sound faded right in front of her.

Ji Eun held her breath and assumed position, putting her hands down to twiddle her thumbs.

The door opened ajar, illuminating the corridor.

Woohyun's head poked out, his shirt messy and a pair of sweatpants loosely hanging on his hips.

He smiled and was breathing heavily, but was doing his best to conceal it.

"Hey! Ji Eun, what's up?" Woohyun smiled brightly and opened the door when he realized his visitor.

His body came out to greet Ji Eun, but she observed the way his body twisted and settled in an awkward way so that his torso covered any view into his apartment and the only way to see inside was through his legs, which were also crossed.

"I said, I left behind something. You didn't hear me?" Ji Eun cocked her head, feigning innocence.

Of course you didn't hear me. You were too busy dealing with something, someone else weren't you?

"Sorry, no. The walls here are pretty thick." Woohyun waved his hand in minimal motion, shaking his head with a chuckle. "What did you lose?"

Ji Eun nodded, her eyes wide and blinking. She adjusted her glasses and shivered in the cold, making sure that Woohyun would notice.

"It's an old fountain pen I got from my dad. He's very ill but he somehow managed and forced himself to buy it because it was my birthday." Ji Eun frowned slightly, her shoulders drooping. "I looked all over the streets for it but I couldn't find it anywhere."

Ji Eun's father was healthy and well, currently getting ready for a vacation with her mother, happily married, love struck ever since they met. The fountain pen was one of Ji Eun's favorites ever since yesterday, where she found it uncaringly stuffed in a crowded pencil holder. It looked old and she had assumed it was bought with her father's money.

So technically, Ji Eun wasn't really lying.

She was just simply, twisting the truth for a good purpose.

Woohyun blinked and frowned in pity, but the lack of sympathy in his eyes told Ji Eun he was convinced, however still not willing to allow Ji Eun into his home.

"I was wondering if you could let me and search for it." Ji Eun lifted her hand, placing it lightly next to Woohyun's hand and looked up with the best puppy eyes she could ever muster.

Woohyun faltered back with a curious gaze, but he took a look behind his shoulder and returned to Ji Eun with a solid grin.

"How about this? I'll look for it in a jiffy. I don't want you to go through the trouble of taking off your shoes." Woohyun said, motioning to Ji Eun. He was already beginning to close the door on her, so Ji Eun nodded as if satisfied, which she was far from.

She decided that she'd let Woohyun have his way. He wouldn't even be able to find the pen since she had carefully calculated the positioning of it before she left. Even if he did find it, she'd at least have something to warn Eunji. Either way, it'd get her objective completed.

She didn't even need to carefully listen in order to hear the exasperated sounds that were being made to know that he was irritated and in a panic state. The angry shuffling of clothes, the quick door clicks and especially the angry muffled whispers that were way too loud to be even considered whispers were being obviously directed to a second person. Ji Eun could almost imagine Woohyun rummaging through his sheets, looking through all the places that Ji Eun had been near.

When Ji Eun heard a pair of reluctant footsteps approaching her, she knew that Woohyun hadn't thought of checking under the bed which was near Eunji.

The door opened slowly, just as slightly as before and Woohyun frowned apologetically after shaking his head. "No good. I can't seem to find it."

Ji Eun let out a dramatic sigh, shuddering and clutched her shoulders to warm herself up.

"Well... Okay. That's.... Um... Sorry." Ji Eun quivered, her lips coming out in a full pout and she looked down.

Woohyun stayed still, (awkwardly) watching Ji Eun and abruptly ran inside the apartment.

Ji Eun blinked, set aback at the unexpected sequence.

There was a sharp quiet bark of whispers.

He came out as suddenly as he left, causing Ji Eun to jump, and he swung a jacket around himself. He had a large grey padded jacket that looked far warmer than the one he was wearing and smiled sweetly before gently wrapping it around Ji Eun. Ji Eun tried not to stare in shock or disgust at the obviously suspicious gesture and instead put her head down, letting her bangs cover her eyes.

Woohyun let out a small chuckle and his shoulders seemed to straighten a bit, making him taller than Ji Eun than he already was.

Ji Eun couldn't believe how obvious he was making his moves on her, but maybe it was because she was acting so well. The way he was gently smiling down at her without a word, would make any girl's heart go crazy; but in Ji Eun's case, she was horrified and burdened by the dark desires this "oppa" had behind his facade.

The more his gaze burned into and practically through her clothes made her realize the darkness around her and the way her bones seemed to hollow. She became conscious of the lack of layers she was wearing and lightly smoothed her hand down on her phone which was in her back pocket.

"Let me help look for it." Woohyun said, finally breaking the silence.

Ji Eun hesitated, all of her attention on the pen and the possible girl inside the apartment.

If she'd played along with Woohyun's gentleman act, would the benefits outweigh the risks? Ji Eun didn't want to imagine what would happen if Woohyun would advance onto her, not to mention that it wasn't in the plan, but what if Eunji would find out?

Convincing Eunji that Ji Eun had tried to fool and reveal Woohyun's true colors would go from climbing a hill to climbing mountains.

But she needed to know who was in there, why Woohyun was trying to avert the situation, and get proof that Woohyun was cheating on Eunji.

Going outside with him and looking for a pen that Ji Eun plainly knew was inside would result in just Woohyun misunderstanding things and getting Ji Eun involved in his cheating spree.

Judging by the look he had in his eyes, he was also pretty confident that Ji Eun would play along. Pretty arrogant, to be exact.

But going inside?

Ji Eun stopped, her confidence wavering.

What if there really was no one there?

She'd just be digging her own grave. Quite possibly, also screaming out in big read bold letters, 'I LIKE YOU, I'D LIKE TO RUIN YOUR CURRENT RELATIONSHIP.', even if she didn't mean to.

Was she being too reckless? Was she trusting herself too much? Why was she even doubting herself now?

Maybe it was because of the way Woohyun towered over her, the way lust seemed to waft off him like sicken sweet perfume; something she might have misunderstood.

What if she just never liked Woohyun in the first place because he'd stolen her best friend?

What if she was overanalyzing.

Ji Eun looked up and smiled.

There was no way.

"Actually, oppa. I'm pretty sure I've checked outside. More than you could imagine." Ji Eun let her smile seem forced, "If you're busy with something then I'll wait outside. You know, let you have your privacy?"

Woohyun blinked and he looked as if he was slapped right across the cheek.

"S-Something?"

"Aren't you video chatting with someone?" Ji Eun cocked her head, "I won't go into the bathroom or anything like that" Ji Eun laughed, daintily bringing her hand to , copying Eunji when she'd try to seem ladylike in front of Woohyun. "I'll just look around the living room where I was sitting."

"I've already looked for it though." Woohyun reminded.

"Please, oppa?" Ji Eun pouted again, "I know, but I'd really like to try for myself."

"Aha..." Woohyun let out a tired laugh, lips stretched purposefully.

"I'd like to try for myself." Ji Eun insisted firmly.

Woohyun tried to hide the small gulp that made his adam's apple bob and smiled with a sharp nod before turning around. He closed the door behind him, rushing as his footsteps faded left. Another pair of footsteps followed him. There was a small click, followed with a 'clunk' of an interrupted turn of a doorknob.

Ji Eun rolled her eyes and quickly took out her phone, pressing a red circle.

He'd went to his room and most likely brought his visitor with him.

When he came back, he was smiling in much more relaxed way.

"Come in." Woohyun dramatically bowed, making Ji Eun search for a giggly laugh.

"Thank you." Ji Eun smiled, taking a step forward.

Now let's investigate the crime scene, shall we?

Ji Eun could feel the air chill as her voice echoed through the small hallway, lights seeping through the windows. The cold gray of the door probably matched well with Ji Eun's state of mind. It was a cruel way to solve a problem, but it would work nonetheless.

Frankly, Ji Eun was too selfish at the moment to care about her victim's feelings (or her best friend's), she just needed a way to release and clarify her special talent to herself and Eunji.

She could feel the night wind scratching her cheeks despite the fall season, and the sounds inside the apartment had disappeared like someone had quickly switched their phone on mute.

Ji Eun waited patiently, listening closely.

A shuffle.

A series of urgent whispers, followed with a small thump of footsteps.

Ji Eun clenched her fists with a meritorious warmth that spread her fingers and to her heart. She didn't let herself smile since she wasn't 100% sure of whose footsteps those were, but she was inching closer to success as she mentally noted that there was more than one person.

Her heart thumped with anger in response to the satisfaction, the thought of catching her best friend's boyfriend cheating, ireful.

"Oppa? Are you there? I left behind something." She knocked again, this time making the sound echo in a more timid way.

There was a rushed but muted sound of a door closing and then the heavier pair of footsteps trotted towards Ji Eun.

It slowed and the sound faded right in front of her.

Ji Eun held her breath and assumed position, putting her hands down to twiddle her thumbs.

The door opened ajar, illuminating the corridor.

Woohyun's head poked out, his shirt messy and a pair of sweatpants loosely hanging on his hips.

He smiled and was breathing heavily, but was doing his best to conceal it.

"Hey! Ji Eun, what's up?" Woohyun smiled brightly and opened the door when he realized his visitor.

His body came out to greet Ji Eun, but she observed the way his body twisted and settled in an awkward way so that his torso covered any view into his apartment and the only way to see inside was through his legs, which were also crossed.

"I said, I left behind something. You didn't hear me?" Ji Eun cocked her head, feigning innocence.

Of course you didn't hear me. You were too busy dealing with something, someone else weren't you?

"Sorry, no. The walls here are pretty thick." Woohyun waved his hand in minimal motion, shaking his head with a chuckle. "What did you lose?"

Ji Eun nodded, her eyes wide and blinking. She adjusted her glasses and shivered in the cold, making sure that Woohyun would notice.

"It's an old fountain pen I got from my dad. He's very ill but he somehow managed and forced himself to buy it because it was my birthday." Ji Eun frowned slightly, her shoulders drooping. "I looked all over the streets for it but I couldn't find it anywhere."

Ji Eun's father was healthy and well, currently getting ready for a vacation with her mother, happily married, love struck ever since they met. The fountain pen was one of Ji Eun's favorites ever since yesterday, where she found it uncaringly stuffed in a crowded pencil holder. It looked old and she had assumed it was bought with her father's money.

So technically, Ji Eun wasn't really lying.

She was just simply, twisting the truth for a good purpose.

Woohyun blinked and frowned in pity, but the lack of sympathy in his eyes told Ji Eun he was convinced, however still not willing to allow Ji Eun into his home.

"I was wondering if you could let me and search for it." Ji Eun lifted her hand, placing it lightly next to Woohyun's hand and looked up with the best puppy eyes she could ever muster.

Woohyun faltered back with a curious gaze, but he took a look behind his shoulder and returned to Ji Eun with a solid grin.

"How about this? I'll look for it in a jiffy. I don't want you to go through the trouble of taking off your shoes." Woohyun said, motioning to Ji Eun. He was already beginning to close the door on her, so Ji Eun nodded as if satisfied, which she was far from.

She decided that she'd let Woohyun have his way. He wouldn't even be able to find the pen since she had carefully calculated the positioning of it before she left. Even if he did find it, she'd at least have something to warn Eunji. Either way, it'd get her objective completed.

She didn't even need to carefully listen in order to hear the exasperated sounds that were being made to know that he was irritated and in a panic state. The angry shuffling of clothes, the quick door clicks and especially the angry muffled whispers that were way too loud to be even considered whispers were being obviously directed to a second person. Ji Eun could almost imagine Woohyun rummaging through his sheets, looking through all the places that Ji Eun had been near.

When Ji Eun heard a pair of reluctant footsteps approaching her, she knew that Woohyun hadn't thought of checking under the bed which was near Eunji.

The door opened slowly, just as slightly as before and Woohyun frowned apologetically after shaking his head. "No good. I can't seem to find it."

Ji Eun let out a dramatic sigh, shuddering and clutched her shoulders to warm herself up.

"Well... Okay. That's.... Um... Sorry." Ji Eun quivered, her lips coming out in a full pout and she looked down.

Woohyun stayed still, (awkwardly) watching Ji Eun and abruptly ran inside the apartment.

Ji Eun blinked, set aback at the unexpected sequence.

There was a sharp quiet bark of whispers.

He came out as suddenly as he left, causing Ji Eun to jump, and he swung a jacket around himself. He had a large grey padded jacket that looked far warmer than the one he was wearing and smiled sweetly before gently wrapping it around Ji Eun. Ji Eun tried not to stare in shock or disgust at the obviously suspicious gesture and instead put her head down, letting her bangs cover her eyes.

Woohyun let out a small chuckle and his shoulders seemed to straighten a bit, making him taller than Ji Eun than he already was.

Ji Eun couldn't believe how obvious he was making his moves on her, but maybe it was because she was acting so well. The way he was gently smiling down at her without a word, would make any girl's heart go crazy; but in Ji Eun's case, she was horrified and burdened by the dark desires this "oppa" had behind his facade.

The more his gaze burned into and practically through her clothes made her realize the darkness around her and the way her bones seemed to hollow. She became conscious of the lack of layers she was wearing and lightly smoothed her hand down on her phone which was in her back pocket.

"Let me help look for it." Woohyun said, finally breaking the silence.

Ji Eun hesitated, all of her attention on the pen and the possible girl inside the apartment.

If she'd played along with Woohyun's gentleman act, would the benefits outweigh the risks? Ji Eun didn't want to imagine what would happen if Woohyun would advance onto her, not to mention that it wasn't in the plan, but what if Eunji would find out?

Convincing Eunji that Ji Eun had tried to fool and reveal Woohyun's true colors would go from climbing a hill to climbing mountains.

But she needed to know who was in there, why Woohyun was trying to avert the situation, and get proof that Woohyun was cheating on Eunji.

Going outside with him and looking for a pen that Ji Eun plainly knew was inside would result in just Woohyun misunderstanding things and getting Ji Eun involved in his cheating spree.

Judging by the look he had in his eyes, he was also pretty confident that Ji Eun would play along. Pretty arrogant, to be exact.

But going inside?

Ji Eun stopped, her confidence wavering.

What if there really was no one there?

She'd just be digging her own grave. Quite possibly, also screaming out in big read bold letters, 'I LIKE YOU, I'D LIKE TO RUIN YOUR CURRENT RELATIONSHIP.', even if she didn't mean to.

Was she being too reckless? Was she trusting herself too much? Why was she even doubting herself now?

Maybe it was because of the way Woohyun towered over her, the way lust seemed to waft off him like sicken sweet perfume; something she might have misunderstood.

What if she just never liked Woohyun in the first place because he'd stolen her best friend?

What if she was overanalyzing.

Ji Eun looked up and smiled.

There was no way.

"Actually, oppa. I'm pretty sure I've checked outside. More than you could imagine." Ji Eun let her smile seem forced, "If you're busy with something then I'll wait outside. You know, let you have your privacy?"

Woohyun blinked and he looked as if he was slapped right across the cheek.

"S-Something?"

"Aren't you video chatting with someone?" Ji Eun cocked her head, "I won't go into the bathroom or anything like that" Ji Eun laughed, daintily bringing her hand to , copying Eunji when she'd try to seem ladylike in front of Woohyun. "I'll just look around the living room where I was sitting."

"I've already looked for it though." Woohyun reminded.

"Please, oppa?" Ji Eun pouted again, "I know, but I'd really like to try for myself."

"Aha..." Woohyun let out a tired laugh, lips stretched purposefully.

"I'd like to try for myself." Ji Eun insisted firmly.

Woohyun tried to hide the small gulp that made his adam's apple bob and smiled with a sharp nod before turning around. He closed the door behind him, rushing as his footsteps faded left. Another pair of footsteps followed him. There was a small click, followed with a 'clunk' of an interrupted turn of a doorknob.

Ji Eun rolled her eyes and quickly took out her phone, pressing a red circle.

He'd went to his room and most likely brought his visitor with him.

When he came back, he was smiling in much more relaxed way.

"Come in." Woohyun dramatically bowed, making Ji Eun search for a giggly laugh.

"Thank you." Ji Eun smiled, taking a step forward.

Now let's investigate the crime scene, shall we?