Hey folks! Back earlier than anticipated. I guess inspiration struck, so here's the fresh chapter. Your comments mean the world to me, motivating me to write even more. Thanks a bunch! 😊📚

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"Sunmi?"

 

Wendy, Joy, Yeri, and Irene exchanged glances, then turned their attention back to Sunmi and Seulgi.

 

"I'm quite flattered you remember me," Sunmi said with an affectionate smile directed at Seulgi, catching the four's attention, except Seulgi's.

 

""Hmm, yeah. Since it just happened last night, it's not hard to remember you," Seulgi replied nonchalantly.

 

Wendy, Joy, and Yeri exchanged surprised looks, whispering about how Seulgi and Sunmi might know each other.

 

"Can I talk to you in private?" Sunmi asked, her gaze fixed on Seulgi.

 

Seulgi looked at her and then at the four, before focusing her attention on Irene. The inner struggle was evident in her eyes.

 

Don't agree, Seulgi. I'm your boss. But why do I feel conflicted? It's just a conversation. Why am I hesitant? But I should make her stay for our mall trip.

 

"I'm sorry, but I'm on duty right now," Seulgi politely declined, apologizing with a smile. Wendy, Joy, and Yeri beamed proudly at Seulgi's response.

 

"It'll be quick. I promise! Just 5 minutes. Please~" Sunmi's pleading tone had the four cringing, while Seulgi seemed torn.

 

"Didn't you hear she's working?" Joy whispered, audible enough for them to hear.

 

"Yeah, you're spoiling the moment between Irene Unnie and Seulgi," Wendy added. Irene glared at Wendy and pinched Yeri, who sheepishly smiled and spilled the beans about Irene being Seulgi's wife.

 

"Can you all be quiet?! Do you want them to hear?" Irene hissed.

 

"Ms. Bae, is it okay with you? Just 5 minutes, I promise,"

 

Sunmi directed her plea towards Irene, who internally scolded herself for the internal dialogue she had just had. Composing herself, she smiled and agreed.

 

"Sure, 5 minutes." Sunmi's joy was palpable, and Irene couldn't help but notice the happiness on her face. Seulgi scratched her head, appearing unsure about the situation.

 

As Sunmi clung to Seulgi's arm and led her away, the four watched their retreating figures. Seulgi's bewildered expression revealed her uncertainty about the situation.

 

"You're a coward, Unnie," Yeri remarked, her arms crossed as she stared at the distant figures.

 

"What on earth are you talking about?" Irene looked at Yeri with confusion.

 

"You didn't even stop them," Joy chimed in, shaking her head disappointingly.

 

"And you allowed Seulgi to talk to her," Wendy added, joining the conversation.

 

"Okay, hold on. What are you all blabbering about?" Irene questioned, still unsure about their comments.

 

"You just noticed? She didn't greet us, smile at us, or even acknowledge us," Yeri explained.

 

"And to top it off, she didn't even spare a glance at me!" Joy exclaimed.

 

"She acted like I didn't exist!" Wendy chimed in, and Irene facepalmed in realization.

 

"Alright, fine. Maybe you're right. It was a bit odd," Irene admitted, finally recognizing that Sunmi's behavior had been unusual. "But let's not make a big deal out of it."

 

"Now that's settled, let's grab some ice cream!" Joy suggested, trying to lighten the atmosphere.

 

"Sounds like a plan," Wendy agreed, and they all headed towards the ice cream stand, leaving their thoughts about Sunmi and Seulgi behind.

 

---

 

"Alright, spill it. What was all that about?" Jessica had her arms crossed as she sat on a bench, eyeing Yoona.

 

"Do I really need to explain this to you?" Yoona retorted, noticing Jessica's glare but remaining unfazed. "I mean, Ms. Jung, I don't think I owe you an explanation. It doesn't concern you, it's between your friend and me."

 

"That's exactly my point. She's my friend, Yoona. A dear friend. And I won't let this go until you tell me what happened last night," Jessica stated firmly.

 

Yoona let out an exasperated sigh. Discussing situations like this wasn't her favorite thing to do, especially when she thought it was trivial.

 

"To put it simply, it was a dare. A dare to kiss her on the lips. That's the whole story. The end," Yoona said dismissively, throwing her hands up in the air.

 

Jessica looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "A dare? Where did you even meet her last night? Were the two of you together?"

 

Reluctantly, Yoona realized she had to explain to Jessica, her boss.

 

"Fine, I'll spill the details," Yoona conceded, recounting the events of the previous night, focusing solely on the scene where she had kissed Jessica's friend.

 

Yoona watched as Jessica stared blankly at her. "You okay?" she asked.

 

Jessica closed her eyes and sighed. "So it was just a dare?"

 

Yoona nodded. "Yes, it was. And let's keep it that way."

 

"Good, that's all that matters for now," Jessica responded.

 

"Wait, did she actually take it seriously?" Yoona's eyebrows furrowed.

 

"Do you want the honest answer?" Jessica met Yoona's gaze and nodded. "Keep it between us. She's attracted to you, Yoona, and it's a complicated situation because she already has a boyfriend."

 

"Yeah, I figured that much. It does make sense now. That explains her weird behavior," Yoona said, recalling Minyoung's distant and peculiar looks.

 

"I had a feeling about it too. And the fact that you kissed her probably made things even more complicated," Jessica rolled her eyes.

 

"Why are you blaming me for that?" Yoona retorted.

 

"Whose fault is it then? You kissed her, and that's what's making the situation difficult," Jessica stated.

 

"Excuse me? Do you even understand the concept of a DARE? I repeat, it was just a dare. If she took it seriously, that's her problem," Yoona replied, her frustration showing.

 

"And she did, because now she's into you," Jessica pointed out.

 

Yoona shrugged. "Then that's on her. If I knew she'd take it that way, I wouldn't have kissed her."

 

Jessica rolled her eyes again. "As if you didn't enjoy it."

 

"What? Are you accusing me of something now?" Yoona raised an eyebrow.

 

"Did you just raise your voice at me?" Jessica stood up, pointing her finger at Yoona.

 

Before the argument could escalate further, they were interrupted by a young boy's voice. 

 

"Are the two of you fighting?" the boy asked, holding a ball and looking at them curiously.

 

"Hello there, little cutie," Jessica greeted him with a smile, ruffling his hair. Yoona found herself melting at the sight, despite not being a fan of kids.

 

"Hey, what's up?" Yoona offered a friendly smile.

 

The boy shrugged. "Mommy said it's normal."

 

"What's normal?" Jessica asked.

 

The boy replied, "For couples to fight."

 

Jessica chuckled. "Ah, I see. Well, sometimes people do have disagreements."

 

"But it's important to make up after a fight. So, stop fighting and make up," the boy advised, causing Jessica to become flustered.

 

"This lady here keeps accusing me without evidence," Yoona chimed in, causing Jessica to blush.

 

"Don't worry, little boy, we're going to make up right now. Right, babe?" Jessica widened her eyes and flinched when she felt a hand on her waist.

 

"Deep breaths, Jessica. Stay composed. Don't act like an idiot. Breathe," Jessica coached herself mentally, trying to calm her racing heart and suppress any signs of nervousness.

 

She felt her breath hitch as Yoona's soft lips pressed against her forehead. Her attention was so focused on Yoona that she barely registered the conversation between Yoona and the boy.

 

"I'm leaving now. Please love each other more. Goodbye!" The boy waved goodbye and ran off, leaving Jessica frozen in her spot, unable to even bid farewell as her mind was still reeling.

 

"Babe, are you okay? Let's go," Yoona's voice pulled Jessica out of her stupor. She blinked and dared to meet Yoona's gaze, only to find a mischievous smirk on her face. It was in that moment that Jessica realized what had just transpired.

 

Jessica elbowed Yoona playfully and rolled her eyes. "Hey! That hurt!" Yoona winced and held her stomach in mock pain.

 

"Consider it payback," Jessica retorted.

 

"You're so mean, babe," Yoona teased, causing Jessica's cheeks to flush.

 

"Can you please stop calling me that? And why did you tell that little boy we were together when we're not?" Jessica started walking, Yoona following behind.

 

"Haven't you heard of roleplay?" Yoona suggested.

 

"Roleplay, huh?" 

 

"Yup."

 

Jessica snickered. "You seem to be quite the expert."

 

"Well, I wouldn't be called a well-known Detective for nothing," Yoona replied with a playful grin.

 

Jessica suddenly halted in her tracks and turned to chastise Yoona for constantly using endearments, which seemed to be affecting her more than she cared to admit. However, she found herself frozen as their faces were just inches apart, almost leading to a kiss.

 

Blinking, Jessica refocused and met Yoona's gaze, feeling a bit dazed. "You done staring?" she quipped before rolling her eyes and continuing to walk.

 

"Such confidence," Yoona replied with a smile. "Does your friend swing that way?"

 

"What?"

 

"Your friend."

 

"Oh. I guess so. But, you know, girls have their instincts. I wouldn't have believed it myself if I hadn't noticed her staring at you like that yesterday."

 

Yoona nodded in understanding, deciding to change the subject as they enjoyed each other's company and talked about themselves.

 

---

"W-what...are y-you...even..d-doing?!" Irene's back hit the wall, her knees trembling as weakness overtook her.

 

"I think you're gonna get laid today, babe. I've got a goddess here, so I should make the best of it," the guy's words were laced with a sickening confidence as he roughly cupped Irene's face.

 

"Please....s-stop!" Irene's voice trembled, her tears falling as the guy's touch sent shivers down her spine.

 

The guy leaned in closer, his lips brushing against Irene's earlobe, causing her to grit her teeth in fear. She cursed herself for feeling so helpless, for being trapped in this nightmare.

 

"I wanna you so bad," his husky whisper made Irene's heart race, and he trailed kisses down her neck. 

 

Tears streamed down Irene's face as the terror continued to grip her. She felt trapped, defenseless, and overwhelmed by the situation. 

 

The guy pulled away, his gaze fixated on Irene's crying face as he taunted her. He kissed her forehead with a twisted sense of affection. "Don't worry, I'm gonna make sure you're going to love this."

 

He began to remove his pants, leaving only his boxer shorts on. Irene's eyes widened in dread as she understood what was about to happen.

 

Desperation filled her as he reached for her jeans, urging her to take them off. She shook her head vigorously, pleading with him to stop. "S-stop...p-please. I-I'm b-begging...y-you."

 

But her pleas fell on deaf ears, and the guy only smirked in response.

 

"You're so innocent, you know that? I wonder how tight you are," he taunted, his grip on Irene tightening as he leaned in for a forced kiss

 

Tears welled up in Irene's eyes as she closed them tightly, preparing herself for the nightmare that was about to unfold. She felt numb, broken, and trapped in a living nightmare.

 

However, just as the situation seemed completely dire, a sudden shadow loomed over the guy, distracting him. Irene's voice, weak and almost defeated, managed to utter, "S-Suelgi?" 

 

The guy turned, only to be met with a powerful punch to his face, causing him to stumble backward.

 

"MOTHERER! DO YOU EVEN CONSIDER YOURSELF HUMAN?!" Seulgi's voice was a thunderous roar as she grabbed the guy by the collar and slammed him onto the ground. 

 

"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU !" Seulgi spat and punch his face repeatedly until his face can't recognize anymore. 

 

Irene fell to her knees, overwhelmed by emotions. She hugged herself tightly, trembling as she tried to process what was happening.

 

"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU, !" Seulgi's rage was palpable as she continued to unleash a torrent of punches upon the guy. Her fists collided with his face, fueled by her anger and protectiveness over Irene.

 

"Stop! I'm...s-sorry," the guy's weak cries fell on deaf ears as Seulgi's relentless fury showed no signs of abating. She continued to pound his face, ignoring his pleas for mercy.

 

A couple of minutes later, the sound of police sirens pierced the air, signaling the arrival of law enforcement. Seulgi took it as a cue to stop her onslaught of fury. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to regain her composure. Turning away from the scene she had just created, she noticed a figure approaching.

 

"Ms. Kang?" a stern voice spoke from behind her. She turned to find a police officer addressing her. "Take him and file a case. Update me later."

 

Seulgi nodded, allowing the authorities to take custody of the man who had caused so much harm. Her focus now shifted back to Irene, who sat nearby, trembling and sobbing. Seulgi's heart ached as she knelt in front of her, overcome with guilt and responsibility.

 

"I'm...sorry. This is all my fault. If I had just turned her down, this wouldn't have happened. I'm so stupid... I'm so sorry, Ms. Bae. I don't deserve your forgiveness because I failed to do my job. How much did he take advantage of you?" Seulgi's voice was laced with self-blame, her eyes filled with regret.

 

She reached out and held Irene's trembling hands, offering whatever comfort she could. "I'm here now. I won't let anyone touch you like that again."

 

Irene's tear-streaked face looked up at Seulgi, her eyes a mix of fear, vulnerability, and relief. "Seulgi..."

 

Seulgi's attention was drawn to the marks on Irene's neck, a stark reminder of the ordeal she had just been through. The surge of anger within her was palpable. "I'm going to kill him!" she declared, her voice trembling with rage. But before she could act, Irene pulled her back into a desperate hug.. 

 

"S-Seulgi... I'm... scared," Irene's voice wavered as she sought comfort in Seulgi's arms. Seulgi held her close, her embrace meant to convey reassurance and protection.

 

They remained like that for a few moments, the silence between them a testament to the unspoken understanding that had formed. Slowly, the intensity of Irene's sobs lessened, replaced by a fragile calmness.

 

"Let's go," Seulgi whispered, helping Irene to her feet. Irene's legs were weak, and she stumbled slightly. Without hesitation, Seulgi lifted her into a bridal carry. Irene rested her arm around Seulgi's neck, finding solace in her embrace. Seulgi's words provided a sense of security that Irene desperately needed.

 

As they walked back towards Seulgi's car, the attention of passersby was inevitable, but Seulgi didn't care. Her focus was solely on Irene, ensuring her safety and well-being.

 

"Whoa! Look at the newlywed couple!" Wendy's teasing voice reached their ears, followed by the amused laughter of Joy and Yeri. Seulgi's expression was a mix of embarrassment and exasperation at the timing of their encounter.

 

"Didn't know you had the power of a Flash, Seulgi Unnie. How was the honeymoon?" Joy's playful remark only fueled the others' laughter

 

"You seem pretty serious. Did something bad happen?" Wendy's concern was genuine as she observed Seulgi carefully placing Irene in the front seat.

 

"We saw the cops heading your way. Do you know what's going on?" Yeri added, worry etched on her face.

 

Once Seulgi had secured Irene's seatbelt, she turned to face the trio. "Get in the car. I'll explain everything." Her tone was somber, commanding their attention.

 

The three friends obliged, piling into the car and waiting for Seulgi to share t