After spending several days in a daze, Saturday morning had arrived before she knew it.

Hyena opened her eyes groggily, her face gaunt and haggard. She’d been tormented by Do Gunwoo all week, both inside and out.

By the real Do Gunwoo and by the lewd demon Do Gunwoo who kept her up every night.

The silver lining was that the real Do Gunwoo no longer brought up that unfortunate incident. By sheer luck, even their commute times didn’t overlap, so she rarely saw his face at home.

But trauma, once formed, didn’t disappear easily. The strange dreams she had whenever she was about to forget were proof of that.

It felt so unsettling, like her deeply hidden inner self had been exposed. The vibration of her phone cut through her thoughts.

<We left. What time will you arrive?>

At Jeongseon’s message, Hyena let out a long sigh.

“Should I just say I can’t make it?”

She hesitated for a moment but eventually dragged her heavy body up. She could practically hear that meticulous, nagging voice playing right next to her.

‘Even if I collapse, I’ll complete the mission first, then collapse.’

With grim determination, she finished showering and pulled out whatever clothes her hands landed on. As she left her room without much thought, she unexpectedly ran straight into Gunwoo. 

This was the first time she’d seen him at home in four days.

‘I definitely heard he had a golf appointment with Executive Director Han today.’

Recalling Manager Lee, who’d been writhing in jealousy and envy all yesterday afternoon, Hyena forced a smile.

‘As naturally as possible. Act like nothing happened.’

After repeatedly controlling her mindset, she asked.

“Didn’t you have a golf appointment?”

“It got pushed to the afternoon.”

“Ah…”

The conversation cut off abruptly. Unable to bear the awkwardness, Hyena spoke first.

“I’m going to head out for a bit.”

Just as she was about to step away, Gunwoo asked.

“Where?”

“A date.”

The answer came out reflexively.

“Ah, with that boyfriend you’re maintaining a platonic relationship with?”

His languid tone grated on her nerves. So she added words she didn’t need to say.

“Yeah. My noble boyfriend who’s different from ordinary guys.”

“He must have perfect character—understanding even when you live in the same house as another man, wake up in the same bed, and even saw his c*ck.”

“Please just…”

She stopped mid-sentence. No matter what she said, he didn’t seem like he’d listen.

Gunwoo, who’d been quietly watching Hyena let out a deep sigh, greeted her first.

“Have a good time. On your date.”

Somehow it felt like there was particular emphasis on the last word.

The place she arrived at after using the date excuse was a campground about an hour from home.

Being a weekend, the place was packed, but Hyena had no trouble finding today’s date companions. Aunt Eunju, who’d secured a spot early, was waving her hand excitedly.

As Hyena waved back and approached, Aunt Eunju grabbed her hand.

“Our Hyena, you’ve gotten even prettier since I last saw you?”

“I’m quite the beauty, aren’t I?”

When she deliberately played along, the aunt laughed heartily.

“You keep saying that, so she really thinks she’s pretty.”

Jeongseon appeared from somewhere and chimed in. Since Hyena had broken her promise to come last week, her mother seemed thoroughly sulky.

“But our daughter is pretty, that’s a fact.”

Dad—Myungwook—appeared next and took her side. Hyena scurried over to her dad, who was always on her side no matter what, and nestled into his arms.

“Where else would you find such a pretty daughter?”

As he patted his daughter in his arms and added that, Aunt Eunju joined in right on cue.

“That’s what I’m saying. Jeongseon has a tendency to subtly put Hyena down.”

“I’m not putting her down, I’m being objective. You do the same with Gunwoo. Where else would you find such a reliable, accomplished son…”

“Gunwoo has a bit of a cold side.”

“Hyena has no aegyo.”

A heated debate unfolded between the two women. It looked like they were fighting at first glance, but she knew that wasn’t the case.

At the familiar scene, Myungwook shook his head and approached Uncle Sangjin, Gunwoo’s father, with Hyena.

“Looks like they won’t finish for a while, so let’s grill meat between us.”

Sangjin winked playfully and pulled out the barbecue ingredients he’d prepared, one by one. Next to Myungwook and Sangjin as they lit the fire, Hyena chattered endlessly. 

The comfortable time where there was nothing to be conscious of and nothing to show off continued flowing like that.

Until an uninvited guest appeared.

“Oh my, Gunwoo.”

At Kim Jeongseon’s voice, raised half an octave, Hyena flinched. 

‘Why is someone who said they had a golf appointment with Executive Director Han here…’

Before the thought could finish, her hair stood on end.

‘Date.’

It was because the lie she’d told just two hours ago happened to come to mind.

“I thought you couldn’t make it.”

Jeongseon’s words reached her through her thoughts.

“Right. You said you couldn’t come because you had a prior engagement.”

Eunju joined in, not to be outdone.

“It’s been a while, so I should attend.”

Gunwoo’s gaze as he said this was directed at Hyena. Sure enough.

“But I didn’t expect you to be here. Your da—”

Before her shame could be exposed, she hastily grabbed Gunwoo.

“Oppa really has the luck to eat well—the meat today is in such great condition.”

As she smoothly changed the subject, Gunwoo, whose gaze was fixed on Hyena, smiled broadly. The smile containing clear intent was somehow eerie.

“Just like you said, it’s in really good condition. Good enough to want to put in my mouth right now.”

At the added words, her nape somehow felt chilly.

Jeongseon, who hadn’t noticed the subtle current flowing between the two, interjected.

“Oh! I just heard from Eunju—Gunwoo, you got scouted to Hyena’s company?”

Only then did Gunwoo’s gaze drop. Hyena gasped for breath like she’d escaped from a snare that had held her captive.

“Yes.”

Gunwoo’s answer was short as always. Jeongseon, accustomed to this type of response, wouldn’t let it go just like that.

“Which team? It’s not the team Hyena works in, is it?”

Her mom’s eyes sparkled with expectation, which felt burdensome.

“That’s correct.”

At the unexpected answer, Jeongseon and Eunju responded simultaneously.

“Really?”

“How can such a coincidence exist?”

“Hahaha. Right?”

Jeongseon shot her daughter a look as she awkwardly smiled and went along with it.

“Why didn’t you say a word about something this important?”

“I didn’t have time to mention it.”

“Gunwoo didn’t say anything either. When you’re busy, that can happen.”

As always, savior Aunt Eunju stepped in. Only then did Jeongseon back down.

“How is she at the company? Does she act all clumsy?”

“She’s doing well enough.”

At the polite answer, Jeongseon, who’d been smiling, suddenly sighed.

“My wish went down the drain.”

Eunju, who was beside her, asked.

“What wish?”

“If it was a handsome young team leader, I told her to go for it. I wanted to see our Hyena date before it’s too late.”

It was truly one mountain after another. Feeling Gunwoo’s gaze pouring toward her, Hyena quickly made excuses.

“I just didn’t tell mom, but I am dating.”

“Yeah right. A kid who shows everything on her face is dating but there’s no sign of it? And you came here on this beautiful weekend?”

“It’s true.”

“Really? Then call your boyfriend.”

“What?”

“Why are you so surprised? I’m not asking to talk to him. Just call him. I’ll believe you.”

“That’s a bit…”

“I knew it. Licking your lips before lying.”

Screwed.

Those three syllables circled above her head.

After finishing a meal where she didn’t know if food was going in through her nose or mouth, Hyena slipped away from camp and settled on a quiet bench. Just escaping Gunwoo’s gaze made breathing much easier.

The end of lies was miserable.

“It’s all self-inflicted.”

Muttering, Hyena closed her eyes. How long had she been like that when a sweet coffee scent wafted nearby. It must be Aunt Eunju. Among people who stuck to Americanos, their bond had deepened over post-meal instant coffee mix.

Smiling broadly, Hyena opened her eyes. That smile soon hung awkwardly on her lips.

“Coffee?”

The person extending a paper cup toward her with an economical gesture was Do Gunwoo.

“Where are the parents?”

“They went for a short walk. To digest.”

“Ah…”

“If you’re not drinking it, I’ll dump it.”

As he spoke, Gunwoo tilted the paper cup. Startled, Hyena reached out.

“Give it. I’ll drink it.”

Only then did the tilted paper cup straighten. Gunwoo, who’d come right up close, extended the coffee cup again. Snatching the paper cup away, Hyena muttered.

“Always so mean.”

He definitely heard it, but Gunwoo showed no particular reaction and took the seat next to Hyena. His scent pierced through the coffee aroma and stimulated her nose.

Disliking it, she buried her nose in the paper cup. Then, following her usual habit, she chewed on the paper cup while slowly swallowing the coffee. Hoping the sweet coffee would calm her tactlessly racing heart.

“Should we talk now? About why you made up a fake boyfriend.”

At the question that came straight in without warning, Hyena coughed. The coffee she’d been holding in her mouth went down the wrong pipe. Hyena squeezed her eyes shut.

“W-we broke up.”

Cough, cough. Even while coughing until her face turned red, Hyena spat out the excuse she’d prepared.

The coffee in the paper cup she was holding sloshed and wet her fingers, but that wasn’t what mattered. Gunwoo, who’d been staring at Hyena silently, took the paper cup away. She thought the conversation had concluded there.

But when her coughing, which seemed like it wouldn’t stop, subsided, Gunwoo opened his mouth.

“Hyena.”

Her heart tickled at his voice, so sweet it seemed honey would drip from it.

‘Dangerous.’

Following the alarm ringing in her head, Hyena pressed her body deep into the chair to create distance from Gunwoo, but for some reason, the distance between them remained unchanged.

No, it even felt like they were getting closer.

“You’re really bad at lying, now and then.”

“…”

“It all shows.”

‘I’m the idiot for hoping, knowing that full well.’

The added muttering didn’t reach Hyena.

“Yoon Hyena.”

Unlike before, his hardened voice called her again.

“I told you not to lie, didn’t I?”

As he spoke, Gunwoo reached out. The touch that swept her disheveled hair behind her ear was incredibly gentle.

“Maybe not to other people, but never to me.”

“…”

“Because I might lose it.”

Gunwoo, who’d left those menacing words, stared at Hyena intently. A persistent gaze that seemed like it would shake out even her soul.

In the end, Hyena had to raise the white flag.

“Fine, I don’t have a boyfriend. I don’t have one, okay? Are you happy now?”

Suddenly, a large hand touched the top of her head.

“Since you spoke honestly, I’ll forgive you. Just this once.”

Gunwoo, who’d whispered low, pulled back. Just as quickly as when he’d approached.

Then, without a word, he swallowed all the remaining coffee in the paper cup Hyena had been drinking from. With his lips placed precisely where she’d chewed. Hyena’s eyes widened as she witnessed the whole scene.

She knew that he, who was almost germophobic, was the only person who didn’t distinguish between mine and yours with her. She’d assumed immunity had built up from growing up together since childhood.

But this was a first. Perhaps sensing her gaze, Gunwoo turned his eyes toward Hyena.

“What?”

‘Why did you put your mouth where I drank? On purpose?’

She swallowed the words that were about to come out. The other person wasn’t bothered at all, but she felt like she was reacting sensitively alone. 

‘It must be a coincidence. Yeah, it must be a coincidence.’

‘There’s no way he deliberately put his mouth where I drank, right?’

Forcibly pushing the thought away, she said, “Why steal what someone else was eating?”

“Watching you eat made me want some.”

“…”

“You really mark your territory in weird ways.”

That’s what Gunwoo said as he ran his fingertips over the chewed paper cup. At this point, she felt confused.

‘Could he have known and put his mouth there?’

But there was no chance to ask. Gunwoo, who’d been staring at his vibrating phone silently, left his seat. Left alone, Hyena messed up her hair.

“What’s the big deal about sharing just one paper cup that I’m this bothered? Anyway, when it comes to Do Gunwoo, I lose all immunity. Let’s just let it go. This is just coincidence.”

She controlled her mindset like that, but the uncomfortable feeling didn’t disappear.

After sitting like that for a while, she trudged back to the campground. Eunju, who spotted her, asked.

“Where’s Gunwoo?”

“I think he went to take a call.”

“Is he very busy?”

Worry colored Aunt Eunju’s face.

“Even when he’s busy, he eats well and sleeps well, so don’t worry. He’s thorough about taking care of himself, you know.”

“That’s a relief then. Keep an eye on him. If I keep calling, it’ll bother him.”

“Yes. Mission accepted.”

When Hyena playfully added a salute, Eunju smiled.

A moment later, Gunwoo returned.

“I should get going now.”

Five pairs of eyes turned toward him all at once.

“Why? Stay a bit longer.”

“Right, stay a while. We’re going to have a modest campfire too.”

Eunju and Jeongseon spoke with regret.

“Something came up.”

Gunwoo’s voice as he said this was somewhat subdued. Come to think of it, his expression was dark too.

“Then it can’t be helped. Drive carefully.”

“I’ll be going.”

Gunwoo, who’d left his final greeting, walked away. For a while, Hyena couldn’t take her eyes off where he’d disappeared.

Crackle, crackle. Staring blankly at the rising flames, Hyena let out a long sigh. Even as midnight approached, she didn’t feel like leaving.

She kept remembering Gunwoo’s subdued voice and expression before he left this place.

‘Is something really wrong?’

Hyena, who’d been fiddling with her phone, stood up. She felt like she should secretly call even if it meant hiding from the parents.

As she turned the corner, she saw Eunju and Sangjin.

“I think Gunwoo left like that because of that person.”

“If they’re saying it could be today or tomorrow, he must be concerned. Still, he’s his biological father.”

“It’s better not to acknowledge him, right?”

“Let’s wait until Gunwoo talks about it.”

“I hope he doesn’t get hurt anymore.”

“He’s a strong kid. He’ll be okay.”

Hyena, who’d unintentionally overheard the conversation, stopped without stepping forward.

‘Biological father.’

The word that came from Aunt Eunju’s mouth reminded her of a fact she’d forgotten.

That Gunwoo had been abused under his scumbag biological father and was adopted by Aunt Eunju and her husband.

The man she’d actually seen herself was subhuman. So much so that it was unbelievable Do Gunwoo came from such a person. But that biological father was dying?

Hyena hastily grabbed her bag. At her daughter’s words that she had to return immediately, Jeongseon furrowed her brow.

“Where are you going at this hour?”

“I forgot I had something urgent to handle.”

She felt guilty about lying, but she had no choice.

“Can’t you go early tomorrow morning? I drank, so I can’t drive you.”

“I called a taxi. It’ll be here soon.”

“If I’d known, I would’ve sent you with Gunwoo when he left.”

Hyena agreed. If that had happened, her heart wouldn’t be this anxious.

She got in the taxi, barely saying goodbye.

Throughout the ride home, she called Gunwoo, but there was no answer. Her worry swelled like eye bags.

She remembered the day senior year Gunwoo, with the college entrance exam just ahead, had lost his reason and gone wild. The fist he’d swung at his opponent with a fierce face. An emotional explosion she’d never seen before.