—If it’s hard to meet people outside, at least try looking at work. You never know how connections work. Who knows? Maybe the new team leader will be exactly your type.

So like someone who’d married after a passionate romance with Dad.

“I don’t want to shatter Mom’s fantasy, but there’s no such thing as a young, handsome, capable boss in the real world.”

Hyena muttered as she recalled each of the bosses she ran into every day at work—her own boss, other people’s bosses, all of them.

“At least not at our company.”

—Don’t jump to conclusions when you haven’t even seen him yet.

“Even if someone like that shows up with one-in-a-million odds, as long as we meet as boss and subordinate, romance? That kind of fantasy is absolutely impossible.”

Her voice naturally gained strength.

She’d reached the conclusion that it couldn’t be possible when they’d clash at every turn.

—How would you know when you’re only in your second year of working? You never know. Maybe you’ll experience a fantasy others don’t get to have.

“Yes, yes. I really hope that happens.”

—There you go again, answering half-heartedly.

Tsk, tsk. The sound of tongue-clicking came through the phone.

“Mom, but…”

She tried to casually mention the purpose of her call while riding the mood, but Jeongseon was one step faster.

—By the way, how did Gunwoo look? I haven’t seen him in quite a while, so I’m curious. Is he still handsome and cool?

“Yeah, sure.”

—Eunju must be full even without eating. Having a son like that.

“You have me, Mom.”

She casually chimed in. Unfortunately, she couldn’t hear any words of affirmation about that.

—Did you catch up a lot when you saw Gunwoo?

“When would we have time to talk? I barely saw his face.”

—Did you happen to stay out last night?

She couldn’t answer right away at the sudden question. She could picture Mom’s face with her eyes wide open.

“Stay out, what are you talking about?”

Her voice grew louder without realizing it.

—Then why did you barely see his face? Gunwoo came home early yesterday.

For a moment, the back of her neck felt cold.

“Home? Not a hotel?”

—Yes, home. I was having dinner with Eunju when he called, and I even talked to him directly.

‘What? What’s going on? Sejun oppa said he was staying at a hotel.’

—You didn’t really stay out, did you?

“No, I worked late yesterday. I told you I was busy because of the new team leader’s appointment. I came home so late that I fell asleep without even washing up.”

She made excuses without realizing it. It was a desperate struggle to survive.

—Really?

“Of course, really. You don’t trust your daughter that much?”

—No.

A sigh escaped at the answer that came without hesitation.

—Sleep at home. You know that was the condition for you living independently, right?

“Of course I know. I’m following it thoroughly, so don’t worry, ma’am.”

Only when she bowed her head submissively did Jeongseon’s voice finally soften.

—Then that’s a relief.

Hyena, who’d sneakily gauged the mood, spoke up.

“Since we’re on the topic, I’m thinking of getting a place and moving out.”

It was a conclusion she’d reached after thinking about it all day.

She’d only briefly run into Gunwoo in the morning, but it was bad for her heart in many ways. The human being called Do Gunwoo was like a time bomb to her. It was wise to cut off the sprout before the feelings she hadn’t properly folded away bloomed again.

—Why?

“Well, I’ve been living alone, and now living with someone else makes me conscious of various things. If I’m like this, oppa must be even more so.”

—Gunwoo said he didn’t mind.

‘The choice is yours.’

Gunwoo’s words mixed into Mom’s voice.

‘Oppa wouldn’t mind. But I think I might mind a bit. I thought my feelings would grow distant if we were apart, but they didn’t.’

She repeated internally the words she couldn’t say to Mom and said something else instead.

“It might just be a polite thing to say.”

—Gunwoo’s not the type to say things like that just to be polite.

It was an irrefutable statement. Do Gunwoo believed that any words that came out of his mouth had to be kept unconditionally. That’s why he never gave even the common lip service. 

Not only that. It was the same when he rejected people. Many women who’d confessed to him received wounds they couldn’t wash away from his mercilessly cutting, cold words.

Among them was one of Hyena’s friends.

‘What does it mean to like someone? Would you die for me? Confessing out of the blue without that level of resolve… I’m not idle enough to be swayed by such shallow emotions.’

At the brutal words Gunwoo poured out, her friend ended up bursting into tears.

Back then, she hadn’t noticed her own feelings for Gunwoo, so she’d felt sorry for her friend who couldn’t escape the swamp of heartbreak for days on end.

So she’d confronted Gunwoo.

‘There’s such a thing as courtesy even in rejection. Can’t you say it more gently? Being rejected is already hurtful, but with your harsh words added on top, she was hurt several times over.’

‘No need to give useless hope.’

Hearing that cold answer, she’d thought: ‘If I ever confess to Gunwoo that I like him, he’ll act exactly the same. The years we’ve spent together won’t matter at all.’

‘Stay by my side just as you are now. Unchanging, forever.’

When she recalled the words Gunwoo had once said, one side of her chest ached dully. To Do Gunwoo, Yoon Hyena was a little sister, not a woman. Forever.

Her “first love,” which she couldn’t even properly confess, ended like that. Leaving behind embers that hadn’t completely gone out in her heart.

—Hyena, are you listening?

At the voice coming through the phone, Hyena snapped out of her thoughts and answered brightly.

“Yeah. I’m listening. Go ahead.”

—Living alone and then living with someone would be uncomfortable.

“It’s not just because it’s uncomfortable. For two grown adults of opposite sexes to live in the same house is a bit…”

Before she could finish speaking, giggling laughter came through the phone.

—You grew up like real siblings, seeing everything you should and shouldn’t see since childhood, so what’s with this talk about men and women?

“We grew up like siblings. But we’re not actual siblings.”

—It’s the same thing. How many years have you two spent together?

She couldn’t bring herself to reveal that her feelings for Do Gunwoo had accumulated for just as many years.

—I can picture you following Gunwoo around. No wonder the neighbors called you his shadow. You’d cry and make a fuss whenever you were separated, so you ate together, slept together, played together…

“What ancient history are you bringing up?”

—When you get old, you naturally live off memories. Mom wants you to just keep living in that house for the time being. When you watch the news these days, there are so many crimes targeting women living alone, and it’s unsettling. But if a reliable man like Gunwoo is there with you, Mom feels at ease.

“…”

—Gunwoo must have been lonely by himself in America, so it’ll be better if he lives with you. Actually, Eunju worries a lot.

That last statement seemed to be what Mom had wanted to say most.

Gunwoo, who’d been abused by his biological father and shut his heart tight, couldn’t easily open up even after being adopted by Uncle Sangjin and Aunt Eunju. She couldn’t even guess how much time it took to melt that heart.

To those two who cherished Gunwoo like their own child, he would always be their aching finger.

“I understand what you’re saying.”

—Right, don’t make a hasty decision and live there a bit longer. If it really doesn’t work out, you can come back home.

“Okay. I’ll think about it more.”

It was the moment her firm resolve to leave Gunwoo’s house wavered.

***

When she opened the front door and stepped inside, bright lights greeted her instead of the familiar darkness.

It was fascinating how the air inside the house changed with just one more person.

Hyena moved forward, firmly suppressing her somehow excited heart.

Gunwoo was doing something with documents spread out on the living room table. He was so focused that he didn’t seem to notice she’d arrived. She moved carefully to avoid disturbing him.

“Dinner?”

Gunwoo asked. Flustered by the sudden question, she missed the timing to answer. Perhaps because the expected answer didn’t come, Gunwoo raised his gaze.

“I’m not really thinking about it.”

She just wanted to lie down on her bed like this.

“Even if you’re not thinking about it, eat. You’ll ruin your stomach.”

This was cheating. Seeming indifferent while taking care of her.

‘This is why I lived thinking I was special.’

Through her bitter thoughts, Gunwoo’s voice dug in again.

“Wash up and come out. I’ll set the table.”

She almost refused but changed her mind. 

‘Eating one meal he prepares won’t change anything.’ 

When Hyena came out after washing up, a modest dinner table was set. She definitely hadn’t thought about food at all until just a moment ago, but seeing the food spread before her eyes made her hungry.

Looking at the table with two sets of rice and soup, Hyena asked.

“Haven’t you had dinner yet either, oppa?”

“Yeah.”

‘He still hates eating alone.’ 

Pushing away the thought that automatically came to mind, Hyena picked up her spoon.

Freshly cooked rice, spicy soup, and neat side dishes.

Nothing tasted bad.

“The side dish stores in this neighborhood are all mediocre, but this is delicious. Where did you buy it?”

Gunwoo answered as he set down a water glass in front of Hyena.

“I made it.”

“Ah…”

Hyena understood immediately. She’d already eaten Do Gunwoo’s cooking countless times.

“From tomorrow, I’ll prepare meals for you too, so just know that.”

“You don’t have to…”

“I just need to set out one more spoon.”

“Then what should I do? Cleaning?”

“I’ll do that too, so don’t worry about it.”

No matter what, her conscience wouldn’t allow her to rely on him completely.

“I’m pretty good at cleaning.”

Suddenly, Gunwoo leaned down. As their eye levels became similar, their gazes naturally met.

“Hyena.”

Her heart pounded at the affectionate call.

“People don’t change easily.”

“…”

“Do you know how many times I ran the vacuum today?”

The moment she heard his words, she remembered that she’d barely cleaned for the past week.

“That’s because I’ve been busy lately…”

“Just clean your own room. Don’t make more work by making a mess.”

So like a thorough perfectionist. He’d been like that since childhood. Whenever Hyena tried to do something, he’d casually do it all, and sometimes he’d finish everything before she even started. His reason was that it saved time.

So it was true that it had been convenient in many ways. The problem was that thanks to that, there wasn’t much she could do. The saying about getting soaked in a drizzle fit perfectly.

Of course, the person who made Hyena like this probably had no idea about that fact.

After going through numerous trials and errors, she could at least take care of her own things now, so that was fortunate.

“Have you decided?”

“Hm? Decided what?”

“Whether you’ll keep living here or leave.”

It was finally the moment of decision. Hyena stirred the soup with her spoon as she pondered her answer.

“I should leave.”

Even if not right now, she’d have to leave someday. The only question was when.

An answer came to the words that came out after careful thought.

“It seems hard to find a place these days. Especially around here.”

It was an undeniable fact. Rent and deposits had skyrocketed, making it hard for Hyena to find a decent place with her circumstances. 

The only places she could get with her situation would be shabby studio apartments, and even those would be in bad locations. That had been the decisive reason for moving into Gunwoo’s house.

“Looking for a place, packing, moving, adapting. It seems like it would be quite inconvenient in many ways, so is there really a need to waste that kind of energy?”

Every word was right.

“Are you worried about your boyfriend?”

Gunwoo’s face, as he asked this, had somehow turned cold. For a moment, a chill ran down her spine.

“No, he’s not someone who wouldn’t understand this much.”

Gunwoo stared at Hyena, who answered with her gaze fixed on her bowl, and raised the corners of his mouth. With a somehow ambiguous and dubious expression.

“Then there’s absolutely no problem.”

“…”

“Just live here. With me.”

With his one statement, all the agonizing she’d done disappeared like a lie. Nothing else was needed.

What mattered now was only the fact that Gunwoo had asked her first to live together.

“Use the master bedroom like you do now. Moving luggage would be a hassle too.”

Before she knew it, Hyena was nodding her head vigorously.

“But there are things you must follow if we’re living together.”

As he spoke, Gunwoo met her gaze. Hyena was fully reflected in his black eyes.

“First, always knock when entering each other’s rooms.”

Hyena agreed with that too.

“Second, as of this moment, no men other than me are allowed in this house.”

She had no men to bring in, so she agreed with this as well.

“Of course, that includes your boyfriend.”

She tilted her head at the words quietly added. ‘Why is he emphasizing boyfriend in particular?’

“Then what about you, oppa? You won’t bring your girlfriend either?”

So she asked without realizing it. Gunwoo answered without hesitation.

“This house will be a space for only the two of us.”

Her heart trembled at the eyes that looked straight at only her. Even knowing his true nature, she was momentarily captivated.

“Please take care of me from now on.”

Gunwoo extended his hand. Warm warmth touched through their overlapping palms. The warmth transmitted to Hyena spread throughout her entire body. Until her heart raced thump-thump-thump.

Afraid that Gunwoo might somehow notice such changes, she carefully spoke.

“If oppa does all the cooking and cleaning, I won’t have anything to do. Are you really not going to accept living expenses?”

“What would I do with pocket change?”

“Still…”

“If it really bothers you, just eat meals with me when our schedules match. Eating alone is boring.”

Hyena, who’d put the dishes in the dishwasher and come out, hesitantly settled on the living room sofa. Gunwoo was diligently looking at something at the end of the opposite sofa.

After sneakily gauging the mood, Hyena carefully spoke.

“Oppa, when did you come from America?”

“Yesterday.”

It was a fact she already knew from hearing about it.

“Then when did you come home?”

Her fingertips trembled as she waited for an answer.

“Before you came.”

Hyena groaned silently. 

‘Normally I control my drinking appropriately so I don’t make mistakes, but on days when too much alcohol goes in, I always make some mistake. Because my honesty and boldness far exceed appropriate levels.’

‘But I don’t even remember that day, so I can’t even imagine what kind of disgrace I showed.’

‘No, maybe I quietly went into my room.’

‘Then what about the neatly laid-out clothes?’

‘Maybe I developed a new drinking habit.’

As she asked and answered herself like that, unable to give up her last hope—

“You need to cut back on drinking.”

A decisive statement came.

“You get so drunk you can’t even recognize who someone is, you touch things you absolutely shouldn’t touch. And on top of that…”

Gunwoo, who’d been speaking, let out a long sigh.

“Haha, I had a lot of stressful things that day, so I did drink quite a bit.”

Gunwoo took his gaze off the documents he was looking at and stared at her like that. 

Even though there was quite a distance between them, her shoulders shrank at the persistent gaze that made her unable to move. Hyena hurriedly lowered her eyes.

“Yoon Hyena.”

Gunwoo called her in a voice far from affectionate. Her gaze, which had dropped down, met his again.

“If something like that happens one more time…”

Gulp. Dry saliva went down without her realizing it.

“I absolutely won’t let it slide, so know that.”

Gunwoo, who’d left a chilling warning, turned his gaze back to the documents. Only then did her body, which had been captivated by his gaze, relax. Hyena returned to her room like she was fleeing.

Her pounding heart, her trembling fingertips were foretelling a turbulent cohabitation life.