EPISODE FIVE

Hae Soo stood rooted to the spot, her limbs locked in a paralyzing grip. She was frozen, incapable of even the slightest twitch.

The scene unfolding before her was a grotesque tableau, a nightmare made real, even in the hardened atmosphere of their school.

Ms. Lee Han Gyeong, her white blouse now a crimson stain, stumbled, her knees buckling beneath her. A dark, viscous liquid seeped from a wound in her stomach, a sickening contrast against her pale skin. Lee Hyun Woo, his face contorted in a mask of horror, crumpled to his knees beside her, his hands trembling violently. This wasn't his intent. This wasn't the purpose of his actions.

He was a broken figure, consumed by a regret too profound to bear.

Kim Gyu Jin, the intended target, stood petrified, his eyes wide with disbelief. The violence he had provoked had claimed an innocent victim, a teacher who had stepped between him and the blade.

Lee Ji Woo, her face drained of color, stood motionless. She couldn't reconcile the reality before her eyes. Her twin brother had just committed an act of brutal violence. Her eyes, wide and unblinking, were fixed on the horrifying scene, a silent scream trapped in her throat.

Before anyone could break the tableau of shock, Ga Min burst into the scene, his movements a blur of desperate urgency. He sprinted towards Ms. Lee, his eyes filled with a raw, primal fear. Without hesitation, he scooped her into his arms, the weight of her limp body a crushing burden.

Though his movements were fluid, effortless in their execution, the weight he carried was immense. Ms. Lee, his teacher, a figure of unwavering support and encouragement, lay bleeding in his arms. The weight wasn't just physical; it was the weight of despair, of a future threatened.

Ga Min surged past Hee Won and Hae Soo, who remained frozen in place, their minds struggling to process the atrocity they had witnessed.

Hae Soo had never witnessed such violence firsthand. She had existed in a world where such horrors were confined to screens and whispered rumors. She never imagined she would be forced to witness such a scene with her own eyes.

But she had. And the reality of it, the raw, visceral brutality, was a searing brand on her soul. It was a moment that would forever alter her perception of the world, a stark reminder of the darkness that lurked beneath the surface of their seemingly ordinary lives.

The car held a silence that pressed against Hae Soo's eardrums, an unsettling quietude. Yet, within that stillness, a torrent of unspoken questions raged.

She sat rigid, the empty car a steel and glass cage. The driver, a figure of stoic patience, stood a short distance away, a sentinel awaiting the car's owner's return. Hae Soo's gaze, drawn as if by an invisible thread, fixed on the gleaming, impenetrable glass gates of the police station.

Han Wool was inside. Held. For reasons that remained shrouded in a bewildering fog.

How could a single day twist so violently, summoning him first to a teacher's office, then to this stark, official building? And then, there was the crimson tableau she'd witnessed, a scene that replayed relentlessly behind her eyelids.

A flicker of movement caught her eye. Han Wool emerged, his silhouette sharp against the station's sterile lights. His hands remained buried in his pockets, his posture an unyielding mask of composure. He moved with a deliberate, almost glacial pace, as if a stroll from a police station was a mere routine.

He reached the car door, the handle cool beneath his touch, and slipped inside. The door clicked shut, the sound a sharp punctuation mark in the suffocating silence. Hae Soo's muscles tightened, a knot of dread forming in her stomach. Words clamored for release, yet her tongue remained leaden. Was this the moment? Could she confront him, fresh from the police station?

Han Wool stared straight ahead, a silent plea hanging in the air. He yearned for her concern, for the reassurance he dared not ask for.

"You don't care, do you?" His voice, usually a low rumble, now held a chilling edge, the tone he reserved for those he utterly despised. The sound sent a shiver down Hae Soo's spine. "Your boyfriend was arrested, and you were... what? Playing hero with your newfound friends? Does that make any sense?"

He turned, his eyes devoid of their usual warmth, replaced by a cold, unsettling scrutiny. Hae Soo's breath hitched. He had never spoken to her like this, never looked at her with such icy detachment. She was adrift in unfamiliar territory, the warmth she'd come to rely on replaced by an arctic chill.

His words, sharp and precise, pierced her like the very blade she'd seen moments earlier. A wave of guilt washed over her. She'd been consumed by the teacher's plight, neglecting the man she loved. She should have rushed to the station, her heart pounding with worry. Why had she hesitated? Perhaps a dark, insidious part of her had believed he would somehow extricate himself, as he always seemed to.

But what of the teacher, now likely fighting for her life? The thought was a relentless, gnawing ache.

"You won't even say anything?" Han Wool's voice was laced with disbelief.

Hae Soo finally turned, her gaze meeting his. Those eyes, once a source of comfort, now held a distant, unsettling gleam. "Why were you arrested?" The words were hesitant, strained. The question about the blood-soaked scene lingered, a dark, unspoken burden.

"That's all you want to know? Not if I'm alright?"

"I can see you're alright. Answer the question." Hae Soo's voice, though trembling, held a note of defiance. He had never truly frightened her. Where others saw a monster, she saw a man, a complex, wounded man.

Tears welled in her eyes, the memory of the stabbing too vivid, too raw. Even now, her mind was a whirlwind of concern for the teacher, her fate hanging in the balance. The sight of the blood, the desperate gasp of Ms. Lee, it was all too much.

Han Wool's expression shifted, a flicker of something akin to pain crossing his features. He hated her tears, always had. He remembered the day she cried as a 15–year–old. It wasn't just any bullying; it was a vicious, coordinated attack, fueled by jealousy and spite. They'd cornered her after school, their words laced with venom, their hands pushing and shoving. She'd tried to stand her ground, but they were relentless, their cruelty a physical force.

He'd found her huddled against the school wall, her face streaked with tears, her body trembling. He'd never seen her so broken. That day, he hadn't just comforted her; he'd promised himself, silently, fiercely, that he'd be her shield, her protector. He'd hugged her, and a single tear had escaped his own tightly closed eyes, staining her shirt. It hurt him that much to see her in pain.

"That's not what you really want to know," he said, his voice softer now. "What is it? What's making you cry?" His voice wavered, for a fraction of a second, a fleeting vulnerability. Hae Soo knew the significance of that subtle tremor. He cared, deeply, even if he masked it with layers of steel.

Hae Soo reached for his hand, her fingers intertwining with his. "Han Wool—it's not that I don't care."

He squeezed her hand, a silent acknowledgment. He knew her, the real her, hidden beneath a veneer of strength. She was a wellspring of empathy, a heart too easily wounded.

"Something happened earlier," she began, her voice barely a whisper.

The driver's door swung open, the intrusion shattering the fragile moment. Hae Soo instinctively wiped her eyes, a wave of self–consciousness washing over her.

Han Wool pulled her close, his hand stroking her hair in soothing, rhythmic patterns. He knew she needed this, the comfort of his embrace. He didn't care about the driver's presence.

The car lurched forward, the engine's hum a low, steady thrum. The ride was a silent journey, yet Hae Soo's mind remained a tempest.

"About earlier," she began again, her voice firm. "Ms. Lee Han Gyeong was stabbed."

Han Wool's hand paused, then resumed its soothing motion. He knew.

"I was there. I saw it." Her voice trembled, the memory a physical ache.

Han Wool tightened his embrace, his body a bulwark against her pain.

"Han Wool," she said, pulling back slightly, her eyes searching his. "Lee Hyun Woo stabbed her."

She didn't need to elaborate. He understood the unspoken accusation.

"Did you—" she hesitated, the words catching in her throat. "Did you have something to do with it?"

A heavy silence descended. Han Wool's gaze flickered away, then back to hers. His eyes, usually so sharp and unwavering, held a flicker of something she couldn't quite decipher. Fear? Regret? He knew she suspected him, and he knew she wouldn't let it go. He probably did have something to do with it, some dark, unseen thread connecting him to Lee Hyun Woo. But the words remained trapped in his throat, a confession he was too afraid to voice. He couldn't bear to see the disappointment, the hurt, that would inevitably follow.

"Han Wool..." Hae Soo's voice was a fragile whisper, a plea for something, anything, to lessen the weight of her suspicion.

"He did it on his own will," Han Wool replied, his voice flat, devoid of inflection. His answer, though brief, confirmed her worst fears. He was involved.

"He wasn't going to stab Ms. Lee. He was heading for Kim Gyu Jin, but she stepped in." The memory flashed before her eyes: Hyun Woo's tormented expression, the glint of the blade, Ms. Lee's selfless act of intervention.

The intended victim was Gyu Jin, but Ms. Lee bore the consequence.

"Did you tell him to stab Gyu Jin?" The question hung in the air, charged with unspoken dread. Hae Soo's eyes, wide and searching, begged for a denial, a sliver of hope.

She knew, deep down, what the answer would likely be. But the thought of her boyfriend orchestrating violence, of him directing someone to inflict such harm, was a chilling prospect. She knew his world wasn't pristine, that shadows lurked in its corners. He'd always kept her at a distance, claiming his life was too dangerous, too entangled in darkness. She'd accepted his boundaries, but she'd always yearned for his trust, for a glimpse into the hidden depths of his soul.

"I only gave him the tools. He made his own choices." His words were clipped, concise, as always. He offered no elaborate explanations, no justifications. Han Wool was a man of few words, his communication a language of subtle nuances and unspoken intentions. He rarely raised his voice, rarely indulged in lengthy monologues.

Even his expressions of affection were minimalist, yet Hae Soo had learned to decipher the depth of his feelings beneath the surface.

Now, his stark admission left her reeling. He had armed Hyun Woo, set him on a path of violence. The teacher's injury was an unintended consequence, a tragic twist of fate. But the intent, the initial act of instigation, was his.

Hae Soo's mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. Disbelief, hurt, a flicker of fear. She'd always known he was capable of darkness, but to hear him admit it, to witness the cold detachment in his eyes, was a stark awakening.

Sure, she was aware Kim Gyu Jin wasn't the best person. She was aware of how he had been threatening Ji Woo with something her brother did, and she had been doing all of this just to protect her brother. But was stabbing him really needed? Did it have to go that far?

Hae Soo looked away from his eyes, breaking the long contact, but she didn't fully disengage. She couldn't. She leaned back into his arms, her head a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts.

Should she even be letting him hold her like this after the information she just received? Is this right? The question echoed in her mind, a dissonance between her heart and her conscience.

Han Wool didn't react further. He held her in his arms, his hold gentle yet firm, as if letting go would mean she would dissipate into thin air. His hand resumed its rhythmic motion on her hair as he stared out the window, a silent sentinel.

He was acutely aware that her mind was still a battlefield of unanswered questions, questions he had no intention of answering. So, he did the only thing he could: offer his presence, his unwavering support.

Hae Soo mirrored his silence, her gaze drifting out the window until it landed on the looming silhouette of the hospital.

She straightened abruptly, leaning forward towards the driver's seat. "Ahjussi, could you stop in front of the hospital?"

Han Wool leaned forward, raising a questioning brow. "Why the hospital?" His voice was calm, but a subtle undercurrent of concern lingered.

Hae Soo looked back at him, her eyes softening. "I want to see Ms. Lee."

Han Wool offered no resistance, no further questions. He understood her need for closure, her inability to rest until she knew the teacher was safe. He simply nodded towards the driver, granting silent permission.

As the car slowed to a halt, Hae Soo turned to Han Wool, a grateful smile gracing her lips. Han Wool's eyes softened in response, a silent acknowledgment of her unspoken gratitude.

"Don't wait for me. I'll just take a taxi back." Han Wool wanted to object, to insist on waiting, but the pleading look in her eyes silenced him. He let out a soft sigh, nodding in acquiescence.

Before Hae Soo could open the door, Han Wool gently gripped her arm, causing her to pause and turn, her brows furrowed in confusion. "Aren't you forgetting something?"

"Huh?" She was momentarily puzzled, until the realization dawned. She glanced between the driver, his gaze fixed straight ahead, and Han Wool, his face a mask of serene expectation.

A shy smile blossomed on her lips as she leaned forward, pressing herself against him, her arms wrapping around his shoulders. Han Wool melted into her embrace, a silent yearning for the moment to linger.

Han Wool's eyes fluttered closed, a wave of warmth washing over him. After the day's turmoil, this was precisely what he craved, what he had been unconsciously longing for. Her arms. They were his sanctuary, the only place where he could truly let down his guard.

"Is that enough?" Hae Soo whispered, her voice laced with amusement, as she prepared to pull away. But Han Wool's arms tightened around her waist, drawing her closer. Hae Soo stifled a chuckle.

The driver must be wishing he was anywhere else, she thought, suppressing a grin.

"I need to go, Han Wool." Hae Soo gently disentangled herself from his embrace, his hold reluctant to release her. As she pulled away, she noticed the faint blush that painted his cheeks.

Hae Soo held his hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Goodbye." Han Wool offered a silent hum in response, a subtle shake of his head. He didn't want her to leave, but he understood.

Just as Hae Soo slipped out of the car, Han Wool's voice followed. "Text me when you get home." She nodded in return, turning to walk away, into the hospital's sterile embrace.

Han Wool watched her disappear, his gaze lingering on the empty space she had occupied.

He let out a sigh. Her warmth still lingered on him, a phantom sensation, refusing to dissipate. Her touch still clung to him like an invisible thread. The car still carried the subtle scent of her presence. Yet, she was gone.

"You can go." The driver obeyed instantly, the car merging seamlessly into the flow of traffic.

As the car moved, the silence deepened, allowing Han Wool's thoughts to replay the day's events. His mind, however, always returned to her.

Her smile, her eyes, her hair, her lips. Just her. Every facet of her being. The way her eyes crinkled when she smiled, the way her hair swayed in the breeze, the way her lips moved as she spoke.

He noticed every minute detail, memorizing them like an essential lesson. They were important. To him, they were everything.

EPISODE FIVE, END

Updated wayyy later than I planned on to and I'm so sorry for that. I literally fell asleep while editing this and woke up almost thirty minutes later.

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