Jiyeon jolted awake, her throat dry and her heart pounding as she noticed a shadowy figure standing silently at her door. Panic surged through her as she screamed, "Ahhh!!! Theodore!!!"

The figure stepped inside and flicked on the light, revealing Theodore with his messy hair and a pillow clutched under his arm. His eyes were heavy with sleep, and his face carried a look of pure exhaustion.

"It's me, your Theodore," he said, his voice low and groggy.

Jiyeon blinked, her heart slowly calming. "Oh, it's you. What are you doing at this hour?" Her eyes drifted down to the pillow he was carrying. "And... why are you holding that?"

Theodore sighed dramatically, rubbing the back of his neck. "Nothing. Just roaming around your house, looking for a place where I could sleep in peace." His tone was laced with sarcasm, though his sleepy eyes told the story of someone utterly done with the world.

Jiyeon rubbed her eyes, staring at Theodore standing in her doorway with a pillow under his arm. "So, what now?" she asked, her voice groggy.

Theodore leaned against the doorframe, his face a mix of exhaustion and sleepiness. "I'm here to sleep in your room. How's the idea?"

Jiyeon raised an eyebrow. "Can't you think of anything better than this?"

"It's 3:23 a.m.," Theodore replied, his tone flat. "Please, just let me sleep."

Jiyeon sighed, too tired to argue. "Fine. You sleep on my bed, and I'll go to Seojun's room."

Both agreed, and Jiyeon left. But at 4:52 a.m., she returned, shaking Theodore awake. "Hey, wake up! Wake up!"

Theodore groaned, burying his face in the pillow. "Jiyeon, please let me sleep. This bed of yours... I've never had such a good sleep since I came here."

"But you're disturbing my sleep!" Jiyeon protested, shaking him harder. "Are you even listening to what I'm saying?"

Theodore didn't reply, his eyes barely open. Jiyeon, frustrated and equally sleep-deprived, grabbed his arm and pulled. "Get out of my bed! It's my bed!"

Theodore sat up, his hair a mess, and looked at her drowsily. "This is how you treat your guest?"

"You're not my guest," Jiyeon shot back. "It's early morning, and I want to sleep. Get out of my bed, or I'll sleep on you!"

Theodore smirked, leaning back against the headboard. "Okay, as you wish. You can sleep on me."

Jiyeon let out an exasperated groan. "Ohhh! Arghhh!" She grabbed a pillow and started hitting him. "If you don't get out, I'll feed you the spiciest noodles and never help you again!"

Theodore chuckled, raising his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay, sleep." As Jiyeon finally lay down, Theodore quietly left the room, returning moments later with the mattress from Seojun's bed.

Jiyeon sat up, glaring at him. "What are you doing now?"

Theodore placed the mattress on the floor with a serious expression. "I'm going to sleep here. Do you have a problem?"

Jiyeon sighed, lying back down. "No, unless you snore."

Theodore smirked. "Kings never snore."

Jiyeon rolled her eyes. "Oh, so that means you're not human?"

Theodore shrugged, lying down. "Think what you want. I don't have time to waste on your questions. I'm going to sleep."

Both finally drifted off, but twenty minutes later, Theodore woke to the sound of soft snoring. He glanced at Jiyeon, who was fast asleep, and murmured, "She's the one snoring and blaming me." Shaking his head, he lay back down and fell asleep with a faint smile.

A hand gently shook Jiyeon awake. "Hey, wake up," a voice said.

Half-asleep, Jiyeon mumbled, "Theodore, please let me sleep. You were wandering around all night and didn't let me rest."

The voice chuckled. "What are you saying? I'm not Theodore. Look, it's 12:02 p.m. I've already had breakfast and lunch, and you two are still sleeping!"

Jiyeon cracked one eye open and groaned. "You little devil. When did you get here?"

Seojun grinned mischievously. "Just now. What's with you guys? Why are you still sleeping this late?" He smirked. "I think I asked something I shouldn't have."

Jiyeon sat up and lightly punched his head. "It's not what you think! He was afraid to sleep alone."

Seojun raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying himself. "Ohhh... and who's Theodore? Is that someone you like?"

Before Jiyeon could respond, Theodore stirred, his voice groggy. "Who called me?"

Seojun turned to him, wide-eyed. "So Jihoon Hyung has another English name too?"

Theodore blinked a few times, coming to his senses. "Yeah, I made this name for myself. I have two names."

Seojun's eyes sparkled as he clung to Theodore's arm. "Hyung, I want a lavish, king-like name too! Please!"

Jiyeon rolled her eyes. "Seojun, leave him alone and go. He didn't sleep all night because of stress. Don't make him more tired."

Seojun pouted with puppy eyes. "Okay..." He turned to Theodore. "But we'll talk about it later, right?"

Theodore gave a small nod. "Sure, we'll discuss it later."

Seojun beamed. "Thanks, Hyung! You're the best—better than my sister!" He clung to Theodore's arm dramatically.

Jiyeon sighed, exasperated. "I guess today's going to be a bad day if I have to see his face first thing in the morning."

Seojun gasped, his face falling. "Sis, why are you saying that?" His voice cracked as if he were about to cry. (his fake acting)

Jiyeon smirked. "Go, or I'll tell Mom and Dad you were at your friend's house last night."

Seojun's eyes widened in panic. "Fine, I'm going!" He dashed out of the room, leaving Jiyeon and Theodore in peace.

At 2:00 p.m., Jiyeon and Theodore finally sat down for breakfast, freshly showered and still shaking off their exhaustion. As Jiyeon poked at her food, she looked up and asked, "Theodore, can you please teach me English?"

Seojun, who happened to be passing by, chimed in eagerly, "Hyung! Teach me too, please!" His eyes sparkled with excitement as he clasped his hands dramatically.

Theodore chuckled, his rare smile softening his usual stern expression. "Okay," he said with a nod, glancing at the two siblings.

Meanwhile, in a dimly lit office, a woman sat with her back to the room, her silhouette outlined by the glow of the window behind her. A man entered, his steps hesitant as he approached her desk. Bowing slightly, he began, "Ma'am, he was caught by the police. He's currently in custody."

The woman didn't even turn to face him. "I knew he was an idiot the moment I saw him," she said coldly. "But you people put a lot of trust in him."

The man lowered his head further. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but he hasn't said a word."

Her voice, icy and controlled, cut through the tension. "But we don't know how long he'll keep his mouth shut. If anything happens to me or my reputation, I won't let you people live in peace."

The man swallowed hard before speaking again. "Ma'am, there's another problem... He had his ID with him. That girl—the one who caught him—she handed his ID over to the police."

The woman finally turned her chair slightly, her voice laced with venom. "That girl... I know her. Jiyeon Lee." Her lips curled into a sinister smile. "How dare she meddle in my affairs? Unless my work is completed, she'll regret ever crossing my path."

With a slow, deliberate motion, she turned her chair fully, revealing her face. 

Teaser for Next Episode: While Jiyeon seeks help with English lessons, a shadow looms elsewhere.

 A mysterious woman learns of Jiyeon's involvement in an unexpected twist and vows revenge. Who is this enigmatic figure, and what secrets does she hold? 

Tensions rise as paths cross in ways no one saw coming. Don't miss the suspense and surprises in this thrilling episode! 🌟