Plates clattered gently, a soft overture beneath murmured provocations. Eun-sol moved between the tables with fluid ease, the warm glow from the lanterns softening the cool night air as she served dishes and chatted comfortably with the guests. She reached Seo-jin’s table, setting a fragrant plate down in front of her.

Before Seo-jin could even offer a word of thanks, Soo-hyun cut in, his voice laced with casual mischief. "Eun-sol, you really need to get to know Seo-jin better. You both have a common somebody."

Eun-sol paused, a perfectly shaped eyebrow arching in mild amusement, curiosity sparking in her eyes. "Oh? Really? A common somebody?"

Soo-hyun leaned back in his chair, enjoying the immediate attention. "Seo-jin and Hyun-woo go way back. High school friends. Very familiar with Hyun-woo is our Seo-jin."

On the table just in front of them, Hyun-woo, previously engaged in conversation, paused mid-sentence. His eyes, sharp and suddenly watchful, flicked toward their table, directly observing and hearing every word.

Eun-sol tilted her head slightly, intrigued, her gaze returning to Seo-jin. "That so? Then we should definitely talk later." She looked up at Hyun-woo, a playful, teasing glint in her eyes. "I wouldn’t mind comparing notes."

Seo-jin forced a soft laugh, a fragile sound, shaking her head slightly. "Oh no. I’m sure your notes are far more recent than mine."

Eun-sol merely smirked, nudging the plate closer to Seo-jin with a light, confident touch. "Don’t be shy. I love a good backstory."

A beat stretched. Seo-jin tensed almost imperceptibly, her shoulders stiffening, but she didn’t push back, her gaze fixed on the food.

Across the pavilion, Hyun-woo remained still, watching them. His expression was thoughtful, unmoving, but there was just a hint of concern in his gaze, a subtle ripple in his usual composure.

"Just saying, Eun-sol," Soo-hyun continued, clearly enjoying the dynamic. "If you get a full rundown, let me know. I love hearing about Hyun-woo’s teenage years."

A beat. Do-yeon exhaled slowly and measuredly through her nose. Then, with swift, precise timing, her foot connected with Soo-hyun’s shin under the table. He jerked slightly, sucking in a sharp breath, barely masking the jolt of pain.

Do-yeon innocently lifted her glass, taking a slow sip without comment, her eyes wide and guileless. "Must be the uneven terrain," she murmured, a faint smirk playing on her lips.

Soo-hyun narrowed his eyes at her, a silent threat in his glare, but he said nothing, forced to let it go. Eun-sol chuckled softly, catching the silent exchange but choosing not to comment, her amusement evident.

Seo-jin just picked up her fork, choosing the safety of silence, an acknowledgment of the tension. Hyun-woo finally looked away from their table, resuming his own meal, his expression once again unreadable.

Seo-jin flicked her gaze toward him, just for a second, a quick, almost desperate search. But Hyun-woo was already looking elsewhere, his attention seemingly fully directed at his plate. She exhaled, a barely perceptible release of air, and took a bite of her food.