The storm had passed, and the house was already experiencing the stir of early risers. Most of them had passed through in the kitchen. Coffee cups the only sign people had been present. The kitchen of the main house was warm and simply appointed, a long wooden table flanked by benches dominating the space. Soo-hyun sat at one end, half-awake, a mug of coffee clutched in his hand. Hyun-woo stood by the sink sipping his coffee. A distance too deliberate to be casual.

Eun-sol entered, her slippers soft on the polished floor, her hair tied back framing her face. She moved toward the worktop, ready to make a fresh pot of coffee. Soo-hyun rose, joining her at the counter, his eyes flickering towards Hyun-woo, silently observing him.

"Morning. Sleep alright?" Soo-hyun asked, a sly smile playing on his lips.

Eun-sol busied herself hunting for cups. "Like a brick. You?"

"Sure... I’m just curious what you saw when you walked into that house last night." Soo-hyun’s tone was light, but his gaze was sharp.

Hyun-woo now moved to the kitchen table at the far end. The pair watched him sit. 

She looked back to Soo-hyun, she raised an eyebrow, a flicker of amusement in her eyes. "You mean the damp architect and the woman stitched into his jacket?"

Soo-hyun smiled, enjoying her response. "So you did notice the coat."

She leaned against the counter, letting him wait, drawing out the moment. "Hard not to when she was practically sewn into it." A beat. "You think I’m some kind of mole, reporting back?"

"I’m hoping for a friendlier word," Soo-hyun replied, his grin widening. "Like... informant."

They shared a grin, a brief alliance in their shared curiosity.

Just then, Seo-jin entered the kitchen. She paused when she saw Eun-sol and Soo-hyun huddled together. Their eyes met as she passed them by, not unfriendly, just measured. Eun-sol offered a friendly smile. "Morning."

"Morning," Seo-jin replied, her voice flat, and moved past them to the table.

"Oh good. Everyone’s friends again," Soo-hyun quipped, his voice laced with thinly veiled sarcasm.

Eun-sol watched Seo-jin, quietly taking in the stiffness in her shoulders. She flicked a glance at Hyun-woo, who avoided her gaze, his expression unreadable.

"It's like a car crash. You can’t look away," Soo-hyun continued, his voice a low, taunting drawl, clearly directed at Hyun-woo. "Takes a lot of effort to ignore someone so completely like that, don't you think?"

"He didn’t even glance once," Eun-sol murmured softly, almost to herself, her eyes on Hyun-woo. Soo-hyun saw the moment click for Eun-sol, a dawning understanding in her eyes.

The breakfast plates were mostly cleared. A light breeze curled in from the open front door. Eun-sol stepped into the entryway, her coat already on, keys jingling faintly in her palm. She turned to the group, a polite smile on her face.

"Thank you for letting me crash the retreat," she said, her gaze sweeping over everyone. She paused, her eyes softening as she looked at Seo-jin. "And thank you for sharing your room. That was... generous."

Seo-jin offered a soft, controlled smile, a small nod, but didn’t rise from her seat between Do-yeon and Sang-wook.

Eun-sol moved toward her anyway, leaning in for a quick, warm hug, nothing clingy, just a friendly embrace. Then, she crossed the room to Hyun-woo. They spoke in low tones, their conversation a private bubble.

"I can’t hear what they’re saying," Do-yeon whispered to Seo-jin, leaning in slightly.

A moment later, both Hyun-woo and Eun-sol glanced in Seo-jin’s direction, a brief, shared look. Then Eun-sol leaned in fully, wrapping Hyun-woo in a brief but complete hug, a kiss on the cheek. He didn’t flinch, accepting it with his usual composure.

She turned to Min-su next, another kiss, lighter, familial. "Let me walk you to your car."

Eun-sol nodded. They disappeared out the door. Seo-jin watched them go from her seat, still, unsure why she was holding her breath, why her chest felt tight.

"How were they NOT a couple?" Sang-wook blurted out, breaking the quiet.

Do-yeon pulled a face at Sang-wook, then slapped his knee, a silent reprimand. She then turned to look at Seo-jin, her gaze sharp, knowing she wasn’t imagining the tension that permeated the room.

Hyun-woo looked over at Seo-jin. He started to walk across the room towards her, his steps measured, deliberate. But Seo-jin saw him. She rose abruptly, almost too fast, a sudden, panicked movement. Do-yeon followed, placing a casual but intentional hand on the small of her back, a silent offer of support. They both exited the room, not looking back.

Hyun-woo stopped mid-stride, still, his expression unreadable, frozen in place.

A pause. Then, Sang-wook, still seated at the table, leaned back and stared up at him, his voice cutting through the lingering tension. "What is your problem with her?"

Everyone froze briefly. Hyun-woo didn’t respond, his gaze fixed on the empty doorway.

Do-yeon’s voice could be faintly heard from the hallway, a muffled whisper, as she led Seo-jin away.