Soft lamplight filled Seo-jin’s living room. Takeout containers were pushed to the corner of the table, the remnants of a shared meal. The mood was low, but not heavy. Do-yeon was curled up on the couch, legs tucked under her, a silent anchor. Seo-jin sat nearby, clutching a warm mug, her face still showing the strain of the evening.

"How did you get back from the park?" Do-yeon asked gently, breaking the comfortable silence.

Seo-jin hesitated, her eyes flicking toward the window. "He dropped me off. Said nothing. Not even goodbye."

Do-yeon scoffed, trying to cover it with a sip of water, a familiar frustration surfacing. "Of course he did." A beat. "He told me to check on you, by the way. Texted like a worried father with no social skills."

Seo-jin allowed herself a faint smile, appreciative of the clumsy concern.

"Look—" Do-yeon said, sitting up slightly. "You cracked it open. The air’s cleared. Now you just need to get through the next week, and then... you’ll never have to see him again if you don’t want to."

Seo-jin nodded slowly, processing the words, considering the possibility of a life free from this particular entanglement. "I know."

They had cleared away what remained of their meal together and gathered bedding into the lounge. The two women settled beneath separate blankets, Do-yeon on the floor mattress she always ended up using.

"Remember. I snore if I roll left. Just whack me," Do-yeon mumbled, half-asleep.

"I’ll throw a book," Seo-jin replied softly.

A quiet laugh from both. The lamp clicked off.

Min-su entered his office to find Hyun-woo already seated.

"You’re early," Min-su said, his tone one of mild surprise.

"I won’t take long," Hyun-woo replied, his posture relaxed. "I’ve updated the rollout calendar. Everything’s ready through delivery."

Min-su noticed the tone in Hyun-woo's voice. He closed the door, sensing the conversation was more serious than just a status update.

"I’d like to hand the reins over," Hyun-woo continued, his gaze steady. "Let Soo-hyun carry it from here."

A pause stretched between them.

"Is this about the meeting Monday, or..." Min-su started, gesturing vaguely toward the previous day's events.

"All of it," Hyun-woo confirmed. "The project deserves someone who’s not divided. He’s ready. I’ve seen it. You have too."

Min-su crossed his arms. He wasn't angry, just... still.

"I was hoping you’d find your rhythm again," Min-su admitted. "But I respect the honesty. That’s not always been your strong suit."

Hyun-woo offered a half-smile, a subtle acknowledgement of the truth in Min-su’s words.

"I’ll talk to Soo-hyun," Min-su said, accepting the decision.

"He won’t let it drop," Hyun-woo replied, referring to Soo-hyun's pride and determination.

Min-su nodded. "Neither did you, once."

They exchanged a long, understanding glance. Min-su gathered the folders from the table, handling them gently. He left, leaving Hyun-woo alone in the golden light. It was a quiet, chosen exit.

Do-yeon and Seo-jin exited the apartment building's main doors into the street. The warmth of the morning's sunlight was a welcome to their faces. Seo-jin checked her watch, her gaze then landing on the familiar bus stop half a block away. She grabbed Do-yeon’s sleeve.

"Let’s take a cab," Seo-jin said, her voice decisive.

"Thought we were saving money?" Do-yeon questioned, surprised.

"I’ve paid enough this week," Seo-jin replied, a quiet defiance in her tone.

Do-yeon nodded, offering no argument. They walked in the opposite direction to the bus stop, past old habits, toward something a little more in their control.

A coffee cup sat untouched on Seo-jin’s desk. Muted light filtered in from the window. She sat reviewing design drafts on her computer, but her eyes glazed a little past them. She adjusted a text block, then scrolled. Scrolled again. A post-it note on her monitor caught her eye: ‘Check copy final w/Hyun-woo – Thurs.’

She stared at it, then slowly peeled it off. She looked at it carefully before crumpling it deliberately in her hand, then dropped it into the bin. She paid it no mind and went back to her work.

Do-yeon passed by the open door, saw her, and paused. "You good?" she asked, her voice gentle.

"I will be," Seo-jin replied, without turning, her gaze still fixed on her screen.

Do-yeon lingered for a moment, then kept walking, a silent understanding passing between them.