The door, which had seemed jammed shut, suddenly creaked open—no, more like it chose to open, as if on cue. Shana entered with a triumphant smirk and a dangerously seductive smile. But the two people standing before her were still locked in an intense, frozen stare, like some overly dramatic scene from a sappy romance film. Shana instantly pouted.

Without warning, she wrapped her arms around Duyen and planted a kiss right on her lips.

Yes. Right in front of Mina.

"Ah, Duyen ~ I missed you soooo much~" she cooed in a sugary, high-pitched voice.

It made Duyen shiver. She was yanked back to reality, suddenly aware of who was beside her. Mina, too, was stunned by Shana's sudden move. What... the hell just happened? She nearly blurted it out. Everything had happened so fast—Duyen appeared, and then this woman kissed her, and...

Heaven help her.

Mina's wide eyes said it all.

What the actual hell!?

"You... you..." Duyen stammered. Her crush from college was standing in front of her, while the absolute chaos gremlin that had recently become her housemate was clinging to her side. She didn't even know what to say.

Shana, of course, wasn't the least bit fazed. She glanced at Mina with a smirk that practically dripped sarcasm.

"Oh my, I'm so sorry. I didn't realize you were here. I was just... too focused on my Duyen."

"Huh?" Mina exclaimed before she could stop herself. Normally calm and composed to a fault, the sheer absurdity of what was happening shattered her professional mask completely.

"Oh my, Kamakiri-san? You shouldn't trouble yourself. You can go now. I have some business to attend to with my sweet little lover~"

Lover?! Mina didn't even get a chance to respond before Shana yanked Duyen into the president's office and slammed the door shut, leaving her alone with the scandalous mess Shana had stirred up and the curious glances of every single employee nearby. Mina stood frozen.

Then she laughed bitterly.

"What the hell just happened?!"

She didn't even realize how much attention she was drawing. People were staring, whispering. She turned and gave them a glare so cold it could've killed a man. The OPA staff immediately scattered like frightened cats.

That damn woman. Mina clenched her fists. She called me here just to act like I didn't exist?

Another laugh, darker this time, slipped out.

And what the hell is Duyen doing here?

She looked toward the heavy office door, then toward Secretary Oh with an unspoken question. Poor Secretary Oh had no idea why she was being glared at, and just shook her head frantically.

---

Behind the door, Duyen was struggling. Shana had her pinned, one hand over her mouth, stopping her from grabbing the door handle.

In all her life, Duyen had never met a woman as freakishly strong as Shana. She couldn't move. She gritted her teeth, face red with effort, and finally resorted to using her leg to push Shana off. Shana stumbled back, reluctantly letting go.

Duyen immediately wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and stared at her in disbelief.

"What the hell was that?! And why is—"

Why is she here? The question burned in her throat, but she didn't say it aloud.

"Oh, that pretty Japanese lady? Familiar, right? She's my business partner~"

"Partner?!"

Duyen was still glaring, half in disbelief, half in confusion. Shana just laughed and shrugged.

"Well, it's a long story. Actually, not that long. I don't care about her or her stupid convenience store chain. Isn't it great?"

She leaned in close, scanning Duyen from head to toe with a mischievous grin.

"And now she has much bigger things to worry about~"

What the hell is this woman even saying? Duyen didn't care. All she could think about was Mina. She looked at the door.

Just moments ago, she had wanted to run to Mina. To explain. To tell her everything about Shana—that it wasn't what it looked like. But now that she knew Mina was still standing out there... fear rooted her in place.

Why should I explain anything? Duyen thought bitterly. We're nothing now.

Shana noticed the shift in her eyes—that distant, sad look. She gently pulled Duyen's face back toward her.

"Don't even think about going out there to see her..."

Duyen pushed her hand away.

"What are you even trying to do, huh?"

Shana pouted dramatically and bit her hand.

"OW! WHAT THE HELL?!"

Duyen didn't hit her back. She just cradled her hand, sinking to the floor. Seeing this, Shana actually looked guilty. She knelt beside her, took Duyen's hand again—and instead of another bite, she kissed it gently, then nuzzled it against her cheek.

Weird. Everything she did was weird. But the gentleness calmed Duyen.

"Did that hurt?" Shana asked softly.

"Obviously, you psycho..."

Still, she didn't pull her hand away.

---

Hours later, Shana finally let her go. Duyen dragged herself out of the OPA building, exhausted.

Then a sharp honk. She turned.

A sleek, red Maserati MC20 convertible waited by the curb. Mina, radiant as ever, waved enthusiastically.

"Duyen!"

"Mina..."

Duyen blushed instantly.

Mina stepped out, still as elegant and graceful as always. But today she seemed a bit... breathless. Almost giddy. That smile on her face was pure sunshine.

"Duyen, it's been so long... You've changed a lot."

Then Mina blushed. Was that too bold? Was she being too forward? But Duyen just smiled awkwardly.

"And you haven't changed at all. Still just as beautiful."

Mina blushed again. People complimented her looks all the time. She was used to it. But hearing it from her?

It felt like the sweetest thing she'd ever heard.

What is wrong with me? she thought, turning away, flustered.

But she quickly regained her composure.

"Are you free right now?"

Duyen looked down, cheeks still pink. She nodded. "Yeah, I'm free."

Mina beamed.

"Then let's grab some coffee."

"But I..."

"Haha, you're too cute. Don't worry. My treat."

She gently took Duyen's hand and led her to the car.

From a high window, Shana watched with a face like thunder.

"Where's Secretary Oh?!"

"Y-yes, President!"

Secretary Oh burst in like lightning, hair frazzled. Shana tossed her the keys to her Mercedes.

"We're following them. Now."

"President... I-I don't think that's appropriate..."

"What do you know?! We're going now or we'll miss the evidence!"

---

In a luxurious outdoor cafe near a private school in the heart of the city, two women crouched behind a massive potted plant, wrapped in a blanket like guerrilla fighters.

A waiter tiptoed over, unsure what to make of it.

"Um... excuse me? Would you ladies like to sit at a table instead? I can bring your order there, it's just that the other customers might... complain."

"No."

The gorgeous redhead hissed through the blanket, flashing a black card. The waiter's eyes sparkled.

"One matcha latte. You?"

The poor secretary clinging to some branches jumped. "Ah, uh... iced coffee for me..."

"Would you like us to bring those... here?"

The waiter looked unsure. Were beautiful women just inherently more unhinged these days? But whatever. He turned to serve his two VIP shrubbery guests.

"There! Look, President!" Oh whispered.

The red convertible pulled up. Duyen and Mina stepped out, looking like they belonged on the cover of a fashion magazine.

Everyone in the cafe turned to look.

Shana gritted her teeth. Secretary Oh muttered prayers.

"But President... how are we supposed to hear what they're saying from here?"

Shana glared. "You can't."

Her eyes glowed faintly blue.

Distance wouldn't be a problem for her.

---

Duyen hadn't been to a fancy place like this in forever. She glanced around at the sleek interior, completely unaware of the way people were staring at her.

Mina watched her with a smile. Duyen's wide-eyed innocence was... adorable.

A server placed menus before them.

"Duyen, what would you like?"

The question caught her off guard. She opened the menu—and her eyes widened. She didn't recognize a single drink name. And the prices? She could probably drink one sip of orange juice with two months' pay.

She shut her eyes.

Thankfully, free iced tea arrived.

"Oh, I'm fine with iced tea, Mina. I love iced tea..."

Mina saw through it immediately. She returned the menu to the server.

"A cappuccino with extra milk for her, and I'll have a black coffee."

"Cappuccino?" Duyen blinked.

Mina just smiled.

"Back at Yelsulin, I noticed you always ordered cappuccino with extra milk."

She noticed? Duyen never dreamed her college crush remembered something that small.

"Is that true?" Mina asked nervously, cheeks flushed.

Duyen nodded shyly.

"But I haven't had one in a while..."

"Oh..."

Mina looked down, a trace of sadness in her eyes.

Right. It's been four years. People change. Maybe only I remember those little things.

"But I still love cappuccino!"

"Ah! It's okay! I can ask them to change it—"

"No! I really like it!"

They both stopped, flustered.

Then burst into laughter.

Even Mina was surprised by herself.

Was this... a first date?

No, Mina. Don't get ahead of yourself.

But the way Duyen looked... she had changed. Sharper jawline, smaller nose, more mature features. And yet, Mina still saw the same Duyen from four years ago—those amber eyes and that kind heart.

Realizing she'd been staring, Mina looked away.

"So... how have you been, Duyen?"

She remembered Duyen hadn't come to graduation. She never came to reunions either. What happened to the girl Mina once knew?

"Nothing much. Just helping at my dad's pho shop and doing part-time work here and there."

Pho shop? Duyen?

"That can't be. With your degree, you could be a manager by now!"

Why did she sound... upset? She admired Duyen. Why wasn't she where she deserved to be?

But Duyen just smiled.

"Maybe office jobs aren't for me."

"Duyen..."

Duyen just giggled and sipped her cappuccino.

Mina watched her, heart aching.

"What about you? I heard you're the Head of Planning at SCJ. That's huge."

Mina chuckled nervously. "It's not much, really..."

Sure, she earned it with her work. But being the youngest daughter of the Kamakiri family helped. And she didn't feel proud of that.

Still, the admiration in Duyen's eyes gave her a strange sense of pride.

"As expected, Mina. We really are from two different worlds. I could never be good enough for you..."

"What?! Don't say that, Duyen! That's not true at all!"

No. Duyen would never say something like that unless someone poisoned her mind. Mina wanted to reach across the table, to take her hands, to say everything she'd kept inside for years.

Because, Duyen...

To me, you are...

"I'm sorry..."

Duyen stood abruptly. Mina was still lost in her gaze.

"I have deliveries to make. I need to go."

A lie. She just wanted to run. To escape this sudden storm of emotions. This meeting was a mistake. Mina had a family now. This couldn't...

"The cappuccino..."

"I'll pay."

Before Mina could offer, Duyen left a small stack of crumpled bills on the table.

"See you around, Mina."

"See you... Duyen..."

Mina's heart twisted.

She wanted to reach out. To beg her to stay. But it was too late.

Duyen hated her. That had to be it.

"So? How did it feel?"

That cloying perfume. Mina didn't even need to look to know.

"You followed us."

"Would you believe me if I said I was just in the neighborhood?"

Mina turned, eyes cold.

"How thoughtful of President Shana."

"Cut the act, Mina. We're not at work."

Oh, so she wanted to play?

"I don't know how you and Duyen ended up together, but let me warn you—if you try to use her..."

Shana laughed. Mina frowned.

"Use her? That's rich. Didn't you reject her back then? And now you're scared she's trusting me instead?"

"What?"

Mina growled.

"Hit a nerve, did I? Don't worry. Let me spell it out for you, Mina."

Shana leaned in, whispered right in her ear.

"You were right. Duyen hates you now~"

Hates me...

Mina's breath hitched. Her pupils widened. Shana smiled victoriously.

"How can you revive a tree that's already dead, Mina? Are you mad because she TRUST ME now?"

Duyen trusts her? That manipulative, twisted...?

But Shana knew things. Private things. Things only Duyen would know.

Damn it!

Mina clenched her fists until her knuckles went white.

Then, she smiled sweetly.

"Oh? Funny, because on the way here, Duyen said plenty about you, too."

"Huh?"

Shana raised an eyebrow.

"She said you were manipulative, sleazy, perverted, annoying—"

Okay, Duyen only called her annoying. But Mina improvised. And judging by Shana's twitching smile, it worked.

"She really said that...?"

Shana trembled like a cat about to strike.

Mina stood, grabbing her purse elegantly.

"Good day, President."

The sound of shattered glass echoed as Shana crushed the cup in her hand.

Mina disappeared into the red Maserati.

"That smug little witch..."