Arc 1: A new world – Korea Calling
Chapter 13: Unseen Jealousy (Part 1)

This is a fictional story. Any resemblance to real people, places, companies, or events is entirely coincidental.

[Current Time]

[South Korea – KIC Office – Nov 5, 2025 – 08:57:13 AM]

When Nina had walked into the Formula 1 Opening Gala a few nights ago, she'd believed the hardest part of the evening would be stepping into a room full of celebrities.

She had been wrong.

The cameras hadn't been the problem.

Neither had the famous faces.

She had no way of knowing that somewhere else in Seoul, one photograph would quietly find its way onto Yoo-Joon's notebook.

And that a single photograph would become far more dangerous than the gala itself.

Nina hadn't expected silence to be this loud.

—-

The elevator chimed softly as the doors slid open.

The familiar sounds of KIC greeted her.

Coffee machines hissed.

Someone laughed near reception.

Printers hummed.

Phones rang somewhere down the hallway.

Everything looked exactly the same.

Only she felt different.

She adjusted the strap of her bag and stepped onto the floor.

"Morning, Nina!"

"Good morning."

"Hey! Feeling better?"

She smiled politely.

"A little."

People accepted the answer and continued walking.

Work never waited for broken hearts.

Neither did deadlines.

As she walked through the open office, her eyes instinctively searched the glass-walled corner office.

He was already there.

Yoo-Joon sat at the conference table, sleeves rolled neatly to his elbows, quietly reviewing tomorrow's shooting script.

Morning light reflected across the glass between them.

For a brief second...

she hoped he would look up.

He didn't.

Not once.

Her chest tightened.

"...Good morning," she whispered to herself.

For the first time since arriving in Korea...

she hoped he simply hadn't seen her.

"Nina!"

Haejin's cheerful voice crashed through her thoughts.

"There you are!"

The younger woman hurried toward her carrying two paper coffee cups.

"I bought yours before mine. See? I'm becoming responsible."

Nina accepted the cup with a small smile.

"I'll write this date down."

"You should."

Haejin squinted at her.

"...You look like you slept three hours."

"I slept."

"That wasn't my question."

Nina laughed softly.

"I'm okay."

"Mhm."

Haejin clearly didn't believe her.

But before she could continue—

The office speakers chimed.

"Would everyone involved in the Supervisor Corp production please gather in Meeting Room Three."

Haejin frowned.

"This early? What’s happen?”

Nina shrugged.

"No idea."

Meeting Room Three buzzed with quiet conversation.

The producer stood near the presentation screen.

Beside him waited Director Choi.

A woman from the Marketing Department adjusted several folders beneath her arm.

Soohyun leaned casually against the wall.

Even Yoo-Joon was already seated.

He nodded politely when Nina entered.

Nothing more.

No smile.

No warmth.

Professional.

Almost painfully so.

Nina lowered her eyes and chose the chair farthest from him.

A minute later —

The door opened again.

"Am I late?”

Junho stepped inside wearing a black hoodie, sunglasses resting on his head despite being indoors.

A helmet dangled casually from one hand.

The room brightened almost immediately.

"So you do own clocks," Soohyun deadpanned.

"Barely."

Junho grinned.’

He noticed it the moment he stepped into the room. Nina's shoulders were stiff, her smile absent, the exhaustion in her eyes impossible to miss. 

He knew that expression far too well. 

If the room insisted on feeling heavy, then someone would have to become the fool. 

With a quiet sigh only he could hear, he slipped on his usual easygoing smile and decided, just for today, to be that someone.

"I was negotiating with coffee."

"You lost."

"I always lose."

Several people chuckled.

Even Nina couldn't help smiling.

Junho noticed.

He smiled back.

Nothing flirtatious.

Just friendly.

Then he quietly took the empty seat beside her.

Yoo-Joon's gaze lingered for half a second longer than it should have.

Only half.

No one noticed.

Except him.

The producer clapped once.

"Thank you, everyone."

He switched on the projector.

Several concept images appeared across the screen.

Costume references.

Lighting tests.

Poster mock-ups.

Investor presentation pages.

"As everyone knows," the producer began, "our first investor presentation is approaching."

He looked around the room.

"The drama has generated far more interest than we expected."

Director Choi nodded.

"So before filming continues, we'd like to update our internal presentation package."

The marketing manager stepped forward.

"To be absolutely clear..."

She looked directly at Nina.

"Nothing we're discussing today is public."

Nina visibly relaxed.

The woman smiled reassuringly.

"Your anonymity agreement remains exactly as written.”

Both Yoo-Joon and Junho exchanged almost imperceptible glances.

Neither of them had known.

Until that moment, they had simply assumed Nina disliked attention.

They hadn't realized it was written into her contract—that the woman who had created one of KIC's most anticipated stories had chosen to remain invisible.

"We're preparing materials exclusively for internal use."

"Investors."

"Broadcast partners."

"Executive presentations."

"No photographs involving you will ever be published."

Nina nodded slowly.

"Thank you.”

Suddenly, so many little things made sense — the oversized hoodies, the caps pulled low over her eyes, the sunglasses she wore even on cloudy days. 

He had thought they were habits. 

Now he wondered how much of them had been fear.

Deeply in his heart, Junho had come to the same conclusion.

"We know how important that clause is."

The next slide appeared.

Three names.

Original Creator — Lead Actor — Original Soundtrack Artist

The producer smiled.

"Stories aren't built by one person."

He pointed toward Nina.

"The creator."

Toward Yoo-Joon.

"The face."

Then —

Toward Junho.

"And the voice that will close every episode."

Junho blinked.

"...That's dramatic."

"You sing dramatic songs."

"Fair point."

Laughter circled the room.

Even Director Choi smiled.

The producer continued.

"We'd like to create several concept photographs showing the three creative pillars behind Supervisor Corp."

“Again —"

He looked at Nina.

"These are not promotional posters."

"They're internal visual materials."

"They won't leave KIC."

Nina hesitated only a second.

"...If my face stays confidential..."

"It does."

She nodded.

"Then I don't have any objections."

"Great."

The producer changed slides again.

A rough shooting schedule appeared.

8 November - Concept Photography, Studio B, 09:00–16:00

Junho raised one hand.

"I have an important question."

The producer sighed.

"I'm already worried."

"Will there be food?"

Silence.

Then Haejin burst into laughter.

Director Choi pinched the bridge of his nose.

"That's your important question?"

"I'm an artist."

"So?"

"I require nutrition."

The room laughed again.

Even Nina's shoulders relaxed.

"Yes," the producer answered with exaggerated patience.

"There will be lunch."

Junho pumped a fist dramatically.

"I accept this project."

Across the table—

Yoo-Joon watched Nina laugh.

It had only lasted two seconds.

Maybe three.

But it was real.

The kind of smile she'd once reserved only for him.

Something tightened painfully beneath his ribs.

Don't.

His mother's voice echoed inside his head.

Distance.

She'll be safer.

Don't make this harder.

His fingers curled beneath the table until his knuckles turned white.

When he finally looked away—

No one noticed.

Except Nina.

For a fraction of a second...

their eyes met.

Neither smiled.

Neither spoke.

The silence between them suddenly felt heavier than every conversation they'd shared over the past month.

"So," Soohyun announced, breaking the atmosphere.

"Looks like everyone's working together Saturday."

Junho stretched dramatically.

"I'll try not to blind anyone with my beauty."

"You've already failed," Haejin replied.

"You looked in the mirror this morning."

"Ouch."

The room erupted again.

Nina laughed quietly.

Yoo-Joon stood.

"I have another meeting."

His voice was calm.

Professional.

He gathered his script.

Bowed politely toward everyone.

Including Nina.

"I'll see you Saturday."

Nothing more.

No "Take care."

No teasing.

No lingering glance.

Just another colleague ending another meeting.

The door clicked softly behind him.

Nina stared at it a second longer than she meant to.

Something inside her whispered… “Since when did goodbye become so easy for him?”

— To be continued.