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[Some ] - [SOYOU, lilboi]

The company buzzed with its usual chaos, the hum of printers and the chatter of employees blending into the background. In stark contrast, Iseul was spinning lazily on her chair, her boredom evident in every sigh she let out. Her head tilted back as she counted the ceiling tiles, ignoring the occasional glare from passing coworkers.

The truth was, Sunghoon was still pissed off at her so her favorite pastime of riling him up was currently off the table.

Her gaze wandered aimlessly until it landed on Sana. Like a moth drawn to a flame, Iseul hopped out of her chair, brushing off imaginary dust from her skirt.

"Sana!" she called out, skipping toward her colleague with a mischievous grin.

Sana paused, arching an eyebrow at the sudden interruption.

"There are some files that need to be taken to Miss Rena. Urgent files. Super important."

 
"Miss Rena isn't here."

Iseul's smile faltered, replaced by a slight furrow of her brows. "She's not? Then when is she coming back?"

"Not today. She has private matters to attend to." Sana handed the folder back with a shrug. "Give them to Shuhua instead."

Iseul sighed, reluctantly taking the folder. "Of course. Always passing the work down to me," she muttered under her breath as she turned to search for Shuhua.

It didn't take long to spot her. Shuhua was walking briskly down the hallway alongside Sunghoon. Iseul's pace slowed as she approached, her ears perking up at the sound of their conversation.

"...so we cancel all the meetings?" Shuhua asked, her tone casual but laced with curiosity.

"Yeah," Sunghoon replied, his voice clipped. "I have personal matters to attend to ."

Iseul's brows knitted tightly together, her mind racing. Rena has personal matters, and now Sunghoon too? That's too much of a coincidence. Her stomach churned with suspicion, each thought adding fuel to the fire.

Without a second thought, she stormed back to her desk, tossing the folder haphazardly onto it. "Sungchan!" she called out sharply, catching the attention of her startled colleague.

"Take this to Shuhua. Now," she ordered, her voice brisk and impatient.

"But—"

"Just do it!" she snapped, already grabbing her bag and heading toward the door.

Sungchan mumbled something under his breath but complied, grabbing the file as Iseul hurried out.

Once outside, she flagged down a taxi with a quick wave. Sliding into the back seat, she leaned forward, her tone urgent. "Follow that car!" she instructed, pointing to the sleek black sedan pulling out of the company's parking lot.

The driver raised an eyebrow but nodded, pulling into traffic to tail the vehicle.

Iseul's heart raced as she watched Sunghoon's car through the windshield. Her thoughts spiraled as the distance between them closed. What are you hiding, Sunghoon? And why does Rena's name keep showing up whenever you disappear?

The taxi rattled slightly as it weaved through the bustling city streets, the aged vehicle struggling to keep pace with the sleek black rolls-royce ahead.

"Lady, you know how dangerous tailing someone is? This isn't a movie!" the driver growled, honking at a slow-moving car blocking their path.

"Just keep up!" Iseul barked, leaning forward in her seat, her eyes fixed on Sunghoon's car. Her knuckles turned white as she clutched the back of the driver's seat.

"Who is this guy, anyway? Your husband? What'd he do to deserve this chase?"

Iseul blinked, caught off guard by the question. For a moment, she considered denying it, but her frustration spilled over instead. "Ahhh, Sunghoon! Once I catch you—"

The driver's eyes widened in the rearview mirror. "Tch, so he is your husband! What's he done, huh? Cheating on you? Men like that should be thrown into the Han River!"

Iseul groaned, running a hand through her hair but not correcting him. "Just drive!" she snapped, her temper flaring.

After several tense minutes, the sedan took a sharp turn into a desolate area. The streets became narrower, quieter, the noise of the city fading into an eerie silence. Iseul's heart pounded as the taxi rolled to a stop at the end of a long, empty street.

Only one house stood in sight, its silhouette sharp against the pale sky. The shutters were closed, and the driveway was deserted except for Sunghoon's car parked neatly out front.

Iseul narrowed her eyes, her anger simmering as she stared at the house. "The audacity," she muttered under her breath, glaring daggers at the vehicle.

Iseul turned back to the taxi and said firmly, "Five minutes. Wait for me."

The driver gave her a skeptical look, leaning out of the window. "Five minutes, huh? Make it quick, lady."

Nodding, she hurried toward the row of trees that lined the edge of the property. The thick branches provided enough cover for her to peer through without being seen. As she crouched behind the foliage, her gaze locked onto Sunghoon's back.

He was unloading a ridiculous amount of groceries from the trunk of his car. Bags of fresh produce, cartons of milk, bottles of sparkling water—it was a bounty that seemed excessive.

Iseul frowned deeply. Sunghoon didn't even have a large appetite. What on earth was he doing with so much food?

Her jaw tightened as a bitter thought crossed her mind. Of course. He's buying food for Rena. Who knows how many cozy days they'll spend together here?

She stayed hidden, watching as he carried the bags up to the house's entrance. Once he disappeared inside, she crept closer, careful not to make a sound. Iseul crouched behind a cluster of hydrangeas, their blooms big enough to shield her.

Peeking through the gaps, she spotted him inside the house. He was standing in the kitchen, talking to someone she couldn't see, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

That smile—it twisted something deep inside her.

"You're smiling at everyone," she whispered bitterly to herself, her voice barely audible, "but you always give me that angry look."

Her hand clenched into a fist as she kept her eyes fixed on him, her heart pounding with a mixture of anger and hurt. It was so unlike him to seem so... carefree. For a moment, she wanted to storm in, to demand answers, to make him look at her the way he was looking at whoever was inside. But she stayed put, rooted to the spot, her emotions warring within her.

The sharp blare of a horn broke Iseul's focus. She glanced back toward the street, where the taxi driver was impatiently drumming his fingers on the wheel.

"Ugh, just wait!" she muttered, rolling her eyes before turning back to her hiding spot.

Her eyes darted back toward the house, her frustration bubbling as she craned her neck to catch a glimpse of Rena.

She wanted to see her, to confirm her suspicions and mentally prepare the scathing remarks she'd deliver if she ever confronted them.

But then, a low rumble startled her—an engine starting up.

Her stomach sank. Whipping around, she sprinted toward the entrance, only to see the taxi already halfway down the street.

"Taxi! Come back!" she shouted, running a few steps after it. "I haven't paid yet!"

The driver didn't stop, and his engine roared louder as he disappeared down the empty road.

Iseul, still reeling from the shock of being stuck in this situation, was hit with another wave of surprise when she turned around to find Sunghoon standing there, his confused gaze locking onto hers.

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