Chapter 4: The call that would not let go
960 Words
The private jet moved smoothly through the night sky, cutting through clouds like a silent shadow.
Inside, everything was calm.
Too calm.
Min-jae sat by the window, reviewing documents on his tablet. His posture was straight, his expression steady, and his focus sharp as always. Nothing about him seemed out of place.
He was the kind of man who carried control effortlessly, even in motion. Even in silence.
Across from him, So-jung leaned back in his seat.
Relaxed. Careless. Light smile on his lips.
But unlike his usual playful self, there was something quieter about him tonight.
Something distracted.
---
Min-jae noticed.
“You’re not yourself,” he said without looking up.
So-jung chuckled softly. “That’s new.”
“It is,” Min-jae replied. “You’re quiet.”
So-jung turned his head slightly toward the window.
The clouds outside were moving slowly under the night sky.
“I’m thinking,” he said casually.
“That’s rare.”
So-jung smirked. “You make it sound like I don’t have a brain.”
Min-jae finally looked at him briefly.
“You don’t usually use it this long.”
So-jung laughed.
But even he knew—
He wasn’t thinking about work.
---
His mind kept drifting back.
To her.
Her face.
Her voice.
The way she argued with him without hesitation.
The way she looked at him like he was just another person.
Not special.
Not intimidating.
Just… there.
---
So-jung leaned his head back and exhaled.
“This is annoying,” he muttered.
Min-jae returned to his documents.
“What is?”
So-jung smiled slightly. “Nothing important.”
But it wasn’t nothing.
---
By the time they landed, the night had fully settled over the city.
The car ride home was quiet.
Min-jae drove.
So-jung sat beside him, looking out the window.
Neither of them spoke much.
But Min-jae could feel it.
Something had changed.
---
When they reached the house, So-jung immediately went inside and dropped onto the couch.
He stretched his arms and sighed.
“Tiring day,” he said lazily.
Min-jae placed his keys on the table.
“You didn’t do anything,” he replied.
“That’s the tiring part.”
Min-jae didn’t respond.
He walked past him instead.
---
Across town, Yeun had just returned home as well.
She dropped her bag on her bed and sat down slowly.
The house was quiet.
Her mother was in the kitchen.
Everything felt normal.
But her mind wasn’t.
---
She picked up her phone.
Looked at it.
Then locked it again.
“This is stupid,” she said to herself.
---
Suddenly—
Her phone rang.
Unknown number.
She frowned.
Then slowly answered.
“Hello?”
---
So-jung smiled on the other side.
“So you answer unknown calls.”
Yeun sat up immediately.
“You?”
“So disappointed already?”
“Yes.”
He laughed softly.
“That’s harsh.”
“Why are you calling me?” she asked.
“To disturb you.”
“That’s not a reason.”
“It is for me.”
She sighed. “You’re unbelievable.”
“I know.”
---
She leaned back slightly.
“Don’t you have anything better to do?”
“No.”
“That’s sad.”
“And yet you picked up.”
“I didn’t know it was you.”
“Now you do.”
“And I regret it.”
---
So-jung smiled.
“Then hang up.”
“What?”
“If you regret it, hang up.”
She didn’t.
---
He laughed softly.
“That’s what I thought.”
“You’re so annoying,” she said.
“I’ve heard worse.”
“From who?”
“You.”
---
She rolled her eyes.
“Why did you call me?”
A short pause.
Then—
“I couldn’t sleep.”
She frowned. “And I should care?”
“It concerns you now.”
“I don’t think so.”
“You still answered.”
She went quiet.
---
“You talk too much,” she said.
“And you still didn’t hang up.”
She didn’t respond.
---
A small silence followed.
Not awkward.
Just still.
---
“So,” she said suddenly, “are you always like this?”
“Like what?”
“Disturbing people at night.”
“Only you.”
She paused.
“Don’t say nonsense.”
“I’m not.”
---
Her voice softened slightly.
“I’m tired.”
“Then sleep.”
“I will.”
---
A pause.
Then—
“Don’t call me again.”
“No.”
She frowned. “No?”
“I’ll call.”
“You’re impossible.”
“And you’ll pick.”
She didn’t answer.
---
Her breathing slowed.
“Goodnight,” she murmured.
“Goodnight,” he replied.
---
The line stayed connected for a few seconds.
Then—
Silence.
She had fallen asleep.
---
So-jung stared at the phone.
A small smile appeared.
“She actually slept…”
He ended the call slowly.
Then lay back on his bed.
---
The room was quiet.
But his mind wasn’t restless anymore.
Her voice still echoed faintly.
Not disturbing.
Just present.
---
He closed his eyes.
And for the first time in a while—
He slept.
---
Morning came.
The company building stood tall and quiet.
Min-jae was already in his office, reviewing documents as usual.
Perfect.
Controlled.
Unbothered.
---
So-jung walked in later, hands in his pockets, relaxed as always.
But Min-jae noticed immediately.
“You slept.”
“Eventually,” So-jung replied.
Min-jae looked at him briefly.
“You look different.”
So-jung smirked. “Do I?”
Min-jae didn’t answer.
But he noticed.
Something had started shifting.
Quietly.
---
And it wasn’t stopping.
---
- Writer
