I stepped down from the bed and walked over to the desk. From the bottom drawer, I took out Joo Seunghyuk’s black card and bankbook.

I’d wanted to return them from the very beginning. I just hadn’t known it would be today.

I pulled out a sticky note, wrote the bankbook password on it, and stuck it on top. Then I placed both the card and bankbook into a plain white envelope.

Should I write a letter?

I’d been going back and forth on whether I should write Seunghyuk a farewell letter since yesterday. But no—ultimately, it was better not to.

What would I even say at this point?

Are you really getting engaged? Why did you intercept Park Geonwoo’s letter? Why did you lie and pretend you didn’t know my address when you clearly did? Why did you never tell me you loved me? Were you really a virgin-by-choice? Which of the things you said to me were even true?

But none of those questions mattered anymore—not when I’d already decided to leave.

It was better to walk away without leaving anything behind. That would be kinder for Seunghyuk, too.

Still holding the envelope, I turned to look at him. He was still asleep.

I opened the wardrobe and slipped the envelope into the pocket of his uniform jacket.

If I left it on the desk, it’d be like confessing that I ran away. And if I tucked it between his textbooks, there was a good chance he’d shove it onto the shelf without even looking at it.

So hiding it in his uniform was the safest bet.

Classes were officially over starting today, so he wouldn’t need the uniform anytime soon. But he wouldn’t toss it aside either. And since some parts of the uniform were enchanted, he’d have to manage it personally. No one else would get their hands on it.

“What are you doing?”

“JESUS—!”

Startled, I spun around to see Seunghyuk sitting upright in bed.

When the hell did he wake up?

“Why so jumpy? You look like you just got caught doing something bad.”

“W-what are you talking about? I was just getting dressed. You called me so suddenly—it startled me, that’s all.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

He stared at me for a few seconds.

He didn’t... see the envelope, did he? If he had, he’d be rifling through it by now.

“It’s chilly this morning. Take a cardigan.”

“Okay. I will.”

That was it. He didn’t seem to have noticed. If he had, he’d be trying to confirm what it was.

I pulled a T-shirt out of the closet and slipped it on, then layered the cardigan over it.

Seunghyuk quietly watched me dress.

There wasn’t time to pack anything else besides my phone and wallet. And really, there was nothing else to take—the clothes in the closet were all things he’d bought for me anyway.

“You have your test during second period, right?”

“Yeah. Yours ends earlier.”

“Right... guess it does.”

I only had a first-period exam today.

“I’m heading out.”

“Okay.”

I almost turned to look at him one last time—but instead, I walked straight to the door.

As I was putting on my shoes and about to step outside, I heard Seunghyuk’s voice from behind me.

“Hyung.”

“Yeah?”

“Come back soon.”

He pulled me into a tight hug.

“......”

“Come back soon and play with me.”

A lump formed in my throat.

Breaking my resolve, I turned around and looked at him.

His eyes curved gently into a smile. Every time he showed that childlike expression, it made something ache deep inside me.

At first, I’d been terrified of him when he got angry. And whenever he showed that soft, innocent face, it made me feel safe.

But now... I almost wished he’d get angry instead.

“...You still have your exam.”

“I don’t need to take it.”

“Yes, you do.”

“Why?”

“You’ll have to write a report if you don’t.”

“I don’t care. Time with you is way more important.”

He hugged me again and kissed my cheek.

“I’ll come find you when your exam ends.”

He was going to come to the lecture hall...?

My heart dropped.

***

I was the type to cling to a test sheet until the very last second.

And Seunghyuk knew that. He’d seen me do it during the Guide Ethics midterm.

So even if he came to the lecture hall to wait for me, he probably wouldn’t expect me for at least another hour.

But I couldn’t take that chance.

The moment I received the test sheet, I didn’t even read the questions. I just scribbled random words across the page, stood up, and left.

Sure, people were probably planning to coast through the exam—but no one else stood up as quickly as I did.

When I submitted the sheet, the TA stared at me in shock.

“Lee Yeonsu...”

He looked like he wanted to ask Is something wrong? but we were in the middle of a test, so he stayed quiet.

I just bowed slightly and hurried out of the room.

Even if Seunghyuk wasn’t planning to show up, I was always going to do this.

Joo Junghan would be waiting for me at the back gate.

As I rushed down the corridor, someone suddenly grabbed my arm.

“Lee Yeonsu!”

“Inho...?”

I’d thought it was Seunghyuk and panicked—but thankfully, it was Kang Inho.

“Why are you in such a rush?”

“Ah, I just—what’s up? Something wrong?”

I was the one with questions.

Why did he stop me like that?

“Are you coming to the end-of-term party at six?”

Ah. So that’s what this is about.

Ever since I got tangled up with Joo Seunghyuk, I’d skipped most school events.

Inho wasn’t the type to go to those either. Maybe one of the upperclassmen told him to invite me.

“Sorry, I don’t think I can make it.”

“Just stop by, even if it’s quick. Everyone’s hoping you’ll come.”

“Ah... I’ll think about it.”

The way he kept pushing it... yeah. He was clearly acting on someone’s orders.

I gave a vague answer, hoping to end the conversation quickly.

“Want me to tell you where it is?”

“Ah, yeah.”

“It’s called ‘The Hideout.’ Heard of it?”

“Oh, I’ll look it up.”

“If you can’t find it, I’ll send you the address.”

“No, it’s probably on the app or something.”

“It’s a new place. Might not be listed yet.”

The conversation kept sputtering like it was about to end—then dragged on again. Why was he being so nice today?

“If I can’t find it, I’ll message you. Still not sure if I’m going anyway.”

“Okay. Did your exam go okay?”

We weren’t close enough to talk about tests.

He barely cared even when he asked. Why bring it up now?

I glanced at the time. I couldn’t afford to stay here any longer.

“Inho, sorry—I’ve really got something urgent.”

“Oh, okay.”

“Yeah. Sorry—I’ll see you later!”

I quickly waved and walked away.

***

I sprinted to the back gate and looked around.

Joo Junghan had told me in advance what kind of car he drove and its color. I’d even looked up the model online to make sure I’d recognize it—but I wasn’t exactly car-savvy, so it was still tough to tell.

Then a black sedan pulled up in front of me.

I saw Junghan in the driver’s seat through the window. I climbed in quickly, and he greeted me with a formal nod.

“Hello, Guide Lee Yeonsu.”

“Sorry, I’m late, aren’t I?”

“Not at all. You’re right on time.”

Despite his calm tone, Junghan started the car in a hurry.

“You didn’t say anything to Seunghyuk, right?”

“No.”

I’d just submitted a nearly blank exam sheet and bolted. There was no way I would’ve told Seunghyuk anything.

“Well done. I’m sorry, but would you mind turning off your phone? He might try to track your location.”

“Ah, yes.”

I’d already suspected as much.

There was always something about the way Seunghyuk found me—no matter where I went.

He even found me at Park Geonwoo’s place once.

So I moved to power it down—but something tugged at me.

“Have you turned it off?”

“Can I just... message my parents first?”

Everything had happened so suddenly, I hadn’t had time to contact them.

They knew I was on break starting today—if I disappeared without a word, they’d worry.

“It’s too dangerous right now. We’ll give you a new phone before you board the plane. For now, please power it off.”

“...Okay.”

Right. I’d be boarding a flight.

We were going to LA, so it’d take over twelve hours.

But could I even get on a plane?

Yesterday, just seeing the airplane ride made my fingers go cold. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Still, I couldn’t back out now—not just because I was scared of flying.

As ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ I reached to shut off my phone, my eyes caught on the ring around my finger.

The ring. And the Horightron pistol—I’d meant to return those too. But I’d forgotten when Seunghyuk suddenly woke up.

But maybe it was for the best. I couldn’t just shove something this important into an envelope.

So what should I do? Give it to Junghan?

I considered it—but dismissed the thought. Something about it felt wrong.

And besides, it was a treasure no one else even knew about.

Maybe Seunghyuk had told his brother... but maybe not. I couldn’t risk handing it to someone who might not understand its value.

As I was debating, Junghan’s voice interrupted.

“Phone’s off?”

“I’m doing it now.”

I powered it down. My eyes lingered again on the ring.

Everything had happened too fast. I didn’t return the ring.

I didn’t say goodbye to my parents.

I didn’t say a word to anyone—I just ran.

If I’d had one more day, maybe...

Maybe I would’ve asked someone.

Or maybe—I would’ve asked him.

Are you really marrying the Lexington heiress?

Was that what Geonwoo hyung was trying to warn me about?

And... did you ever actually want to marry me?

My thoughts were in chaos.

Logically, it made sense that Seunghyuk would marry the Lexington daughter. That narrative fit neatly into place.

And he’d never once told me he loved me.

Not even a proper “I like you.”

He always demanded it from me.

Because he didn’t mean it himself. That must be why he never said it.

“Don’t send me to someone else.

For me, there’s only Lee Yeonsu.

Stay with me.”

But still, the words he said yesterday wouldn’t stop echoing in my head.

That childlike smile at the amusement park.

The way he said he’d wait for me today.

His eyes. His voice. Every meaningless little phrase—all of it lingered.

And this ring...

Could someone like Joo Seunghyuk really give a treasure like this to someone he didn’t care about?

This wasn’t about price.

It was the first boss-drop treasure he’d ever earned.

“...Haa.”

I let out a deep sigh.

What am I trying so desperately to believe in?

It was pathetic—how I kept searching for proof that Seunghyuk had meant it, that our time together hadn’t been a lie.