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“Did you just come back from another meeting?”

As soon as I entered the office, I heard Song Ah Rin’s voice.

“…What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Not at all.”

When our eyes met, Song Ah Rin pouted, and I had no choice but to respond that way.

The way she looked at the camera and the eerie situation were etched in my mind.

What kind of person is Song Ah Rin?

Could it really be true that she manipulated everyone, including her family, to survive?

If not, what on earth happened?

I asked the Branch Chief, but there was one thing she confirmed to me.

“I’m not under a hypnotic spell or anything.”

“Then why did you go?”

“With an accident like that, is it even human to not go?”

I recalled the Branch Chief’s expression, as if to say, “Why are you asking something so obvious?”

“What? You have to speak for me to know.”

“Nothing at all.”

Song Ah Rin looked at me anxiously, and I had no choice but to reply that way.

‘I can’t remember. Of course, after this incident, I underwent a psychiatric examination, but she completely altered that memory. She used her brainwashing ability effectively—it’s herself.’

The Branch Chief’s words echoed in my mind again.

“Hey.”

“Yes?”

“…Forget it. Let’s not talk.”

Song Ah Rin sighed in frustration.

“By the way, have you gotten used to A-Rin’s new ability?”

“Oh, this?”

Song Ah Rin nodded and waved her finger.

With a whoosh, Jang Chae Yeon moved her hand to hit her own head.

“Ouch.”

“She can do such precise maneuvers—ugh!”

-Thud!

Song Ah Rin opened her mouth confidently but yelped, clutching her head.

Jang Chae Yeon was raising her palm.

“I can do that too, you know.”

It was clear that she was angry.

With a chilling aura, Jang Chae Yeon murmured, while Song Ah Rin glared at her.

How hard did she hit? Clutching her head, she glared at Jang Chae Yeon with tear-filled eyes.

“Geez, how could you hit me that hard…?!”

“You asked for it.”

“I hit you gently, you crazy white-haired girl!”

“But you hit me first.”

“We really don’t understand each other!”

Song Ah Rin burst out, then deeply sighed while locking eyes with Yu Da On, who was staring blankly.

“Hey—”

“I’d hit your head too, you know?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

Song Ah Rin replied sharply and turned her gaze back to Yu Da On.

“You. Did you see it?”

“Yes?”

What was she talking about?

I didn’t understand, and Yu Da On seemed puzzled as she tilted her head.

“…Did you see?”

“What did I see?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know.”

Yu Da On tilted her head again at Song Ah Rin’s murmuring.

“Yes?”

In the end, it was Song Ah Rin who couldn’t hold back.

“You. You saw the room I locked, right?”

“Oh. That room?”

Yu Da On’s eyes widened as she nodded.

“I saw it.”

“Why were you looking?”

“Uh…”

Yu Da On trailed off, seemingly flustered.

“Because Jae Heon called me?”

“…Really?”

Song Ah Rin’s gaze shifted towards me.

“I did call her.”

“…”

It was more likely to survive entering there with others than going in alone.

Song Ah Rin bit her lip and mumbled, “…Okay.”

Someone lightly tapped my shoulder.

“Yes, Chae Yeon.”

Jang Chae Yeon was looking at me.

“Can we talk for a moment?”

“Um…”

“Coffee. Let’s get some.”

“What about you two?”

“Warm latte.”

“I’ll have an iced americano!”

As Song Ah Rin answered without taking her eyes off Yu Da On, Yu Da On immediately looked away from Song Ah Rin and smiled brightly at me.

“That’s good, I guess.”

Slowly, I stepped out of the door.

Even as I left, Song Ah Rin was still looking at Yu Da On, and Yu Da On was waving at me.

*

-Creak!

The man left, and the door closed.

Song Ah Rin turned her gaze to Yu Da On and pulled out a chair to sit down.

As the scraping sound echoed, Yu Da On spoke up.

“I understand A-Rin.”

“…What?”

Song Ah Rin’s gaze shifted to Yu Da On.

“It’s always terrifying.”

Yu Da On blinked and met Song Ah Rin’s eyes.

“Standing on a foundation that might collapse at any moment, sometimes it feels like you might go crazy with anxiety.”

“Don’t act like you understand.”

Song Ah Rin muttered under her breath, and Yu Da On continued unfazed.

“But strangely, hope seems to find its way to you around that time.”

Yu Da On slightly closed her eyes.

“…”

“In the end, you just keep holding on to that thread and endure.”

“You’ve lived a few more years than me, so why do you think you understand me?”

Song Ah Rin spat out the words.

A voice that had never been heard before—truly, it sounded furious as it flowed from her lips.

“You’re just a few years older than me—”

“Experience isn’t measured by age.”

Yu Da On’s calm voice echoed in the still office.

“I’ve just been to that place a lot.”

At her words, Song Ah Rin widened her eyes.

“Don’t act like you know me.”

“But not getting hurt means—”

“I haven’t been living with a smile.”

Her cold voice resonated through the office.

“…”

Yu Da On stared silently at Song Ah Rin.

“I’m sorry.”

She slightly bowed her head.

“I just thought A-Rin might feel a bit more at ease.”

“Even if it’s uncomfortable, it’s none of your business.”

“Usually, that’s true.”

Yu Da On slowly nodded.

“Usually?”

Song Ah Rin narrowed her eyes, and Yu Da On’s eyes widened.

“Are you really that clueless?”

Yu Da On blinked as she looked at Song Ah Rin.

It was as if her curiosity was genuine; there was no derision or mockery on her face.

It was simply pure inquiry.

And Song Ah Rin was not someone who couldn’t recognize that expression.

She bit down on her lip.

“I’m exhausting myself.”

“To be precise, you’re putting a burden on Jae Heon.”

Yu Da On smiled brightly without a speck of dirt, while Song Ah Rin’s expression twisted.

“A-Rin isn’t someone who gets tired easily.”

Yu Da On, with her eyes closed, wore a gentle smile.

“To be honest, I’d say you’re quite perceptive.”

“What?”

“You’re so quick to pick up on things that you end up deceiving yourself.”

Song Ah Rin frowned, seemingly perplexed, while Yu Da On continued to smile and speak.

Yu Da On stopped humming and turned her gaze to Song Ah Rin.

“Don’t put too much pressure on Jae Heon. He’s having a hard time.”

“…”

Song Ah Rin bit her lips tightly at her calm gaze.

After finishing her words, Yu Da On pulled out her chair,

And at the same moment, Song Ah Rin slowly opened her mouth.

“Ha.”

All that escaped from Song Ah Rin’s lips was just a scoff.

Yu Da On directed her gaze towards her.

“You think you’re such a big help, don’t you?”

Song Ah Rin looked at Yu Da On with a cold stare.

“Don’t forget.”

A smirk rested on her face.

“You’re just another pitiful kid writhing to get recognized.”

Yu Da On’s smile cracked, and Song Ah Rin whispered to her with a grin.

“The most parasitic one here is you.”

And with that, Song Ah Rin stormed out, leaving Yu Da On behind.

With a loud bang, the door slammed shut.

Song Ah Rin walked down the corridor with a stiff expression,

While Yu Da On stared blankly at the closed door.

*

“…”

Jang Chae Yeon, who had been numbly receiving coffee, let out a small sigh.

“What’s up, Chae Yeon?”

Her face wore a worried look.

At my words, Jang Chae Yeon stared at me intently.

“I asked for help.”

“Help?”

From whom?

There were so many people I couldn’t even guess.

“You probably wouldn’t know.”

Jang Chae Yeon mumbled as she started to twirl her hair.

“When I was working with that guy, there was someone like a superior.”

“Someone like a superior?”

“Um…”

It was the first time I had seen Jang Chae Yeon flustered like this in my life.

While I was surprised to see this side of her, Jang Chae Yeon earnestly continued.

“Not from the Management Team or the Isolation Team, just an ordinary person.”

“Yes.”

“But, um, he’s really good at reality checks.”

Reality checks?

I remembered a man who had been looking at us through a mirror.

“Oh, is he an older gentleman? Male?”

Jang Chae Yeon looked at me with wide eyes.

“…How did you know?”

“Oh, um, I borrowed his help before the regression.”

“…Ah, then he probably doesn’t know you.”

Jang Chae Yeon nodded as if she understood what I meant.

“…Yeah. Anyway, he called me for help.”

“What kind of help?”

“I don’t know.”

“What?”

“He doesn’t even know. But he asked for the most reliable person to be introduced.”

That would be me.

It felt nice to be appreciated, but I could understand the old saying about how being the ace usually meant suffering.

“When do we have to go?”

“He said it’s not urgent. He decided to rest for a bit.”

“Yeah. I wouldn’t have gone if he said to come immediately.”

I’m a person too.

I just want to take a break without getting caught up in incidents.

“If he had asked me to come right away, I would’ve refused. Don’t worry.”

Jang Chae Yeon spoke slowly, trying to reassure me.

And there, in the distance, I saw Song Ah Rin stomping her feet as she approached.

“You still haven’t received A-Rin’s coffee?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

She stood next to me coldly as she mumbled.

Jang Chae Yeon glanced at her and then looked away.

“What.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“Can we please stop fighting?”

At my request, the two fell silent.

How is it that whenever those two meet, they end up fighting? Should I really stick Yu Da On and Song Ah Rin together while Jang Chae Yeon and I hang out?

Fortunately, when Yu Da On returned, she welcomed me with a smile while working on the computer alone.

*

The next day.

“…I want to become a full-time employee.”

Intern Park Ye Eun had called me aside to whisper softly.