Hana got out of bed lazily, her hair slightly messy from sleep.
Seo-ma, who was sitting on the couch with her phone in hand, looked up as Hana stretched.
“Come on I heard something important is going to happen today at school.”
Hana gave her a sleepy glance.
“hmm really.”
“yeah so hurry up.”
“I was thinking.”
“About what?”
Hana walked toward the bathroom.
“Food.”
Seo-ma laughed.
“Of course.”
Hana ignored her and disappeared into the bathroom.
She closed the door behind her and turned on the shower.
Warm water flowed over her hair and shoulders, slowly washing away the heaviness of sleep.
She shampooed her hair, rinsed it thoroughly, then carefully washed her face and body.
Because of her injured arm, she moved more cautiously than usual, making sure not to put unnecessary pressure on it.
When she finished, she dried herself and changed into a clean set of clothes.
Since Daehan Royal University was the most prestigious university in Seoul, its students followed a formal dress code rather than wearing ordinary school uniforms.
Hana chose a neat white blouse beneath a fitted dark blazer bearing the Daehan Royal University crest.
She paired it with a matching pleated skirt and polished black loafers.
She tied her hair back neatly, leaving a few soft strands framing her face.
After checking her reflection one last time, she opened the bathroom door.
Seo-ma looked up.
A satisfied smile appeared on her face.
“That’s my girl.”
Hana raised an eyebrow.
Seo-ma’s eyes moved toward her injured arm.
“Are you sure your arm isn’t still hurting?”
Hana answered without hesitation.
“No.
My arm is still hurting.”
Seo-ma stared at her.
Then smiled.
“Nice try.”
Hana sighed.
“You asked.”
“And you lied.”
“I didn’t lie.”
“You just said it wasn’t hurting.”
“I said it was still hurting.”
Seo-ma laughed.
“Exactly.”
Hana rolled her eyes and walked toward her wardrobe.
As she looked through her clothes, Seo-ma suddenly spoke.
“Don’t you think it’s been too peaceful lately?”
Hana glanced at her through the mirror.
“What do you mean?”
“No Soo-min.”
Hana paused.
Seo-ma continued.
“She hasn’t caused any trouble since yesterday.”
Hana smiled faintly.
“Maybe she finally discovered peace.”
Seo-ma snorted.
“You don’t believe that.”
“Of course not.”
Hana selected her school bag.
“Soo-min being quiet is probably the warning before the storm.”
Seo-ma pointed at her.
“Exactly.”
Hana turned toward her.
“Now go shower before your peaceful morning turns into a national emergency.”
Seo-ma stared at her.
“You’re impossible.”
“Go.”
Seo-ma shook her head and walked into Hana’s bathroom.
A few seconds later, the shower started running.
Hana looked toward the bathroom door.
“Yeah…
you’re right.”
Her expression became thoughtful.
“Soo-min being quiet probably means she’s planning something.”
She picked up her phone and checked her messages.
Nothing unusual.
She opened the university group chat.
Still nothing.
Hana frowned slightly.
She checked her bracelet messages and searched through her recent notes.
Still nothing.
She locked her phone.
“Whatever she’s planning, I’ll deal with it when she makes her move.”
She placed the phone on the bed.
Then she glanced at the bathroom.
Five minutes passed.
Then ten.
Hana frowned.
“Seo-ma!”
No answer.
“Seo-ma, you’re taking forever!”
The water stopped.
A moment later, the bathroom door opened.
Seo-ma stepped out looking completely refreshed.
Her long hair was still slightly damp, and she wore the Daehan Royal University dress code just as neatly as Hana did.
Her dark blazer fitted perfectly over her white blouse, and the small silver earrings she wore gave her an effortless elegance.
She grabbed her backpack from the couch.
Hana stared at her.
Seo-ma laughed.
“I wasn’t that long.”
“You were.”
Hana picked up her own bag.
“And when are you going home?
Mrs.
Lee must be worried sick.”
“I already called home when you fell asleep.”
Hana blinked.
“Oh, really?”
Seo-ma nodded.
“Yeah.”
Hana looked surprised.
“Wow.
Did I really sleep that deeply last night?”
Seo-ma shrugged.
“No.
I just kept the call short.”
Hana laughed softly.
“Okay.”
Seo-ma adjusted her backpack.
Hana opened the door.
“Hurry up.
I’ll meet you downstairs.”
“Okay.”
Downstairs
Soo-min had just come downstairs.
She walked toward the dining room and saw her grandmother sitting at the table with her father and mother.
“Good morning, Grandma.
Dad.
Mom.”
Mrs.
Hee looked up from her breakfast.
She was dressed elegantly, as usual, her expression graceful and composed.
“Good morning.”
Soo-min smiled and took her seat.
She looked around the table.
“Where is Li-won?”
Mrs.
Hee answered.
“She went for piano lessons early this morning.”
“Okay.”
Soo-min nodded.
Just then, Hana arrived.
She stopped briefly at the entrance.
Her eyes moved across the dining table.
Her grandmother.
Her father.
Mrs.
Hee.
Soo-min.
Everyone was together.
Yet Hana couldn’t help feeling like she was looking at a family she didn’t truly belong to.
She gave a small smile.
I look like a stranger in my own home.
Her grandmother noticed her immediately.
Old Madam Kim smiled warmly.
“Hana, come sit here.”
The moment those words left her mouth, Mr.
Kim looked up from his newspaper.
Mrs.
Hee gave Hana a faintly disapproving glance.
Soo-min immediately stood.
“You can have my seat.”
Hana barely glanced at her.
Her attention remained on her grandmother.
“Good morning, Grandma.”
She walked over.
“There’s no need.
I’ll be leaving as soon as Seo-ma comes down.”
Her grandmother frowned slightly.
“Oh?
Are you sure you don’t want to eat anything?”
Hana smiled.
“I’m good, Grandma.”
Old Madam Kim’s eyes moved toward Hana’s arm.
“Is your arm better?”
“Yes.”
Hana looked down at it.
“It’s much better.”
Her grandmother frowned.
“Then why aren’t you wearing the sling?”
“I don’t think I need it anymore.”
Before she could say anything else, Soo-min spoke.
“Hana, your arm healed really fast.”
Hana looked at her.
Soo-min smiled sweetly.
“I thought you broke it.
Unless you were pretending or something.”
The atmosphere around the table immediately became quiet.
Hana looked at Soo-min for a moment.
Then she gave a small, almost indifferent smile.
“Maybe I just heal faster than you expected.”
Soo-min’s smile stiffened.
Hana continued calmly. This story is hosted at g.com.
“You should try not to worry about my arm so much.
You might hurt yourself.”
Soo-min’s expression changed.
Old Madam Kim glanced at her.
“Soo-min.”
Soo-min lowered her eyes.
“I was only asking.”
Hana said nothing.
Her eyes shifted toward her father.
He had already returned his attention to the newspaper.
He hadn’t even asked how she was feeling.
Hana’s lips pressed into a thin smile.
What did I expect?
I’m the illegitimate daughter.
Maybe this is already more attention than I’m supposed to receive.
Before the silence could become heavier, footsteps sounded from the staircase.
Seo-ma came downstairs.
Mr.
Kim immediately lowered his newspaper.
His expression changed.
He smiled.
“Seo-ma.”
Seo-ma looked toward him.
“Good morning, Uncle Kim.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you were staying over?
I would have arranged something for you.”
Seo-ma smiled politely.
“There’s no need.
I just came to check on my friend.”
Mr.
Kim nodded.
“You should still have told us.”
“I didn’t want to disturb anyone.”
“You could never be a disturbance.”
His tone was warm.
After all, the Lee family wasn’t an ordinary family.
They were one of the five great families of Seoul, and their company, Mihyang Fragrance, was one of the most influential luxury fragrance businesses in the country.
Mr.
Kim looked at Seo-ma.
“How is Mihyang Fragrance doing?”
“It’s doing well.”
“I heard the new collection is performing better than expected.”
Seo-ma nodded.
“Yes.
My brother has been helping with the expansion strategy.”
Mr.
Kim smiled.
“Jung-seok is only twenty-four, but he’s already involved in major decisions.
He’s impressive.”
Seo-ma smiled.
“He works too much.”
Hana finally spoke.
“Sounds like someone I know.”
Seo-ma looked at her.
“Who?”
“You.”
Seo-ma laughed.
Mr.
Kim smiled.
“You two seem very close.”
“We are,” Seo-ma replied.
Hana nodded.
“She is the only reason I survived last night.”
Seo-ma immediately looked at her.
“Don’t exaggerate.”
Hana smiled.
“You ordered food for me.”
“That doesn’t qualify as saving your life.”
“It does when Grandma’s vegetables are involved.”
Seo-ma laughed.
Even Mr.
Kim couldn’t help smiling.
After a moment, he looked toward Hana.
“Since your arm is better, make sure you don’t overwork yourself at school.”
“I won’t.”
“And Seo-ma, if you need anything while you’re here, tell the staff.”
“Thank you, Uncle Kim.”
Hana picked up her bag.
“We should go.”
Seo-ma nodded.
Hana turned toward her grandmother.
“Grandma, I’ll see you later.”
Old Madam Kim smiled.
“Take care of yourself.”
“I will.”
The two girls walked toward the door.
Mr.
Kim watched them leave.
The moment the door closed behind them, his expression slowly returned to its usual seriousness.
His gaze dropped back to the newspaper.
But his thoughts remained on Hana.
If she weren’t friends with the daughter of the Lee family…
His eyes narrowed slightly.
I probably wouldn’t have spared that girl a second glance.
Outside, Hana and Seo-ma walked toward the waiting car.
Neither of them noticed the quiet gaze following them from the dining room window.