Morning arrived slowly inside the mansion.
Golden sunlight slipped through the thin curtains in long soft lines, warming the edges of furniture and the tangled blanket half-falling off Ha-Joon's bed.
The room smelled faintly of coffee. Rain. And headache.
A very serious headache.
Kim Ha-Joon groaned quietly before even opening his eyes.
One hand moved toward his forehead immediately.
Bad decision.
The pounding in his skull answered aggressively. "…damn."
His voice came out rough and sleepy. Low from exhaustion. He finally forced his eyes open slowly. The sunlight hit him directly. He regretted waking up instantly.
Then a cheerful voice floated nearby. "Welcome back to the land of the living, sir."
Ha-Joon blinked once.
Then again.
Park Ji-Ah stood dramatically beside his bed wearing oversized gray sweatpants and one of Arisoo's cartoon hoodies she had clearly stolen temporarily.
Her brown hair was tied into a messy bun that was already falling apart, loose strands framing her face and moving softly whenever she tilted her head.
In one hand she held a tray.
In the other? The contract.
She bowed politely. Far too politely.
"Kim Ha-Joon recovery services are now open."
He stared silently.
Ji-Ah continued smoothly like a professional employee. "Today's services include headache medicine, emotional support, coffee, breakfast, and free verbal violence."
Ha-Joon slowly sat up against the headboard.
His black shirt shifted slightly from sleep, hair messy in every direction from moving around during the night.
"…what are you doing."
Ji-Ah gasped softly in offense. "Excuse me?"
She dramatically opened the contract.
"Clause sixteen subsection three clearly states that if employer is suffering physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, or dramatically, employee must assist."
"…there is absolutely no way that's written there."
"You never read it."
"That's true."
She placed the tray onto his lap carefully.
The coffee shook slightly from her dramatic movements. Toast sat beside it.
Slightly burnt. One egg looked emotionally exhausted.
Ha-Joon looked down slowly. "…you cooked?"
Ji-Ah crossed her arms proudly. "Against society's wishes."
"That explains the toast."
"It survived didn't it?"
"Barely."
She immediately pointed at him. "You're alive because of me."
"I slept."
"You almost got defeated by citrus juice."
Ha-Joon paused. Slow blink.
Fragments from last night flickered weakly through his mind. Warm hands.
Rain smell. Brown hair. Someone beside him.
Someone laughing softly. His brows furrowed slightly.
"…did anything happen last night."
Ji-Ah froze for half a second.
Tiny half-second.
But enough. Then she turned dramatically away. "No."
"…Ji-Ah."
"Nothing happened."
"You sound suspicious."
"You sound drugged."
Ha-Joon narrowed his eyes slightly while taking the medicine finally.
He watched her carefully over the rim of the coffee cup.
Ji-Ah avoided eye contact immediately.
Which made him even more suspicious. "Did Min-Ji do something."
The room quieted slightly.
Ji-Ah sighed softly before finally nodding once. "She drugged your drink."
His expression darkened immediately. Not shocked.
Just cold. Dangerously cold. "She what."
"You heard correctly."
"And?"
"She tried being weird."
"And?"
"I handled it."
That answer made him look at her properly now.
Really properly.
Ji-Ah stood near the window now with sunlight catching softly against her brown hair.
Loose strands moved gently whenever morning wind slipped through the slightly open curtains. She looked tired.
Like she hadn't slept properly either.
Ha-Joon leaned back slowly against the pillows. "…are you okay."
Ji-Ah blinked immediately. "What kind of question is that."
"A normal one."
"That sounds fake coming from you."
His lips twitched slightly.
Tiny smile.
Very tiny. Ji-Ah paused seeing it. And softened despite herself.
Only a little.
Then she cleared her throat quickly and returned to business mode dramatically.
"Anyway Seo-Jun said you have a meeting at five-thirty."
"Mhm."
"Your family is waiting downstairs."
"Mhm."
"Your mother called me stupid four times."
"That's actually affection from her."
"She threatened me with a spoon."
"Progress."
"Arisoo threatened to drag you downstairs herself."
That finally made him laugh lightly.
Soft.
Real.
The kind of laugh he rarely let out fully.
Ji-Ah watched him quietly for a second too long.
Because sleepy messy-haired Ha-Joon laughing softly in morning sunlight felt unfairly attractive.
Very unfairly.
Then suddenly he looked toward the large window thoughtfully.
The smile faded slightly.
Something quieter settling over him. "…I forgot."
Ji-Ah blinked. "What."
"I was supposed to tell you yesterday."
"Tell me what."
He rubbed his forehead slowly again.
Residual dizziness still lingering slightly. "I am leaving tomorrow."
Silence.
Ji-Ah stared. "…what."
"For Canada."
"…Canada?"
He nodded once. "Vancouver first."
Ji-Ah's mouth slowly opened. "The mountain Canada?"
"There are multiple mountains there."
"The pretty snow city one?"
"That explains absolutely nothing."
"The maple syrup country?"
"…yes."
Ji-Ah stared harder.
Then pointed at herself carefully. "…why are you telling me this like it's normal."
"Because you're coming."
Silence.
Complete silence.
The tray nearly slipped from her hands. "…I'm WHAT."
"You're coming."
"WITH YOU?"
"Yes."
"TO CANADA?"
"Yes."
"OUTSIDE KOREA?"
"…Ji-Ah."
Her eyes widened slowly.
Real excitement blooming across her face so openly it almost startled him.
Bright eyes.
Big smile. Pure happiness appearing instantly. "Really?"
He nodded once.
And somehow seeing her react like that made something warm settle quietly inside his chest.
Then unfortunately he continued. "Min-Hyuk and Seo-Yeon are coming too."
"Good."
"Seo-Jun."
"Good."
"Yoo-Na."
"She's going to fight wildlife."
"She already threatened a goose online."
Then calmly "Mother forced Min-Ji to come."
Ji-Ah's smile vanished immediately.
Instant death. "…never mind."
Ha-Joon rolled his eyes slightly. "And Yoo-Na forced me to book Hea-In too because apparently she wants 'balanced enemies.'"
"That sounds exactly like Yoo-Na."
Ji-Ah sighed dramatically before smiling again anyway.
Because honestly?
Canada. Snow. Mountains. Travel.
Fresh air.
And leaving this chaos behind temporarily sounded incredible.
Then Ha-Joon looked at her calmly. "Your work starts now."
She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "…what work."
"You'll help me pack."
Outrage immediately. "EXCUSE ME?"
"You signed a contract."
"You abuse contracts."
"You accepted employment."
"You're rich enough to hire professionals."
"I prefer free labor."
"You're evil."
Ji-Ah started pacing immediately while counting dramatically on her fingers. "One suitcase."
Pause.
"…two."
Another pause.
"…three."
Ha-Joon watched quietly with amusement slowly appearing in his eyes.
"I need sweaters."
"You own sweaters."
"I need emotional support sweaters."
"That's not a category."
"Boots."
"You own boots."
"Cute boots."
"…different species apparently."
Ji-Ah continued spiraling. "What if it snows romantically."
"What does that mean."
"I need outfits."
"You need therapy."
Ha-Joon finally stood slowly from the bed.
Still slightly tired.
Black sweatpants hanging low against his hips while he stretched one arm lazily.
His dark hair remained messy from sleep, falling over his forehead slightly.
Ji-Ah immediately looked away.
Then looked back.
Then away again.
Because unfortunately morning Ha-Joon looked illegal.
He walked toward the bathroom calmly loosening the sleeves of his shirt.
Then casually said over his shoulder, "Darling, I don't think you need four suitcases."
Silence.
Dead silence.
Ji-Ah froze completely.
Her brain visibly stopped functioning.
Ha-Joon paused too.
Very slight pause.
Because apparently his exhausted half-awake brain forgot certain words should not come out naturally.
But instead of reacting he simply opened the bathroom door.
Calm as ever. "Wait downstairs for me."
Then disappeared inside.
The second the door shut Ji-Ah grabbed her own face dramatically.
Eyes wide.
Heart malfunctioning violently.
DARLING?
She stared at the bathroom door like it personally betrayed her bloodline.
Why would he say that so casually?
WHY WAS IT NATURAL?
WHY DID IT SOUND GOOD?
Ji-Ah pointed accusingly toward the bathroom. "No."
Then immediately pointed at herself. "Absolutely not."
But traitorous thoughts continued anyway.
…he sounded really nice though.
Ji-Ah gasped loudly at herself.
"Horrible."
Inside the bathroom meanwhile Ha-Joon stood quietly by the sink while cold water ran softly over his hands.
His reflection stared back at him calmly.
Then slowly very slowly he remembered her face when he invited her to Canada.
That smile.
That happiness.
And without realizing it he smiled faintly to himself too.