By the time work ended, the station had begun to quiet down, the usual noise fading into a softer, more relaxed atmosphere. Papers were being filed away, chairs pushed back, and conversations shifted from formal to casual.
Soo Bin stretched lightly, letting out a small sigh as she closed her notebook.
It had been a long day.
Not exhausting in the usual way—but emotionally… a little overwhelming.
And she knew exactly why.
"You're still working?"
Kang So Ra's voice carried easily across the room as she leaned slightly against So Hee's desk.
"I'm finishing up," So Hee replied without looking up.
"You always say that," So Ra smirked. "Then you stay another hour."
Soo Bin glanced over briefly—then quickly looked away again.
They really are comfortable with each other…
"Let's eat," So Ra said suddenly.
Soo Bin froze.
"I just got back, and you're not escaping me that easily," So Ra continued, looking directly at So Hee. "We're going out."
So Hee let out a quiet breath. "You haven't changed."
"And you haven't learned to say no," So Ra shot back lightly.
Then—
Her gaze shifted.
To Soo Bin.
"You're coming too."
Soo Bin blinked. "Me?"
"Yes," So Ra said simply. "You've been with her all day. It would be strange not to include you."
Soo Bin hesitated.
Her instinct was to refuse.
But before she could say anything—
"You can join if you want," So Hee said.
Calm.
Neutral.
But not dismissive.
"…Okay," Soo Bin nodded.
She reached for her phone almost immediately.
If I'm going…
Her fingers moved quickly.
"Eun, are you free? We're going to eat. Come with me."
The reply came faster than she expected.
"Send me the location."
Soo Bin let out a small breath she didn't realize she was holding.
The restaurant was warm and cozy, filled with the soft hum of conversations and the comforting scent of grilled food.
So Ra had chosen it without hesitation, as if she already knew the area well—even after being away for years.
They arrived first.
Soo Bin sat beside So Hee, her posture slightly stiff without realizing it.
So Ra sat across from them, relaxed, her gaze casually observing everything.
"You seem quieter outside of work," So Ra said suddenly, looking at Soo Bin.
Soo Bin blinked. "Do I?"
"A little," So Ra nodded.
Soo Bin let out a small laugh. "Maybe I'm just tired."
"Or thinking too much," So Ra added lightly.
Soo Bin paused.
Just for a second.
Before she could respond—
"Sorry, I'm late."
All three turned.
Lee Go Eun stood by the table, slightly out of breath, her hair neatly tied back, still dressed from the hospital. There was a calmness in her presence, but her eyes were observant—taking everything in at once.
"Soo Bin," she smiled softly.
Soo Bin stood immediately. "You came!"
"Of course," Go Eun replied, her tone warm. "You sounded like you needed company."
There was a brief pause.
Then her gaze shifted.
To So Hee.
Then—
To So Ra.
So Hee gave a polite nod. "Good evening."
Go Eun returned it. "Good evening."
Then—
Her eyes met So Ra's.
Just for a moment.
And something subtle passed between them.
Not hostility.
Not discomfort.
But…
Awareness.
So Ra's lips curved slightly.
"Lee Go Eun, right?"
Go Eun blinked once, slightly surprised.
"…Yes."
"I've heard of you," So Ra said.
Go Eun held her gaze calmly. "Likewise."
Silence.
Just for a second.
Then Soo Bin quickly pulled Go Eun to sit beside her.
"Sit, sit! You must be tired."
Go Eun allowed herself to be guided, her expression soft again—but the earlier moment didn't go unnoticed.
"So," So Ra leaned back slightly, "this is an interesting group."
Soo Bin laughed awkwardly. "It kind of is…"
The food arrived shortly after, giving everyone something to focus on.
"So Hee," So Ra began casually, "she's been talking about work all day. You must be keeping her busy."
Soo Bin paused mid-bite.
"She's doing her job," So Hee replied simply.
Soo Bin looked down slightly.
Just her job…
"She's doing more than that," So Ra said, glancing at Soo Bin. "You're improving fast."
Soo Bin blinked. "Oh… thank you."
Go Eun, sitting beside her, noticed the way Soo Bin's shoulders tensed slightly.
"She works hard," Go Eun added calmly. "She always has."
So Ra's gaze shifted to her.
"I can tell," she said.
Another brief pause.
Again—
That quiet awareness.
Not quite a conversation.
But not nothing either.
Meanwhile, Soo Bin found herself caught in between everything.
Every time So Ra spoke to So Hee so easily
Every time So Hee responded without hesitation
Every time they shared something unspoken
And now—
Go Eun was here too.
It should have made her feel better.
But somehow—
It only made everything feel more real.
"They've known each other forever," Soo Bin said quietly, almost without realizing.
Go Eun glanced at her.
Then followed her gaze.
"Yes," she said softly.
Soo Bin's grip tightened slightly around her chopsticks.
Across the table, So Hee spoke again.
"That was a long time ago."
So Ra tilted her head slightly.
"Does that matter?"
So Hee met her gaze.
"It does."
There was something firm in her voice.
Go Eun noticed.
So did Soo Bin.
But So Ra only smiled.
The conversation slowly shifted after that—lighter topics, small jokes, stories from abroad.
But underneath it all—
Something lingered.
Something quiet.
Something tense.
Something not yet spoken.
After dinner, they stepped outside.
The night air was cool, brushing gently against their skin.
"Well," So Ra stretched slightly, "that was nice."
"It was," Go Eun added politely.
Their eyes met again.
Briefly.
Then looked away.
Soo Bin stood between them, completely unaware of the subtle tension—but very aware of something else.
Her gaze drifted—
To So Hee.
And stayed there.