The station felt the same.
But not to Ahn Soo Bin.
Everything looked normal—officers moving around, phones ringing, paperwork piling up—but there was something beneath it now.
Something uncomfortable.
Something she couldn't ignore.
Because she knew—
She was here.
Soo Bin sat at her desk, pretending to focus on the documents in front of her.
But her eyes kept drifting.
Toward the entrance.
"You're going to stare a hole through the door at this rate."
Soo Bin flinched slightly.
Kang Shin Jae stood beside her, arms crossed, his tone casual but amused.
"I'm not staring," Soo Bin muttered.
"You've looked over there at least ten times in five minutes."
Soo Bin looked away.
"…I'm just checking something."
"Right."
Before he could say more—
The station doors opened.
And she walked in.
Song Ha Eun.
Calm.
Composed.
Like she belonged there.
Soo Bin's grip tightened slightly on her pen.
She's really here…
"Good morning," Ha Eun greeted lightly as she approached the front desk.
Her voice carried just enough to be heard—
But not loud enough to seem intentional.
Still—
Soo Bin heard it.
And so did Kim So Hee.
So Hee didn't look up immediately.
She finished writing her report first.
Then—
Slowly—
She raised her head.
Their eyes met.
Just for a second.
But that was enough.
"…You're early," So Hee said.
"Work doesn't wait," Ha Eun replied with a small smile.
Like nothing had changed.
Like there wasn't a past between them.
Soo Bin felt something twist in her chest again.
"I'll need access to the case files," Ha Eun continued, placing a folder on the desk. "And I'll be here for a few days."
So Hee nodded once.
"Follow procedure."
Professional.
Cold.
Clear.
But Ha Eun didn't seem bothered.
"Of course," she said softly.
Her gaze lingered—
Just a little longer than necessary.
Before she turned away.
"She's annoying."
Soo Bin blinked.
She turned slightly.
Kang So Ra stood nearby, arms crossed, watching Ha Eun with clear displeasure.
"When did you get here?" Soo Bin asked.
"Just now," So Ra replied. "Unfortunately."
Her eyes didn't leave Ha Eun.
"I don't like her," she added bluntly.
Soo Bin hesitated.
"…Why?"
So Ra let out a quiet scoff.
"Some people don't deserve second chances," she said.
There was something deeper behind those words.
Soo Bin noticed.
But before she could ask—
"Lee Go Eun is here."
Both of them turned.
Go Eun stood near the entrance, dressed neatly, likely stopping by before her shift.
She glanced inside—
And immediately noticed Ha Eun.
Her expression didn't change much.
But her eyes did.
Sharp.
Cold.
"…So that's her," Go Eun murmured.
Soo Bin swallowed slightly.
"You've heard about her?"
"Enough."
Go Eun stepped further inside, stopping beside Soo Bin.
"I don't like her," she said simply.
Soo Bin blinked.
"…You just met her."
"That's enough."
Her tone was calm.
But firm.
Across the room—
Ha Eun spoke to an officer, handling her case with ease.
Professional.
Confident.
But every now and then—
Her eyes drifted.
Back to So Hee.
So Hee noticed.
Of course she did.
And every time—
She looked away.
Intentionally.
Keeping her distance.
Later—
In the hallway—
"So Hee."
Her steps stopped.
She didn't need to turn.
She already knew who it was.
"…What is it?" she asked.
Ha Eun walked closer.
"You're avoiding me."
So Hee finally turned.
"I'm working."
"That's not what I meant."
A pause.
Then—
"I didn't expect you to be this cold," Ha Eun added softly.
So Hee's expression didn't change.
"You shouldn't expect anything," she replied.
Direct.
Ha Eun's smile faded slightly.
"…Can we talk?" she asked.
"No."
Immediate.
Clear.
Ha Eun blinked.
Just once.
But she didn't step back.
"We have things to clear up," she said.
"There's nothing to clear."
So Hee's voice was calm—
But firm.
Whatever they had—
It wasn't something she was willing to revisit.
Not now.
Maybe not ever.
From a distance—
Soo Bin watched.
Her chest tightening with every second.
She didn't know what their past was.
But she could feel it.
The weight of it.
The history.
And the way Ha Eun refused to step back—
Made something inside her burn.
I should have said it…
That thought hit her harder than anything else.
Because now—
It felt like she was already too late.