Chapter 5
Laurel POV
Monday started before the sun fully rose.
I was already awake.
Dressed.
Prepared.
Everything from yesterday was locked away where it belonged.
Unnecessary emotions had no place in my schedule.
By the time I stepped into the lecture hall, students were already gathering, their voices blending into background noise.
I ignored them and took my usual seat.
Right on time.
One by one, my group members arrived.
Ivan nodded first. "Morning."
"Morning," I replied.
Li Mu Chen gave a small wave. "We reviewed some materials last night."
"Good."
Jasper leaned back in his chair. "So this project… how intense are we talking?"
"Very," I answered without hesitation.
Alex and Timothy came in together, followed by George, all settling in quickly.
Then, Seo-hee.
She walked in with that same bright energy, scanning the room until her eyes landed on me.
And just like that,
She smiled.
"Good morning, Laurel!"
Too loud.
Too cheerful.
Too early.
I didn't respond immediately.
"Sit," I said simply.
She did. Instantly.
"Since everyone is here," I began, standing, "we're not wasting time."
They straightened.
"Over the next eight months, you will be working on real operational problems tied to an active oil and gas project."
Silence fell.
Good.
"You are not here to be comfortable," I continued. "You are here to perform."
A few exchanged glances.
Ivan spoke first. "What's our first step?"
"Understanding the project structure," I replied.
Li Mu Chen added, "Will we be assigned roles?"
"Yes."
Jasper exhaled. "And deadlines?"
"Strict."
George nodded. "Sounds fair."
Timothy leaned forward slightly.
"What do you need from us first?"
"Discipline," I said.
Then, Seo-hee raised her hand slightly.
I paused.
"Yes?"
She smiled, softer this time.
"I'll do my best," she said.
Not a question.
Just a promise.
I held her gaze for a second longer than necessary.
Then nodded once.
"See that you do."
By noon, I was already at the company.
Work mode.
No distractions.
Jason and Madison were already in the meeting room when I arrived.
A few minutes later, the CEO, Mr. Morgan, walked in.
He looked at me briefly before sitting down.
"Laurel," he said, "final year, project work, supervision… you're handling quite a lot."
"I am," I replied.
"Are you holding up well?"
"Yes."
He studied me for a moment.
"If you need a break",
"I don't," I cut in calmly.
A small pause.
Then he nodded.
"Alright. Just don't burn out."
"I won't."
Because I couldn't afford to.
By the time I got home, it was already late.
The house was quiet.
Good.
Exactly how I preferred it.
I stepped inside, dropped my bag, and loosened my coat.
Then paused.
The light in the living room was still on.
And there she was.
Seo-hee.
Curled up on the couch, hugging a pillow, fighting sleep.
" Waiting for what?" I asked.
She blinked, startled, then quickly sat up.
"You're back!"
I stared at her.
"…Why are you still awake?"
She smiled, like it was the most normal thing in the world.
"I wanted to make sure you got home safely."
Silence.
I walked past her like i always do.
"You don't need to wait for me to come back from work seo hee"
"that true" she said softly, following behind me. "But still."
Still.
That word again.
I stopped walking.
Turned slightly.
"You don't have to do that," I said.
"I know," she replied.
A small pause.
Then she added, But I want to."
I didn't respond.
Because for a second,
I didn't know what to say.
" Suit yourself then".
I noticed the Nicholas, Lee Joon and kang dae are not at home so I asked seo hee where they went.
" They said they have some business to do and they will be back in the next two days" she said.
Only God knows what they are up to now.
The next few days followed a pattern.
She talked.
I didn't.
She followed.
I ignored.
She stayed.
And somehow…
She started acting like we were… close.
"Let's eat together."
"I'll wait for you."
"You should rest more."
Small things.
Consistent and annoying things.
Unnecessary things.
And yet, She never crossed the line.
Never forced anything.
Just… stayed.
Like she had already decided something on her own.
One night, as I worked late in the living room, she sat across from me, watching quietly.
"What?" I asked without looking up.
She smiled.
"Nothing."
Silence.
Then, "I think we're going to best friends forever," she said.
My pen stopped.
Slowly, I lifted my eyes to look at her.
She wasn't joking.
Wasn't teasing.
Just… sincere.
Naive.
Certain.
…
I looked back down at my work.
"You think too much," I said.
She laughed softly.
"Maybe."
But she didn't take it back.
And for some reason,
She didn't stop either.
Two days later Kang dae, Lee Joon, Nicholas came back carrying gift for seo hee, and teasing her for surviving living with me in the same house for two days.
"Where have you guys been?", i said "Nicholas replied enjoying Canada lifestyle you would have said if we invited you so we went alone".
Then Kang dae said" am so hungry, is there any food at home?", then i put on a faint smile on face "what do you mean that you are hungry?,' aren't you coming from enjoying Canada lifestyle', i figure you would have eaten so nothing was kept for all of you, but if you are so hungry go and prepare your dinner yourself or you order, no one in this is your damn maid in this house, i said as i slammed my bedroom door close.
Few minutes later Nicholas came to door, knocked for a while then I finally answered,
" Yes, what is it?"
" Can I come in? "he asked.
" Yes", i said.
Then he bought out a bag, in it was a bag.
"Is this a bribe?" I said.
"No" he answered.
The he continued "you been busy with work and school project so we thought you needed the rest and this is also me saying am sorry about the other day".
"It fine" I said.
"Goodnight" he said as he walked out of the door.
He is always different, calm and nice. He is the closest thing I consider to as a family.
The project moved faster than expected.
Days blurred into each other, Lectures, reports, meetings, calculations.
Everything was… working.
Efficiently.
As planned.
Exactly how I wanted it.
Then the storm came.
Heavy snow.
Strong winds.
The kind that forced the entire city to slow down.
No one could go out.
No work.
No school.
Just… stillness.
At first, it was quiet.
Too quiet.
Then, somehow,
It wasn't.
Music filled the living room.
Laughter followed.
Kang Dae arguing over something meaningless.
Nicholas mocking him.
Lee Joon shook his head like he always did.
And Seo-hee…
Talking.
Of course she was talking.
Endlessly.
I sat slightly away from them, watching.
Listening.
Not involved.
But not leaving either.
"You're not even trying to join," Kang Dae said, glancing at me.
"I don't need to," I replied.
"That sounds boring," he muttered.
"It's peace and am not even enjoying it because all of you are here."
Nicholas scoffed. "Same thing, apparently."
Later, I stepped out toward the balcony for some air.
Kang Dae followed.
Of course he did.
"What?" I asked without turning.
He leaned against the railing beside me.
"That girl," he said.
I didn't need to ask which one.
"Seo-hee," he added anyway.
I stayed quiet.
"She's… different," he continued.
"Yes," I said flatly. "She is."
A small pause.
Then I turned to look at him.
"Don't get close to her."
He blinked. "What?"
"Stay away," I repeated calmly.
He let out a short laugh. "And why is that?"
"Because I know you, but if you really want her, then you will be one to work and prove yourself to her, and Lee Joon as well," I said.
"And what kind of person am I?"
"The kind that doesn't want seriousness."
Silence.
Kang Dae's expression shifted slightly.
"I'm not that kind of person," he said.
"We see," I replied.
Then I walked back inside.
They dragged me into their games eventually.
Against my will.
Or so I told myself.
"Just one round!" Seo-hee insisted, grabbing my hand.
"No."
"Please."
"No."
She didn't let go.
"…Fine."
Cheers filled the room like they had just won something.
Ridiculous.
And yet, for a moment,
It didn't feel like noise.
It felt like something else.
Something unfamiliar.
Something… warm.
Later, they pulled me outside.
Into the snow.
"You're joking," I said flatly.
"We're not," Nicholas replied.
"You need to experience life sometimes," Kang Dae added.
"I have experience enough."
"Not like this," Seo-hee said softly.
She reached for my hand again.
And this time, I didn't pull away immediately.
Cold air.
Soft snow.
Laughter echoing around me.
Snow hitting my shoulder.
Kang Dae.
Of course.
I looked at him.
He smirked.
I bent down, picked up snow,
And threw it back.
They froze.
For a second.
Then chaos.
And for the first time in a long time,
I forgot to think.
The next morning felt… different.
Quieter.
Heavier.
"I'm going back to Korea," Nicholas said while doing his routine excuses.
Just like that.
Simple.
Final.
Kang Dae leaned back. "Same here."
Lee Joon nodded. "Work is waiting."
Of course it was.
It always was.
No one looked at me when they said it.
They didn't need to.
" Finally, some peace" i said.
I drove them to the airport.
Silence filled most of the ride.
Not uncomfortable.
Just… understood.
Seo-hee sat in the back, unusually quiet.
When we reached her apartment, she stepped out slowly.
Her brother had already changed the locks.
Safe and secured.
Where she belonged.
She looked at me.
For a moment, She didn't say anything.
Then she smiled.
But it wasn't her usual bright smile.
It was softer.
Quieter.
Almost… reluctant.
"Thank you," she said.
"For everything."
I nodded once.
"That's all?" she asked lightly.
"Yes."
A small pause.
Then she laughed softly, shaking her head.
"Okay."
But she didn't move immediately.
She just stood there.
Like someone who didn't want to leave.
Like someone who had found something…
And wasn't ready to lose it yet.
"Go inside," I said.
She nodded.
But when she turned away,
It felt like she was walking away from something more than just a car.
I didn't call her back.
I didn't say anything else.
I just drove off.