The Choi apartment, for once, was quiet.
Too quiet.
The kind of quiet that only exists right before absolute disaster.
6:30 AM.
The sun had barely settled over the Seoul skyline, light slipping through the glass walls of the luxury apartment.
And in the kitchen—
Choi Do-Yun was already awake.
Freshly showered.
Hair slightly damp.
Dressed in simple black—nothing flashy, nothing "Nation's Actor."
Just… Oppa.
He stood at the counter, calmly plating breakfast.
Eggs. Toast. Fruit.
Balanced. Clean. Predictable.
The kind of routine he had built over years—
Because chaos didn't suit his schedule.
Unfortunately—
Chaos lived in his house.
Down the hallway—
Behind a firmly closed door—
Choi Geon was unconscious.
Not sleeping.
Not resting.
Gone.
Blanket wrapped like armor.
Pillow half on the floor.
Phone somewhere under him, still playing a video at 3% volume like background noise for his downfall.
Across the apartment—
In another room—
Choi Ha-Niel was also late.
Not asleep.
But moving… slowly.
Very slowly.
Because last night—
They had stayed up watching Do-Yun's award ceremony.
Celebrating.
Planning.
Overthinking.
Declaring war on his future.
Now?
They were paying for it.
6:57 AM.
Do-Yun glanced at the clock.
Then toward the hallway.
Then back at the food.
"…three minutes," he muttered.
6:58 AM.
No movement.
6:59 AM.
Still nothing.
7:00 AM.
The deadline had been crossed.
Do-Yun sighed.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
Just the kind of sigh that came from raising two children while also being a global superstar.
Right on cue—
The bathroom door burst open.
Ha-Niel stepped out, towel around her neck, hair still slightly wet.
"Why didn't you wake me up?!" she snapped.
Do-Yun didn't even look up.
"I tried."
"You knocked once."
"I knocked twice."
"That's not enough commitment."
She grabbed a toast, took a bite mid-walk, then suddenly froze.
"…wait."
Her eyes widened.
"GEON."
The apartment shook.
"CHOI GEON, IF YOU'RE STILL ALIVE, GET UP RIGHT NOW—"
Inside his room—
Geon's soul re-entered his body.
He shot up instantly.
"What—what—what—"
The door slammed open.
Ha-Niel stood there like judgment itself.
"WHAT TIME DO YOU THINK IT IS?"
Geon blinked.
Looked at the clock.
Paused.
Then—
Absolute panic.
"…I'M DEAD."
Unlike his sister—
Geon had a problem.
A very real one.
His school had a strict entry window.
Miss it—
And the gate closed.
No entry.
No excuses.
No "my sister declared war on our brother's marriage last night."
And today—
He couldn't be late.
Because today—
Yoo Ara would be there.
Geon launched himself out of bed.
No thoughts.
No plan.
Just survival.
Clothes were thrown on.
Half-buttoned.
Hair? Unresolved issue.
Shoes? Untied.
Dignity? Already gone.
He ran into the kitchen like a storm.
Do-Yun calmly held out a plate.
"Eat first."
"I DON'T HAVE TIME—"
"You need energy."
"I NEED SPEED—"
Ha-Niel grabbed a protein bar from the fridge and shoved it into his hand.
"Take this and go!"
Geon didn't argue.
Didn't think.
Didn't breathe.
He bolted.
The front door slammed open.
Then shut.
Then opened again.
He ran back in.
Grabbed his bag.
Ran out again.
"Shoes," Do-Yun called.
"I'LL FIX THEM ON THE WAY—"
And just like that—
He was gone.
15 minutes.
That's all he had.
15 minutes before the school gate closed.
15 minutes to run, fix his uniform, tie his shoes, fix his hair, fix his life—
And somehow still look like a functioning human being.
Halfway down the street—
He bit into the protein bar.
Still running.
Still adjusting his shirt.
Still trying to button it correctly while not dying.
"…why today…" he muttered between breaths.
Then—
His expression shifted.
Determined.
Focused.
A little insane.
"…I'm not missing today."
Back at the apartment—
Silence returned.
Ha-Niel leaned against the counter, catching her breath.
"…we're terrible role models."
Do-Yun placed a cup of coffee in front of her.
"You stayed up late."
"So did you."
"I had work."
"We had a mission."
Do-Yun paused.
"…a mission?"
Ha-Niel smiled.
Too innocently.
"Nothing."
He didn't push.
He never did.
Instead—
He sat down.
Quietly.
Finally eating his own breakfast.
"…be careful on your way," he said.
Ha-Niel looked at him.
For a second—
Just a second—
Her expression softened.
"…you too, Oppa."
Outside—
Geon was still running.
Shoelaces finally tied.
Shirt mostly buttoned.
Hair… negotiable.
The school gate was in sight.
Students rushing in.
The final warning bell ringing.
Geon pushed forward.
One last sprint.
And just before the gate began to close—
He slipped through.
Breathing heavily.
Alive.
Victorious.
And then—
Something incredible happened.
Geon… celebrated.
Right there.
In front of everyone.
He puffed his chest out like he had just won the Olympics.
Pointed at himself.
Did a weird little victory pose.
Then another.
And another.
Even making exaggerated faces—
Like his idiot friends did whenever they survived something stupid.
"YES. YES. LEGEND. I'M A LEGEND—"
A few students walking past slowed down.
Then—
They started giggling.
Near the entrance—
Yoo Ara saw everything.
She paused.
Watched him.
Then—
A small smile escaped her.
Soft.
Unnoticed.
Geon, of course—
Did not notice.
Because he was too busy celebrating his survival like a man who had just escaped death.
"Choi Geon."
A voice cut through.
Sharp.
Deadly.
A teacher.
Geon froze mid-pose.
Slowly turned.
"…good morning, sir."
"Inside."
"…yes, sir."
He walked in.
Trying to act normal.
Failing completely.
And just outside the gate—
A tragic figure appeared.
Park Min-Jae.
Sweating.
Breathing like his lungs had resigned.
Hair destroyed.
Uniform clinging to him like he had just survived a natural disaster.
He stopped.
Looked at the closed gate.
Then at Geon inside.
Geon saw him.
Paused.
Then—
A slow grin spread across his face.
He raised his hand.
Checked the time dramatically.
Then pointed at it.
Min-Jae's expression broke.
Geon leaned forward slightly.
Made the most annoying mocking face possible—
And silently mouthed:
"Ha… ha… ha… ha…"
Then turned—
And walked inside like a winner.
Min-Jae stood there.
Betrayed.
Sweaty.
Hungry.
"…I hate him."
Inside—
Geon took his seat.
Heart still racing.
Energy still high.
Dignity still missing.
But one thought remained.
He made it.
He was here.
And somewhere nearby—
Yoo Ara was smiling.