The silence that followed their departure was heavy, lingering for several minutes before the tension finally began to dissipate.
"I'm not sure which is funnier," Chaeryoung's silvery voice finally broke the quiet, cutting through the stagnant air. "The fact that I actually let a confidential conversation unfold right in front of me without intervening—which isn't like me at all—or the fact that you and that Jinhee girl look so much alike. Despite the massive gap in your personalities, your facial features are strikingly similar. It's... unexpectedly unpredictable."
I blinked, the thought catching me completely off guard. "I... I never noticed. The resemblance, I mean."
Chaeryoung chuckled, a warm sound that eased the remaining stiffness in my shoulders. "Don't overthink it. It's just another one of my random observations. Besides, there's no way the two of you are actually related—honestly, the thought is a bit of a stretch."
We both shared a light laugh, the absurdity of the idea helping us move forward. We continued walking, finally letting the morning's drama fade into the background as we retreated into the comfort of our own little world.
But our peace was short-lived. A deep, disembodied voice belonging to a man suddenly sliced through the air, snapping our attention toward the shadows.
"Young Mistress Song."