Daniel poured another round of whiskey, the amber liquid catching the soft light.
"…You know I was adopted, right?"
Jinwoo nodded.
"Yeah."
Daniel let out a quiet sigh.
"Honestly, I wasn't sure if I should be the one telling you this…"
"Then just say it,"
Jinwoo urged gently.
Daniel looked out the window for a beat before turning back to him.
"The first time I met Celeste… was in elementary school. We'd just moved in next door to her."
His voice took on a different tone—softer, almost nostalgic.
"My parents were both doctors. They opened a new clinic in the neighborhood. We lived next door, went to the same school…It was only natural we saw each other every day."
A small smile crossed Daniel's lips.
"We were just kids, sure. But for me, it wasn't just puppy love."
Jinwoo stayed quiet, letting him speak.
"She was… my first love."
His gaze wavered, just for a second.
"Then my parents died. A car accident. In the middle of the night. Both of them, just… gone."
Jinwoo's eyes widened.
His mouth parted slightly, but he couldn't find the right words.
"Not long after, the Langleys took me in. I moved in with her. Suddenly, we were family."
Daniel looked straight at Jinwoo.
"What would you have done? If the girl you'd loved since you were a kid… suddenly became your sister overnight?"
Jinwoo opened his mouth again, but nothing came out.
"I endured it." Daniel's voice grew quieter.
"I treated her like family. Like a friend. I buried everything. Because I didn't want her to feel uncomfortable. I stood behind her… and smiled."
He dropped his gaze, setting the glass down gently.
The whiskey inside shimmered faintly.
"…So maybe now you get it."
Daniel looked up again, his eyes steady but tired.
"How I felt…when you suddenly showed up."
Jinwoo said nothing—just waited.
"She's been by my side since she was ten. As family, as a partner, as a strategist. We studied together, grew up together… built our lives together."
A long pause.
"She probably has her own reasons for not wanting to get married. But…"
Daniel trailed off. He lifted his glass again, taking a slow sip.
"…I can't help wondering if part of it is… guilt. Maybe even pity. For me."
Jinwoo's eyes widened again, but he slowly nodded.
"Of course," Daniel added with a shrug, "maybe I'm wrong. I've never asked her."
His voice carried a faint, tired laugh.
Silence settled between them for a moment.
Then Jinwoo spoke, careful and quiet.
"…So, who is Noah?"
Daniel slowly lowered his glass and turned toward him.
"Noah…"The name alone brought a flicker of tension to his face.
"To explain that…you need a bit of background."
"Wait—no, really,"
Jinwoo said quickly, holding up his hands.
"I don't know anything. Like, nothing."
Daniel stared at him for a beat, then chuckled under his breath.
"You're a terrible liar. How do you even act for a living?"
Jinwoo gave a sheepish smile.
"…I just figured you already knew and were testing me."
Daniel nodded once.
"Alright then. Let's say you know enough to follow."
He leaned back, voice low and measured.
"To talk about Noah…we have to go back 13 years."
And with that, the past began to resurface—slowly, and with shadows.