Ha-Joon's gaze slowly shifted toward her, eyes shadowed with fatigue.
"Joy, everything's been confusing lately. I don't understand," he admitted softly, lowering his eyes again as if the weight of his thoughts was too heavy to carry.
Joy's mind flashed with thoughts of his sacrifice—how he had lost his memory temporarily, how he had given so much to protect others.
She silently wished that he would remember everything soon, hoping for brighter days ahead.
But her thoughts were cut short as a loud bang suddenly echoed on their table, causing both of them to jump slightly.
Startled, they quickly stood up, bowing slightly in respect.
"What are you doing here? Lazing around?" came Mr. Bark's stern, cold voice. His expression was tight with irritation, a flash of authority flashing in his eyes.
Ha-Joon responded calmly, trying to keep his tone respectful. "We were tired, so we took a rest. But… we will get back to work now."
As he gently began to guide Joy away from the scene, Mr. Bark's tone sharpened. He turned to Ha-Joon with a smirk, his voice dripping with threat.
''You will be giving a last warning next time. If I catch you lazing around again—if you're not working, always arriving late—I will fire you," he said coldly.
Ha-Joon nodded obediently. "Yes, sir," he replied softly.
Mr. Bark then walked away, leaving them to continue with their work.
Joy turned to Ha-Joon, her expression annoyed.
"You stood there listening to his nonsense… as if being lazy isn't what he does, such a loser," she sneered, glancing toward Mr. Bark, who was now engaged with a customer.
Ha-Joon sighed, trying to defuse the tension. "Shh… Joy, please, don't make me lose my job," he whispered, a hint of pleading in his voice.
Joy hesitated, then nodded silently, understanding the seriousness of the situation.
They exchanged a brief, resigned look, knowing they had to stay cautious and keep their heads down, at least for now.
---------------
joy's room is a cozy, teenage sanctuary painted in soft pastel tones—mainly white with hints of light pink and lavender.
The walls are decorated with posters of her Also her favorite K-pop idols, a few fairy lights draped across the ceiling giving a warm, gentle glow.
A small desk sits by the window, cluttered with notebooks, makeup, and a few scattered pens.
A plush teddy bear and some stuffed animals are arranged neatly on her bed, which is covered with a fluffy white comforter and pastel-colored cushions.
The room smells faintly of vanilla and lavender, a calming scent that lingers even after she's left.
Joy came back home from work, her usual routine: she released her short hair from the tight ponytail, letting it cascade freely around her shoulders.
She took off her glasses, setting them gently on her bedside table, and tossed her apron onto the chair nearby with a tired sigh.
She flopped onto her bed, staring up at the ceiling—her mind exhausted but also relieved to be home.
Suddenly, she bolted upright, her eyes wide with surprise.
"Oh, you're back," a sharp but low voice suddenly broke the silence. The voice was unexpected, and it made her jump in alarm.
Her heart pounding, she instinctively screamed a little, clutching herself helplessly. "Who… who's there?" she asked trembling, voice shaky with fear and confusion.
'' I am too young lord am not ready to go to heaven...''
From across the room, a hand slowly rose up from the couch—an arm that somehow seemed to cut the sunlight out, casting a shadow over the bed.
Joy gulped hard, her eyes fixed on the dark silhouette.
Then, slowly, Ji-Hoo stood up. His messy black hair framed his face, a mischievous, overly confident smirk curling his lips—his signature look that always made him appear both annoying and charming. The dimple on his cheek made his teasing smile even more irritatingly adorable.
"Hi… Princess," he said teasingly, voice dripping with playful sarcasm.
Joy gasped, her face turning pale, even her freckles looked like it faded away.
"What are you doing in my house? And in my room…? you jerk am not that type of girl" she demanded, rushing to sit up and pushing herself to her feet.
'' Relaxed Lady hear me out... before you get me dragged by the police...'' Ji-Hoo said trying to calm her down.
Then he shrugged casually, pacing around her room with that same smug expression. "Oh, long story. Short, actually. Don't worry—the 'ruler of this castle'—your mom—knows about this," he said almost nonchalantly.
Joy's eyes widened even more. Her voice sharpened with worry.
"Mom… she knows? I'll call her," she said, reaching into her pocket for her phone.
But Ji-Hoo shook his head calmly. "She's not gonna answer," he said softly, almost like he was amused by her panic.
Her heart froze. "What do you mean? she can't leave me here with you" she demanded, voice stern now.
He looked away, a little sheepish but still teasing.
"She's kinda in this… she's going to spend the night at her workplace, she was worried about you so she let me stay because I said so and because I also prayed, I guess," he murmured, almost whispering, "so she told me and gave me the permission to stay here and keep you company."
''She said you're afraid of ghost'' he added and Joy sighed frustrated.
''In this situation living with a ghost is better than staying here with you,'' Joy said sarcasm linked in her voice.
Joy's face twisted with frustration. " You were Almost licking her feet," she muttered under her breath.
Ji-Hoo stepped closer, hands in his pockets.
"I promise I won't bother you much. I won't tease you… much," he added with a wink. "And I can cook—great Korean dishes, even your mother said you liked them."
''What else did she tell you? you've become a threat now''
She hesitated, arms crossed—food was the only thing she trusted him to do well, and she was also super hungry. After a moment, she sighed, resigned.
"Fine. Whatever. Stay. Cook me something good. I'll go freshen up," she said, then pushed him toward the door. "And lock it," she added firmly.
Ji-Hoo grinned mischievously but nodded. "Got it," he said, slipping out of her room.
She closed the door behind him with a soft click, then leaned against it, letting out a long, exhausted sigh.
She sat back on her bed, contemplating the unexpected guest and the strange night ahead.
After freshening up, Joy came downstairs, her arms crossed over her neat, ironed white pajamas—simple, comfortable, and spotless.
Her expression showed a hint of annoyance, perhaps from the earlier chaos, but she let out a sigh as she watched Ji-Hoo from behind.
From her perspective, he looked surprisingly charming, completely unaware of her internal conflict.
He was wiping his messy black hair out of his face, looking handsome in a casual way. His features were balanced—sharp jawline, clear skin, and a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
He looked genuinely cute trying to make kimchi, carefully chopping and mixing ingredients, all while completely focused on his task.
Joy stood quietly behind him, observing.
She was about to say something when she accidentally slipped, her foot catching on a chair leg.
She stumbled and quickly caught herself, her hand landing on the desk. Her eyes widened slightly, but she quickly recovered, leaning casually against the counter.
"Hmm… smells good. What are you making?" she asked, her tone calm and neutral, masking her curiosity.
Ji-Hoo glanced over his shoulder, a bright smile on his face. "I'm making kimchi… I heard it's your favorite," he said casually, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Joy sighed softly, uncrossing her arms. "How did you know?" she asked, her voice gentle but a little amused.
He began to answer, "Your mom…," then paused, grinning mischievously. "She told you," Joy finished for him, crossing her arms again with a small, amused smile.
Ji-Hoo's face lit up with a smile as he clapped his hands, then grabbed two bowls of kimchi—bright red, fragrant, and perfectly prepared.
He placed them on the table and sat across from her, his handsome features relaxed and confident.
As he picked up his chopsticks, he sneered playfully. "So, I know most girls eat elegantly, but here… you don't need to," he teased, his eyes glinting mischievously.
He was about to say more but suddenly paused, his mouth hanging open in surprise.
He was looking upward, staring at her with an almost goofy expression, caught off guard by how she's eating, carefree, in a rush and satisfied.
Joy had been eating the opposite of what he expected, and a bit of stew had splashed beside her mouth.
She smiled awkwardly, trying to act natural, and nodded.
''What? Stop staring! Can't I eat like this?" she asked, acting mock-offended, wiping her mouth with a napkin.
Ji-Hoo chuckled softly.
"No… I didn't expect that," he admitted, leaning in a little. "Anyway… how's the food? Are you enjoying it?"
Joy rolled her eyes, annoyed but secretly amused. "Do I look like I'm enjoying it?" she shot back, frustration mixed with a teasing smile.
Ji-Hoo glanced at her half-empty bowl, eyes twinkling with mischief. "I dunno. Do you?" he teased, leaning closer.
She sighed, crossing her arms again. "Okay, okay, I get it. I'm enjoying it. Happy now?" she said, voice a bit defensive but smiling.
She grinned. "I didn't know you were a pretty great chef," she said softly, eyes warm.
Joy's small smile faltered for a moment before she looked away, embarrassed.
"I was just watching how to make it online," Ji-Hoo admitted casually, trying to downplay it.
Her smile instantly faded, replaced with a look of surprise.
"I'm just kidding, grumpy," he added quickly, winking.
Joy's lips curved into a genuine smile. Despite herself, she felt a little warmth from his teasing, and the tension eased.
They sat quietly for a moment, the room filled with the comforting aroma of kimchi and the quiet hum of the evening.