TUESDAY NIGHT
The night air was cold, almost heavy, as Ga-young walked down the dimly lit street. Her shoes echoed softly against the wet pavement, each step weighed with dread. She tried not to think about it, but fear had a way of creeping in — slow, inevitable.
Tonight was her deadline.
The last chance to pay back the money.
No one to borrow from. No one to turn to.
And she couldn't—wouldn't—tell her mother.
She exhaled, the sound shaky, blending into the low hum of the city.
As she passed a cluster of men huddled under a streetlight, smoke curled around them like fog. She didn't spare them a glance. She had bigger demons to worry about—until a voice tore through the silence.
"Choi Ga-young!"
The name struck like thunder. Her body froze. That voice, she knew it too well.
She sighed, eyes closing briefly. "What does this bastard want now?" she muttered before slowly turning around.
The group of smokers had straightened up, suddenly looking more like a gang than passersby. At their center stood Man-ho, a smirk playing on his lips as he flicked away his cigarette.
"Long time no see, little bitch," he said, stepping forward.
Ga-young's expression hardened. Without a word, she turned on her heel and started to walk away, only to find a mountain of a man blocking her path.
Man-ho's laughter rang out, rough and mocking. "Running away already? Not even gonna say hi? You used to have more guts than this. What's wrong—scared?"
"What do you want from me?" she snapped.
"Me?" he said, feigning innocence as he strolled closer. "I don't want anything. But Ms. Jang Seo-ra…" he paused, savoring the name, "she seems very interested in you."
"Seo-ra?" Ga-young's heart skipped.
"You really should've known better than to mess with people like her," he said with a sneer. "Just like your father. Always trying to fight battles above his head. That's why he died miserable."
Her eyes darkened. "Don't you dare talk about my father."
He smirked wider. "Mrs. Jang said to give you a little reminder. A few bruises, maybe a cracked rib, just enough to make her point."
Ga-young's pulse raced. Her gaze darted around, no one. No escape.
Man-ho's tone softened mockingly. "Unless, of course, you've decided to cooperate."
"Do whatever you want," she said bitterly. "But I'd rather die than work for that bitch of a woman."
Man-ho chuckled, clapping his hands once. "Then so shall it be."
He stepped back. "Boys, have your fun."
The men moved in. Ga-young's eyes fluttered shut. For a moment, she welcomed it — the thought of pain, or even death. Maybe it would be a kind of mercy.
And then—
Sirens.
Red and blue lights sliced through the darkness.
The gang froze, startled. Before they could scatter, police cars boxed them in. Officers jumped out, shouting orders.
And among them—Min-jae.
He ran toward her, worry flashing in his eyes. "Ga-young! Are you okay?"
She didn't answer. Her chest felt hollow, her mind spinning.
"Step back, sir," one of the officers said as they cuffed the men. Man-ho barked a wild laugh as they dragged him toward the patrol car.
"You even called your rich boyfriend to save you! Why not have him pay your debt while he's at it?" he spat, laughing hysterically. "You think Seo-ra's done with you? You're already dead!"
"Get him in the car," the officer said sharply.
Man-ho's laughter faded into the night as the doors slammed.
---
Min-jae turned back to her and found Ga-young still standing in the same spot, her head bowed, shoulders trembling ever so slightly. The sight of her froze him for a moment — she looked so small, so broken. Then instinct took over, worry gripping him so tightly it almost hurt.
"Ms. Choi,"
Slowly, she lifted her head. Her eyes — red, glistening, heavy with something he couldn't name met his. "Why?" she whispered, voice shaking. "Why did you have to save me?"
Min-jae's heart clenched. He reached out, fingers trembling as they hovered near her face. "Ga-young…" he breathed, his voice low, almost pleading.
But she turned away before he could touch her.
He froze. The air between them thickened with everything unsaid regret, pain, longing. He let his hand fall back to his side, a quiet sigh escaping him.
"Why do you keep doing this to me?" she asked, her voice cracking under the weight of her tears. "Are you trying to punish me? Do you want me to live with this guilt forever?"
Her words hit him like shards of glass, each syllable sharp, trembling, raw. She looked at him then, really looked at him, as if trying to find an answer that could make the pain stop. But all he could do was stand there, silently drowning in the same ache that tore through her.
He exhaled silently. "I could never want that for you."
"The more you help me, the more broken I become. Don't you get it? I can't forget the past when you keep standing in front of me reminding me it's real."
"The past is gone, Ga-young," he said firmly. "It doesn't have to define you."
She let out a bitter laugh. "Gone? You really don't know anything, do you? It was all fake, Min-jae. Everything."
"I know," he said quietly.
Her breath caught. "You knew and still decided to help me, why?"
"I knew. But it doesn't matter. You're not the same person anymore."
Her voice shook. "But I still remember it. How can I forget, I used you Min-jae, I made you believe lies, I made you believe I was always going to be there for you. I want it to hurt, because forgetting would be too easy, forgetting would make me feel more heartless and inhuman."
He stepped closer, his voice almost a whisper. "You don't have to let it hunt you."
She shook her head violently. "I have to! Don't you get it?" Tears fell freely now. "It was all fake. I never loved you. I used you, manipulated you, and when I was done, I made sure you'd hate your best friend just to cover my lies."
Her voice broke completely. "So please… stop. Stop trying to save me. Stop caring. From now on, we're nothing more than boss and secretary. That's all we'll ever be."
For a long moment, Min-jae said nothing. Then he took off his coat and gently draped it over her shoulders.
"If that's what you truly want," he said quietly, his voice trembling at the edges. "Take care, Ms. Choi."
He turned to his bodyguard. "Make sure she gets home safely."
And with that, he walked away, the sound of his car fading into the distance.
When the last echo of his engine disappeared, Ga-young's knees gave out. She crumpled to the ground, sobs tearing through her chest.
The bodyguard stood a few feet away, silent and unmoving, the only witness to her breaking.
And above her, the sirens had long gone silent.
Only the night remained, watching.