Chapter 7: The Priority of the Heart
The Airport Terminal – 08:00 PM.
The rush of the day has slowed to a low hum. HAEYOUNG is walking toward the exit, her footsteps echoing. HYUNA catches up to her, holding out a forgotten folder.
Hyuna: "Captain Hong! You left the navigation log at the table."
Haeyoung stops and takes the file. As she reaches for it, her eyes land on Hyuna's wrist—the blue braided friendship band. A tiny, knowing smile touches her lips.
Haeyoung: "Already got a friendship band? Who was it from? Someone on your team?"
Hyuna: (Blushing, smiling shyly) "Ah... actually, it's from a new friend. Pilot Jae-won gave it to me."
The smile on Haeyoung's face doesn't drop, but it freezes. Her eyes lose their warmth instantly.
Haeyoung: "Oh. I see."
She takes the file and turns away without another word, her pace quickening. Hyuna stands there, confused by the sudden chill, before heading back to help SUNG-MIN with the remaining equipment.
The Hangar Corridor.
Haeyoung has changed into her civilian clothes—a crisp white shirt and tailored black trousers. She looks sharp, but her expression is thunderous. JAE-WON comes running down the hall, shouting her name.
Jae-won: "Haeyoung-ah! Wait up! Why didn't you call me for dinner? I've been looking for you."
She doesn't stop. He has to run in front of her to block her path. He's grinning, holding out a second friendship band—this one a deeper, midnight blue.
Jae-won: "Happy Friendship Day, Haeyoung. Here, put it on."
Haeyoung: (Eyes cold as ice) "No thanks. I don't want it."
Jae-won: (His grin faltering) "What? Why? We do this every year. What happened?"
Haeyoung: "You gave one to someone else before me, didn't you? To that girl, Hyuna?"
Jae-won: "Haeyoung, I just meant it as a nice gesture, she looked sad—"
Haeyoung: (Stepping closer, her voice low and dangerous) "Listen to me very clearly, Jae-won. I am a 'priority' type of person. I either want to be the first and only priority, or I want nothing at all. I don't take leftovers. So thank you, but this year, I'm not taking anything from you. Goodbye."
She brushes past him, leaving Jae-won standing in the middle of the hallway, holding the blue string like a broken promise. He shouts her name, but she doesn't look back.
The Parking Lot.
Haeyoung reaches her car and tries the ignition. Click-click-click. Nothing. She tries again. Dead. She storms out of the car and kicks the front tire in a rare outburst of temper. "Great. Just a perfect day," she mutters.
A sleek black sedan pulls up. The window slides down. JUNGHAN is behind the wheel.
Junghan: "Trouble with the car? I have a mechanic on speed dial, or I can take a look."
Haeyoung: (Without looking at him) "No. I'll call a tow."
Junghan: "At this hour? It'll take forever. It's on my way... let me drop you."
Haeyoung looks at her dead car, then at the darkening sky, and finally at Junghan. She's too tired to argue. She gets in.
Minutes Later – The Other Side of the Lot.
HYUNA runs out, gasping for breath. She wanted to catch Junghan before he left, to maybe ask for a ride home like before. But all she sees is the taillights of his black sedan disappearing. Her face falls. She's almost about to cry when a shadow falls over her.
Jae-won: "Missed your ride too?"
Hyuna jumps. Jae-won looks uncharacteristically gloomy, his hands in his pockets.
Jae-won: "My best friend just dumped me for the night. Come on, Hyuna-ssi. Let me drop you. Misery loves company, right?"
Hyuna: (Surprised) "What? Did something happen?"
Jae-won: "Yeah. Life happened. Let's go."
Inside Junghan's Car.
The silence is deafening. Haeyoung is staring straight ahead, her jaw tight. Junghan, usually the king of silence, finds himself constantly stealing glances at her through the rearview mirror. He's blushing—actually blushing—just having her in his passenger seat. He looks like a teenager on a first date, while she looks like she's ready for war.
They reach her luxury apartment complex.
Haeyoung: "My phone."
Junghan: (Startled) "What?" He realizes he's been staring. "Oh! Your phone... here."
He hands it to her, his fingers brushing hers. He's internally panicking, his heart racing. Haeyoung takes it, taps a few times, and hands it back.
Haeyoung: "Thanks for the ride."
She gets out and walks into the building without a glance back. Junghan sits there, dazed, clutching his phone. Then, it pings. A notification from a banking app.
[Transfer Received: 50,000 KRW - "Taxi Fare"]
Junghan stares at the screen. He lets out a dry, disbelieving laugh, leaning his head against the steering wheel.
Junghan: "She really... she treated me like a hired driver. She won't let anyone in, will she?"
[FADE OUT]