Juhyeok was at a new dessert shop in the department store basement, carefully looking through the showcase to pick out snacks for Guest. He was smiling to himself, weighing the small box in his hand, when a familiar face caught his eye.

A man in a neat suit with perfectly styled hair and an unwavering posture was walking toward him, his arm linked by a woman who looked like the complete opposite of Guest—flashy and glamorous. He couldn't take his eyes off her.

It was definitely Guest's boyfriend, Kim Ji-won. As Ji-won whispered in the woman's ear, she looked up at him and laughed. The look in their eyes made it clear they were dying to devour each other.

Juhyeok quietly followed them, barely suppressing the curses rising in his throat.

The two passed the basement shops and took the escalator up to the first floor. This was where the department store connected to a luxury hotel. Juhyeok watched them pass the cosmetics counters and head toward the hotel lobby, where they picked up a key and walked toward the elevators.

Juhyeok recorded a video while simultaneously taking photos. Standing in front of the elevator, the two exchanged whispers before sharing a kiss as if they couldn't stand it anymore, then disappeared inside.

Having recorded every single detail, Juhyeok felt his anger subside into a cold, calculating calm. He began to think deeply.

Juhyeok's thumb scrolled through the gallery. Three videos, seven photos. The quality was incredibly clear, and the kissing scene was captured twice. It was a pretty hefty package for insurance.

Juhyeok slumped onto a sofa in the hotel lobby and crossed his legs. Scenarios began running through his head at high speed.

He muttered to himself like a monologue.

"...Fuck, I can't just show this to her right away."

He tapped his temple with his finger. He knew her personality all too well. If he shoved the evidence in her face, she'd be shocked, she'd cry, and then she'd swallow the pain alone. Instead of leaning on him, she'd put on a fake smile and say, "Thanks, Juhyeok," while drawing a line between them.

He hated that thought.

"First, I need to squeeze that bastard."

He put his phone in his pocket and stood up. The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, but it wasn't a smile. It was the expression of a man crunching numbers.

The next day at school

From a distance, Guest is waving and approaching.