her || lee know ff

• t w e n t y - o n e •

A month has passed, and things have settled. Byungwoo had been sentenced to life in prison, while Yoona faced a three-year sentence. Meanwhile, Minho was finally proven innocent after spending five years under the cloud of false accusations. It was revealed that Byungwoo had been the one who killed Minho's mother, framing him for the crime. Even the break-in at the shop that Minho was accused of was orchestrated by Byungwoo, who had paid someone to impersonate him. With Hyunjin's testimony as a key witness, Minho's name was finally cleared.

Minho just stepped out from the prison gates, finally free after months of wrongful imprisonment. He waited patiently, scanning the street for Han and Hyunjin, who were supposed to pick him up. As he stood there, lost in thought, someone suddenly tapped his shoulder from behind, causing him to flinch slightly.

He turned around quickly, only to be met with the familiar face of Chan, who chuckled at his reaction. "Relax, it's just me," Chan said, smiling warmly.

" Oh , hyung . Thank you for helping me and I'm really sorry . "

Chan's smile softened as he shook his head.

"There's nothing to be sorry for, Minho-ya. You went through hell, but you made it out. That's what matters."

He placed a reassuring hand on Minho's shoulder. "And you never have to thank me for helping you. That's what friends are for."

Minho felt a wave of relief and gratitude wash over him. The weight of the past five years seemed to lift slightly with Chan's words. He took a deep breath, trying to process the reality of his newfound freedom.

" So , what are you gonna do after this ? " asked Chan.

"I think... I just want to start over. Find some peace, maybe. I need to rebuild everything I've lost."

Chan nodded, understanding the depth of what Minho had been through.

"You've got a fresh start now. Take your time, and we'll be here to help you along the way."

Minho nodded in response, grateful for the support.Just then, they heard voices nearby, growing louder with each passing second. Minho and Chan turned around to see Changbin and Chaeryoung bickering, their argument causing a small scene.

Chan sighed, rubbing his temples in mild frustration.

"Hey, hey, stop both of you. What's happening here?" he called out, stepping forward.

Without warning, Chaeryoung gave Changbin a little push toward Minho and Chan. "Changbin wants to say something, but he's-you know, stubborn," she said, crossing her arms with an exasperated look.

"Hey! I'm not stubborn, I'm just..." Changbin's voice trailed off as he glanced at Minho, his tone softening as he struggled to find the right words.

After a brief pause, Changbin took a deep breath and looked Minho in the eye.

"Minho hyung , I... I'm sorry. I accused you without knowing the full story, and I didn't even try to listen. I was wrong, and I'm really sorry for everything you went through because of that."

Minho looked at Changbin, his expression softening.

"It's okay, Changbin," he said quietly. "What's done is done. I know you were just trying to do the right thing. But... thank you for apologizing. It means a lot."

He reached out and patted Changbin on the shoulder, offering a small, reassuring smile. "Let's just move forward from here, yeah?"

Changbin nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. Just as the tension began to ease, they were interrupted by the sound of a car horn blaring from behind them. All four turned to see a familiar car pulling up to the curb.

"Finally, they're here," Chan muttered, a grin spreading across his face as Han and Hyunjin waved from the car.

Minho's smile grew wider as he saw Han and Hyunjin. The car came to a stop, and Han quickly jumped out, running over to pull Minho into a tight hug.

" Yow , hyung . Miss you a lot . " said han .

Minho returned the hug, patting Han's back with a fond smile.

"Missed you too, Han. It's good to be out."

Hyunjin walked over with a grin, giving Minho a playful punch on the shoulder.

"You better be ready to make up for all the lost time, hyung. We've got a lot of catching up to do."Minho laughed, feeling a warmth he hadn't felt in 5 months .

"I'm ready for whatever you guys have planned."

~
At Han's house, the evening had settled into a calm, relaxed atmosphere after dinner. Han had already gone to bed, leaving Minho and Hyunjin alone in the living room.

While Hyunjin was lounging comfortably, he noticed that Minho had been repeatedly reaching for another drink, his focus lost in the bottom of his glass. The bottle on the table was nearly empty, and Minho's demeanor was far from the cheerful one he had shown earlier.

Hyunjin, sensing what was troubling Minho, sighed and approached him. Just as Minho was about to pour another glass, Hyunjin snatched the bottle away.

" You've been drinking a lot today , hyung . What's wrong , huh ? Is it about Areum ? " Hyunjin asked, his voice filled with concern.

"I've hurt her," Minho replied, his voice heavy with regret.

"Then go apologize," Hyunjin urged gently. "She's been waiting for you. I know you didn't mean it that day."

Minho looked down, the weight of Hyunjin's words sinking in. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself.

"You're right," Minho said quietly, nodding. "I need to make things right."

" But not no- hyung ? Sh*t , he's already gone . What should I do ? Arin .. oh yea . Let me call her . "

Hyunjin immediately call Arin . Unfortunately, she didn't answered.

" f*ck "

~

Minho stood a few paces away from Areum's house, his heart pounding as he prepared to approach. Just as he took a step forward, he noticed a familiar car pulling up to the driveway. His gaze locked on Arin as she stepped out of the vehicle.

"See you again, Arin-ah. Good night," Felix called out, waving as he drove away.

Arin responded with a soft hum, barely glancing back as Felix's car disappeared down the street.

Minho, seeing her from afar, froze, his thoughts racing. He mistook Arin for Areum, his mind clouded by his guilt and confusion. He stood there, torn between approaching and retreating, uncertain of what to do next.

Before Arin could enter the house, she was suddenly pulled into a tight hug. Surprised and momentarily off-balance, she struggled against the embrace.

" what the - "