The Price Of Redemption

21.

2024:

"This will be your room, Dani," Taehyung said, his smile warm as he opened the door. Dani stepped inside, her eyes scanning the space with quiet awe. The room was far too large for just one person, but every detail screamed luxury. The walls were a soft blend of white and light pink, and a king-sized bed took up most of the space, its covers neatly tucked as if no one had ever slept there. Across from the bed, a mini-fridge hummed softly, stocked with beverages and snacks, while a small but ornate lamp sat atop a sleek study desk.

"Wow..." Dani whispered, unable to hide her surprise.

Taehyung chuckled lightly at her reaction. "Your dad had the same look on his face when he first saw it too. Funny how even your names mirror each other—Jihan and Jihye," he added, his voice soft, almost nostalgic.

Dani turned to him, curiosity flickering in her eyes. It was a question she'd carried for as long as she could remember. "I never asked... but how do you know my father?"

Her words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of years of silence. Dani hadn't seen her father in what felt like a lifetime. The last memory she had of him was from when she was just eleven. Her mother always told her he'd gotten a job overseas, too busy to visit, too far to call. It never made sense to Dani—why didn't he call? Why didn't he come back, even for a single day?

At first, he'd send money, monthly like clockwork, but then, five years ago, when Haerin left, everything stopped. The phone calls, the payments. Dani and her mother were left with only questions and a cold, distant emptiness. Then, one day, the news came. His car had gone off a cliff, and whispers of suicide circulated. But her mother, Rose, refused to believe it. He wasn't a coward, she said. He would never leave them like that. His body, though, was never found, leaving behind nothing but a mystery.

Taehyung opened his mouth as if to respond, but quickly closed it again, hesitation flickering across his face. Just then, a knock on the door broke the tense silence. Both turned to see Haerin standing in the doorway, two heavy suitcases in her hands, a frown tugging at her lips.

"Where do I put these?" she asked, her tone flat, uninterested.

Dani, still shaken from her thoughts, pointed to the corner of the room. "Just over there is fine," she replied.

Haerin wordlessly set the luggage down, turning to leave without a second glance, but Taehyung called her back.

"Haerin," he said calmly. She stopped in her tracks but didn't turn around.

"What now?" she muttered, clearly annoyed.

"Hanni invited the family to dinner tomorrow. Make sure you're ready," he said, his tone firm. Without waiting for a reply, he left the room, closing the door softly behind him.

Haerin stood there, frozen for a moment, her expression shifting. This wasn't part of the plan. What was Hanni trying to do? A million thoughts ran through her mind, but Dani's voice cut through the silence.

"That woman... your girlfriend," Dani sighed, throwing herself onto the bed, "I think she's up to something."

Haerin's eyes narrowed slightly as she stepped closer. "What do you mean?"

Dani's gaze stayed fixed on the ceiling as she recounted the events of the night before. "Last night, she offered me a ride. I didn't think much of it, but out of nowhere, she called me 'Jihye.' That's not a name just anyone knows. You're the only one who ever calls me that. And I doubt you'd have told her about... us."

Haerin felt a tightness in her chest, but she kept her face impassive. "And why are you so sure I wouldn't tell her?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.