The Price Of Redemption

26.

Minji's POV:

"Haerin should've been back by now... and where's Hanni?" I wondered, my mind wandering as I dried my damp hair with a towel. The warmth of the shower still lingered on my skin, soothing the ache in my muscles from earlier. But frustration crept in—how could Haerin just leave me stranded like that? And who was with her?

Stepping out of the bedroom, I tossed the towel onto the couch absentmindedly and headed toward the kitchen, my stomach growling in protest. I was just about to rummage through the fridge when the doorbell echoed through the apartment. "That must be Hanni or Haerin," I thought, rushing to open the door.

But instead of a familiar face, I was met with a man dressed head to toe in black—hat pulled low, a mask covering his face. My stomach tightened with unease.

"Yes?" I asked cautiously, eyeing him carefully. Something about him felt... off.

He glanced around nervously, almost as if he were being followed, before lowering his hat even further over his face. "I-Is Kang Haerin here?" he stammered, his voice unsteady.

"She's not," I blurted out, instinctively.

"Oh..." His response was short, distant, as if something weighed heavily on his mind.

"Do you want to leave your name? I'll let her know you stopped by," I offered, trying to keep my tone polite despite the strange tension hanging between us. But it was clear he wasn't interested in lingering.

"No, no, it's fine. I'll come by later," he muttered, adjusting his hoodie before hurrying away, his head turning every so often, as if he was still checking his surroundings.

I watched him disappear down the hall, a frown forming on my face. "Why is everyone connected to Haerin so... weird?" I mumbled under my breath. Then the thought hit me—if they're all strange, what does that make me?

Shaking off the uneasy feeling, I shut the door quietly behind me, the apartment suddenly feeling a little too quiet...

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"Haerin?" Hanni called out, her voice echoing through the shabby house as her eyes scanned the dimly lit surroundings. Her bodyguard moved cautiously, checking each corner, while Hanni's heart raced with worry. Just as she began to feel restless, Haerin appeared at the top of the stairs, her face lighting up as she hurried down to meet her.

"Hanni!" Haerin exclaimed, pulling her into a quick, almost fleeting hug. But Hanni wasn't ready to let go. She wrapped her arms tightly around Haerin's neck, burying her face in the crook of her shoulder, the relief in her voice unmistakable as she whispered, "I was so worried, Kang Haerin."

Haerin gently rubbed her back, trying to calm her. "There was nothing to worry about, Hanni," she chuckled softly, but her words didn't quite match the gravity of what Hanni had felt.

"Though I was really waiting for you to come and rescue us," Haerin added, her tone light but sincere.

"Us?" Hanni pulled back slightly, her eyes narrowing with a mix of confusion and suspicion.

Haerin nodded, glancing toward the staircase. "Jihye, come down," she called, and a girl appeared—Dani, pacing where the two girls were standing

"Oh, so it was Dani..." Hanni said, feigning surprise, though her thoughts were racing. Right, Minji mentioned someone else was with her...

Haerin blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"

Hanni's smile didn't falter, but a sharp edge laced her words. "Minji said you ran off with someone, ditching her."