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"Wow... this place is insane!" Haeun exclaimed, sinking into the plush cushions of the living room couch. Her suitcase teetered on the edge, and Taeyong stooped to drag it safely to the floor, shaking his head at her.
It was close to three in the morning. After sorting out the remnants of the chaos at the base, Taeyong had brought her to the main house—a sprawling mansion tucked into the wealthiest suburbs of Seoul. Sleek, modern, and impossibly large, it sat proudly among estates belonging to the richest citizens of South Korea. The backyard, hidden behind an impossibly tall fence, held a pool and lounging area, a private oasis amidst the city.
Inside, the house seemed almost endless: fifteen bedrooms for the family, three expansive living areas, a chef-worthy kitchen, a miniature shooting range, martial arts room, game room, cinema... the list could go on. Every corner screamed luxury, power, and control.
Haeun finally hoisted herself up from the couch and followed Taeyong up a wide, polished staircase. He stopped at a door and gestured for her to enter.
Her room was stunning. Light poured through tall windows, reflecting off the glossy floor. A huge bed dominated the center, a walk-in closet hugged one wall, and the en-suite bathroom sparkled like something out of a magazine. She sank onto the bed, letting herself absorb it, momentarily forgetting everything else.
"Okay, you need rest," Taeyong said gently, his voice breaking the quiet. Haeun responded with a soft, noncommittal "mhm," already easing into the king-sized comfort.
He handed her her old phone and, next to it, a brand-new iPhone 11. A grin spread across her face as she accepted it, immediately sliding the SD card from the old device into the new one.
"I'll get you some food," Taeyong said, leaving the room with a brief nod.
Haeun powered on the new phone, scanning through the flood of messages. Her friends had been frantic. After a moment, she tapped Lisa's contact and hit call. The line rang only twice before chaos erupted on the other side. Shouts, complaints, a cacophony of worry.
Finally, a commanding "Shut up!" silenced the group. Lisa. Her tone cut through the chaos, firm but laced with relief.
"Haeun! What the hell have you been doing? We've been worried sick! We looked everywhere!" The words were sharp but tinged with apology. Guilt pricked at her chest.
"I... I'm really sorry, guys," Haeun murmured. She hesitated, then delivered her carefully crafted lie. "My dad showed up unexpectedly, so I had to meet him. On the way to a taxi to go to the mall, my phone fell on the concrete. Broke it completely. Had to get a new one. I'm... really, really sorry." She let her voice soften slightly at the end, almost playful.
A low sigh came from Lisa. "It's okay. Not your fault."
Minnie's voice piped up in the background. "And never do that again!"
