36

The fluorescent lights hum softly as Heyoung steps into the editing workspace, clutching her coffee tighter than usual. Her expression is calm—composed—but her posture is slightly tense, as if bracing herself for something she can already sense coming.

The room, usually filled with casual chatter and keyboard clicks, falls into an odd hush the moment she enters.

The production team, seated at their desks with headsets and dual monitors, pause what they're doing just long enough to glance her way.

Some subtle and others not.

"That's her, right?"

"Yeah... the one dating Scoups. It's all over the internal threads."

"Didn't think she'd actually show up today."

Heyoung walks past them, straight-backed, pretending not to hear—though every word hits sharp. She settles at her editing station, boots up her screen, and plugs in her hard drive.

She keeps her eyes forward, hyper-focused on her timeline, even as the whispers buzz behind her like static.

Her closest eonni on the team, Ayun, sits at the next station over. She swivels her chair slightly, lowering her voice just enough.

"Don't listen to them." Ayun softly said to Heyoung

"I'm not," Heyoung replied without looking over.

Ayun gently said, "They just want something to talk about. Give it two days and they'll move on to someone else."

Heyoung finally turns to look at her, forcing a small smile—grateful but tired.

"I knew this job would be demanding. I just didn't think 'loyalty test' was part of the description."

"You passed it the moment you walked in this morning," Ayun said as she slightly grinned.

A moment of quiet. Then, the door opens again, and the floor manager steps in holding a file. Conversations abruptly die.

Everyone returns to clicking, editing, and pretending to be absorbed in work.

But the atmosphere is thick — not hostile, but undeniably watchful.

=====

Heyoung steps out of the editing bay, needing a break. Her fingers ache from constant clicking, but her head hurts more—from the stares, the whispers, the way everyone suddenly became so careful and so obvious around her.

She walks down the hallway toward the vending machines, her ID badge swinging slightly at her side. The hallway is mostly empty—until two junior staff members round the corner and instantly quiet down when they spot her.

They offer her a tight, awkward nod as they pass. Once they think they're far enough away, one of them mutters—just loud enough.

"I mean, no wonder she got moved up so fast..."

"Sleeping with the idol, huh?"

Heyoung stops walking, shoulders stiffening. She doesn't turn around. She doesn't say anything. But her knuckles go white around the coffee cup in her hand.

She closes her eyes for a second. Breathes in. Breathes out.

Before she can move again, a familiar voice cuts through the hallway, sharp and clear.

"Say that again."

The two staff members freeze. Heyoung turns around to see Jaehyuk, her older brother and Scoups' manager, standing a few feet behind them. He looks calm, but his voice holds an unmistakable edge.

"Go ahead. Say it again so I can file it in your termination letters." Jaehyuk said in a low and dangerous tone.

The staff members stumble over excuses, bowing repeatedly.

"S-sorry, Manager-nim! We didn't mean—"

"You didn't think, either. Now go." Jaehyuk coldly replied to them.

They scurry off. Jaehyuk exhales sharply and walks toward Heyoung, who hasn't moved. Her eyes are glossy, but her expression is steady.

Jaehyuk softly looked at his sister, "You okay?"

"I don't know." Heyoung quietly whispered

"I'll talk to the CEO again. This wasn't part of the deal." Jaehyuk said

"It was, oppa. Maybe not on paper... but I knew." Heyoung replied

She looks up at him, forcing a small smile.

"But thanks. For saying something."

"Always...you're my sister—my family...my first priority...before anything else." Jaehyuk gently said

He rests a hand briefly on her shoulder. They stand in silence for a moment, a quiet pact between siblings formed not out of shared blood, but shared resolve.

=====

The sun hangs low in the sky, casting long golden rays over the rooftop. The city hums below, muffled by distance. Heyoung leans against the railing, her blazer draped over one arm, eyes staring out at the skyline — not really seeing it. Just... breathing.

She needed air. Space. Somewhere no one was whispering. Somewhere no one was watching her like she didn't earn her seat.

Footsteps approach behind her — soft, but familiar.

"You disappeared on me."

Heyoung hasn't turned around yet. She smiles faintly at the sound of his voice.

"Didn't want to cause another scandal by eating lunch in the breakroom." Heyoung sighed

Scoups steps beside her, resting his arms on the railing next to her. There's a silence between them — not awkward, not strained. Just full.

"I heard what happened. Jaehyuk told me." Scoups said.

"Which part? The stares? The whispers? Or the bonus rumor that I must've slept my way up the production team?" Heyoung dryly said to him

Scoups clenches his jaw but says nothing for a moment. Then, softly—

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I knew it was coming eventually." Heyoung whispered

"I hate that you have to deal with it because of me," Scoups replied

She finally looks at him. Her eyes are tired but steady.

"I don't regret you, Cheol. Not even for a second." Heyoung softly said.

He turns to face her more fully. A breeze moves through her hair. The rooftop is quiet except for the wind and the distant city sounds.

"I told the CEO today... if they ask me to end it, I won't."

Heyoung surprisedly looked at him, "You said that?"

Scoups nods, "I love you. That's not negotiable."

She exhales, eyes glinting with unshed tears. Then, she leans her head against his shoulder.

"I love you too." Heyoung softly and sincerely said.

For a few minutes, they say nothing. Just stand there, shoulder to shoulder, letting the wind carry away the noise of everything else. Whatever's waiting below — the rumors, the decisions, the judgment — can wait.

Up here, for now, it's just them.