For a second, it felt like the world itself had stopped — frozen — as the two of them stood there, staring at each other in stunned silence.
The Truck had long gone, but it seemed Sayu's heart still hadn't calmed down.
She looked up at him: his unsteady breathing, the panic still lingering in his wide eyes.Sayu opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Her lips moved… yet no sound followed.
Finally, after a few deep breaths, Dae Woo broke the silence.
"Hey! Are you okay?" he asked, voice laced with genuine concern.
"Y-yeah…" Sayu replied, though her voice cracked.
That's when it hit them. The position they were in.
His arm was still around her. Their faces close — way too close.
They both jumped back at once, startled, faces flushed with heat.
"S-sorry!" Dae Woo blurted, quickly turning his head away. "I didn't mean to— I just… I reacted without thinking."
"N-no worries," Sayu replied, equally flustered. "After all, you just saved me."She paused. "Oh! And thank you — really!" she added quickly, bowing slightly. "I appreciate it. You probably saved my life back there."
"I-it's nothing," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Anyone would've done it in my place."Then, with a sheepish smile, "Besides, you helped me earlier. I guess karma works fast."
Sayu laughed, just a little — soft and surprised at herself. "Maybe it does."
She tilted her head slightly. "But… how did you get here? Were you going this way?"
"Ah! I almost forgot—" He reached into his pocket and held out a slim rectangular card. "You dropped this earlier. I tried to call you, but you had your earphones in. That's when I saw you crossing."
Her student ID.
Sayu blinked and took it with both hands, bowing her head. "Thank you again. Seriously, I don't know what's wrong with me today."
"No problem," he smiled. "Well… if you're still heading to campus, I can still offer you that ride. Like I said earlier."
Sayu hesitated. Part of her wanted to say no — to keep her distance. But after everything that just happened, flat-out rejecting him felt… rude. Especially when he literally pulled her out of a truck's path.
"Well… if you're offering, I guess I'll take it."
His eyes lit up. "Great! My car's just across the street."
* * *
They walked together toward the parking lot.
As they approached his car, Sayu's eyes widened slightly at the sight before her.
A sleek, silver sports sedan sat waiting, the kind you only see in commercials or on rich-kid Instagram stories. Clean, polished, expensive.
Even if she doesn't have a car knowledge, she still had eyes.
'Damn. What a car…' she thought. 'Must be nice being rich. Meanwhile, I can't even pay my tuition…'
Dae Woo reached out and opened the passenger side door for her, like a proper gentleman.
"May I?"
Sayu blinked, startled again. "Uh— Thanks." She slid inside and buckled up.
"Shall we?" he asked as he got in.
She nodded.
Vrooooom.
The engine purred to life — too smooth, too powerful. And just like that, they drove toward Sakura University.
* * * * *
"Bye, Senior Hayato!"
Hayato waved over his shoulder with his trademark grin, the kind that made all the freshman girls squeal. He had just escaped a group of overly attached fans near the school courtyard.
As he descended the wide steps leading to the campus gate, something caught his attention.
A familiar, expensive-looking car rolled up nearby, its engine humming like a flex.
Hayato narrowed his eyes.
'That car… Park Dae Woo? What's he doing here?'
He had no time to dwell — because what happened next made his jaw tighten.
As the passenger door opened, Sayu stepped out.
Yes. Sayu.
Park Dae Woo, smiling, circled around to casually hold the door open for her like it was the most natural thing in the world. He even offered her a hand as she adjusted her bag.
Hayato's grip on the railing stiffened.
He didn't know why — but every part of him suddenly wanted to walk over there.
To say something.
Anything.
As he stood there, watching them — Sayu and Dae Woo — walking side by side, laughing softly toward the campus gate…
Something inside him twisted.
Without another word, he turned away, changing his path entirely.
Within minutes, he reached the other side of the faculty lot, where his own car waited — a jet-black Lexus coupe, polished to a mirror shine. Its custom license plate gleamed under the morning sun, and the tinted windows hid the spotless interior within.
He slid into the driver's seat, pulled the belt across his chest, and started the ignition.
The engine purred like a beast barely held back. With a hard twist of the wheel, the car sped off — the tires gripping the road tighter than his thoughts.
Why was he driving like this?
Why was his chest so tight?
He didn't know.
'Why did it feel so damn suffocating just seeing her with him…?'
Just then, the dashboard display lit up, accompanied by a refined chime. The screen flashed:Incoming Call — Assistant Karl
Without hesitation, Hayato flicked the dial on the steering wheel to answer.
A smooth, deep voice echoed from the speaker."Young Master, good morning."
"Ah, Karl. How's everything going?" Hayato replied, his tone dropping into something calmer.
"I'm very well. However, the Lady wishes to speak with you, sir."
"…Mother?" Hayato raised a brow, surprised. "What for?"
"It's regarding the arranged marriage Master Kei previously mentioned," Karl said politely, though his words carried weight.
Hayato's grip on the wheel tightened. His jaw clenched.
The color drained slightly from his face.
"I'm coming," he said curtly, cutting the call.
He pressed down on the accelerator, and the Lexus surged forward — slicing through the city streets like a shadow chasing light.
The buildings blurred past — towering glass offices, crowded sidewalks, blinking signals — but his mind wasn't on the road anymore. His mother. The marriage. Sayu. Dae Woo.
Everything swirled together in his head like a storm he didn't ask for.