Ji-hye walked home with her senior's words gnawing at her mind.
"Other women."
The phrase echoed with every step, each syllable heavier than the last. She shoved her hands into her jacket pockets, the cool night air doing little to quiet the restlessness curling in her chest.
Even though she got along well with Harin, the thought still unsettled her. Harin was easy to be around—playful, teasing, and oddly supportive—but what about the others? She didn't know their faces, their personalities, their histories with him.
What if they saw her as an outsider? What if she was just another warm body in his life, someone temporary who could be replaced without a second thought?
She hated that the question lodged itself in her mind, stubborn and sharp. No matter how much she tried to focus on the rhythmic sound of her sneakers hitting the pavement, the unease only grew.
