The Walk of Shame (Without the Shame)
I woke up to 37 missed calls from Minjae and a text that just said:
"DUDE. WHAT DID YOU DO LAST NIGHT???"
I groaned and checked my phone.
Turns out, someone had snapped a photo of me and Haewon on the balcony—way too close—and now the entire university group chat was blowing up.
Campus Gossip Chat:
"Is that the café guy with YOON HAEWON??"
"No way. Photoshop."
"I heard they kissed!!"
"I heard they're ENGAGED."
I facepalmed. Great. Now I'm a rumor.
---
Haewon's Response
I expected an angry call. A threat. Maybe a lawsuit.
What I got was:
Haewon: "Don't answer any questions."
Me: "Wasn't planning to."
Haewon: "Good. And Dojin?"
Me: "Yeah?"
Haewon: "Fix your bowtie next time."
I stared at my phone. What does that even mean?!
---
Joonho's Revenge Begins
I should've known things wouldn't stay quiet.
By lunchtime, I found out my café shifts had been "mysteriously" cut in half. When I asked my manager why, he just sighed and said, "Pressure from above."
Then, as I was leaving, Joonho's sleek black car pulled up beside me. The window rolled down, and he smirked.
"Enjoying your free time, Kim? Don't worry—you'll have plenty more soon."
I clenched my fists. "What's that supposed to mean?"
He just laughed and drove off.
---
The Unexpected Ally
I was brooding in the library when Haewon's bodyguard—the scary one who always cracked his knuckles—sat down across from me.
I tensed. "Here to break my legs?"
He slid a folder toward me. Inside? Proof that Joonho pressured the café to cut my hours.
"Boss lady says you should know," he grunted before walking away.
I blinked. Did Haewon just... help me?
---
The Plan
That night, I texted Haewon:
Me: "So. Joonho's trying to ruin my life."
Haewon: "Obviously."
Me: "Got any ideas? "
Haewon: "Meet me tomorrow. Dress normally."
Me: "…That's suspiciously vague."
Haewon: "Do you want help or not? "
I sighed. "Fine. But if this ends with me in a ditch, I'm haunting you first."
She left me on read.
---
The Teaser
Next Time:
- Haewon's secret plan ("We're doing WHAT?!")
- A very public showdown (Joonho vs. Dojin: Round 2)
- The one thing Haewon didn't plan for (Feelings. Ugh.)
---