As expected, Da-hee jumped in surprise.

“What are you talking about, Hye-joo! Why would I interfere with your work? I happened to find out. It wasn’t intentional.”

“It’s not important how you found out. What I’m curious about is why you went to Team Leader Wook to boast about that fact, something you never even mentioned to me or Ruby after finding out. What was your intention?”

“I didn’t have any intention like that! I didn’t intentionally let it slip. Seriously.”

“When you accidentally spilled the pictures in the office last time, you said it was a mistake too. In fact, it was intentional.”

With the situation having reached this point, Hye-joo could no longer pretend not to know.

Da-hee had been acting strangely since she started dating Seung-won. That gaze that seemed to be watching her, subtly on guard. She knew what it meant, but she had been deliberately ignoring it.
Trusting Da-hee, who had crossed the line several times, Hye-joo believed in her until Da-hee finally stabbed her in the back. Da-hee had been a friend who shared the dazzling moments of their twenties, someone closer than family at times, and Hye-joo didn’t want to let go until the end.

However, Hye-joo finally realized that it was time to cut ties.

“That’s because Seung-won wanted to break up! It’s inevitable when he said that! That incident and the current situation are unrelated.”

“Really unrelated?”

Hye-joo approached with a flickering gaze.

“I heard a very funny story not too long ago. Seung-won was under the impression that he slept with me while drunk. It was you who drank with Seung-won that day, right?”

“That’s Seung-won’s misunderstanding. I was hurt too!”

“How much did you hate it? Yes, I understand.”

Understand up to that point.

“What do you know? You, who have never had anything taken away, pretend to understand something. What do you understand?”

“I haven’t had anything taken away? Who was the one who befriended Seung-won, blaming me for your breakup? And now you’re dating Kang Ju-won. Just be happy now.”

Shamelessly, Da-hee blamed Hye-joo until the end. Hye-joo, who had peeled off another layer of Da-hee’s true self, remained unaffected by the bitterness.

“Did you tell Team Leader Wook about that too?”

“Yeah! Why, is that a problem? What’s so great about two people dating!”

“Nothing wrong with that. But you shouldn’t have done that.”

Her tears seemed to freeze. Hye-joo stared at Da-hee with icy eyes. Trembling, Da-hee shrugged her shoulders.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Rather, get angry!”

“Why should I?”

Hye-joo’s gaze, heavy as a stone, was relentlessly emotionless.

Da-hee was more frightening now than when she was blazing with anger earlier. She had said it was a kind of love, to the point of hatred.

However, Hye-joo silently continued to gaze at Da-hee.

As if saying it’s not worth getting angry. You are nothing to me already.

“Do you know well what kind of person Team Leader Wook is? Saying that knowing everything means you intended to humiliate me. Do you even consider me as a friend?”

Turning away, Hye-joo said.

“No need to answer. It’s not important now.”

Watching Hye-joo’s retreating figure, Da-hee belatedly realized the situation she was in.

‘Hye-joo is abandoning me.’

A friend who gave her an infinite understanding and love, something she had never received from her mother, was now leaving her.

Suddenly frightened, Da-hee hurriedly followed after Hye-joo.

“Wait a moment!”

Holding the door handle, Hye-joo turned to face Da-hee.
“Do you remember the day I knelt before you?”

As if it happened just yesterday, Hye-joo furrowed her brows at the vivid memory.

[Dash] No, it doesn’t have to be the CEO. Anyone will do. Just help me find someone to date. Help Seung-won focus solely on me… Why I am bringing up that incident now, I don’t know, but Hye-joo responded calmly.

“I begged for my life. Please, help me.”

Da-hee nodded absentmindedly.

“That’s right. Do you remember what you said to me then?”

“I said that it’s not right for you to use my feelings like that. Even if it’s you, it’s not right.”

“Why not?”

“…What?”

“You had everything. A good dad, a kind stepmom, many friends! Now you even have a lover that everyone envies.”

Da-hee opened her arms, choking back tears.

“Look at me. I have nothing left. If you leave too, I’ll truly be all alone.”

“Is that my fault?”

“I didn’t say it was your fault! I’m asking if you really consider me a friend, can’t you look past this too?”

There’s a saying that if someone is too absurd, it leaves you speechless. Unable to find words, Hye-joo chuckled. Da-hee grabbed onto Hye-joo’s arms and desperately clung to her.

“Just this once, Hye-joo. I’m sorry for talking about you to others. I won’t do it again.”

Still receiving no response, Da-hee pouted.

“I thought you’d at least understand that much! We’re friends.”

In the midst of this inappropriate melodrama, the attention of those around them focused on them. Hye-joo removed Da-hee’s hands, opened the door. Despite not wanting to engage in a scene like this, she felt exhausted by the absurdity even a grade schooler wouldn’t display.

Whether she was originally like this or if the situation made her this way, it’s unclear. One thing is certain: the connection between the two had already ended.

“There’s no change even if you beg like this.”

With a cold statement, Da-hee collapsed into her seat as if her legs gave out.

“Don’t go! Hye-joo, don’t go!”

Ignoring the curses from behind, Hye-joo walked forward without turning back.

‘Throughout those long years, I was alone in considering her a friend.’

Belatedly overcome with disappointment, her eyes reddened.

But she didn’t cry.