Oops, Love in Progress

Chapter 20: A Messy First Impression

Haneul barely remembered how she ended up here—half-drunk, leaning on Sunwoo, and regretting most of her life choices.

It had started as an attempt to shake off the tension from the day. One drink, she had told herself. Just enough to loosen up, to forget the whispers and the stares for a while. But, as usual, one drink turned into two, then three, and now she was relying entirely on Sunwoo to keep her upright.

She staggered as she stepped out of the bar, gripping Sunwoo's arm tighter than necessary. "I swear... I only had one drink."

Sunwoo sighed, adjusting his hold so she wouldn't topple over. "You said that five drinks ago."

She squinted up at him. "You're so dramatic."

"Right. Because I'm the one who just tried to high-five a lamppost."

Haneul pouted. "It was in my way."

Sunwoo pinched the bridge of his nose. "Come on. I'm taking you home."

They barely made it to her front door before disaster struck. One second, she was mumbling something about Hyunjin being annoying; the next, she was doubling over with a groan.

"Oh no."

Sunwoo's instincts screamed at him to move, but he was half a second too late.

Haneul gagged—and then promptly vomited all over his shirt.

Silence.

She blinked up at him, eyes glassy. "Oops."

Sunwoo closed his eyes, inhaling deeply like he was summoning every ounce of patience in his body. "Fantastic."

The door swung open before he could process the situation. A girl stood there, eyes widening as she took in the scene.

Hana.

Haneul's younger sister stared at them for a long moment before finally speaking. "Did you... just throw up on my future husband?"

Sunwoo choked. "Excuse me?"

Hana ignored him, turning to her sister. "Unnie, you're the worst."

Haneul, completely unfazed, waved her off. "You'll get over it."

Hana sighed and pulled Sunwoo inside. "Come on, you need a clean shirt. And probably therapy."

Sunwoo was too exhausted to argue.

And just like that, his very normal night turned into a complete disaster.

Haneul curled up on the couch, already half-asleep, while Hana busied herself handing Sunwoo a clean hoodie.

Hana smirked as she watched Sunwoo examine the oversized hoodie with a raised brow. "It's my dad's. But don't worry, it's clean... I think."

Sunwoo exhaled sharply. "Great."

As he changed in the bathroom, Hana sat next to Haneul, nudging her sister's shoulder. "So… Sunwoo, huh?"

Haneul groaned, burying her face into a pillow. "Please don't."

Hana grinned. "Oh, I will."

Sunwoo stepped out, looking far too put-together despite everything that had just happened. His eyes flickered between the sisters before settling on Haneul. "You should drink some water."

Hana clapped her hands dramatically. "Wow. Such care. Such devotion."

Sunwoo sighed. "I'm leaving."

Hana gasped, feigning offense. "What? No heartfelt goodbye?"

He gave her a flat look before turning to Haneul, who was now mumbling something incoherent into the couch.

Sunwoo hesitated for a split second, then sighed. "Get some rest."

And then, just as he was about to step out, Haneul, still half-asleep, muttered, "Thanks... for catching me."

Sunwoo paused. A strange, unreadable expression crossed his face before he masked it with a smirk. "Next time, try not to aim for my shirt."

Hana burst out laughing as the door closed behind him.

Chapter 21: Unraveling Threads

The morning after was a mess.

Haneul whimpered when she opened her eyes, the bright light filtering in through the blinds burning her eyes. Her headache thumped as if she was in the midst of a dysfunctional drum competition.

"Ugh." She dove face-first into a pillow. "I never want to drink again."

"That's what they all say," Hana's playful voice floated from the doorway. "And yet, here we are."

Haneul cracked open one eye to find her sister standing in the doorway, arms folded across her chest, a self-satisfied smile spreading across her face. The smugness wouldn't do.

"Don't start," Haneul muttered, tossing the pillow over her head.

"Oh, I won't," Hana said in a sugary sweet voice. "I'll just remind you that you vomited on Sunwoo. And that I had to clean up after you. And that—"

Haneul sat up, startled. "Wait, I WHAT?!"

Hana smiled, grabbing her phone. "Do you want to see the evidence?"

"NO!" Haneul reached for the phone but was caught short by her headache and fell back onto her bed with a groan. "Tell me you're lying."

"Wish I was," Hana sang. "He was really cool about it, though. Well, as cool as a person can be while they're puking on you."

Haneul groaned louder. "I have to move countries."

"Or," Hana said lazily, "you can simply apologize. And ponder the question of why Sunwoo, of all people, was the one to take you home."

That made Haneul wonder. Why was Sunwoo the one taking care of her? It should have been Hyunjin.

And Hyunjin was not there.

Before she could become too entangled, her phone vibrated on the nightstand. Wincing at the screen, her stomach clenched with the message.

**Hyunjin:** *Hello. We need to talk.*

Her heart pounded.

Oh, this was not good.

---

Hyunjin was already on the agency rooftop when she got there, resting against the railing, his face pensive.

"You're late," he muttered without looking at her.

"I've had a terrible night," she retorted, folding her arms. "What do you want?"

He finally stood before her, looking at her with an expression she couldn't decipher. "You and Sunwoo."

Haneul blinked. "What about Sunwoo and me?"

"Are you two." He broke off, snorting and shaking his head. "Never mind."

Haneul's eyes narrowed. "No, say it."

Hyunjin sighed heavily, passing his hand over his hair. "Nothing. It's just. strange seeing you with him."

Her eyebrows narrowed. "Why?"

Hyunjin shrugged, his expression neutral. "Dunno. Just not used to it, I guess."

They were silent. Haneul figured there was more that he wasn't saying, but she didn't push. Maybe it was better this way—stuck in the safe, gray zone between friendship and something else that neither of them was courageous enough to label.

"Is that all?" she finally said.

Hyunjin smirked, the playful mask slipping back into position. "What, were you expecting a love confession or something?"

Haneul rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right."

"Good," he said, turning back to the cityscape. "Since that would be ridiculous."