Episode 5

The game Tae-Min had in mind was an icebreaker, the kind designed to embarrass everyone equally. Eun-Ji found herself sitting in a circle with a mix of Tae-Min’s friends and a few strangers, all laughing and joking as they settled into their spots.

“Alright,” Tae-Min announced, holding up a deck of cards. “We’re playing Truth or Dare, with a twist! Draw a card, and depending on the suit, you either answer a question, take a dare, or pass your turn. Easy, right?”

The circle erupted in a mix of groans and cheers. Eun-Ji glanced at the group, silently hoping the attention would stay far from her.

Tae-Min dealt the cards, and one by one, the game began.

The first person, a bubbly girl with dyed pink hair, drew a dare and was immediately tasked with serenading the group. She belted out a comically off-key rendition of a pop song, earning cheers and laughter.

The next few rounds went similarly, with questions ranging from harmless to mildly embarrassing. When it was Eun-Ji’s turn, she drew a diamond, landing her with a dare.

“Oh, this is going to be good,” Tae-Min said, rubbing his hands together with exaggerated glee. “Eun-Ji, I dare you to…” He paused dramatically, his eyes scanning the room.

Eun-Ji braced herself.

“…dance with the next person who enters the room.”

A collective “ooh” rippled through the group. Eun-Ji’s face flushed. “What kind of dare is that?” she protested.

“The fun kind!” Tae-Min grinned. “Come on, you’ve got this.”

Before Eun-Ji could argue further, the door to the rooftop swung open. A few heads turned, and her heart sank as Sanghoon stepped back into the room. He’d taken off his blazer, leaving him in a simple black shirt, his sleeves pushed up to reveal his forearms.

Of course, it had to be him.

Sanghoon’s gaze landed on the group, then on Eun-Ji. His brows lifted slightly in curiosity as he approached.

“What’s going on?” he asked, his voice calm but amused.

The group burst into laughter, and Tae-Min wasted no time explaining the dare. “You walked in at the perfect time! Eun-Ji has to dance with you.”

Eun-Ji’s cheeks burned. “Tae-Min, I am not—”

“It’s a dare,” Tae-Min interrupted with a cheeky grin. “No backing out now.”

Sanghoon’s smile was subtle but unmistakable. “I don’t mind,” he said, holding out a hand toward Eun-Ji. “If you’re okay with it.”

She stared at his hand, weighing her options. Refusing would only make Tae-Min push harder, and besides, it was just a dance. What was the worst that could happen?

With a resigned sigh, Eun-Ji stood and placed her hand in Sanghoon’s. His grip was warm, steady.

The group whooped and clapped as Tae-Min pulled up a slow, romantic song on his phone.

“Really, Tae-Min?” Eun-Ji muttered under her breath.

He winked. “You’re welcome.”

Sanghoon led her to a small open space near the edge of the circle. As the music played, he placed a hand lightly on her waist, keeping the movement simple and unobtrusive.

“You don’t seem like the type to enjoy this kind of attention,” he said softly, his tone conversational.

“I don’t,” she admitted, glancing at their feet rather than his face. “But Tae-Min doesn’t take no for an answer.”

He chuckled. “He’s always been like that.”

“You two really are cousins, huh?”

“Surprising?”

“A little.” She dared to glance up at him. “You seem… quieter than him.”

“That’s one way to put it.”

The corners of his lips quirked upward, and for a moment, the noise of the group faded into the background. Eun-Ji realized how close they were standing, how his eyes held a warmth that made it hard to look away.

The song ended too soon, and the group broke into applause. Eun-Ji immediately stepped back, her cheeks warm from more than just the dance.

“Thank you for making that less awkward,” she said, her voice low as she avoided Sanghoon’s gaze.

He smiled, his tone light. “You did well for someone who doesn’t enjoy attention.”

Before Eun-Ji could respond, Tae-Min swooped in, slinging an arm around her shoulder. “See? That wasn’t so bad!”

Eun-Ji shot him a look. “Next time, I dare you to do something equally embarrassing.”

“Challenge accepted,” Tae-Min said with a laugh, steering her back toward the circle.

Sanghoon lingered near the edge of the group, his gaze occasionally drifting to Eun-Ji as the game continued. She tried not to notice, focusing instead on the flow of dares and questions.

When the game finally wrapped up, Eun-Ji decided she’d had enough socializing for the night. She said her goodbyes to Tae-Min and the others, but as she turned toward the elevator, Sanghoon stepped into her path.

“Leaving already?” he asked.

“I have work tomorrow,” she replied, shifting her weight.

“Fair enough,” he said, his tone understanding. There was a brief pause before he added, “It was nice seeing you again.”

Eun-Ji nodded, unsure how to respond. She started to move past him, but his next words stopped her in her tracks.

“By the way,” he said, his voice quieter now, “you’re more interesting than you let on.”

She blinked, turning back to him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

He shrugged, his expression unreadable. “Just an observation.”

Before she could press him further, he stepped aside, giving her room to leave.

Eun-Ji spent the entire ride home replaying the evening in her head. She wasn’t sure what to make of Sanghoon’s comment, or why it lingered in her thoughts long after the party had ended.

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