Jiwoo and Sanghyun followed the waiter into a separate room. Yora, Haein, Kansok, and Yooheon watched them leave.
Yora: Strange, I wonder who called them?
Haein (thinking): Maybe the organizer of the party?
Kansok also looked on with a suspicious expression, but said nothing. Yooheon, however, remained composed, seemingly unaffected by the situation.
Inside the room
The room was elegantly decorated, with beautiful paintings on the walls and fragrant candles lit. Yet, the atmosphere felt heavy.
Choi Minseok: Welcome! Please, have a seat.
Choi Minseok settled into his chair. Jiwoo and Sanghyun sat down, briefly exchanging glances, unsure of how to begin.
Jiwoo (politely): Sorry for disturbing you.
Choi Minseok: It's no problem. This meeting is important to me as well.
He set his glass on the table and looked at them intently, as if waiting to hear what they had to say.
Sanghyun took a deep breath and decided to bring up the main issue.
Sanghyun: We came to talk about Park Myungjun.
The moment the name was mentioned, Choi Minseok's expression changed. He looked startled.
Choi Minseok (a bit louder): Myungjun?
Jiwoo (calmly, looking directly at him): Did you know that he committed suicide ten years ago?
A heavy silence filled the room.
Tears welled up in Choi Minseok's eyes.
Choi Minseok: That's impossible…
His hands clenched on his knees, and his face turned pale.
Choi Minseok: I... I didn't know anything...
Jiwoo and Sanghyun sat quietly, observing his genuine reaction.
Choi Minseok (on the verge of tears): He was a close friend of mine… He wasn't that kind of person. He would never… Why didn't I know?
Sanghyun: When was the last time you saw him?
Choi Minseok: Who are you two to him?
Jiwoo: He was my teacher.
Choi Minseok lowered his eyes.
Choi Minseok: I see... The last time we met was 11 years ago. We had an argument, then I left for overseas. We never spoke again after that.
Jiwoo and Sanghyun exchanged another glance.
Jiwoo: Can you tell us what the argument was about?
Choi Minseok thought for a moment.
Choi Minseok: I wanted to continue my work abroad and asked him to come with me, but he decided to stay here.
Sanghyun: How was he doing back then?
Choi Minseok shook his head slowly.
Choi Minseok: He always seemed fine. No matter what difficulties he faced, he was always smiling... Did something happen after I left? I still can't believe he would do something like that…
Tears rolled down his cheeks.
Jiwoo: Actually, we came to ask you something.
Choi Minseok, lost in thought, sighed deeply.
Choi Minseok: What is it?
Sanghyun: We're looking for the missing half of Park Myungjun's diary.
Choi Minseok: Diary? What diary?
Jiwoo: A diary he used to write in. We have half of it, but the other half is missing. We were hoping you might know where it is.
Choi Minseok shook his head.
Choi Minseok: I don't know. He never showed his diary to anyone. Why is the diary so important to you?
Jiwoo (with a sorrowful expression): It's the only thing left of him. I want to find it.
Choi Minseok placed a hand on Jiwoo's shoulder.
Choi Minseok: Then I'll try to help you find it.
Jiwoo nodded and stood up.
Jiwoo: Thank you for arranging this meeting.
Choi Minseok watched them in silence, then said softly:
Choi Minseok: If you ever need my help, feel free to contact me.
Jiwoo and Sanghyun left the room and walked toward a quiet place.
Sanghyun (teasing): "It's the only thing left of my teacher," huh?
Jiwoo: What else should I have said? "We're looking for it because a criminal stole it"?
Sanghyun: Do you think he was telling the truth? He seemed genuinely upset.
Jiwoo: I'm not sure either. I hope he's a good person.
They saw Haein standing alone and walked over to her.
Sanghyun: Where did everyone else go?
Haein: Yooheon had work, so Kansok went to drop him off. Yora stepped outside.
Jiwoo (upon hearing that): I'll go look for Yora.
In Kansok's car with Yooheon
Kansok: Where should I drop you off?
Yooheon: At the flower shop. (pauses) Our meeting was quite interesting, wasn't it?
Kansok (gently): Maybe it was fate.
Outside, Jiwoo finds Yora staring off into the distance alone
Jiwoo: What are you doing out here?
Yora (smiling as she sees him): Waiting for you.
Jiwoo: You could've waited inside. It's cold out here.
Yora (with a sweet smile): I wanted to talk to you alone.
Jiwoo looked into her eyes for a moment, then hugged her. Yora's heart started racing, unsure of what to do. Jiwoo's embrace was warm, and slowly, Yora hugged him back.
Inside with Sanghyun and Haein
Haein: Looks like it's just the two of us now?
Sanghyun: You don't like being alone with me?
Haein: No, that's not what I meant.
Sanghyun (moving closer): Then… do you like it?
Haein (blushing): I do.
The party ended, but their destinies were just beginning to take new turns…