Kidnapper and Hostage
"...Where is he?"
Ha-yoon muttered as she stared at the locked rooftop door. Normally, during lunch, turning the handle would open it right up, but today? No chance. The door stayed firmly shut, doing its job perfectly—not a single gap for any intruder.
'Did they lock it from the outside because of me...?'
That uneasy thought bloomed in Ha-yoon's mind. It started small but piled up layer by layer as time dragged on. She plopped down on the rooftop stairs. After yesterday's chaos, she'd been out of it even at home, so lunch was a convenience store triangle kimbap. She peeled off the wrapper with her slender fingers and nibbled at the top.
"Tasteless..."
Ha-yoon murmured softly. It was supposed to have spicy sauce, but she felt zero heat. One bite, another. Before she knew it, the top half was gone. Still no spice. It was like chewing plain rice—she even wondered if she'd lost her sense of taste.
Ha-yoon paused eating and approached the rooftop door. She glanced around to make sure no one was passing by, then pressed her ear against it. She'd seen it in movies: this was supposed to amplify sounds from the other side.
But—
"......"
Not a peep. The door beyond might as well have been declaring absolute emptiness.
Ha-yoon turned back and sat on the stairs again. Until lunch ended, she sat there alone in front of the rooftop door. In the end, she never saw Sung-hoon up there. He, meanwhile, had eaten in the cafeteria and helped Na-ri in the library.
Lunchtime passed. Ha-yoon returned to her seat empty-handed. Then, an arm naturally draped around her neck.
"Guess who~?"
"No clue."
"Gasp! You forgot my voice too, Ha-yoon?!"
A familiar voice came from behind—no surprise there. It was Ha-yoon's best friend, after all.
"Wahhh, my friend Ha-yoon forgot me..."
"Seol-ah, it's hot—let go already."
"Guess I have no choice but to use my ultimate move..."
Seol-ah playfully ignored her and clung even tighter, like a sticky gum wad. And just as Seol-ah's hands started wiggling ominously—
"Everyone here? Class starts now."
The career counselor walked in, and Seol-ah bolted. The spot where she'd been clinging suddenly felt cool, and Ha-yoon's mind eased a bit—right then.
"Starting tomorrow, we'll do team projects. It's been a month, so form groups with your friends."
The teacher dropped a bombshell. Team projects? Wasn't that just one person doing all the work? And she said groups needed at least three people.
'Me and Seol-ah... who else?'
Ha-yoon fell into thought. Two days ago, no dilemma—but the timing now sucked. Geon-woo had rejected her. Things felt a little distant with her friends since. She'd figured time would fix it, but this trial hit out of nowhere.
Ha-yoon quickly scanned around. And spotted the perfect candidate, sitting right there at a desk.
"Hmm... who to pick?"
Seol-ah had sidled up, pondering too. She acted like they were one mind—totally natural for her.
Ha-yoon whispered in her ear.
"Don't worry, I found someone."
And she marched right over.
"Sung-hoon, wanna team up? No one else, right?"
Just like that, Ha-yoon reeled him in.
Screwed.
Hearing the career teacher's "groups of three" rule, Sung-hoon despaired. The saying that you'd have tons of close friends after a month of school pierced his heart. Did that mean he hadn't really attended school for that month?
Pointless doubts started swirling in his mind.
'What now? Just endure and wait?'
Sung-hoon decided instantly. Sit tight, and he'd end up with whoever was left. The group quality would suck, obviously—a bunch of friendless assas like him, barely communicating if lucky.
'Worst case, I do it all myself.'
Or he could pitch it first: I'll handle the whole group project solo—wire me cash, and I'll slap your name on it. No more dealing with unresponsive teammates.
Lost in those thoughts, Sung-hoon spaced out—and got kidnapped by Ha-yoon.
......
"Ta-da! Got one!"
Ha-yoon presented Sung-hoon like a trophy. The unexpected pick made Seol-ah's eyes go wide.
"What? You two a thing?"
"Kidnapper and hostage?"
Sung-hoon answered Seol-ah's question straight. She grinned at the reply, while Ha-yoon groaned in disbelief.
"What hostage sits comfy like that?"
"Then? Gonna tie me up here?"
"...You into that kinda thing?"
"Just kidding... but you're the one taking it seriously..."
Sung-hoon trailed off on purpose. Ha-yoon got swept up like a wave, and Seol-ah, watching, declared it a pass with some weird thumbs-up.
"Hi! I'm Lee Seol-ah!"
"Nice to meet you. I'm—"
"I know. Kang Sung-hoon, right?"
Seol-ah named him like she knew everything. They hadn't hung out much since intros, but she knew him.
"...Background check?"
"Nah? You're just kinda famous."
Seol-ah spouted nonsense. Neither Sung-hoon nor Ha-yoon got it, and Seol-ah looked embarrassed for rambling solo.
"Topic over!"
"Hold up—you gotta tell me why I'm famous."
"Figure it out yourself, Sung-hoon!"
Seol-ah had switched to friendly terms already. Like a golden retriever, her affinity pulled Sung-hoon in instantly.
"Okay, everyone, phones out quick."
Seol-ah already had hers ready. Sung-hoon and Ha-yoon followed suit naturally.
"You all got KakaoTalk, right? Add friends and make a room!"
After that, it was smooth sailing. They swapped contacts. Soon, Seol-ah invited them to a group chat. By then, it even had announcements.
1. Communicate every day!
2. Don't procrastinate tasks!
......Writing it like this brings life to the group chat!!
Ha-yoon hesitated but stepped up for her friend.
"Seol-ah, this..."
She tilted her phone to show Seol-ah. Moments later, the announcement vanished from the chat.
While those messages popped up, Sung-hoon's phone buzzed with a 1:1 from Park Ha-yoon. He glanced up at her, but she kept tapping away.
Finally, Ha-yoon's typing stopped. After his message sent, her fingers paused. Brief silence. Then replies flooded in.
Sung-hoon looked up at Ha-yoon. She stared only at her screen, like nothing was up. But her fingers moved slower.
Ha-yoon's fingers stopped again. Then, after a beat—
Sung-hoon thought for a sec. He scooted his chair closer and leaned toward her.
"You can just say it out loud, y'know."
His voice was quiet. Ha-yoon's shoulders twitched. She turned slowly. Their eyes met.
"..."
"..."
Brief silence. Ha-yoon broke eye contact first.
"No... it's just..."
She trailed off and looked back at her phone.
Beep. A message arrived.
Sung-hoon stared at the screen. Then slowly looked up. Ha-yoon still fixated on her phone.
Ha-yoon's lips twisted slightly as the messages sent.
Sung-hoon paused, recalling yesterday. Rooftop. Sunset. Trembling hand. He let out a short breath.
A lie. But no need to spill.
Ha-yoon went silent for a long while.
Sung-hoon's brow twitched.
A moment later.
Short sentences. But laced with conviction. Sung-hoon eyed her. Ha-yoon stared at her phone. But hadn't scrolled once.
"..."
Sung-hoon chuckled softly. Sent a quick reply.
Ha-yoon's fingers halted. Silence. Then—
Short message. Sung-hoon paused at it. Looked up. Ha-yoon had already set her phone down. Like nothing happened.
Then—
"Whaaat?!"
Seol-ah's voice exploded.
"What're you two doing?!"
Both turned. Seol-ah gawked at them alternately, eyes sparkling.
"Why text when you're right next to each other?!"
"..."
"..."
Silence. Sung-hoon spoke first.
"Yeah, why."
"Not 'yeah why'! What the heck, you two?!"
Seol-ah slammed the desk.
"Spill! What's the deal?!"
Ha-yoon's ear tips flushed pink.
"Nothing."
"Nothing my ass! Tell me! What's your relationship?!"
Seol-ah's eyes brimmed with suspicion. Sung-hoon shrugged.
"Kidnapper and hostage."
"Still going with that?!"
Seol-ah burst out laughing.
"Ha-yoon, you're slacking on hostage duty?"
"...Shut up."
Ha-yoon muttered. But then—
Beep.
Sung-hoon's phone buzzed again. He checked casually. From Park Ha-yoon.
A new message popped up.
Sung-hoon's gaze slowly rose. Ha-yoon stared straight ahead, face blank. But somehow... a chill crept in.