When the Clock Strikes|Pi Han Ul x Reader|

Chapter 34

Author’s POV

The rooftop air was crisp, carrying the soft hum of the city in the distance. Han-Wool and she stood close, their voices hushed, their gazes lingering a little too long. Neither of them acknowledged the way the tension had shifted, the way the atmosphere crackled with something fragile—something neither of them dared to name. 

From another rooftop, just a building away, a pair of sharp eyes observed the scene. 

Geon Yeop leaned against the railing, his arms crossed, his lips curling into a slow smirk. 

Interesting. 

The way Han-Wool looked at her, the way she unconsciously mirrored his movements—it was almost too easy to read. 

He tilted his head slightly, amusement dancing in his gaze. He had been watching for a while now, but this... this was unexpected. 

So Han-Wool had something—someone—he wanted to protect. 

That changed everything. 

Geon Yeop exhaled through his nose, the smirk never leaving his face. He already knew how to get what he wanted. 

And now, he knew exactly where to start.

Ttwo people, the rooftop conversation lingered like an unfinished song.

She left first, her thoughts tangled in Han-Wool’s words. Don’t take it personally. But how could she not?

Han-Wool stayed behind for a moment, running a hand through his hair before sighing. His life had never been simple, and now—now he was dragging her into it. He knew better. He should know better.

He left the rooftop with a quiet curse under his breath.

Meanwhile, on the other rooftop, Geon Yeop watched until both of them disappeared. Then, with a final smirk, he turned and walked away.

He had work to do.

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The sun was warm, casting golden light over the courtyard. Students were sprawled across benches and grassy patches, chatting and laughing over their meals. 

She sat with Ji-Woo under the shade of a large tree, a half-eaten sandwich in her hand. The air smelled of fresh-cut grass and cafeteria food. 

"You know, I had a dream last night," Ji-Woo began, chewing thoughtfully. 

She looked up. "Yeah? What was it about?" 

Ji-Woo swallowed before answering, "I was on a game show, and for some reason, my final challenge was to babysit a talking cat." 

She blinked. "A... talking cat?" 

"Yeah. But not a normal one. It wore glasses and judged my life choices." Ji-Woo sighed dramatically. "It told me I should stop spending money on useless things." 

She laughed. "Maybe your subconscious is trying to tell you something." 

Ji-Woo gasped. "Are you saying my midnight online shopping habit is a problem?" 

"Yes." 

Ji-Woo groaned. "This is betrayal." 

She shook her head, amused. "What did the cat do after that?" 

"Oh, it made me take a math test. I failed." Ji-Woo crunched on a chip. "Then it turned into my history teacher and gave me a three-hour lecture on responsibility." 

She burst out laughing. "That’s actually terrifying." 

"It was." Ji-Woo shuddered. "I woke up in a cold sweat."