When the Clock Strikes|Pi Han Ul x Reader|

(S02) Chapter 8

I gag. “You are not an alpha anything.”

“Fine. Sigma presence.”

“Shut up.”

He grins, like he lives to make me suffer.

I hate him. I really do.

I inhale. One last try.

I hesitate—because this is the real test.

I swallow, steadying myself. “Do you know someone named Beak Cheong-Ah?”

The air shifts.

His smirk doesn’t drop, but there’s a pause. A strange flicker in his expression, something I can’t read.

I straighten immediately.

I pray to every single god listening right now—please, please, please, let him remember.

And then—

He leans back and grins. “What is this, a medical interview?”

I blink.

He crosses his arms. “Are you that obsessed with your profession? What’s next? You gonna ask for my medical history?”

My hope dies instantly.

I exhale sharply, shaking my head. “Never mind.”

He watches me, amused. “What, giving up already?”

I sink into the couch, feeling exhausted. “Talking to you is like arguing with a brick wall.”

“A charming brick wall.”

I roll my eyes.

Silence stretches between us. I sip my too-sweet coffee, he watches his cartoon, and for a moment, I forget to be annoyed.

But then—

He hums, tilting his head. “Weird.”

I glance at him. “What?”

“That name.” He furrows his brows slightly. “Baek Cheong-Ah.”

My entire body stiffens.

I stare at him. “You—do you—?”

He scratches his head. “I don’t know. Feels like I’ve heard it before.”

My heartbeat pounds. “You remember?”

He shrugs. “Maybe it was in a movie?”

I deflate immediately.

Of course.

I run a hand through my hair. “Seriously?”

He throws me a look. “What? Why are you asking me weird questions about people I don’t even know?”

I exhale, rubbing my temples. “You wouldn’t understand even if I said.”

He grins, eyes glinting with mischief. “Come on. Try me.”

I glare at him.

He grins wider.

The air between us is thick with unspoken words, tension crackling like static in the space between our seats.

I narrow my eyes.

He smirks wider.

And then—

“Oppa~”

I flinch.

Han Wool barely has time to react before Harin appears, floating into the room like a scene from a drama, her hair flowing effortlessly perfect.