When the Clock Strikes|Pi Han Ul x Reader|

(S02) Chapter 22

I knew Harin had her ways. She always did.

So when she suddenly turned to me this morning, all smiles and sweetness, and said, “Unnie, come with us to pick the wedding bands,” I knew exactly what she was doing.

She wanted me to see it. To suffer through it.

And maybe, just maybe, I wanted to go too.

Because no matter how much I told myself I had no choice, that there was nothing I could do, a part of me still screamed—this can’t happen.

But I had no idea how to stop it.

We were all getting ready when Harin’s mother clapped her hands together, beaming at her daughter. “Ah, this is such a special day. Harin-ah, you and Han Wool will pick the rings you’ll wear for a lifetime.”

I was tying my hair into a loose ponytail when I caught Harin’s reflection in the mirror. She was staring at me.

I knew that look.

She wanted me to watch.

I let out a quiet breath, forcing a small smile as I grabbed my bag.

When the cars pulled up outside, I was about to follow Harin’s mother when—

“Omma,” Harin said suddenly, grabbing her mother’s arm. “Why don’t you and Auntie go in the other car? Ye Na and I will go with Han Wool.”

I sigh.

Of course.

She wanted me alone with them. Wanted me to sit in that car and watch her be the perfect fiancée, the woman Han Wool was going to spend his life with.

I knew exactly what she was doing. And yet, I gave in.

Because if I wanted to remind Han Wool about us, I needed to be there.

Even if it hurt.

The car ride was suffocating.

Not because of the closed windows or the lack of air, but because of Harin’s presence.

I sat in the back seat, my head resting against the window, eyes locked on the passing buildings. The city blurred outside, but inside, I could feel every second stretching unbearably long.

Harin, sitting in the passenger seat, was doing exactly what I expected—making sure I saw everything.

She leaned closer to Han Wool as he drove, her fingers lightly brushing his arm when she adjusted the air conditioning, her voice just a little too sweet every time she spoke to him.

“Oppa,” she said, stretching the word, “do you remember when we went to that café in Gangnam? The one with the pretty desserts?”

Han Wool hummed, barely paying attention. “Mm.”

“They had the cutest macarons,” she continued, undeterred by his lack of enthusiasm. “I should take you there. Maybe next weekend?”

He nodded absentmindedly, eyes on the road.

A few more minutes passed, filled with Harin’s one-sided conversation.

“Oh, oppa, should we get couple bracelets too? We could match with our wedding bands,” she said, holding up her wrist.

Han Wool let out a short breath, fingers tapping on the steering wheel. “Don’t you think wedding bands are enough?”

Harin pouted. “You’re no fun.”

I clenched my jaw, my fingers curling into fists on my lap.

The worst part wasn’t what she was saying.