When the Clock Strikes|Pi Han Ul x Reader|

(S02) Chapter 23

Minhwan.

That Minhwan.

The one who sent that letter seven years ago.

The one who lured me to that place and ruined everything.

The reason I went through hell.

My fingers trembled as I took a step back, my eyes locked onto his.

"You can't be serious."

Han Wool sighed, shaking his head. "Ye Na—"

"No," I cut him off, my voice shaking. "You're telling me that he—the person who was responsible for all of this—is the one you're trying to save?"

"Because he wasn't responsible."

I flinched, my body stiffening. "What?"

Han Wool ran a hand through his hair, looking exhausted. "It wasn't him, Ye Na. He was forced to do it. But in the end… he didn’t."

I couldn't breathe.

"Don't mess with me right now, Han Wool," I said, my voice sharp. "That letter… it was from him. They said so".

Han Wool shook his head. "It was sent by someone from the school. But not Minhwan."

I felt like the ground beneath me had disappeared.

"No," I muttered, shaking my head in disbelief. "No, you’re lying. If it wasn’t him, then why—"

"Because he refused," Han Wool interrupted, his voice steady. "He refused to do what they asked."

I stared at him, my breath coming in quick, shallow gasps.

"So what? You're saying some other person—someone we don’t even know—set everything up, and Minhwan just got blamed for it?"

Han Wool's gaze darkened. "No. I'm saying that because he refused to help, they locked him up."

I froze.

My chest tightened painfully. "Locked him up? You mean—"

"Seven years, Ye Na." Han Wool’s voice was quiet, but the weight of those words hit me like a freight train. "He's been locked away for seven years."

My stomach twisted.

Minhwan. Seven years.

Locked away.

I couldn't process it.

I didn't want to process it.

"So what’s your plan?" My voice was hoarse, the words almost bitter. "Just keep playing the fool?"

Han Wool met my eyes, his expression unreadable. "No," he said quietly. "I’m making sure they won’t hurt you."

I frowned, my heartbeat hammering in my ears.

"What do you mean?"

He let out a slow breath. "They followed you for years, Ye Na. They stopped once they were sure you and I would never meet again."

A chill ran down my spine.

"Followed me?" I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper.

Han Wool nodded. "They had to be certain you weren’t a threat. That we weren’t a threat."

I felt like my body had turned to ice.

"So that means… all these years… they were watching me?"

His jaw tightened. "Not anymore."

"Not anymore?" I let out a dry, humorless laugh. "Well, that’s comforting."

Han Wool ran a hand through his hair, his frustration evident. "I had to act like I didn’t know you, Ye Na. I had to make sure they believed it. If they had even the slightest suspicion that I remembered you, that I was looking for you—"

His voice trailed off, his lips pressing into a thin line.

I felt sick.

Han Wool exhaled heavily, his shoulders slumping. "I don’t have a choice, Ye Na. They all have power—connections, influence. I don’t. That’s why I have to play along, act like I don’t care, act like I’m just following orders. I have to be pathetic until I can get Minhwan out and figure out the truth."

His eyes softened as he looked at me. "And until I could find you again."

Something in my chest tightened painfully.

"How long, Han Wool?" My voice was barely a whisper. "How long are you going to keep pretending?"

His gaze darkened.

"As long as it takes."