When the Clock Strikes|Pi Han Ul x Reader|

(S02) Chapter 44

No second glances.

Only the quiet sound of my footsteps—walking out, walking forward.

I stepped out of the police station, the sun already lower in the sky, painting gold across the pavement. The air felt thinner, like it had been wrung dry by the weight of everything inside that room.

Han Wool was leaning against the car, arms crossed, watching the entrance like he’d been holding his breath. His eyes softened the moment he saw me.

“Did you talk to him?” he asked as I approached.

I nodded, brushing my hair behind my ear. “Yeah. He seems like he’s lost touch with reality.” I let out a dry breath. “He said he did everything because he loved me.”

Han Wool’s face tightened. “That crazy bastard.”

“It’s okay,” I murmured. “It’s over now.”

But even as I said it, I wasn’t sure if I fully believed it. Some wounds don't vanish when the door closes.

I glanced over at him, my voice gentler this time. “Did you talk to your father?”

He didn’t answer right away. His eyes were on the steering wheel, hands slowly curling into the sleeves of his jacket.

“I don’t want to talk to him,” he finally said.

“Why not?” I asked.

His jaw tensed. “Because I’m not obligated to. Whatever he did, whatever he’s getting at… it doesn’t concern me anymore. I’m not responsible for the mess he created.”

The silence that followed wasn’t uncomfortable—just full of unspoken weight. He sighed and reached for the keys.

“Let’s go,” he said. “They’re waiting.”

I nodded quietly. We both got into the car, and the engine hummed to life as we drove toward Harin’s house.
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When we finally pulled into the driveway, the place felt different—softer, somehow. Warmer. As I opened the car door, a sudden blur of energy came rushing from the yard.

“Oppa!” a high-pitched voice called.

A small girl came running down the steps, barefoot and beaming, and flung her arms around Han Wool’s legs. He staggered back a little, laughing, caught completely off guard.

“Hanseol,” he grinned, kneeling down to hug her properly. “You grew again. What are they feeding you, huh?”

I froze for a moment beside the car, watching them. It hit me slowly—this was his little sister. Hanseol. I had seen her from far, but never like this. Not this close.

She looked like him. Same bright eyes, same wild smile that made you feel like the world couldn’t possibly be that bad.

I didn’t move. I just stood there, admiring the way she giggled when he ruffled her hair, how naturally he picked her up and spun her once, making her squeal in delight.

Then his eyes flicked toward me. “Hanseol,” he said, still holding her, “come here—I want you to meet someone.”

I took a small step forward, heart oddly soft in my chest.

“This is Ye Na,” he said, voice full of something proud and warm. “She’s very special to me.”

Hanseol blinked up at me from her brother’s arms. Then she gave a tiny bow, like the polite little girl she was. “Hello! I’m Hanseol.”