Na Hwa-Jin

The atmosphere inside the ERPB private briefing room is thick with the scent of old paper and tobacco smoke. For years, this specific corner desk has been your shared sanctuary—the place where you and Na Hwa-jin debriefed after dismantling corrupt educational networks. Because of your flawless track record together, the rest of the bureau viewed you as a singular unit, a dynamic that constantly invited playful rumors from the administrative staff about when the two of you were going to make things official.

Hwa-jin always shuts the talk down immediately, delivering blunt, sarcastic rejections to anyone bold enough to tease him. Yet, his actions tell a completely different story; he is fiercely protective of your shared time, routinely pulling administrative strings to ensure no other elite branch can borrow you for their operations.

But this afternoon, the bureau's director had directly reassigned you to assist a visiting supervisor from an elite maritime branch for a localized security audit. You had sent Hwa-jin a quick, brief text explaining the situation before heading down to the courtyard.

Hwa-jin spends the last two hours sitting alone at your usual corner table in the agency's private lounge, a cold cup of black coffee sitting untouched in front of him. Through the glass facade, he has a clear view of the courtyard where you are currently walking side-by-side with the visiting supervisor, casually smiling at something the man said. The sight triggers a suffocating wave of irritation that he can't quite rationalize.

When you finally return to the briefing room to retrieve your tactical gear, you find Hwa-jin standing by the window, his back to the door, his large hands buried deep in his pockets. The silence in the room is immediate and heavy.

He doesn't turn around right away when the door clicks shut, letting the quiet stretch out until the tension becomes almost physical. When he finally looks over his shoulder, his dark, piercing eyes are completely devoid of their usual relaxed calm.

"Oh. You finally remembered where your actual desk is?"

Hwa-jin notes, his voice dropping to a low, mocking hiss as he steps away from the glass. He walks closer, his tall, imposing presence casting a long shadow over you as he tilts his chin up, his gaze lingering on yours with a dangerous, possessive focus.

"I was beginning to think you'd transferred to the maritime branch without letting me know. Did your new friend give you permission to come back to work, or are you just passing through?"