HER RENTED HUSBAND.....KTH

YN's Bedroom, Late Evening

YN sits at her desk, her laptop open, documents and files spread across the table. She's supposed to be working, but her eyes keep drifting away from the screen. Her expression is tense and conflicted as Taehyung's words from earlier echo in her mind.

YN's POV:

Why can't I focus? I try to read through the report on my screen, but the words blur together. Instead, all I can hear is Taehyung's voice from earlier, raw and bitter, saying, "I have responsibilities...my mother is sick."

What happened to his mother ? I shake my head, pushing the thought away. It shouldn't matter to me. This is Taehyung's life, not mine. And yet...why can't I stop wondering?

It must be because he's been living here for over a month now. We cross paths every day, we argue over every little thing, and whether I like it or not, he's a part of my daily routine now. Maybe my mind is just curious about him because of all that. Nothing else.

I bite my lip, torn. Should I ask him more about it? No. What he does, or what he's dealing with, has nothing to do with me. He's just here temporarily. I don't need to know about his life. It's none of my business.

But I can't let it go. Every time I try to refocus on my work, the questions resurface. Before I realize it, I'm already reaching for my phone. I hesitate, my thumb hovering over Mr. Park's contact. Do I really need to do this? Why am I getting involved?

But the curiosity won't let me rest. Fine, I just need to know. I take a deep breath, steadying myself, and finally press call.

(The phone rings a few times before Mr. Park picks up)

OTP

Mr. Park - "Hello, YN. It's been a while. How are things going?"

YN - "Hey, Mr. Park. Everything's fine. Just... I wanted to ask about Taehyung, actually.umm,..like how you find him?

Mr.Park- "why did something happened, is he bothering you?"

YN-"No... actually I am just curious"

There's a brief pause on his end, then he chuckles slightly.

Mr. Park - "Ah, curious,? You know, that man is quite an unusual choice for this arrangement, considering the other men I've worked with before."

YN - "Unusual how?"

Mr. Park - "Well, let's just say he's the last man standing. The others-those who used to work as 'rented husbands'-got themselves into trouble. Most were arrested recently; the authorities started cracking down hard on people involved in this kind of deal. Some of those men were so terrified of the police that they backed out of their agreements altogether."

YN - "Really? So Taehyung... he didn't have any second thoughts?"

Mr. Park - "Not at all. I remember my encounter with him perfectly. When I first met him, he'd just lost his job and was struggling to pay for his mother's medical bills. I could tell he was desperate, but there was something about his stance, like he was still trying to hold onto some pride. He initially refused the offer when I suggested it in vague terms, but as soon as he heard the amount he'd receive, he couldn't ignore the opportunity. He needed that money urgently. He'd already borrowed his first payment to pay the hospital, so he didn't have the luxury of walking away, even if he had any doubts."

YN - "Hmm... sounds like he didn't have many choices."

Mr. Park - "Exactly. And he's been practical about it from day one. He signed the contract, stuck to the agreement, and hasn't caused any trouble. I respect that about him. But there's also this guardedness, like he's carrying a lot on his shoulders and is determined to handle it alone."