Love In The Shadows Of Guilt

I woke up early, just as usual, to get ready for work. After showering and dressing up, I stepped out of my room.

But what greeted me in the living room wasn't the usual morning calm-it was chaos.

The flower vase that had sat perfectly on the table was now shattered, with broken ceramic and scattered petals strewn across the floor. The curtains were nearly ripped from the rod, hanging precariously as if someone had yanked them. The photo frame on the wall hung at an awkward angle, one side dangling. Books, magazines, and even a pair of shoes lay haphazardly around the room.

I scanned the scene, bewildered, until my eyes landed on two people. One was sleeping with their head flat on the dining table, their messy hair spilling over their arms. The other was sprawled across the sofa, arms and legs in awkward directions, snoring faintly.

One of them stirred, lifting their head groggily. It was Minseo. She rubbed her eyes and looked at me.

"Oh, good morning, Eunji," she mumbled, her voice raspy.

"Good morning?!" I exploded, gesturing to the mess around us. "What happened here?"

Minseo yawned, looking utterly unconcerned. "Seungmin came over last night. He was drunk. Like, really drunk."

I raised an eyebrow, waiting for more.

"He cried like a baby and trashed everything," Minseo continued, sighing heavily. "I tried to stop him, but it was impossible. He just kept throwing things around like a maniac."

I stared at her, dumbfounded. "Seriously? That bad?"

Minseo nodded dramatically. "I spent the entire night trying to calm him down. I'm exhausted. Wake me in five more minutes." With that, she let her head drop back onto the table.

I crossed my arms. "Well, I have work. You can wake yourself up and deal with this mess."

I made my way to the door, determined not to get roped into cleaning this disaster.

"Eunji," Minseo called out, stopping me in my tracks.

"What?" I snapped.

"Is it true? Has Jaehyun come back?"

Her words sent a jolt through me. I turned to her, shocked. "How do you know about that?"

Minseo raised her head slightly, smirking. "Seungmin told me last night. Maybe that's why he's so upset."

"What?"

"Oh, come on, are you blind?" Minseo shot me a pointed look. "Seungmin likes you, idiot."

I froze, her words sinking in like a heavy weight. Before I could respond, Minseo's head hit the table again, and she drifted back to sleep.

-----

Third-Person POV

Eunji sat at her desk, staring at the thick file in front of her. The whistleblower she represented, a former employee of a major corporation, had handed over critical evidence of financial misconduct. The problem? Without additional proof, her case could crumble. Frustration etched itself across her face as she let out a long sigh.

A knock at the door jolted her out of her thoughts. She glanced up to find Jaehyun standing there, his face unreadable.

"What are you doing here?" Eunji asked, crossing her arms.

"I'm here because your client's case is connected to mine," Jaehyun said, stepping into the room without waiting for an invitation. He held up a file. "I'm prosecuting the CEO of that company for embezzlement and tax evasion."

Eunji frowned, narrowing her eyes. "So? What does that have to do with me?"

Jaehyun placed the file on her desk, his gaze steady. "The evidence your client has could be the key to taking him down. And my investigation could bolster your civil case. Whether you like it or not, we're chasing the same target, Eunji."

Eunji leaned back in her chair, skepticism flashing in her eyes. "And why should I help you? This isn't just about justice for me. My client has lost everything because of that company."

Jaehyun's jaw tightened. "You think I don't care? I've been building this case for months. If we don't work together, neither of us will win."

Eunji hesitated, her instincts telling her to keep her guard up. She wasn't thrilled about the idea of collaborating with Jaehyun-it would blur lines she wasn't ready to cross. But she couldn't let personal grudges get in the way of her case.

"Fine"

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