TWISTED PATHS

few Days Later—

Sana arrived home, her arms weighed down by a stack of books from the library. She had planned to dive into her notes later, determined to make progress on her project. These days, the workload was overwhelming, but if there was one thing even more exhausting than her studies—it was him.

Kim Taehyung.

Her so-called project partner who contributed absolutely nothing except an endless supply of frustration. He had a special talent for getting under her skin, always pushing her buttons, always finding new ways to irritate her.

With a sigh, she set her bag and books down on the study table, rubbing her temples as if to mentally prepare for another long night of work.

Just then, a gentle knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts.

"Sweetheart?"

The door creaked open, and her mother, Mrs. Lee, stepped inside, carrying a tray of steaming food. The rich, savory scent of freshly made ramyun filled the room, instantly warming Sana's heart.

"Hey, my sweetie. How was your day?" Mrs. Lee asked warmly as she placed the tray on the bedside table.

Sana turned around, her exhaustion melting just a little at the sight of her mother's kind smile. A broad grin crept onto her face. "It was fine, eomma," she said, flopping onto the bed dramatically.

Her mother chuckled, shaking her head at the theatrics. "Aigoo, my poor baby. That's why I brought this up for you. Now eat while it's still hot."

Sana sat up, her tired expression softening as warmth spread through her chest. Her mother's small gestures always meant the world to her.

"You're the best, eomma," she murmured, picking up the chopsticks, already feeling comforted by the meal before even taking a bite.

Mrs. Lee beamed, crossing her arms proudly. "Of course I am. But don't think this means you can skip dinner later. No excuses!"

Sana let out a playful groan. "Eomma, I just sat down to eat, and you're already talking about another meal?"

Her mother laughed, ruffling her daughter's hair affectionately. "That's because I know you. You'll get too caught up in your studies and forget to eat properly."

Sana rolled her eyes but smiled nonetheless. "Alright, alright. I promise I'll come down."

Mrs. Lee gave a satisfied nod. "Good girl. Now rest if you need to, but don't oversleep. I'll call you when dinner's ready."

"Yes, ma'am," Sana replied with a cheeky grin, waving as her mother walked out of the room.

As soon as she was alone, she exhaled softly, a wave of gratitude washing over her. Moments like these—where love was expressed not in words, but in steaming bowls of food and gentle reminders—reminded her of how much she cherished their bond.

With that thought, she settled back against the pillows, picking up her chopsticks and her phone, lazily scrolling through her notifications while savoring the warm, comforting meal.

Until—

RING. RING.

Her screen lit up with a name that instantly soured her mood.

Kim Taehyung.

Sana froze, glaring at the glowing screen as if she could burn a hole through it with sheer willpower.

This idiot.

She let the phone ring, pretending she hadn't seen it. She already knew why he was calling. It was never important—either he wanted to annoy her, flirt shamelessly, or both. And she had neither the time nor the patience for him tonight.