I woke up before dawn, the soft glow of the city lights casting a faint luminescence through the sheer curtains of our bedroom. Jiyeon lay beside me, her breathing steady and calm, her face serene in sleep. I gently brushed a stray hair from her forehead, feeling a pang of guilt about the lie I was about to tell her.
"Jagiya," I whispered, nudging her lightly. "I need to get ready for my trip."
She stirred, blinking sleepily. "Mmm, what time is it?" she asked, her voice thick with sleep.
"It's early," I replied, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Go back to sleep. I'll be back before you know it."
She nodded, her eyes already closing again. I watched her for a moment longer, my heart heavy with the weight of my deception. I hated lying to her, but this was necessary. Hyun-Jin was a threat that needed to be eliminated, and I couldn't risk Jiyeon's safety.
