49

The ride home was tense. Mingwa could feel the weight of Taewoo's silence pressing down on her. He kept his eyes on the road, his grip tight on the steering wheel, the usual calm he carried now tinged with something darker.

She fidgeted in her seat, wondering if she should say something. But before she could gather the courage, Taewoo broke the silence.

"What were you doing with him?" His voice was low, but the sharpness in his tone was unmistakable.

Mingwa blinked, startled by the directness. "I wasn't doing anything. He just offered me a ride, that's all."

Taewoo scoffed, his jaw tightening. "I don't like you being around him."

Mingwa frowned, glancing at him. "Why does it matter? He's just a co-star."

Taewoo's fingers drummed against the steering wheel for a second before he answered. "It matters because I don't trust him." He shot her a glance, his eyes colder than she was used to. "You're better off keeping your distance."