Mina was the first to unlock the lab door.
The fluorescent lights flickered before turning on,
and the smell of old paper mixed with the cold air that had settled overnight.
The sound of her bag hitting the desk felt heavier than usual.
She didn’t sit down right away.
At the end of the hallway, the professor’s office door was half open.
The light inside was already on.
Mina took a breath and finally sat down.
A few minutes later, Bohyun came in—earlier than usual.
He was holding an envelope.
Receipts.
Taesu followed soon after.
They exchanged a look.
We have to say something today.
Yeah. We do.
Favez arrived last.
He looked like someone who hadn’t slept all weekend.
His eyes met Mina’s.
A brief silence.
Thursday.
They were thinking the same thing.
10:00 a.m. / Outside the Professor’s Office
Bohyun stood in front of the door, envelope in hand.
He stayed there for a long moment before knocking.
Knock. Knock.
“Come in.”
The professor was seated, staring at his laptop.
“Professor.”
“What is it?”
The reply was flat.
“About Friday… the club bill we paid—”
Bohyun held out the envelope.
Two receipts.
?1.9 million each.
Without looking up, the professor said,
“Oh, that? Good work. I’m in the middle of a paper review right now. Can we talk about it later?”
A pause.
“Yeah. I’ll take care of it later.”
“…Later?”
Bohyun asked carefully.
“I’m busy. Later.”
The professor never looked away from the screen.
“Understood.”
Bohyun stepped out, still holding the envelope.
Taesu was waiting in the hallway.
“What did he say?”
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
“He said… later.”
“…Later when?”
Bohyun didn’t answer.
Lunch / Cafeteria
They sat together at the table,
but no one looked up.
Bohyun put his spoon down.
“?3.8 million…”
“He said to wait,” Taesu said.
“He said he’d handle it.”
But there was no confidence in his voice.
2:47 p.m. / The Lab
Favez’s phone vibrated.
An unfamiliar number.
The moment he saw it, his heart jumped into his throat.
He tried to swallow, but his mouth was already dry.
02—
A Ministry of Labor number.
Favez looked at Mina.
Mina was already looking at him.
The phone kept vibrating.
2:50 p.m. / Outside Stairwell
They left the lab without saying a word.
Outside, the wind was still sharp.
Favez answered the call.
Ring.
Ring.
“Yes, this is the Ministry of Employment and Labor.”
“Ah— I missed a call earlier.”
“Mr. Favez?”
“Yes.”
“Your complaint has officially entered the investigation phase.
Please come to our office this Thursday at 10 a.m.”
Thursday.
Today was Monday.
Three days.
“Understood.”
“Please bring your witness as well.”
“Yes.”
“And Mr. Favez—”
The investigator’s voice lowered slightly.
A quiet warning: be careful not to alert your workplace.
“Yes.”
The call ended.
Favez stood there, phone still in his hand.
Mina spoke first.
“Thursday?”
“Yes.”
“Ten a.m.?”
“Yes.”
They sat down on the steps.
“Three days…”
Mina murmured.
“I hope nothing happens during those three days.”
Favez didn’t respond.
He knew better.
In this place,
three days was never short.
3:10 p.m. / The Lab
When they returned, the professor was standing in the hallway.
“Where did you two go?”
Favez answered.
“I got a call.”
“What kind of call?”
“Personal.”
The professor looked between them.
“Together?”
“…Yes.”
A pause.
He didn’t ask more.
“Get back to work.”
He turned and went back into his office.
Mina and Favez sat down.
Mina’s fingers trembled slightly over the keyboard.
Typos appeared, again and again.
She hit backspace repeatedly.
5:00 p.m. / The Lab
Bohyun stood up again.
Taesu grabbed his wrist.
“Hyung, maybe not today…”
“No. It has to be today.”
Bohyun walked to the office.
“Professor.”
“Again?”
The professor sipped his coffee.
“About the club payment.”
“Is that urgent?”
“…?1.9 million each.”
“I know. But right now—”
He stopped.
“Are you doubting me over a bit of money?”
The professor’s voice hardened.
“After everything I’ve done for you,
you can’t even wait a little?”
“That’s not what I meant—”
“Did I say I wouldn’t pay?”
The cold question silenced Bohyun.
The number—?1.9 million—blurred in his vision.
“Just wait. Why are you pressuring me?”
The professor took another sip of coffee.
“Get out.”
Bohyun left.
Taesu was waiting outside.
“What happened?”
Bohyun shook his head.
They returned to the lab in silence.
7:00 p.m. / The Lab
Everyone was seated,
but no one was working.
The professor had already left.
Bohyun stared at his credit card statement.
?1.9 million.
Taesu stared at his.
?1.9 million.
Mina opened her notebook.
Favez opened his phone notes.
January 6, 2025 (Mon)
2:47 p.m. – Call from labor investigator
Investigation scheduled: Thursday, 10 a.m.
D-3
11:00 p.m. / Mina’s Room
Mina finally returned to her small dorm room.
She texted Favez.
Are you okay?
Yes. I’m okay. How about you?
Me too.
They both knew the lies were meant as comfort.
Mina typed again.
Thursday… you’re really going, right?
Yes.
I’ll go with you.
Thank you.
Mina opened her notebook.
2025.01.06 (Mon)
Club bill ?3.8 million → “later”
Labor investigation → Thursday 10 a.m.
Three days left
Questions:
Does the professor suspect anything?
Will we get the money back?
Will nothing happen in these three days?
She turned off the light.
In the dark, Mina thought:
Thursday.
After that day,
nothing would be the same.
There would be no going back.
But even now,
there was already no return.
Next Episode Preview
Tuesday morning.
Bohyun receives a payment overdue notice from his credit card company.
That afternoon,
the professor calls Mina in.
“Let’s talk.”
Two days left.
direction.
downward, quietly, endlessly.
the system has been notified.
They don’t need to be.
it’s the moment before it,
when everyone senses that something has shifted
but no one knows how far it will go.
no one is truly comfortable anymore.
Debt becomes urgent.
Silence becomes expensive.
And the countdown accelerates.