The hallway felt quieter than before.
Too quiet.
Tahee walked alone this time.
No Jungkook.
No crowd.
Just her…
And her thoughts.
"…Finally. Peace."
She stretched slightly, relaxed.
"…No suspicious reactions. No weird people. No—"
"Enjoying the silence?"
She stopped.
Slowly—
She turned.
Asher.
Standing a few steps away.
Hands in his pockets.
Expression calm.
"…I spoke too soon."
Tahee sighed softly.
"You again?"
Asher walked closer.
Unhurried. Controlled.
"I prefer to finish conversations properly."
"…We barely had one."
Tahee crossed her arms.
"What do you want?"
A pause.
Asher stopped in front of her.
Not too close.
But not far either.
"To confirm something."
Silence.
Tahee's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…That doesn't sound good."
Asher watched her carefully.
"Do you always think before you speak?"
She blinked.
"What kind of question is that?"
"…Obviously I do. I'm not stupid."
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"I see."
Silence stretched.
Then—
He took a step closer.
"Then let me try something else."
Tahee didn't move.
But her attention sharpened.
"…Here we go."
Asher's voice lowered slightly.
"Think something."
She froze.
"What?"
He held her gaze.
"Anything."
A pause.
Tahee let out a small breath.
"…This guy is definitely suspicious."
But instead of refusing—
A mischievous thought crossed her mind.
"…Fine."
Her lips curved slightly.
"…Let's see what you do."
She looked straight at him.
"…Your eyes are sharp… but your face is distracting."
Silence.
Asher didn't react immediately.
But his gaze—
Deepened.
"…Got you."
Tahee smirked internally.
"…If he reacts, I win."
Another thought followed.
"…Actually… very distracting."
A faint pause.
This time—
Asher's fingers twitched.
Just slightly.
His smile faded for a second.
Then returned.
Controlled.
But different.
Tahee's eyes sharpened.
"…Interesting."
Asher leaned slightly closer.
"Do you enjoy testing people?"
Tahee raised a brow.
"Do you?"
"…You definitely do."
A brief silence passed.
Then—
Asher spoke quietly.
"You don't speak."
A pause.
"But I hear you."
Silence.
Tahee's heart skipped.
Just once.
But her expression—
Didn't change.
"…You're imagining things."
"…Right?"
For the first time—
Doubt crept in.
Small.
But real.
Asher watched her carefully.
Not convinced.
But not exposing her either.
"Am I?"
A dangerous calm in his voice.
Then—
He stepped back.
"Let's test it again… another time."
He turned.
Walking away slowly.
Like a hunter—
Who wasn't done yet.
Tahee stood still.
"…This is bad."
Her fingers tightened slightly.
"…He's not guessing."
A pause.
"…He's testing me."
Silence followed.
But just before he disappeared—
Asher stopped.
Only for a second.
Without turning back—
He spoke.
"Next time…"
A pause.
"Try thinking something less obvious."
Silence.
Tahee froze.
Her breath caught.
But Asher didn't wait.
He walked away.
Leaving behind—
A single thought.
"…How much did he hear?"