Zoya slid the black glasses onto Teahun's face with unnecessary seriousness and handed him the cane.
"Remember," she whispered, trying not to laugh, "you're blind. Completely."
Teahun tilted his head."Ah… the role of a lifetime," he muttered.
Inside, the place was crowded—voices overlapping, cutlery clinking, soft music playing somewhere in the background.
"Careful. Steps," she warned.
Immediately, Teahun slammed the cane dramatically onto the floor—thud… thud… THUD.
"Why are you hitting everything?" Zoya hissed.
"You told me I'm blind," he replied innocently, leaning closer."How would I know what's in front of me? Who's there? Table? Wall? Human being? I'm blind, remember?"
She shot him a warning look."Stop it. People are staring."
"Oh?" He leaned toward her ear, his voice a teasing whisper."I can't see them staring. I can only hear you panicking."
He swung the cane slightly to the side—tap.
Someone's leg.
"Oh—sorry," the man said kindly, smiling.
Zoya froze."I'm so sorry—he's… visually impaired."
Teahun nodded gravely."Yes. Emotionally, too."
Zoya elbowed him.
They moved forward. The cane wandered again—this time dangerously close to a waiter's hand. A tray trembled, glasses clinked, and tea sloshed to the edge.
The waiter froze.
Teahun tilted his head."Zoya… why is the floor suddenly shaking?"
"It's not the floor," she whispered sharply."Lift the cane. NOW."
He didn't.
The waiter, convinced this was a genuine blind man, carefully adjusted the tray himself, smiling politely and stepping aside.
Zoya's face burned.
"Are you blind?" she whispered furiously."Why are you doing this on purpose?"
Teahun leaned down, lips brushing her ear."How would I know? I'm blind. You keep telling me that."
She inhaled slowly."This is because of the drama upstairs, right? The way you made me lose that bet in front of everyone."
He said and smiled behind the glasses."Congratulations. You understand me."
Outside, cool air hit their faces the moment they stepped out.
Zoya sighed in relief."Finally."
They took a few steps forward—
—and suddenly, Teahun crossed the walking path confidently, without a single dramatic move.
Then—
THUD.
He tripped. Properly. No acting. No warning.
Teahun fell flat.
Zoya gasped."Oh my—!"
But before she could panic, he started laughing.
Not smiling. Not chuckling.
Laughing.
Full, helpless, breathless laughter.
Zoya stared at him for two seconds—then dropped down right beside him, cross-legged on the pavement, and burst out laughing too.
They laughed so hard they had to hold their stomachs. People passing by slowed down.
Some stared.
Some whispered.
A couple of people stopped, concerned.
"Oh—he's blind," one man said gently, stepping forward to help.
Then he noticed.
They were laughing at each other.
Completely gone.
The man paused… then quietly walked away.
Others followed.
"Must've escaped from somewhere," someone muttered.
Neither of them cared.
In the crowd, no one recognized the king of their hearts—mask on, glasses dark, cane resting uselessly beside him.
From far away, Minji lifted her camera.
The moment she saw them, she started laughing too, almost dropping the camera, shaking as she recorded.
Up above, behind the glass wall, their friends watched and laughed along.
All of them.
Except one.
Standing beside Minji—
Jeon.J.
Even behind the mask, his face was unreadable.
No laughter.No smile.
put his hands in pockets, just a cold, steady gaze fixed on the two figures on the ground—laughing as the world had forgotten them.
Teahun brushed dust off his coat dramatically and turned toward Zoya.
"Now tell me," he said, lowering his voice, "Who was he… the one you came with?"
Zoya stared at him for a long second, then stood up.
"I'll tell you once you're standing," she said calmly.
Teahun tilted his head."You know I'm blind. I need support."
Zoya narrowed her eyes at him, then grabbed his arm as if to help him up—
—and suddenly let go.
Teahun dropped again.
"Zoya!"
"Stand up on your own," she snapped."Or I'm leaving."
Teahun opened one eye at her.
Then stood up properly.
The next second, he slipped right back into his act—hunched posture, uncertain steps—tapping the cane side to side as he walked.
Zoya glared at him."Stop waving that cane. You're going to hit someone again."
They entered White Bowl Kitchen, where the crowd was just as thick.
From the doorway, Minji whispered to Jeon.J, "Where are they going now? Come, let's see."
"I'm not going," Jeon.J replied flatly."If you want to, go."
Without another look, he turned back into the restaurant.
Minji sighed."When they come back, I'll ask," She muttered, following him inside.
At the reception desk, Zoya asked politely, "Excuse me, where can I find Mr. Ji-ho?"
At the name Ji-ho, Teahun's ears practically stood up.
"Oh," he whispered near her ear, "So the name is Ji-ho?"
Zoya elbowed him hard in the stomach.
"Oof—" Teahun groaned, clutching his side."You're hitting a disabled man. I can sue you."
"Stand still," Zoya hissed."Overacting shop."
The receptionist checked the system. Moments later, Ji-ho appeared from inside.
The second Zoya saw him, she leaned close to Teahun.
"No more acting," she warned softly."Just stand quietly."
Teahun smiled at her.
A dangerous smile.
Zoya knew instantly—He was not going to behave.
"I thought you wouldn't come, "Ji-ho said warmly as he approached.
"We were about to leave," Zoya replied, smiling."Then I thought I should see your restaurant. Who knows when I'll be back again?"
"Oh," Ji-ho said, surprised."So that means you're leaving tomorrow?"
Teahun glanced sharply at Zoya.
Where is she going now? He wondered.
"Maybe tomorrow," Zoya said casually.
"Zoya," Teahun interrupted sweetly, "Aren't you going to introduce me?"
Zoya clenched her jaw.
"Of course," she said tightly.
Turning to Ji-ho, she added, "He's… a friend of a friend. He wasn't feeling well during dinner, so I brought him along for some fresh air."
From behind the glasses, Teahun stared at her.
Clever girl, he thought bitterly. Sometimes I lose bets. Sometimes I go blind. Sometimes I get sick. What else did she turn me into today?
"Oh, please be careful, "Ji-ho said kindly."It's crowded here. You could get hurt."
That was it.
Teahun's real anger flared.
"I—" he started.
Zoya immediately stepped forward.
"No, it's fine," she said quickly."We should go. You're busy—and please take care of Mr. Donghyun."
Ji-ho hesitated."At least have something. Tea? Coffee?"
Teahun leaned in and whispered, "I want coffee."
"No," Zoya replied instantly."I won't have anything, and he's not allowed coffee. His health isn't good."
Teahun burned.
"Bye," Zoya said cheerfully, dragging Teahun out with her.
Outside, she laughed—stopping, laughing again, walking, laughing again.
They ended up back at the Riverlane Table.
As they approached, everyone burst out laughing at the sight of them.
Zoya laughed too.
Teahun, however, looked murderous.
"I'm blind. I'm sick. I'm not allowed coffee."He muttered, glaring at her.
Zoya laughed harder.
The others joined in.
Teahun started reenacting everything dramatically, twisting his face and complaining loudly about her crimes.
Even Jeon.J smiled—
Just for a second.
Then his eyes shifted to Zoya.
The smile disappeared. His gaze turned cold.
Zoya felt it.
She looked up.
She didn't understand that look—Only that since she had arrived, he had been watching her like this.
Distant.Unreadable.
Cold.
Everyone was enjoying their coffee after dinner. The mood is light and warm.
Zoya sat slightly apart, scrolling through her phone.
"How is Mr. Donghyun now?" Minji asked.
Zoya looked up. She told her before, "Ji-ho is his son. White Bowl Kitchen is his restaurant. Because Mr. Donghyun's health worsened, Ji-ho dropped him off here."
"He's better now," Zoya added softly.
"So, what's the plan for Easter?" Hosu asked."It's in two days."
"You tell us," Minji replied easily."If everyone's free, we can plan something together."
Sophia, Hana, and Ruhi smiled happily, clearly excited. Zoya, however, stayed quiet, still scrolling on her phone.
"Then it's decided," Kim Joon said."Easter is at our place. You're all invited."
"Wow—done!"The girls cheered, the boys agreeing just as easily.
Zoya didn't respond.
"Let's go," Minji said as everyone finished their coffee and stood up.
Minjo picked up the cane Teahun had left exactly where he'd first picked it up and handed it to him.
"Teahun, your cane. Where are your glasses?"
Teahun swatted Minjo lightly at the waist.
"Ouch!" Minjo exaggerated."If you can walk better, I'll just keep the cane then."
He stepped aside, still teasing.
"Minji, I just need to buy one or two things from the supermarket," Zoya said, slinging her bag over her shoulder. I won,t be able to buy in the morning
Minji paused, confused."Why won't you be able to buy in the morning?"
Zoya looked at her calmly.
"Because I'm leaving tomorrow morning."
Everyone stopped.
Jeon.J's hand paused for a second on his bag's zipper—Then he continued as if nothing had happened.
"But we just talked," Minji said."We'll go after Easter."
"No, Minji. I've already booked my ticket. I'm taking the morning train."
"When did you do that?"
"Just now. I asked Ji-ho to book it."
"Oh… so that's what you were doing on your phone."
"Please, you all come after Easter," Zoya said gently."Let me go."
"That doesn't make sense," Minji protested."We came together. We'll leave together."
"I had to go," Zoya replied, looking at all four of them."If I'd told you earlier, you wouldn't have let me leave. You know I have work."
"But—"
"Enough," Zoya said softly."It's getting late. I still need to pack."
The boys stood quietly, listening.
"It would've been nice if you stayed," Jinhun said.
"I have to go."
"We really enjoyed these days with you."Minjo said with a smile."Especially when you disappear or when your friends forget you."
"I enjoyed it too," Zoya replied.
"Can we take a picture?"Hana's voice lit up."For memory."
Everyone laughed.
"Come on," Jinhun said.
"I'll take the picture," Zoya offered."You all stand."
"Why won't you join us?" Yomin asked.
"My pictures never turn out nice," she said lightly."You guys go ahead."
"Stop it—come here," Minji said, pulling her in.
She set the camera, a five-second timer ticking down.
Everyone gathered.
Teahun, Minjo, and Hosu crouched in front. Hana, Ruhi, and Sophia stood together on one side. Kim Joon, Yomin, and Jeon.J stood behind them.
Zoya stood at the far right, next to Jinhun, her scarf wrapped gently around her neck as always.
Just before the camera clicked—
Zoya looked away.
Click.
A memory was captured.
A moment that I didn't know yet. It was about to become a goodbye.
To be continued....
Regards
ZK💌