"It was back in 2012. I was five years old at the time. We were in Busan, just an ordinary day.... nothing special. We were at this small restaurant, eating lunch. I remember laughing a lot. Mom was teasing Dad for getting sauce on his shirt. It was.. nice."
His lips curled into a faint smile, but his eyes didn't change. The warmth was only in the memory.
"And then, just like that.. the sky cracked."
His voice grew quieter, barely more than a whisper now.
"A Z-rank gate opened above the city. Out of nowhere. A sudden break. The highest rank, and no one was prepared. The nearby Hunters couldn't hold them back. There weren't enough of them. They tried, but.."
He trailed off, his gaze fixed on the floor now, lost in some corner of the past only he could see.
"The rest is history. You probably know the headlines. It was one of the biggest gate breaks in the world."
There was silence.
His smile remained, faint and hollow, but it didn't reach his voice. That, by now, was empty. Like the words had been sitting inside him too long, worn down by the years.
Seyoung's father looked at him quietly for a moment, clearly caught off guard by the sudden weight of it all. Then, without saying anything else, he reached over and gently placed a hand on Jinhwan's back. A soft, reassuring pat. Nothing more, nothing less.
"It must've been hard," he said, voice low. Honest.
The silence broke with the sound of a door creaking open.
Seyoung stepped out, now fresh-faced and comfortable in her pyjamas, and right behind her was her mother. She wore a gentle smile, her silky hair tied up in a neat bun, strands softly framing her kind face.
"Looks like you two are having fun," she said, her voice warm and light as her gaze fell on Jinhwan, still seated on the couch, the little girl perched on his lap, her improvised makeup project proudly displayed across his face.
Jinhwan smiled sheepishly but didn't say anything. The little girl beamed.
Seyoung's mother chuckled softly, then moved toward the kitchen with practised ease, setting down the bags Seyoung had brought earlier and beginning to prepare dinner. Seyoung followed her in, wordlessly slipping beside her to help tie an apron around her waist, rolling up her sleeves, and taking her usual place at the counter.
The smell of garlic, soy sauce, and sizzling meat soon filled the apartment. Soft clinks of utensils, pots bubbling, and the occasional shared laugh drifted from the kitchen.
Time passed quietly.
And then about an hour later they were all seated together at the small dining table tucked in the corner of the kitchen. It wasn't grand, just four chairs and a small bench, but it felt full, warm.
The table itself was now crowded with food. Bowls of steaming rice, plates of marinated meat, sautéed vegetables, kimchi, and a few dishes Jinhwan couldn't even name. Everything smelled amazing.
They ate together, shoulder to shoulder, passing dishes across the table, teasing one another between bites. The twins argued playfully over the last piece of grilled meat until Jinhwan gave it up to them with dramatic reluctance, earning a triumphant cheer from the boy.
There was laughter. Light conversation. A sense of ease.
After dinner, everything slowly returned to its place. The table was cleared, the dishes stacked, and the chatter quieted into background noise. Seyoung stood at the sink, sleeves rolled up, her hands moving rhythmically as she washed the last of the dishes. Her father was in the living room, eyes fixed on the news playing softly on the TV. Her mother had already taken the twins to their room, coaxing them to bed with lullabies and whispered promises of tomorrow.
It was just past 9 p.m.
Jinhwan stood beside Seyoung, leaning casually against the counter, now free of all the hairpins and glitter the twins had lovingly attacked him with. His face was clean, his expression soft as he watched her work, his school uniform still slightly wrinkled from the long day.
"Well… I should head back home. It's getting late." he said, glancing around the apartment briefly to make sure no one else was watching. Then, leaning in just a little, he kissed her cheek, gentle, quick, but full of affection.
Seyoung paused, blinking at the warmth left on her skin. She turned slightly, her lips lifting in a small smile.
"Let me walk you to the parking lot," she offered, rinsing off the last plate.
"Nah, it's fine. I can go on my own," Jinhwan replied, flashing her a reassuring smile as he stepped out of the kitchen.
He walked through the living room, where her father sat watching the news, his face calm and unreadable in the glow of the TV.
"I'll get going now," Jinhwan said, bowing his head politely.
Her father looked over and gave a nod. "Alright. Take care. Feel free to come by again."
"I will," Jinhwan said with a small smile, then made his way to the front door.
He grabbed his blue jacket from the wall hanger, slipping it over his school uniform. He bent down, laced up his shoes, and reached for the door handle.
Warmth.
Soft and sudden.
He felt it on his back, Seyoung's arms wrapped around him from behind. Her breasts pressed gently into his back, her head nestled between his shoulder blades.
"Take care," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath. Then she rose onto her toes, lips brushing his cheek.
"See you tomorrow."
Jinhwan turned around slowly, his arms coming up to wrap around her in return. He held her for a few seconds, quietly, no words needed. Then he pulled back with a gentle look.
"Yeah. See you tomorrow."
With that, he stepped out into the hallway. Seyoung stood at the doorway, watching him with a soft smile. She raised a hand and waved once, the light from the ceiling catching the shine in her eyes.
He waved back, and the door clicked shut softly behind him.
Jinhwan turned and pressed the elevator button. Within seconds, the doors slid open with a quiet chime. He stepped inside and pressed the button for the ground floor. The cabin hummed faintly as it descended, his reflection staring back at him in the mirrored wall.
Moments later, the doors opened again with a soft whoosh.
He walked out into the dim hallway, footsteps echoing slightly as he made his way toward the parking lot. A few steps more, and he was standing beside his car. The familiar blue of the vehicle felt grounding in the quiet night.
He opened the door, slid into the driver's seat, and pulled the door shut behind him with a muted thud.
The silence inside the car was comforting.
He exhaled, turned the key, and the engine came to life with a low purr. Without another thought, he shifted gears and pulled out of the lot, the tires gliding smoothly over the pavement as he disappeared into the calm night.
[Episode 22 End]