The night was far too quiet. The cold air bit at his skin, and the streetlights stretched long shadows across the pavement. Minjun sat at a plastic table outside a convenience store, his arms wrapped tightly around his knees. On his back rested an old backpack - everything he owned now fit inside it.
There was no home waiting for him anymore.His parents had said: "If you want to be independent, prove it." And the door closed behind him.
For the first time, he truly understood what it meant to be alone.
Somewhere in the distance, a car passed by. The neon sign flickered in the store window. Minjun lowered his gaze into the emptiness and pressed his lips together, as if even to himself he didn't want to admit how lost he felt.
"Are you alright?"
The unfamiliar voice made him flinch.
A tall man stood before him, dressed in dark clothes. Under the soft glow of the streetlamp, his features seemed sharp, almost stern, yet his gaze was calm, attentive. Not wary - warm.
"It's late. And cold…" The man leaned closer, his voice gentle. "Aren't you freezing?"
Minjun wanted to say he was fine. That he could manage on his own. But then the scent of hot tea drifted toward him from the paper cup the man held out, and something inside him cracked.
"I…" His voice trembled. "I'm just a little tired."
The man's lips curved into the faintest smile.
"My name is Hyeok. This is my store. If you ever need anything… just come inside."
The warmth of the cup seeped into his palms. And with it, for the first time that day, Minjun felt like he could breathe again.