Night settled quietly over the Kim residence.
The house that had seemed warm earlier now felt heavy with silence.
Ji-Woo lay on her bed staring at the ceiling, the faint glow of the bedside lamp casting soft shadows across the room.
Sleep refused to come.
Her thoughts kept circling back to Sun-Yeon.
Why is she here now… after all these years?
With a quiet sigh, Ji-Woo slipped out of bed and opened her door carefully.
The hallway was dim.
As she reached the top of the stairs, voices drifted up from below.
She paused.
Mrs. Kim.
And another woman.
Ji-Woo leaned slightly toward the banister, listening.
"…Ji-Woo has grown so much," Sun-Yeon was saying softly.
Ji-Woo's eyes narrowed slightly.
"I heard about the accident," Sun-Yeon continued. "That's when I thought about coming… but there was so much happening."
Ji-Woo rolled her eyes silently.
Now you suddenly care?
She straightened and began walking down the stairs quietly.
Just then—
Her phone buzzed.
The screen lit up.
Eun-Woo: I'm outside. Could you please come out?
Ji-Woo blinked in surprise.
Then a small smile formed.
She typed quickly.
Okay, I'm coming.
Without another thought, she slipped through the front door.
Outside, the night air was cool.
At the gate stood Eun-Woo, hands tucked into his jacket pocket, a small paper bag hanging from one hand.
When he saw her approaching, his expression softened.
"You came."
"Of course," Ji-Woo said lightly.
He handed her the bag.
"I brought you something."
Ji-Woo opened it curiously.
Inside was tteokbokki—spicy rice cakes steaming gently inside the container.
Her eyes widened.
"Oh."
Then the words slipped out before she could stop them.
"I'm allergic to tteokbokki—"
She froze.
Eun-Woo blinked slowly.
"You're… allergic?"
Ji-Woo's heart skipped.
"I thought it was your favorite," he continued slowly. "It's been your favorite since we were kids."
He tilted his head slightly, confused.
"Even if you lost your memory after the accident, that wouldn't suddenly make you allergic to it."
His voice softened thoughtfully.
"You might forget why you like something… but you wouldn't forget that you like it."
Ji-Woo felt her stomach drop.
Oh no.
She forced a small laugh.
"Oh—right. I mean… yes. Of course. I remember loving it."
She quickly closed the bag.
"Thank you so much. I love it."
Her smile was bright.
Maybe too bright.
Eun-Woo nodded slowly, studying her face carefully.
What if what people are saying is true…
The thought crept quietly into his mind.
What if she isn't Ji-Woo?
Yes, she looked different after the accident.
Everyone said memory loss could change a person.
His mind knew it was her.
But something still felt… off.
Ji-Woo smiled again.
"Thank you."
Eun-Woo shook his head slightly, as if pushing the thought away.
Then he reached out gently and placed his hand against her cheek, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
His voice softened.
"Take care."
Ji-Woo nodded.
"You too."
They waved at each other.
Then Eun-Woo turned and walked down the quiet street.
Ji-Woo watched until he disappeared.
Her smile slowly faded.
She tightened her grip on the bag before turning back toward the house.
Inside, the door clicked softly behind her.
She turned—
And froze.
Sun-Yeon stood by the entrance, arms loosely folded, watching her.
Ji-Woo quickly composed herself.
Her polite smile returned instantly.
"Good night," she said calmly.
And without waiting for a reply, she walked past her and headed upstairs.
----
The next morning at school, the classroom buzzed with quiet chatter.
Students were still talking about the strange incident from the previous day — about someone being locked inside a classroom.
The door slid open.
Ji-Woo walked in.
Calm.
Unharmed.
Completely normal.
Across the room, Kang Mi-Sook froze.
Her eyes widened slightly.
She came back…?
Mi-Sook had expected whispers, drama, maybe even fear.
But Ji-Woo simply walked to her seat like nothing had happened.
Too calm.
Too composed.
Mi-Sook narrowed her eyes slightly.
Something is wrong…
She wanted to question her, to look deeper into what really happened—
But just then the door opened again.
Mr. Yoo Joon walked in holding a file.
The class immediately quieted.
He placed the file on his desk and looked around the room seriously.
"As you all know," he began, "an incident occurred yesterday."
Several students shifted nervously.
"Kim Ji-Woo was locked inside this classroom."
A few students gasped quietly.
Ji-Woo sat still, her face perfectly calm.
Mr. Yoo Joon continued.
"This is not a joke. This is dangerous behavior."
He crossed his arms.
"From now on, I expect everyone to be careful. When classes end, you go home immediately. No wandering around the school."
The students nodded.
"Yes, sir."
Then he opened the file again.
"There is another announcement."
The room became curious again.
"We will be making a visit today."
He paused.
"To a columbarium."
Several students exchanged confused looks.
"A columbarium is a place where the ashes of the deceased are kept after cremation," he explained briefly. "Families visit there to pay their respects."
The room grew quiet.
Mr. Yoo Joon continued.
"We will be visiting the resting place of Kim Ji-Soo."
Ji-Woo's smile stiffened.
Not because Ji-Soo was alive.
She didn't know that.
But because the word home made her chest tighten.
Going back there…
She wasn't ready.
Mr. Yoo Joon continued speaking.
"Afterward, we will visit her mother."
A few students looked uneasy.
"Only five students will come with me."
A boy near the back immediately raised his hand.
"Sir, can I stay—"
"No," Mr. Yoo Joon said firmly. "Lee Dong-Hyun, you will stay here."
The boy groaned softly.
At the back of the room, Ji-Bok had his head on the desk as usual — completely asleep.
Mr. Yoo Joon looked at the list.
"Ji-Bok."
No response.
The class snickered.
"Ji-Bok!"
He lifted his head slowly.
"…Yes?"
"You will be coming with us."
Ji-Bok blinked like he had just been pulled out of another dimension.
"Why me…"
Mr. Yoo Joon ignored the complaint.
"Go Eun-Woo."
Eun-Woo looked up calmly.
"Yes, sir."
Mr. Yoo Joon continued reading.
"Kim Ji-Woo."
Ji-Woo's eyes lifted slowly.
"You must come."
She nodded quietly.
"And…"
"Kang Mi-Sook."
Mi-Sook blinked in surprise.
"Yes, sir."
Finally—
"Park Ji-Ho."
Ji-Ho raised his head.
"Wait… are we going today?"
Mr. Yoo Joon closed the file.
"Yes."
The class murmured.
"Suddenly?"
"Yes," he replied firmly.
"Sometimes the dead should not be kept waiting."