The airport was crowded with movement, voices, rolling suitcases, and constant announcements echoing through the massive terminal.
Yet somehow, inside all that noise, Mirae felt strangely calm.
Maybe because this goodbye no longer felt like losing herself.
Maybe because for the first time in a long while…
she was finally choosing her own future.
Seon-woo and Dae-jin walked beside her through the airport lobby while her suitcase rolled quietly across the polished floor.
For a few moments, none of them spoke.
As if everyone was trying to make the moment last a little longer.
Then Seon-woo suddenly sighed softly.
"I never thought I'd actually have to send Mirae away someday," he admitted quietly.
A faint smile appeared on his lips, but sadness still lingered beneath it.
"And honestly… I still don't think I'm ready."
Mirae looked at him and laughed softly under her breath.
Dae-jin glanced toward Seon-woo before replying calmly,
"Every goodbye is difficult."
His voice stayed gentle.
"But that's life."
Then his eyes moved briefly toward Mirae.
"Right now, her future matters more."
Seon-woo slowly nodded.
Even though part of him still saw Mirae as the girl who used to follow him around with bright eyes and endless questions…
he knew she had changed.
She was stronger now.
The three of them finally stopped near the check-in counter.
Airport announcements echoed softly overhead while travelers passed by endlessly around them.
Seon-woo stepped closer first.
For a second, he simply looked at Mirae quietly.
Then gently patted her shoulder.
"Take care, Mirae."
His voice softened naturally.
"Safe travels."
Mirae smiled faintly and nodded.
"Thank you."
There were many things left unsaid between them.
Years of friendship.
Pain.
Comfort.
Memories.
But somehow, none of it needed words anymore.
Seon-woo looked at her one final time before slowly stepping back.
Then he quietly walked away, giving them space.
Now only Dae-jin and Mirae remained standing together.
The atmosphere instantly became softer.
More personal.
Dae-jin looked at her silently, almost as if trying to memorize this moment completely.
Mirae's eyes slowly warmed.
"Dae-jin…"
Her voice turned quiet.
"Thank you."
He blinked slightly.
"For everything," she continued softly. "And for always being there for me."
Before Dae-jin could respond—
Mirae stepped closer.
Then gently kissed his cheek.
Time stopped.
Dae-jin froze entirely.
His eyes widened in complete shock while Mirae smiled shyly at his reaction.
"I'm leaving now," she whispered.
"But I'll come back."
Then slowly—
she let go of his hand and walked toward the departure gate.
Dae-jin remained standing there motionless, watching her disappear into the crowd.
His chest tightened painfully and warmly at the same time.
A quiet smile slowly appeared on his face.
"This moment…"
he murmured under his breath,
"I'll never forget it."
By the time Seon-woo returned to the office, evening rain had already begun falling outside the city skyline.
The office lights glowed softly in the dim atmosphere.
Ha-rin sat near the desk waiting for him, files spread in front of her.
The moment Seon-woo entered, his expression softened immediately.
"Hey, sweetheart," he said naturally while reaching for her hand.
Ha-rin looked up at him.
"Mirae was okay?"
Seon-woo smiled faintly and sat across from her.
"She was okay."
Then after a small pause—
"Just emotional."
Ha-rin's expression relaxed slightly.
For a few seconds, silence settled comfortably between them.
Then Ha-rin suddenly spoke again, more seriously this time.
"You're getting death threats."
Her brows furrowed.
"How are you still this calm?"
Seon-woo leaned back slightly in his chair.
"Because I don't take threats seriously."
Ha-rin stared at him in disbelief.
"But why?"
A faint playful smile appeared on his lips.
"Because you're with me."
Ha-rin immediately narrowed her eyes.
"This is not the time to flirt, Mr. Seon-woo."
He laughed quietly and raised both hands in surrender.
"Okay, okay. Sorry."
Then he slid a file toward her across the desk.
"Work first."
Thirty Minutes Later…
The office had become quiet except for the sound of keyboard typing and flipping pages.
Ha-rin sat focused on her files and laptop, completely absorbed in work.
Or at least—
trying to be.
Because Seon-woo had been staring at her continuously for the past several minutes.
Finally, Ha-rin looked up in annoyance.
"What?"
Seon-woo tilted his head slightly.
"What happened?"
"Why are you staring at me like that?"
His lips curved slowly.
"Like what?"
He leaned slightly closer.
"I'm just looking at you."
Ha-rin rolled her eyes immediately, though her ears had already turned slightly red.
She tapped her pen lightly against the table, pretending to focus again.
"If you keep staring," she warned seriously, "I'm leaving."
"Really?"
"Yes."
She pointed toward the files.
"You can do your work alone."
Seon-woo watched her quietly for a second.
Then instead of moving away—
he calmly dragged a chair beside her and sat down.
Close enough that she could feel his presence beside her.
But not enough to distract her completely.
"Now it's better," he said softly.
"Your focus won't get disturbed."
Ha-rin glanced toward him again.
And immediately regretted it.
Because he was still looking at her with that same soft expression.
Her heartbeat betrayed her instantly.
Seon-woo noticed the blush spreading across her cheeks and smiled faintly.
"And now," he whispered teasingly, "I'll quietly observe you."
Ha-rin tried to stay serious.
"If you disturb me again…"
she hid her smile poorly,
"I'm filing an official complaint next time."
Seon-woo laughed softly.
"To whom?"
He leaned slightly closer.
"I'm the boss here."
Ha-rin stared at him speechlessly while he chuckled under his breath.
Then gently—
almost unconsciously—
he reached toward her and brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face.
His touch was careful.
Tender.
Protective.
Seon-woo's expression softened completely as he looked at her.
"If one good thing ever happened in my life…"
his voice lowered into a near whisper,
"it was you walking into it."
For a moment, Ha-rin forgot how to breathe.
Her eyes slowly softened as a quiet smile appeared on her lips.
No teasing.
No arguments.
Just warmth.
Then eventually, both of them returned to work side by side beneath the soft office lights—
while outside, the rain continued falling quietly over Seoul.
The warehouse fell silent the moment Ji-hoon disappeared into the darkness.
Only the faint dripping sound of rainwater echoed from the broken ceiling pipes above them.
Dae-jin remained standing near the rusted metal entrance, arms crossed, eyes still fixed on the direction Ji-hoon had gone. His expression stayed calm, but beneath that calmness was sharp calculation.
Seon-woo slowly exhaled and slipped both hands into his coat pockets.
"Now you saw it," he murmured quietly. "The warning worked."
The dim warehouse lights flickered weakly above them, throwing unstable shadows across the concrete floor.
"But not forever."
Dae-jin smirked faintly beside him.
"Yeah," he replied. "This game needs to end soon."
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
The atmosphere around them felt heavier than before.
Because both of them understood something clearly now—
The enemy was no longer hiding carefully.
They were starting to move openly.
Seon-woo's gaze lowered toward the dusty ground.
"Ji-hoon looked terrified," he said softly.
"He knows more than he's saying."
Dae-jin nodded once.
"And his boss knows we're getting closer."
The cold wind entering through the cracked warehouse windows carried the distant sounds of the city outside, but inside this place, everything felt isolated from the world.
Dangerously quiet.
Seon-woo slowly walked deeper into the warehouse, eyes scanning the abandoned surroundings.
Rust-covered shelves.
Broken crates.
Old machinery covered in dust.
It looked like a dead place.
But tonight, it felt like someone had been watching from inside the shadows.
He stopped walking suddenly.
Dae-jin noticed immediately.
"What is it?"
Seon-woo narrowed his eyes toward a dark corner near the back wall.
For one brief second—
He thought he saw movement.
But when he stepped closer, there was nothing there.
Only darkness.
Still, the uneasy feeling remained.
"We're not alone in this anymore," Seon-woo muttered quietly.
Dae-jin's expression became serious.
"You think someone else was here?"
"Maybe."
Seon-woo glanced toward the warehouse exit again.
"Or maybe they wanted us to know they were here."
That answer disturbed even Dae-jin.
A long silence followed.
Then suddenly—
A faint vibration sound echoed through the empty warehouse.
Both men instantly froze.
Dae-jin's eyes sharpened.
"That wasn't my phone."
Seon-woo slowly turned toward one of the old metal tables nearby.
A phone lay there.
Neither of them had seen it before.
Its screen glowed brightly in the darkness.
UNKNOWN NUMBER.
The vibration continued.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Dae-jin stepped forward carefully.
"This wasn't here earlier."
Seon-woo's expression hardened instantly.
Someone had entered this warehouse before them.
Or worse—
Someone was still nearby.
The phone finally stopped vibrating.
Then—
A notification sound echoed.
Both of them exchanged a tense glance before Seon-woo picked it up slowly.
One message.
No sender name.
Just a single line.
"You're both already too late."
For the first time that night, Dae-jin's face lost all expression.
Seon-woo immediately looked around the warehouse again, his instincts screaming that something was wrong.
Then—
Far outside the building—
A loud metallic crashing sound echoed through the alley.
Both men reacted instantly.
Dae-jin pulled out his gun.
Seon-woo's voice dropped coldly.
"Someone's here."
Without wasting another second, they rushed toward the warehouse exit—
Only to find the alley completely empty.
Rainwater dripped from the rooftops.
Streetlights flickered weakly.
And in the distance—
A black car slowly disappeared around the corner.
Seon-woo stared at it silently.
His jaw tightened.
Because deep inside—
He knew this was no longer just a warning.
Someone had officially declared war.
The city street trembled beneath the force of the explosion.
For a split second, the entire world seemed to stop.
Then chaos erupted.
Flames burst violently from Jihoon's car, shattering glass across the wet asphalt. Smoke swallowed the streetlights while pieces of burning metal scattered in every direction. Car alarms began screaming one after another, echoing through the empty night.
From a distance, Seon-woo and Dae-jin stood motionless in the shadows.
The orange fire reflected sharply in their eyes.
Dae-jin's jaw tightened.
"Perfect timing," he muttered under his breath.
Seon-woo said nothing.
His expression remained unreadable as he watched the burning wreckage consume the street.
For several seconds, neither man moved.
The fire crackled loudly between them and the ruined car.
Then Seon-woo slowly lowered his gaze.
"It's started," he said quietly.
Not far away, inside a high-rise office building, Tae-jin stood near the massive window overlooking the city.
At first, he had been calm.
Relaxed.
Certain that he still controlled the game.
But then—
The explosion lit up the street below like lightning.
His eyes widened instantly.
"N-no…"
The whisper escaped his lips before he could stop it.
He stepped closer to the glass, disbelief spreading across his face as smoke rose into the night sky.
And then he saw the location.
His heartbeat faltered.
That was Jihoon's route.
Without thinking, Tae-jin grabbed his coat and rushed out of the office.
His footsteps echoed violently through the hallway.
By the time he reached the street, emergency alarms were already filling the air.
Smoke burned his lungs as he pushed through the growing crowd.
People screamed.
Some recorded videos.
Others backed away in horror.
But Tae-jin only stared at the destroyed car.
His breathing became uneven.
The closer he got, the paler his face became.
The vehicle was completely ruined.
Burning metal twisted inward like crushed bones.
And inside—
There was no sign of survival.
Tae-jin's trembling hands slowly reached toward the wreckage.
"Jihoon…"
His voice cracked.
"How… how did this happen?"
The heat from the flames reflected against his horrified face as he circled the destroyed car, unable to fully process what he was seeing.
This was impossible.
Jihoon was careful.
Smart.
Loyal.
Yet now—
He was gone within seconds.
Tae-jin staggered back slightly, breathing harder.
For the first time in years, genuine fear began creeping into his chest.
Not fear of death.
Fear of losing control.
Then suddenly—
His phone rang.
Unknown Number.
Tae-jin froze immediately.
His shaking fingers slowly answered the call.
A calm voice spoke from the other side.
Cold.
Relaxed.
Mocking.
"I warned you to step back."
A small pause followed.
"This was only the trailer."
The voice almost smiled.
"Enjoy the film."
The line disconnected.
Silence returned.
Only the sound of distant sirens and burning fire remained.
Tae-jin slowly lowered the phone from his ear.
His face had completely lost color.
"No…"
He whispered to himself, barely able to breathe.
"This is impossible…"
His eyes scanned the area frantically, almost expecting someone to appear from the shadows.
But there was no one.
Only smoke.
Only destruction.
Only fear.
For the first time in a very long time—
Ryu Tae-jin realized he was no longer hunting someone.
Someone was hunting him.
And whoever it was…
Knew exactly how to break him piece by piece.
The police headquarters had grown unusually quiet.
Most of the officers had already gone home hours ago, leaving only the dim corridor lights and the distant hum of computers behind. Rain tapped softly against the windows, making the entire building feel colder than usual.
Ha-rin sat alone at her desk, surrounded by scattered files, surveillance photos, and half-empty coffee cups.
Her eyes were fixed on the screen in front of her, but her mind was somewhere else entirely.
Too many questions.
Too many missing pieces.
And not a single clear answer.
The door behind her opened quietly.
Seo-jin stepped inside with tired eyes and loosened sleeves, looking just as exhausted as she felt.
He stopped when he saw her still working.
"You still haven't gone home?" he asked softly.
Ha-rin didn't even look up at first.
"No," she replied quietly. "I didn't feel like it."
Only then did she raise her eyes toward him.
"And you're still here too."
A faint smile appeared on Seo-jin's face, though it carried no real happiness.
"Guess I didn't feel like leaving either."
For a moment, silence settled between them again.
Comfortable.
Heavy.
The kind shared by two people carrying more weight than they admitted aloud.
Seo-jin slowly walked closer and leaned lightly against the edge of her desk.
"You're getting tired, Ha-rin."
His voice was gentle this time.
Not teasing.
Not sarcastic.
Just honest.
Ha-rin stared at him for a few seconds before speaking.
"And you're trying too hard to look strong."
The words landed quietly between them.
Seo-jin lowered his gaze for a second, almost amused by how easily she could read him.
Neither of them denied it.
The truth was written all over their exhausted faces already.
Outside, thunder rumbled softly in the distance.
Ha-rin finally closed the file in front of her and leaned back in her chair with a slow sigh.
"I can't think properly anymore," she admitted.
Seo-jin watched her carefully.
There was something different about her lately.
She still looked determined, still carried herself like the same fearless detective—
But now there was visible exhaustion behind her eyes.
Fear too.
Even if she tried to hide it.
After everything that had happened, maybe anyone would have looked the same.
Another silence passed before Ha-rin suddenly stood up from her chair.
"Let's go somewhere," she said quietly.
Seo-jin blinked in slight surprise.
"Right now?"
Ha-rin grabbed her coat from the chair beside her.
"If I stay here any longer, I'll go insane."
A small breath escaped Seo-jin, almost like relief.
For the first time that day, his shoulders relaxed slightly.
Without another word, he picked up his keys and followed her out.
The empty hallway echoed with their footsteps as they walked side by side toward the exit.
Neither of them spoke.
But somehow, in the middle of all the chaos surrounding them—
Neither of them wanted to be alone tonight.
The restaurant was warm, softly lit, and filled with the quiet hum of distant conversations and clinking cutlery. Outside, the city moved in a blur of neon and headlights, but inside, time felt slower—heavier.
Ha-rin and Seo-jin sat across from each other at a small table near the window. The food in front of them had barely been touched. Something unspoken sat between them, like a shadow neither dared to name.
Ha-rin finally broke the silence.
"I… accepted Seon-woo's proposal," she said softly.
For a moment, Seo-jin's hand froze mid-air, his fork suspended above the plate. The color in his expression shifted subtly—surprise first, then something deeper, more complicated. He blinked once, then slowly set the fork down.
A faint, controlled smile appeared on his face.
"That's… really good," he said carefully. "Honestly… you two are perfect for each other."
Ha-rin watched him closely. Something about his tone didn't sit right with her. It was polite, supportive—but distant.
She lowered her gaze for a second, then looked back at him.
"You're acting strange," she said quietly. "Aren't you happy?"
Seo-jin exhaled slowly, leaning back in his chair.
"I am happy," he replied. After a pause, he added honestly, "It just feels… a little strange. That's all."
His eyes softened as he looked at her.
"But you're happy. And that's what matters. I just want you to always be okay."
Ha-rin's expression softened in return.
"Thank you, Seo-jin," she said gently. "You've always looked out for me. And I appreciate how honest you've always been."
Seo-jin let out a small, quiet chuckle, shaking his head slightly.
"Always," he said. "Even now. Your happiness is still my priority."
He looked down for a moment before adding,
"Seon-woo is lucky. I just hope everything works out well for both of you."
A small sense of calm settled over Ha-rin. For a moment, the tension eased. They continued eating in silence, but it was no longer uncomfortable.
Eventually, they finished dinner and stood up from the table.
Seo-jin turned to leave, but Ha-rin gently reached out and held his hand, stopping him.
"Stay a little longer," she said softly.
Seo-jin hesitated. His expression flickered with conflict—responsibility pulling him in one direction, something quieter holding him back.
Finally, he gave a small, tired smile.
"Today… I can't stay," he said sincerely. "Things are complicated. If I don't go now, tomorrow will be even worse."
Ha-rin studied his face for a long moment. Then she slowly squeezed his hand.
"Then go," she said gently. "But be careful. Take care of yourself."
Seo-jin nodded once. He released her hand and turned away.
Ha-rin remained standing there long after he left, her fingers still slightly curled as if holding onto the moment. The restaurant noise faded around her as she sat back down quietly, lost in thought.
Outside, the city kept moving.
But inside her, something felt uncertain—like everything was quietly shifting into something she could no longer control.
The evening air outside the restaurant was cool and still, carrying the faint sound of distant traffic and city life continuing as usual. The sky had begun to darken into soft shades of blue and grey, as if the day itself was slowly letting go.
Ha-rin stepped out of the restaurant quietly.
Her movements were slow, almost absent-minded. Her shoulders were slightly lowered, and her gaze stayed fixed on the ground ahead of her. There was a heaviness in her expression—subtle, but present.
She wasn't crying.
But she wasn't okay either.
As she walked toward her car, lost in her thoughts, she suddenly stopped.
A pair of hands gently covered her eyes from behind.
Ha-rin froze for a second, surprised.
Her breath hitched slightly.
Then she recognized the warmth in the touch.
"Sooyun," she said softly.
A familiar voice responded behind her, gentle and caring.
"Ha-rin… what happened?"
"So upset tonight?"
Slowly, Sooyun removed her hands.
Ha-rin turned around to face her friend.
Sooyun stood there with a soft, warm expression—eyes full of concern, her presence immediately comforting in the quiet parking lot.
Ha-rin let out a slow breath, as if releasing everything she had been holding in.
"I'm just…" she paused, searching for the right words, "feeling a little low. Today was… overwhelming."
Sooyun nodded immediately, as if she already understood.
She stepped a little closer.
"You know," she said softly, "you don't have to carry everything alone. I'm always here for you."
Ha-rin looked at her for a moment.
Really looked.
And something in her expression softened.
The weight in her chest didn't disappear—but it became lighter, just a little.
A small, tired smile formed on her lips.
"Thank you, Sooyun," she said quietly. "You're really caring… having a friend like you makes everything feel more bearable."
Sooyun smirked lightly, trying to keep the mood from getting too emotional.
"Of course," she replied playfully. "That's my specialty. Emotional support friend."
Ha-rin let out a soft laugh—genuine, brief, but real.
Sooyun gently nudged her shoulder.
"And remember," she added, "whenever you feel like this again, you call me. No excuses."
Ha-rin nodded slowly.
"Okay," she said softly. "I will."
The two of them began walking toward the car together, side by side.
The silence between them this time wasn't heavy.
It was calm.
Comforting.
Ha-rin finally exhaled fully, her expression easing as she glanced at Sooyun.
"I think…" she said quietly, "everything will be okay."
Sooyun smiled gently and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"It will," she said with quiet confidence. "One step at a time."
And for the first time that evening, Ha-rin believed it—even if only for a moment.
The office was unusually quiet, wrapped in a dim glow from the ceiling lights that hummed softly above. Outside, the city continued its restless rhythm, but inside this room, time felt suspended.
Files were scattered across the desk. A laptop screen glowed faintly in the darkness. The atmosphere between Dae-jin and Seon-woo was calm on the surface—but beneath it lay a subtle tension.
A kind of worry neither of them wanted to fully admit.
Dae-jin leaned against the edge of the desk, exhaling slowly.
"It's been three months," he said quietly. "Since Mirae left."
He glanced at Seon-woo.
"No calls. No messages. Even from you."
Seon-woo kept his eyes on the documents in front of him for a moment longer before answering. His voice was steady, controlled.
"I've thought about it too," he admitted. "But she has her own life now. Work, family… maybe she's just busy."
Dae-jin didn't look convinced.
He straightened slightly, his expression tightening with concern.
"Do you really think she's okay?" he asked. After a pause, his voice lowered. "Or something happened to her?"
The question hung in the air for a moment too long.
Seon-woo finally looked up.
His expression softened.
"Mirae is strong," he said quietly. "She always has been. She knows how to handle herself."
A brief pause followed.
"But yes," he added honestly, "even I feel it's strange. Three months without a word… it doesn't feel normal."
Dae-jin ran a hand through his hair, frustration mixing with worry.
"It's not just that she hasn't called," he said. "It's like she's disappeared from everything. Not just from us… but from herself too."
He looked down for a moment.
"Maybe she's dealing with something alone. But she knows we're here for her."
Seon-woo nodded slowly, absorbing his words.
"Yeah," he said softly. "And if something is wrong… we'll be there. No matter what."
A silence settled between them again.
But this time, it wasn't empty.
It was heavy with concern.
Dae-jin let out a slow breath and leaned back slightly.
"I just miss her," he admitted quietly.
Seon-woo glanced at him and let out a small, understanding smile.
"Yeah," he said with a faint chuckle. "I can tell."
Dae-jin gave him a sideways look, slightly embarrassed but not denying it.
"Shut up," he muttered softly, though there was no real irritation in his voice.
For a moment, both of them fell silent again.
But this silence was different.
It wasn't discomfort.
It was reflection.
And somewhere in the distance of their thoughts, Mirae's absence felt louder than ever.
The room was dark except for a single desk lamp casting a cold, narrow glow across Tae-jin's face. Shadows clung to the corners of the room like they were listening.
Tae-jin sat behind the desk, motionless at first.
Then slowly, his fingers tightened.
His jaw clenched.
And the silence broke.
"They think I've become weak," he muttered under his breath, his voice sharp with anger.
A bitter laugh escaped him.
"No… they just don't understand who they're dealing with."
He leaned forward, reaching for his phone.
The screen lit up his face in a pale glow.
Without hesitation, he dialed an unknown number.
After a few tense rings, the call connected.
Tae-jin's voice dropped—calm, controlled, but heavy with authority.
"I need to meet you," he said coldly. "Now."
A pause.
Then he added, more quietly,
"Get ready."
He ended the call without waiting for a response.
From the corner of his eye, he signaled his guard.
The guard immediately understood, nodding once before silently leaving the room.
Tae-jin leaned back in his chair, eyes fixed on the darkness ahead.
A faint smirk formed on his lips.
"This time," he whispered to himself, "I'll decide how the game ends."
A light rain fell over the city, soft and steady, washing the streets in silver reflections.
Ha-rin walked under a black umbrella, holding a stack of documents in one hand. Her steps were slightly rushed, her expression focused yet tired—like her thoughts were scattered somewhere far away.
Suddenly, another umbrella entered her space.
Seon-woo walked beside her, casually, as if he had always been there.
"You're walking like the world is against you," he said lightly, a teasing smile on his face.
Ha-rin didn't even look at him at first.
"And you're staring again," she replied flatly.
Seon-woo chuckled.
"I'm just making sure you don't fall."
That made her pause.
A small smile formed on her lips despite herself.
They walked closer together under the umbrella, their shoulders almost brushing.
Ha-rin spoke quietly, almost shy.
"Sometimes I feel like you interfere in my life unnecessarily."
Seon-woo's expression softened.
"And you think I'm doing this just out of curiosity?" he said gently. "Your safety… your happiness… it matters to me."
Ha-rin fell silent.
Her eyes shifted away, as if his words were too warm to look at directly.
Seon-woo stepped slightly closer, adjusting the umbrella so it covered her better.
"I just want you safe," he said softly. "And… always with me."
Ha-rin's cheeks turned slightly pink.
A small, embarrassed smile appeared on her face.
Then, in a quiet voice, she asked,
"Can I touch you?"
Seon-woo blinked for a second, then smiled gently.
"Of course," he said.
A soft laugh escaped Ha-rin.
Under the rain, she reached out and lightly touched him—carefully, as if confirming reality itself.
For a moment, they simply stood there, looking at each other.
The rain continued falling around them, but inside that small space, everything felt still.
Ha-rin spoke softly.
"I like walking like this…"
Seon-woo smiled.
"After marriage, we'll walk like this every day," he said casually.
Then, after a brief pause, he asked,
"What else do you like?"
Ha-rin thought for a moment, then smiled faintly.
"I can't remember right now…"
They both laughed softly.
The moment felt light—almost normal.
Seon-woo tilted his head slightly.
"Then we'll figure it out," he said. "Everything you like… we'll add it to the list."
Ha-rin nodded, still smiling.
They reached the entrance of her building.
She turned to him.
"Aren't you coming inside?"
Seon-woo shook his head.
"No… I have something to do."
He stepped closer and gently kissed her forehead, then rested his hand softly on her cheek for a brief moment.
Warmth.
Comfort.
Silence.
Ha-rin smiled softly.
"Goodbye," she said. "Take care."
Seon-woo smiled back one last time.
Then he turned and walked away into the rain.
Ha-rin stood there for a moment, watching him disappear into the night.
Then she slowly turned and entered the building.
TO BE CONTINUED…