Hari closed the car door softly and waved at Do-hoon.
"Goodbye," she said.
She walked a few steps toward her house, lost in thought, when she nearly collided with someone standing at the gate. Jin-wook.
For a moment, neither moved. They just stared at each other, the air thick with unsaid words.
"You… you left crying that day," he finally said, breaking the silence. "I was worried. I've been trying to call you ever since I came back, but your number didn't go through."
Hari felt a pang of guilt. She lowered her eyes, taking a breath before answering. "I… I changed my phone number." Her voice was quiet.
Jin-wook nodded slowly, exhaling through his nose as if releasing a few weeks of tension. "Oh… I see." He paused, searching her face. "Actually, I'm really sorry. For losing contact a few weeks after I left for the U.S. The truth is… I was afraid. Afraid you'd want to break up with me whenever we talked on the phone."
Hari let out a soft chuckle, looking down to hide her eyes. "You're right. I thought about breaking up too… sometimes. I mean, it was hard, dating someone so far away. And when we lost contact… I felt a little relieved, I guess."
She could feel him watching her, hoping for the answer he wanted to hear. Jin-wook's gaze was steady, open, expectant.
"Do you… still feel the same way?" he asked, his voice careful, tentative.
Hari blinked, confusion flickering across her face. "Huh? What do you mean?"
"Do you… not want to date me anymore?" His words were simple, but heavy with emotion.
She looked away, biting her lip. "…Hey, how can you ask me a question like that? I mean… you just came back. It's been so long since we last saw each other."
Her nervousness was evident'
Hari walked up the hill and joined Do-hoon, sliding down onto the grass beside him. The sun was low now, casting long shadows across the quiet town below.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
Do-hoon tilted his phone slightly, showing her the screen. "Just taking pictures of the view."
Hari leaned closer, peering at the images. "Let me see."
He handed the phone to her. The pictures were beautiful golden sunlight spilling over the rooftops, the distant ocean glimmering like scattered diamonds. She couldn't help but smile.
"They're pretty," she said softly.
For a while, neither of them spoke, letting the wind and the fading light fill the space between them. Hari's mind, however, was not at peace. She shifted, her fingers brushing against the grass, gathering courage.
"Actually… there's something I need to tell you," she began, voice hesitant.
Do-hoon looked at her with curious eyes. "What is it?"
She took a deep breath. "There's a guy Harin used to date back in high school. He just came back from overseas, and… he thinks I'm Harin. He doesn't know she had a twin."
Do-hoon's brow furrowed. "You didn't tell him everything?"
"No," Hari admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I… I'll tell him when the time is right."
Do-hoon's gaze lingered on her for a moment, a flicker of something unfamiliar jealousy passing through his eyes.
"What do you want?" Hari asked Jin-wook who she spotted standing at the gate as she came out.
"There's somewhere I want us to go," he said simply.
Hari hesitated, then followed him along the unfamiliar path that led to the old tree overlooking the town. The evening light painted the hill in soft gold, and a gentle breeze stirred the leaves.
"You remember," Jin-wook began as they reached the tree, "you used to come here to calm yourself whenever you were angry at me."
Hari blinked. "Did I?"
"Don't you remember?" he pressed, his voice gentle but teasing.
She shook her head, forcing a laugh. "Huh… I didn't come here because I was mad at you. I just wanted to enjoy the view. Why would I waste my time coming here because of you?"
He didn't respond, but she could sense the memory flickering behind his eyes.
Years ago…
Jin-wook had raced through the town, breathless, calling her name. "Hey, I've been looking for you everywhere!"
Harin had been sitting under the same tree, the wind tangling her hair as she stared out at the town below. She hadn't even looked up at him.
"Hey, are you ignoring me?" he had asked, collapsing onto the grass beside her.
"I'm sorry," he had murmured. "I… I forgot our plans. I really am sorry."
He reached out to touch her hand, trying to soothe the tension, but she had pulled away sharply. "Leave me alone."
"I'm sorry," he had whispered.
Another time, he had followed her up the hill, voice ragged from running. "Hey, please listen to what I'm trying to say!"
"Stop following me. Go back to what you were doing," she had said, refusing to meet his eyes, but glancing at him for a brief second before turning away again.
Yet another day, he had blocked her path. "No, you're not going to pass through," he said.
"Hey, move before I get angry," she had snapped, her eyes flashing.
"You're already angry," he countered quietly.
She had tried to push past him, but he didn't budge. "Why can't we talk things out? Do you always have to come here whenever you're mad at me?"
"Who said I'm angry?" she asked.
"I know that you are," he said.
Present day.
"Don't lie," he said softly. "I know you always came here because of me."
She smirked, shaking her head. "Waaah, you're so full of yourself."
After a quiet pause, Hari shivered as the chill of the evening settled in. "Hmmm… it's getting cold now," she muttered to herself, trying to distract from the intensity of the moment.
Jin-wook slid his jacket over her shoulders without a word.
"Thank you," she said softly, voice calm, almost fragile, as they sat together beneath the tree, the town spread out beneath them like a memory waiting to be remembered.