"There," he said, pointing ahead.
Between the trees, a small shop sat quietly. No crowd. No rush.
Just old songs drifting out from a rusty speaker, the kind that felt familiar even if you couldn't remember where you'd heard them before.
"Thank God," Nami sighed instantly.
The music and the shade — it all felt like relief they hadn't realised they were craving.
Without thinking twice, they walked toward it.
They ordered food and sat near the railing, letting the cool breeze hit their faces.
And then—
"Guys…" Yurim whispered.
Just a little away, two monkeys were licking the floor, desperate for whatever little water had dripped from someone's bottle.
Her heart dropped.
"They're thirsty…" she murmured.
"Then go give them water," Nami teased. "If you're suddenly Mother Teresa."
Yurim rolled her eyes but couldn't look away from the monkeys.
Her fingers tightened around her bottle. She hesitated. Wild monkeys were dangerous. Her breath shook a little.
"Yurim, careful," Siya warned.
But Yurim swallowed her fear and slowly walked toward the nearest monkey.
The monkey stared at her. She stared back.
For one magical second, it almost felt like a friendship moment.
The monkey gently took the bottle from her hand — so gently that Nami burst out laughing.
"He took it like a human!"
Even Siya and Haon were laughing.
Yurim smiled in embarrassment… until the monkey tried to drink but couldn't. The bottle was too big. Water wouldn't come out.
"Wait… give it, I'll help you," Yurim whispered and reached forward.
Suddenly—
GRRRR.
The monkey growled.
Yurim jumped back.
"Yurim!" Siya gasped.
SNATCH.
In one sharp movement, the monkey grabbed her entire bag, slung it over its shoulder like a mischievous thief, and sprinted straight into the woods.
"MY BAG!!" Yurim screamed.
Her phone. Money. Everything was inside.
Panic shot through her, and without thinking — not even for a second — she ran after it.
"SIYA! LET'S GO!" Nami screamed, and both girls and Haon jumped up, running after Yurim in full panic mode.
But Yurim was faster. Too fast. Desperate.
She chased the monkey blindly, deeper and deeper into the woods.
"YURIM! STOP!!" Siya's voice echoed from far behind.
But Yurim couldn't stop, her legs were moving without permission.
The woods grew thicker.
Quieter.
Colder.
Somewhere ahead, the monkey vanished into the trees.
Yurim slowed, panting, turning in circles.
And then—
She saw it.
Standing alone in the middle of the forest where sunlight fell strangely soft…
The Tree.
Huge. Ancient. The bark shimmering faintly.
The tree felt different from the others, with unusually long branches and roots.
Yurim took one small step forward, breath trembling.
"…What is this?" she whispered.