"Why did you develop the photo of your ex-boyfriend?"
"............"
"Oh, I'm so sorry for asking such a rude question..."
"I still have regrets."
"yes...?"
"I'm just being ignited by my lingering attachment. It doesn't really mean anything."
"ah.."
Gayeon's expression as she spoke seemed lonely and sad. Winter in Korea, where these two emotions coexist, felt bleak, as if autumn would soon follow.
"I enjoyed the hot chocolate. Thank you."
With these words, Gayeon, who said she would come back tomorrow to hear the final question, quickly opened the Inhwa Soo and left. Jimin muttered as he cleared away Gayeon's hot chocolate.
"I couldn't let go of my foolishness..."
_
At 9 o'clock that late at night,
Jimin remained in the incinerator and checked to see if there were any missing items.
"Huh? We're out of ink... I should go buy some."
Jimin grabbed his coat and headed straight outside to the ink shop. Outside, white snow was falling. "Knock knock," he said very carefully. "It was past 9 PM, so there weren't even any pedestrians walking around outside."
As I was quietly walking towards my destination, stepping on the falling snow, I heard the sound of someone fighting in a corner of an alley.
'what'
After listening closely, I realized that it was a common fight between couples, so I didn't think I needed to worry about it. I was about to quickly walk away from here when I heard a woman screaming.
"Hey, how could you do that to me?!"
It was a familiar voice. I was sure I had heard it somewhere before… I turned my steps toward the alleyway, intending to go somewhere else. When I quickly arrived at the source of the sound, there stood Ga-yeon, crying, and a man who appeared to be her boyfriend.
“Ji… Jimin?”
She was crying, and I have no idea what happened between them, but when I briefly met Gayeon's eyes, Gayeon's eyes looked at me for a moment, and there was an expression in them that said, "Please save me from here."
"Who are you?"
The man pulled Gayeon into his arms and glared at me. In that moment, I realized Gayeon's expression was not good as she was being held by him, so I lied for her sake.
“I’m Gayeon’s cousin, but Gayeon… why are you crying?”
"ah..?"
Only then did the man let his guard down a little and let Gayeon go. GayeonHe walked up to me and hid behind me, and I held Gayeon's hand tightly as she was trembling.
"I don't know what misunderstanding occurred between the two of you, but I hope nothing happens to make Gayeon cry."
I quietly walked out of the alley like that
As we exited the alley and sat down on a quiet park bench, Gayeon was trembling and holding back tears. Once we arrived at the park, she hugged me and burst into tears.
I could only comfort Gayeon, who was crying.
.......