They stepped out of the restaurant one after another, the warm glow of the interior fading behind them as the glass doors closed softly.
The night air greeted them instantly—cool, crisp, and slightly sharp against their skin.
Streetlights stood tall along the parking area, their pale yellow glow spilling across the pavement and stretching their shadows into long, distorted shapes.
The shadows overlapped.
Separated.
Merged again.
Almost like the people walking beneath them.
Around them, the crowd never truly quieted. Laughter, unfinished conversations, teasing remarks, and overlapping voices created a constant hum—a living soundscape that refused to settle.
Their footsteps, however, fell into an oddly steady rhythm, as though the night itself had decided their pace.
Minji walked beside Jeon J, her presence familiar and comfortable.
After a few moments, she glanced at him.
"You're unusually quiet tonight."
Jeon J didn't answer immediately.
"Why?"
He lifted his gaze toward the parking lights ahead.
The pale glow reflected faintly in his eyes, but his expression remained unreadable.
His jaw tightened for the briefest moment before he finally spoke.
"It's nothing."
His voice was calm, distant.
His breathing was slow and controlled, as though he were carefully keeping something from showing.
"There's really nothing wrong."
Minji wasn't convinced.
Without saying anything, she reached out and gently took his hand.
Jeon J froze.
Only for a second.
His body reacted before his mind could.
He stopped walking and turned his head toward her, surprise flickering across his face.
A few steps behind them, Sophia and Hana walked together, absorbed in their own conversation.
Zoya followed farther back.
Quiet.
Observant.
Her presence almost blending into the night.
Then, at exactly the wrong moment, Zoya's eyes lifted.
She saw their hands.
Her steps slowed.
Not enough for anyone else to notice.
Just enough for her heart to register what her eyes had already seen.
Her gaze lingered on their joined fingers.
Then, almost instinctively, she looked up at Jeon J.
Their eyes met.
Only for a moment.
But the moment carried weight.
There was no anger in her eyes.
No accusation.
Only something quieter.
Something that looked almost like a question.
Or perhaps...
a complaint she didn't dare to voice.
Zoya looked away and continued walking as though she had seen nothing.
Jeon J didn't.
That single glance stayed with him.
Heavy.
Unspoken.
And strangely painful.
A quiet ache settled in his chest.
Without fully realizing what he was doing, he gently pulled his hand away from Minji's.
The movement was subtle.
Almost unconscious.
But Minji noticed.
She felt the warmth disappear between their fingers.
Jeon J looked ahead again.
"I was just busy today," he said, forcing a small shrug. "That's all. I'm tired."
Minji slowed down and turned toward him properly.
Her eyes searched his face.
"You're changing."
Jeon J looked at her.
She paused.
"Or maybe I should say..."
Her voice softened.
"You've already changed."
Jeon J stopped.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then he reached for Minji's hand again.
This time, deliberately.
His fingers closed around hers as he turned slightly toward her.
It was a conscious choice.
A choice he didn't fully understand himself.
By then, Zoya had already reached the others and was standing with them, waiting.
Yomin, Jinhun, and Hosu had gone ahead to bring the cars from deeper inside the parking lot.
Zoya absentmindedly glanced back.
And saw them.
Jeon J was holding Minji's hand again.
Her lips curved into a small smile.
A painful one.
"You both look good together."
The thought came quietly.
Her eyes burned.
Moisture gathered along her lashes, but she refused to let it fall.
She quickly looked away, pretending to study the empty parking spaces, the streetlights—anything that would keep anyone from noticing.
"I'm fine," Jeon J said softly to Minji.
He paused.
"Just tired."
Then, as though wanting to reassure her, he pulled her into a hug.
One arm wrapped around her waist.
The other rested gently on her head as he slowly stroked her hair.
It was familiar.
Protective.
Comforting.
But while he held her, his gaze lifted almost unconsciously.
And landed on Zoya.
She stood several feet away, trying very hard to look normal.
Something tightened inside his chest.
His eyes remained on her for a moment longer than they should have.
Then he quietly said to Minji,
"You're here, right?"
His voice softened.
"Then I'll be completely fine."
Before the moment could stretch any further, Teahun's loud voice cut through the parking lot.
"If the romance is over, can we go now?"
Jeon J turned toward him and raised an eyebrow.
"Why are you so jealous?"
Teahun ignored him.
Without waiting for an answer, he started walking toward the cars.
Then, after a few steps, he suddenly slowed.
Stopped.
Completely.
He inhaled deeply.
Then turned around and shouted at the top of his lungs,
"From today onward..."
His voice trembled with exaggerated emotion.
"I am extremely sad."
Minji glanced at him.
"You were laughing literally five seconds ago."
"That," Teahun said solemnly, pressing one hand against his chest, "was my last happiness."
He sniffed dramatically.
"Tomorrow morning... Zoya is leaving."
He looked around mournfully.
"And I will remain here."
He paused.
"Alone."
Jeon J shot him a sharp look.
Teahun was standing on his left, Minji on his right.
Everyone had stopped walking now, forming a loose circle around him, already entertained by the performance.
Hosu burst out laughing.
"Bro, Zoya is leaving Seoul. Not the world. You can go too."
Teahun clutched his heart harder.
"You people will never understand my feelings."
Jeon J looked at him coldly.
That one look was enough to freeze Teahun mid-sentence.
Zoya, finally composing herself, walked over and stood beside him.
"Teahun," she said calmly, "if you're this sad, should I give you a tissue?"
He shook his head.
"No use."
His voice became dramatically serious.
"This pain is internal."
Yomin immediately joined in.
"Yeah, Zoya. He'll be so sad that when he gets home, he'll turn the music on full volume and start dancing."
Everyone laughed.
Teahun protested.
"That will be a dance of sorrow!"
Kim Joon clapped enthusiastically.
"Great! Who's choosing the background music?"
Minjo pulled out her phone, trying not to laugh.
"I'll record it."
Hana grinned.
"Caption: When your best friend leaves, but the drama stays."
Teahun nodded proudly.
"Exactly."
Then Minji looked at him.
"Best friend?"
Her tone wasn't loud.
That somehow made it sharper.
"Who are you calling best friend?"
Teahun blinked.
Zoya crossed her arms lightly.
"I don't even call him a friend."
She looked directly at Teahun.
"So when did best friend happen?"
Silence.
For exactly half a second.
Then Teahun's entire world collapsed.
He sucked in a dramatic breath, slapped a hand against his chest, and staggered backwards as though he'd just been stabbed.
Emotionally.
"She doesn't even consider me a friend," he announced, his voice trembling dramatically.
"Best friend is a dream so far away..."
He looked toward the sky.
"...it doesn't even exist."
Then he looked at Zoya.
"She doesn't become a fan."
He began counting on his fingers.
"She doesn't follow."
Another finger.
"And now she's saying I'm not even her friend."
His voice cracked.
Or at least pretended to.
"And yet..."
He suddenly pointed at her.
"With Ji-ho—"
He paused.
"With him—you spoke so politely."
He shook his head in wounded disbelief.
"So much respect."
He placed a hand over his heart.
"So what does that mean?"
No one answered.
Teahun looked around at everyone.
"Are you Ji-ho's friend, then?"
Still no answer.
He sighed deeply, as though carrying the burden of the universe.
"I swear..."
His palm returned to his heart.
"Making you respect me..."
He paused dramatically.
"...for my sake..."
Another pause.
"...in this lifetime?"
He shook his head.
"Impossible."
Zoya stared at him for two seconds.
Then nodded once.
"You're absolutely right."
Teahun froze.
Hope flickered in his eyes.
Zoya continued calmly.
"Now tell me—what do you take to stay quiet?"
His hope died instantly.
"Wait!"
Teahun stepped in front of her.
"Don't go yet. I promise I won't bother you."
Zoya narrowed her eyes.
She didn't need to raise her voice.
"You keep talking."
Teahun nodded quickly.
"I won't."
He paused.
"I mean—"
Smack.
Minjo hit him lightly on the waist.
"Enough," Minjo said, shaking his head.
"You're an overacting shop."
Everyone burst out laughing.
Teahun looked straight at Zoya.
"And you?"
His expression suddenly became serious again.
"Don't you feel even a little sad?"
Zoya answered without hesitation.
"Not at all."
She paused.
"And if you are sad, please lower your voice."
Her eyes narrowed playfully.
"At this volume, even sadness would run away."
Everyone laughed again.
Teahun stopped walking dramatically.
"Tomorrow morning..."
He looked toward the sky.
"I'll wake up..."
He lowered his voice.
"...and remember..."
He placed a hand over his heart.
"Zoya is gone."
Sophia replied instantly,
"Then you'll make coffee."
Teahun's eyes widened.
"Don't mention coffee!"
Hana laughed.
"Poor guy. First blind, then sick, now coffee-less."
Zoya shrugged.
"This is all your own story."
They finally began moving toward the cars.
Teahun suddenly stopped again.
"One last question."
Everyone looked at him.
"Will you miss me?"
Zoya turned while walking.
"Teahun..."
She sighed.
"What do you take to stay quiet?"
Then she added casually,
"And as for missing you—don't worry."
She smiled.
"I don't remember things."
Teahun's jaw dropped.
"What?!"
He pointed at himself.
"I'm not a thing!"
He looked around for support.
"She called me a thing!"
Zoya rubbed her forehead.
"Minji, make him stop."
Minji glared at Teahun.
Teahun immediately lowered his head.
"Okay."
He sighed.
"I won't talk."
Everyone doubled over laughing.
"Get in already!" Kim Joon called.
The cars were assigned.
Yomin drove one.
Jeon J drove another.
Teahun took the third.
"Zoya, come with me," Teahun pleaded. "One last journey together."
Zoya stared at him.
"Why?"
She raised an eyebrow.
"Are you going to die?"
Teahun pouted.
Minji took the front passenger seat beside Jeon.J.
Minjo and Hosu settled into the back.
Kim Joon joined Yomin.
Jinhun climbed into Teahun's car.
Hana, Zoya, Ruhi, and Sophia were still standing outside.
Teahun started pulling his car forward, stopping dangerously close to them.
"Zoya!"
He rolled down the window.
"Are you coming, or should I run the car over you?"
"Minji," Minjo muttered dryly, "I think your friend is being harassed."
Minji laughed.
Jeon J looked toward the others.
"Minjo, Hosu—switch cars. Let Minji's friends sit comfortably."
They exchanged glances before moving.
The seats filled quickly.
Hana climbed in first.
Then Ruhi.
Then Sophia.
Zoya bent down to look inside.
She immediately realized there was no space left.
She straightened.
Then looked toward Minji.
Everyone burst out laughing.
Jeon J's hands tightened around the steering wheel.
His knuckles slowly turned white as he watched Zoya turn away from his car and walk toward Teahun's.
He didn't say anything.
He simply watched.
At Teahun's car, Zoya stopped beside the door.
"If you stay quiet," she warned him, "I'll sit."
Teahun nodded immediately.
"Silent."
Zoya opened the door.
"You're talking right now."
"I'm silent from now on."
She gave him a look.
Then climbed into the back seat.
Jeon J looked away.
His jaw tightened.
The engine started.
One car moved forward.
Then Teahun's.
Then Yomin's.
Soon, the three cars were moving together through the quiet streets.
Inside Jeon J's car, the conversation slowly returned.
Hana's voice came from the back.
"Is the Easter song ready?"
"Yes," Jeon J replied.
"It'll be released that day. Just make sure nothing leaks."
"Don't worry!"
The girls answered together.
A few seconds of silence followed.
Then Jeon J glanced toward Minji.
"Your friend is usually quiet..."
He paused.
"...but with Teahun, she's always competing."
Minji smiled.
"He never lets a moment pass without teasing her."
Jeon J's eyes remained on the road.
"She should keep some distance."
Minji turned toward him.
"From Teahun?"
Jeon J didn't answer immediately.
"Yes."
There was something strange in his tone.
Not anger.
Not exactly concern.
Something Minji couldn't quite name.
Then she noticed something else.
He hadn't said her name.
Not once.
Not tonight.
Not even now.
Minji studied him for a moment.
"Her name is Zoya, you know."
Jeon J's fingers tightened slightly around the steering wheel.
"I know."
Two simple words.
Nothing more.
Minji turned back toward the window.
But she had noticed.
And Jeon J knew she had.
After a moment, he spoke again.
"At lunch..."
His voice was quieter this time.
"Her reaction was strange."
Minji waited.
"Today at dinner, everything seemed normal—even though we ate the same food."
"She was scared," Minji explained gently. "She almost ate it. Hana stopped her."
She paused.
"That's why she panicked."
Jeon J remained silent.
Then Minji added,
"We respect each other's values."
Her voice softened.
"That comes first."
No response.
Only the quiet hum of the engine.
Streetlights passed across Jeon J's face one after another.
Light.
Shadow.
Light.
Shadow.
But his expression remained unreadable.
Because somewhere behind that calm face, one thought refused to leave him.
Zoya was leaving tomorrow.
And for some reason...
he didn't like it.
Not even a little.
Outside, the city continued moving.
Inside the car, Jeon J kept driving.
And said nothing.
To be continued.....
Regards
ZK💌