Monday mornings at the clinic always started early, but there was an extra current of anticipation in the air. Sunlight slanted through the front window, glinting off polished glass and pale tile. The smell was a blend of citrus cleaner, faint lavender, and the deeper, subtle heat of massage oils. At the reception desk, Soo-jin adjusted the schedule for the day, her hair pulled up in a neat ponytail, uniform crisp, attitude as bright as her lipstick.
She was the first to notice the movement by the private stairwell at the back. She straightened her jacket, checked her reflection in her phone, and watched as the door opened.
Joon-ho appeared, looking freshly showered but already wearing the black spa tunic he preferred on workdays. He moved with his usual understated confidence, a half-smile on his lips as he took in the quiet hum of the morning.
