The apartment was silent when I pushed the door open.
The lights were off, the curtains half-drawn, letting in a thin line of the fading dusk. My shoes hit the floor with a dull thud and I kept my steps quiet out of habit.
In the corner, on the thin mattress by the wall, my mother slept. Her breathing was steady, her face turned toward the window, strands of gray already woven through her black hair.
She must've been exhausted again.
Work, always work.
I stood there for a moment, watching her shoulders rise and fall.
A part of me wanted to wake her, tell her I was home, maybe even sit down for a while.
But the words never formed.
Instead, I slipped back into the hallway, pulling the door shut without a sound.
The streets at night had a pulse of their own. Neon signs flickered across the cracked sidewalks, shops closing while corner stores stayed stubbornly open. The air smelled faintly of fried food, gasoline, and cigarette smoke. Kids ran past with laughter trailing behind them, their sneakers slapping against the pavement.
I kept my hands shoved deep in my pockets, wandering nowhere in particular.
Just walking.
Walking was easier than staying still.
"Man, you really do like brooding walks, don't you?"
The voice came from behind me, light, teasing. I didn't need to turn to know who it was.
Min-Soo jogged up beside me, all casual energy, his uniform jacket draped over one shoulder, his grin loud enough to make the whole street look. His hair caught the glow of the streetlights, black with copper edges where the neon kissed it.
"You following me now?" I muttered.
"Please" he said, laughing. "Like I'd waste time stalking someone who sulks as much as you."
I sighed, long and heavy, the kind of sigh that made him smirk even wider.
"You're really good at making me regret not walking faster."
"Correction" Min-Soo said, tapping his temple like he'd just had a revelation.
"I'm really good at making you admit you don't actually hate having company."
I gave him a side-eye, sharp enough to cut. "Keep telling yourself that."
He only grinned bigger. "See? That's basically you saying you like me. In your language, silence plus an insult equals friendship. I'm fluent now."
I shook my head, letting the smallest trace of amusement slip before I caught myself.
We walked through the neighborhood together, his sneakers squeaking slightly with each step. He kept talking, jokes, half-stories, stupid comments about random people we passed. I didn't bother answering most of them.
But the noise filled the silence I would've otherwise drowned in.
After a while, Min-Soo stretched his arms high over his head, groaning.
"Alright, I'm heading home before my mom calls and lectures me about staying out with bad influences."
He glanced at me with a smirk. "And by bad influences, she means you."
I raised a brow. "Smart woman."
"Hey," he laughed, pointing at me, "see? That's the closest you've come to admitting I'm interesting. Progress."
I didn't answer.
Just kept walking, watching as he jogged backward for a few steps, waving.
"Try not to look too lonely when I'm gone, yeah? It ruins your scary image."
Then he turned the corner and disappeared into the night.
The city quieted down as the hours slipped by.
I found myself in the park, the one with the broken swing set and rusted benches. Sitting down, I leaned back, listening to the faint hum of cars in the distance.
The night air was cool, brushing against my bruised knuckles like ice. I closed my eyes for a second, letting myself breathe.
Alone.
Finally.
Or so I thought.
Footsteps crunched softly against the gravel path. Light, almost hesitant.
I opened my eyes.
Ji-Won.
She was there, notebook clutched loosely in her hand, hair catching the glow of the streetlamp overhead. Her eyes widened slightly when she saw me sitting there.
For a moment, she froze.
I sat still, silent, watching her the way you watch something fragile, like it might vanish if you moved too quickly.
She shifted on her feet, clearly debating whether to walk away or say something.
The night held still around us, the city noise fading into the background.
Our eyes met.
The world felt quieter.