Summer break had begun.

After the last final exam, Ji Woo met Tae Hoon in front of the engineering building.

“How was your exam?”

“So-so. How about you, oppa?”

“Just okay, you know.”

The air between them was awkward.

Tae Hoon sneakily glanced at Ji Woo and cleared his throat for no reason.

“How’s Sa Rang doing?”

It had been two weeks since Do Han and Sa Rang broke up.

Because of that, Tae Hoon felt uneasy whenever he met Ji Woo.

After Do Han suddenly broke up with Sa Rang and went off the grid, he felt awkward.

“She looks fine on the outside. I was worried she’d just cry all day, but she’s eating well, sleeping well, and even prepared well for exams.”

“That’s a relief.”

“I’m not sure. I’m worried she might suddenly fall into depression.”

To Ji Woo, Sa Rang seemed like she was walking on thin ice.

At any moment, the ice could crack, plunging her into deep water.

“Have you heard from Do Han oppa?”

“No. He doesn’t answer calls or read messages.”

Tae Hoon was just as frustrated.

He had dinner with Do Han one day and was shocked to hear that he was quitting school.

When he asked what that was all about, Do Han mentioned he was on his way back from breaking up with Sa Rang.

Tae Hoon was speechless, thinking it was nonsense.

“If he was going to study abroad, he should have gone earlier. Why even come to our school?”

Ji Woo swallowed the rest of his sentence and sighed.

What use was there in cursing Do Han now that everything was over?

“Yeah, what’s with the sudden study abroad… To not say anything and then this…”

Tae Hoon also believed Do Han was simply studying abroad.

He only heard that the family was moving to the U.S., not knowing the details.

Do Han wasn’t one to share family matters, so even if asked, he wouldn’t have responded.

“He must have left by now.”

“Probably.”

For Tae Hoon, that dinner was the last time he saw Do Han.

Since then, there had been no contact.

He never imagined Do Han would be so heartless.

“By the way, you’re going to the hotel with Sa Rang tomorrow?”

Tae Hoon decided to shake off thoughts about Do Han.

Dwelling on a friend who had already left wouldn’t bring him back.

He needed to focus on the people still around.

“Yeah. It’s a voucher from Do Han oppa’s friend, so we thought we’d use it quickly. Sa Rang keeps looking at it. It seemed best to get rid of everything related to Do Han oppa.”

“That’s good. Have fun and help Sa Rang relax, especially since exams are over.”

“I will.”

Ji Woo nodded.

They’d probably spend the night drinking in the hotel room, but Sa Rang needed that kind of time.

After drinking at home following the breakup, Sa Rang returned to her usual self as if nothing had happened.

That’s why Ji Woo was even more anxious.

He doubted she could forget her first love with just the tears shed that day.

Ji Woo hoped she would release all her emotions, even if it meant more tears and heartache.
Sa Rang hoped to pour all her feelings for Do Han out of her heart, so that thinking of him wouldn’t hurt anymore. She wished to cleanse her heart completely.

“Wow, this place is really luxurious.”

Entering the hotel lobby, Ji Woo was full of admiration.

He wondered what kind of people came to such a place, and felt surreal standing there himself.

“I’m living the high life thanks to you.”

Ji Woo grinned broadly, linking arms with Sa Rang.

Sa Rang smiled back and walked towards the front desk.

“Well, I got it for free, so.”

“Still, if it weren’t for you, how could I come to a hotel, especially such an expensive one?”

Sharing the same sentiment, Sa Rang checked in and turned around.

They walked to the elevator and Ji Woo showed the convenience store bag he was carrying.

“Do we look out of place? I feel like people here would be drinking wine in the restaurant.”

“What does it matter? And besides, restaurants are just uncomfortable.”

Sa Rang recalled meeting Do Han and his friends at this hotel’s restaurant.

Even though she had dressed up and put on makeup like an adult, she felt awkward and self-conscious the whole time.

She was so overwhelmed by the fancy interior that she couldn’t even remember what she ate or if it was good.

“Right. Wine, what wine? Beer is perfect for twenty-year-olds.”

Ji Woo’s voice trailed off, embarrassed, causing Sa Rang to chuckle.

But then the last word, ‘twenty-year-old,’ lingered in her mind, wiping away her smile.

‘I’m twenty now. What am I doing at a hotel?’

Suddenly, she heard Do Han’s voice in her head.

Shaking off the auditory hallucination, she straightened her back.

She wanted to prove that even a twenty-year-old could stay at a hotel.

But then someone approached her, recognizing her.

“Hey? Hello. Remember me?”

Sa Rang immediately recognized the man speaking to her.

Park Soo Ho. One of Do Han’s classmates she had met before.

“Yes, hello.”

Sa Rang greeted him awkwardly.

Did Soo Ho not know they had broken up? Judging by his friendly demeanor, it seemed he was still in the dark.

“Are you staying here tonight, Sa Rang?”