Knowing that Kwon Ki-joo, who doesn’t talk much, frequently expresses himself non-verbally, Kwang-il quietly closed the door and came out.

Watching nervously nearby, Haman Lady sighed as if disappointed.

“Since when has it been like this?”

In response to Kwang-il’s question, Haman Lady answered immediately.

“Since Miss Eun-chae disappeared.”

“Disappeared?”

“Left a note and said she’d be back in a moment.”

At that, Kwang-il made an incredulous face. So, did Song Eun-chae use Kwon Ki-joo after all? Did the plan succeed, and she just left abruptly? Yet, he hasn’t left.

He’s not even a watchdog.

Kwang-il stared at the firmly closed door.

Though there’s only one door between them, it felt as if Ki-joo lived in a different world, still fixated on the monitor.

Eun-chae’s decision to leave the house wasn’t impulsive. Why did she turn back once in the middle, then?

Ki-joo replayed that scene repeatedly.

Elegantly arranged on the table, Song Eun-chae’s phone was bathed in the colorful light from the monitor.

The Post-it letters next to it were clearly visible in the bright light.

Cough, cough. At the strange coughing sound, worry briefly crossed Eun-chae’s face.

Hastily fetching warm water and entering her room, she found Geum-bun tidying up the bed. She poured water onto the floor and quickly folded the blanket.

“I’ll do it. Grandma, please drink some water.”

“Thank you.”

Eun-chae watched as Geum-bun folded the blanket and drank water. When Geum-bun coughed again, she sat next to her and patted her back.

“Where are you feeling uncomfortable? It doesn’t seem like a simple cold.”

“Ah, don’t imply anything.”

“The doctor knows that. How about getting examined at the hospital?”

Geum-bun tore open a medicine packet and replied with the medicine in her mouth.

“Dr. Kim from Eupnae Happy Clinic said it’s a cold. Don’t worry too much.”

While she didn’t doubt Dr. Kim from Happy Clinic, Eun-chae felt uneasy as Geum-bun’s condition didn’t improve.

Wouldn’t it be better to go to a university hospital for a thorough examination? Watching Geum-bun dismiss it, she felt anxious.

This was also a chronic condition. Traumatized by watching her mother’s condition worsen despite taking medicine. Eun-chae sighed as she picked up an empty medicine packet and threw it into the trash.

Even though she knew that pushing more would be forcing, Eun-chae cautiously suggested.

“Should I talk to Mi-rae? To go to a bigger hospital…”

“Leave it. You don’t need to worry. It’s not like boasting about an old lady’s illness in the countryside. When you get to my age, you’ll understand that at this age, things start breaking down one by one.”
Geum-bun patted her on the hip as if to say she’s okay and thanked her for the concern. After failing to convince her, Eun-chae finally came out.

After washing the dishes left in water in the kitchen after the meal, the sun was setting faintly as she came out.

She liked this time.

She stood for a moment, watching the setting sun. Looking at the faint boundary of the horizon in the distance, she thought of Kwon Ki-joo.

A man who was ambiguous about being on my side. A man who broke down the walls I had built.

People don’t like losing even small things and want to resolve unfair things. He willingly did that for me.

I questioned him, asking if sincerity really existed, but did I have the right to do that?

With a lonely smile, Eun-chae entered her room to air it out. While putting the washed clothes into the suitcase, she found a ring case. Among the things she had packed as minimally as possible, she had taken the ring.

With trembling hands, she placed the case underneath and stacked clothes on top of it. Then, she sighed with a tearful breath and shook her head.

… Is it because she’s not looking or because she can’t find it?

Whatever it was, she felt fortunate.

Her throat groaned like it had a bruise.

After several days, Ki-joo turned on the light in his room. He didn’t know what day it was, but at any rate, the sun rose and set. That much was certain.

He took clothes out of the closet, put them on, and wore a watch on his wrist. Unlike usual, when he would wear a tie as well, his neck was empty.

Eventually, Ki-joo opened the door. Leaving a message to the passing resident staff to clean the room, he went down the stairs.

“Song Eun-chae.”

At Kwang-il’s voice, he stopped walking.

It felt awkward to hear that name. She left it unanswered, knowing she couldn’t call it even if she wanted to.

Ki-joo couldn’t breathe as if taken aback by a surprise.

“Do you know where she went?”

The question cut through him like a sharp weapon.

“Have you checked flights or highways?”

In response, Ki-joo rolled his black eyes and glared at Kwang-il.

“I haven’t. Are you doing this on purpose? Why?”

“…I’m gathering information.”

Should he believe those words?

Kwang-il raised an eyebrow. It was ridiculous for a guy who enjoys playing around with someone else’s head above his head to not be able to find a casual twenty-something.