We had somewhere to go.
It wasn't urgent.It didn't need a reason.
Ha-rin stood near the door, slipping on her shoes while I grabbed my keys. As she straightened, she adjusted the hem of her dress once, then again—small enough to pass as habit.
"…Did this always fit like this," she muttered.
"What," I asked.
She shook her head. "…Nothing."
I didn't press.
Outside, the air was cool but clear. She hesitated for half a second before stepping closer to me instead of walking ahead.
"…Let's not stay long," she said.
"Yes."
"…You always agree so fast."
"It saves time."
She glanced at me.
"…You're not fun."
"That is inaccurate."
She smiled despite herself as we walked toward the car.
I unlocked it and held the door open for her. She paused.
"…You're doing that on purpose."
"Yes."
"…Why."
"It is polite."
She narrowed her eyes.
"…Liar."
She got in anyway.
The drive was short. No music. Just the city moving past us.
When we parked, she didn't get out immediately.
"…People won't recognize me here, right," she asked casually.
"They will not," I replied. "The probability is low."
"…You sound very sure."
"I account for patterns."
She hummed softly, then stepped out.
Inside the store, she stayed close—not clinging, just aligned. When we stopped in front of the shelves, her sleeve brushed mine.
"…Which one," she asked, pointing.
"The one on the left."
She reached for it, paused, then stretched slightly.
I stepped in and took it instead.
"…I could've reached," she said.
"Yes."
"…Then why did you."
"You hesitated."
She looked at me for a moment.
"…You notice strange things."
"Yes."
She took the item from me, fingers brushing mine. This time, she didn't pull away immediately.
"…You're staring again."
"I am reading."
"…Sure."
At the counter, she leaned forward slightly while paying, then straightened and adjusted her jacket without realizing she'd done it.
I noticed.
I said nothing.
Outside again, she let out a quiet breath.
"…That was easy."
"Yes."
"…No one looked twice."
"Yes."
She glanced at me.
"…You sound disappointed."
"No."
"…You still sound like it."
"That is unrelated."
She nudged my arm lightly with her elbow.
"…You're weird today."
"Yes."
As we walked back to the car, she slowed on purpose, forcing me to match her pace.
"…Don't walk so fast," she said.
"I adjusted."
"…Good."
She smiled, satisfied.
Nothing happened.
And somehow, that made the walk back feel lighter than the walk out