Mrs. Kang's voice echoed from the front door.
"Hari."
Hari lifted her head, blinking away her thoughts. "I'm coming."
She stepped out of her room, pulling the door shut behind her. Mrs. Kang was already waiting for her and they left the house together wearing black clothes.
The graveyard was quiet when they arrived. The air smelled faintly of damp earth, and the wind stirred the tall grass between the stones. Mrs. Kang knelt in front of a familiar grave, carefully brushing away fallen spring leaves and dust as if performing a routine, she knew by heart.
Hari stood beside her, hands clasped, eyes fixed on the name engraved in stone.
"Honey, we're here," Mrs. Kang said softly, her voice steady despite the weight of the place. "You missed us, didn't you?"
She wiped the stone clean and set the flowers down neatly, lingering for a moment longer than necessary. Hari watched her mother speak to the man who could no longer answer, the silence around them thick with things left unsaid.
Standing there, Hari felt the familiar ache settle in her chest not sharp, but constant. Grief had become something quiet over time, something she carried rather than fought.
She bowed her head slightly, offering her own unspoken greeting to the grave, before the wind carried her mother's words away.
Hari stopped short when she reached her front gate.
Jin-wook was standing there, hands tucked into his pockets as if he'd been waiting longer than he wanted to admit.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, surprise slipping into her voice.
He straightened slightly. "I wanted to give you something."
She studied him for a moment, then glanced around. "What is it?
You said you had something for me, not somewhere to take me."
A faint smile crossed his face. "I thought we could spend some time together too." His gaze drifted to her clothes, neat and dark. "You must've been somewhere important."
"Oh." She hesitated. "I was visiting my father's grave."
The smile faded instantly.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I didn't know."
"It's okay," she replied. "He passed away a year ago." After a pause, she added, almost reflexively, "The first few months were hard… but I've made peace with it."
She exhaled, as if brushing the weight aside. "So what did you want to give me?"
"I'll give it to you when we go back."
She frowned slightly. "Are you sure you even have something? You're not carrying anything."
He chuckled. "It's a surprise."
"…Okay.
Few hours later.
"Turn around."
"Why?"
"Just trust me."
Hari hesitated, then turned. She felt his presence move closer, careful and gentle. A cool touch brushed her skin as something settled around her neck.
She had confusion written on her face.
"What is this?" Hari asked, turning to face him.
"A small present," he said. "That's all."
"Why would you give it to me?"
"Why shouldn't I?"
"Huh?... I—I mean…."
At that moment, the gate creaked open behind them.
"Oh."
Hari turned to see Do-hoon stepping out, his eyes taking in the scene in a single glance.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, surprised.
"I was waiting for you," he said evenly. "You weren't answering your calls." His gaze flicked briefly to Jin-wook. "But I see why now."
"Sorry," Hari said quickly. "My phone was on silent."
Silence settled between the two men thick, unmoving, sharp enough to feel.
Hari cleared her throat. "Do-hoon, this is Jin-wook the person I told you about. Jin-wook, this is Do-hoon. My friend."
Jin-wook extended his hand politely.
Do-hoon looked at it for a second too long, then ignored it.
Hari noticed. Her grip tightened slightly around the strap of her bag.
"Well…" she said after a moment, forcing a light tone. "It's getting late. I should go inside."
"Oh," Jin-wook said. "I'll call you."
"…Okay."
The word landed heavier than it should have.
Do-hoon's jaw tightened.
"Come on," he said, stepping closer to Hari. "Let's go inside. There's something I want to talk to you about."
She glanced once more at Jin-wook, gave a small wave, then followed Do-hoon through the gate.
Jin-wook remained where he was, watching the door close and you could feel jealousy in his eyes.
Do-hoon sat on the edge of Hari's bed, his elbows resting on his knees. The room was quiet except for the faint hum of the night outside. Hari sat across from him, knees pulled to her chest, staring at the floor as if the answers she needed might be hidden there.
"Don't you think," he said carefully, "that it might be time to tell him the truth?"
The words settled heavily between them.
"It's not as easy as it sounds," she replied, her voice low. "Every time I think about it I see his face. The way he looks at me… like he's afraid of losing her all over again."
Do-hoon sighed. "I know it's hard. But the longer you wait, the more it's going to hurt him."
She swallowed, her chest tightening. She had replayed the moment in her head countless times imagined the shock in his eyes, the silence that would follow, the way his smile would disappear.
"I will tell him," she said at last, more to herself than to Do-hoon. "I just… need a little more time."
Do-hoon said nothing after that. He only looked at her.