"Stop the car here, right in front of the mosque," Minji said.
Jeon.J slowed down and nodded. "Okay. You go ahead. I'll park the car and come."
He asked Minji to wait near the mosque entrance and drove off. A few minutes later, he returned. Minji was still standing there, quietly waiting.
"Let's go," Minji said.
But Jeon.J didn't move. He stayed where he was and spoke thoughtfully, "Can we go inside… without permission?"
Minji paused, then shrugged lightly."I'm not entirely sure about permissions. But when I told Zoya I was coming here, I asked her the same thing. She said the doors are open to everyone. It doesn't matter who you are or what your religion is."
Jeon.J followed her. They began climbing the steps together. Neither of them spoke—perhaps it was the calm of the place that had settled over them.
Jeon.J lifted his head and looked at the letters written above the door. As evening approached, the lighting made them glow softly. For a few seconds, his eyes didn't move away.
As they reached the entrance, Jeon.J glanced around. A few people were still there, who were arriving quietly, stepping toward the Mosque. The doors were open. No one stopped anyone. Everyone seemed drawn toward the sound coming from inside—the adhan echoing gently through the hall.
Jeon.J's face was covered with a mask and glasses. No one could recognize him. And even if someone felt a moment of doubt, they would dismiss it immediately—Jeon.J standing outside a mosque felt impossible.
Jeon.J and Minji stood to one side of the door, uncertain whether to enter.
"I think this is prayer time," Jeon.J said quietly. "We should wait outside."
Minji nodded.
Standing aside, they kept watching inside. People first moved toward the water taps, then slowly formed rows on the soft carpets. At a little distance, Minji noticed a few women as well.
She lifted her gaze, searching for Zoya—but she couldn't see her.
Jeon.J continued watching.
Everyone placed their hands on their knees and bent forward. Moments later, they straightened, then bowed again—this time lowering their heads to the carpet, palms resting at their sides. After a pause, they rose… and then bowed once more.
A sudden restlessness overtook Jeon.J.
He turned his face away from the door and took a deep breath. Pulling his mask down, he placed a hand over his chest and breathed slowly. He stayed like that for a few moments before looking back inside.
Now everyone was seated, knees folded, hands resting on their thighs. A few moments passed. Then they turned their heads to the right… and to the left.
Soon after, hands were raised—and at the imam's voice, everyone spoke together, in one unified sound.
It reminded Jeon.J of concerts—when they would speak, and thousands of voices would answer together. The same unity. The same echo.
Minji was watching too.
Then everyone passed their hands over their faces. Slowly, they stood.
"Almost everyone has gone inside," Minji said softly.
Jeon.J nodded. "Yes."
He stepped forward—but stopped Minji. Taking off his coat, he handed it to her. Her clothes weren't suitable for this place, and only now had he fully realized it.
At that moment—
Zoya stepped out from the first row of the women's section.
The scene at the door struck her heart silently. Her eyes—already wet —filled again. Tears slipped free.
She carried feelings she couldn't express. Not yet. Not even if she wanted to. Those feelings lived only in her eyes—eyes that could only look… and cry.
And it hurt.
Jeon.J helped Minji put on the coat and stepped inside.
The interior was beautiful—deeply beautiful. The softness of the carpet felt comforting, almost healing.
Minji searched again for Zoya, but she still couldn't see her.
Panic crept in. There were very few people left inside, and the women's section felt almost empty.
"Zoya isn't here," Minji said anxiously.
Jeon.J looked around."Let's ask someone."
A short distance away stood an elderly man, calm and dignified—like a church father, someone who clearly belonged there.
"Maybe he's in charge here," Jeon.J said.
"We'll ask him?" Minji asked hesitantly.
"Come," Jeon.J replied.
They walked toward Mr. Donghyun.
Jeon.J stopped in front of him, bowed his head slightly, and said in Korean,
"Annyeonghaseyo."
"Yes, my son," Mr. Donghyun replied with a warm smile.
Jeon.J didn't quite understand what he meant.
"We're looking for a friend," Minji explained gently. "She came here today, but she forgot her phone at home. She's new here, and since it's getting late, we came to pick her up ourselves."
Jeon.j looked confused midway through his sentence. Sensing it, Minji stepped slightly to the side and addressed Mr. Donghyun instead.
"Minji—"
Before Mr. Donghyun could answer, a voice reached them.
Minji and Jeon.J both turned back.
Zoya was standing there.
She was wearing glasses—glasses she usually used only while reading. But right now, the reason was different. She was trying to hide the moisture in her eyes. Maybe reading glasses couldn't really hide tears, but this was Zoya's quiet, imperfect attempt.
Minji stared at her for a moment, then walked up to her and lightly punched her arm.
"Are you crazy?" Minji said, half-angry, half-relieved. "You worried us so much. And you forgot your phone at home?"
Minji looked at her closely.
"Oh, my phone was at home?" Zoya asked in surprise. "I thought I'd dropped it somewhere on the way."
"Yes," Minji laughed. "And because of that, you thought you were lost?"
Zoya smiled faintly.
"I wasn't lost," she said softly. "When I wasn't lost in DMC, how could I be lost here? This is Allah's house."
She looked at Minji with affection.
"And I knew that if you couldn't reach my number, you'd come to get me yourself."
Jeon.J and Mr. Donghyun stood quietly, listening to their conversation.
"Shall we go now?" Minji asked.
"Yes—one minute," Zoya replied.
She stepped toward Mr. Donghyun.
"Thank you so much," Zoya said sincerely.
She was standing very close to Jeon.J now.
Jeon.J glanced at her, then at Mr. Donghyun. Both men smiled gently.
"My daughter," Mr. Donghyun said warmly, "when you ask only from Allah, you should be at peace. Allah will grant you everything that is best for you."
Minji stepped closer, now standing on Zoya's other side—Jeon.J on one side, Minji on the other.
"You ask Allah for true light," Mr. Donghyun continued."Light that illuminates the heart and the soul. Remember—guidance is Allah's work. He is the One who changes hearts. He will surely hear your prayer."
Zoya smiled softly. She looked at Minji.
She didn't dare to look to the other side.
She turned to leave.
Jeon.J noticed every expression on her face.
"I'll bring the car," Jeon.J said to Minji.
He had taken only a few steps when Mr. Donghyun called out again.
"My son, Jeon.J… today you seem to be in a hurry. One day, take some time and come again. We would like to host you."
Jeon.J turned back, confused. Mr. Donghyun was smiling calmly.
"Me? Your guest?" Jeon.J asked in disbelief.
"No," Mr. Donghyun replied gently."You will come as Allah's guest. We are only servants of Allah—I will simply host you."
Jeon.J felt something strange stir inside him. He couldn't control it, no matter how hard he tried. He didn't know how to respond.
"Okay… I'll try," he said—unsure why those words left his mouth.
He didn't wait. He turned and walked away.
"Zoya, as long as you're here, keep coming," Mr. Donghyun said kindly."And bring this lovely daughter (he said for Minji) with you as well. We'll welcome her too."
Zoya smiled.
"Of course," she said. "My other friends who are staying at home also want to come explore tomorrow. I was going to tell you."
"Why not?" Mr. Donghyun replied warmly."Our hearts and the doors of this place are always open."
"Yes, we'll definitely come," Minji said with a smile.
They stepped outside.
Jeon.J had already brought the car. Minji sat in the front seat. Zoya sat in the back.
"Wow, Zoya," Minji said as they drove. "What an amazing person he was. What was his name again?"
"Mr. Donghyun," Zoya replied.
"Yes—him," Minji continued."But seriously, tell me this—why did you forget your phone at home? Or did you drop it in the garden? Thank God, Jeon.J found it. Otherwise, we'd still be waiting for you, and you'd be standing there worried."
Zoya didn't want to speak in front of Jeon.J.
But Minji never stopped.
"I don't know how it fell," Zoya replied shortly and turned to look out the window.
Jeon.J drove silently. From time to time, he glanced at Zoya through the rearview mirror. She kept looking outside.
"So," Minji started again, "what did you do all day today?"
Zoya turned her eyes toward Minji—but her gaze caught the front mirror.
Jeon.J was looking at her too.
Startled, she quickly looked away.
"Tell me," Minji insisted. "What did you do all day?"
Zoya took a breath and explained calmly.
"I came here and prayed the Friday prayer. Then I sat outside on the steps and had lunch. While eating, I tried to take out my phone—but if it was there, I would've found it. After lunch, it was time for prayer again, so I prayed. Then I read the Quran for a while. I had a few questions, so I spoke to Mr. Donghyun. After that, it was time for the next prayer. I prayed again—and then you arrived."
"You arrived?" Jeon.J said sharply, his patience finally breaking."I think you should correct that sentence."
Zoya didn't reply.
She didn't look up.
She just kept staring out the window.
"Minji," Zoya spoke again after a long silence, "I want to go back."
"Back where?" Minji asked, scrolling through her phone.
"Busan," Zoya replied.
"Well, we'll all go together—but after Easter," Minji said, lifting her head.
"No," Zoya said quietly. "I want to go tomorrow. You all come after Easter."
"Are you crazy?" Minji snapped, turning toward her. "What will you do there alone?"
Traffic was heavy. Jeon.J listened to them in silence.
"Minji, don't try to be my support," Zoya said, irritation slipping into her voice."I need to find a job. You know that."
She didn't want to say any of this in front of Jeon.J.
"Yes, Ruhi and Hana have to find too," Minji replied calmly."So we'll go together. Don't worry—we'll find something together."
She softened.
"And I'm not trying to 'support' you. I just want us to spend this time together. Once studies start, we won't get time. And this package—"
She smiled, referring to the tour her father had arranged.
Zoya fell silent.
She didn't want to say anything more in front of Jeon.J.
But she knew—
Later, she would have to.
Good morning!" Ruhi shouted at the top of her lungs, stretching her arms wide as if she were greeting the entire world.
Hana—who was sleeping right beside her—reacted purely on instinct.
"SHUT UP!"
She shoved Ruhi with all her strength.
Ruhi flew straight off the bed.
Thankfully—thank Allah—there was a mattress on the floor on that side.
But what Hana had completely forgotten…
Minji was sleeping on that mattress.
And Ruhi landed right on top of her.
"Oof!"
"RUHI—!"
"What is WRONG with you?!"
Minji jolted awake, half-buried under Ruhi, hair everywhere, dignity absolutely nowhere to be found.
"I said good morning," Ruhi said innocently, blinking. "With positivity."
"This is not positivity," Minji groaned. "This is assault."
Hana leaned over the edge of the bed, squinting down at them.
"…Why are there two of you on the floor?"
"You pushed me!" Ruhi yelled back.
"I pushed the noise, not the person," Hana replied defensively, then flopped back onto her pillow.
Minji tried to sit up but failed—because Ruhi was still lying on top of her.
"Can you get OFF me?" Minji snapped.
"Oh—sorry," Ruhi said, rolling away dramatically and ending up face-down on the mattress again.
There was a moment of silence.
Then—
Hana peeked again.Minji rubbed her forehead.Ruhi stretched as if nothing had happened.
And suddenly, all three burst out laughing.
"This," Minji said between laughs, "is why we can never have peace."
Ruhi grinned."But we wake up together."
Hana closed her eyes again.
"Next time," she muttered, "I'm sleeping in a different country."
Their laughter exploded—loud, uncontrollable, breathless.
That's when Sophia, who had been sleeping beside Hana, suddenly snapped awake.
Without a word—pure reflex—She kicked Hana. Hard.
"HANA—!"
Hana flew off the bed.
This time, the situation got worse.
Ruhi had just climbed off Minji and was standing—half-awake, half-smiling—when Hana crashed straight into her.
"MOVE—!"
Hana grabbed Ruhi instinctively.
And—
BOOM.
Ruhi fell straight back onto Minji.
And Hana?
She landed right on top of Ruhi.
For half a second… silence.
Then—
"AAAAAAAH!"
All three screamed together.
Sophia, now fully awake, sat at the edge of the bed, staring down at the pile of bodies on the floor.
"…What," she said slowly, "…is this formation?"
Ruhi was squashed in the middle.Minji was completely pinned at the bottom.Hana was sprawled on top like she'd won some kind of wrestling match.
"I can't breathe," Minji groaned.
"This is your fault," Ruhi yelled.
"I WAS ATTACKED FIRST," Hana shouted back.
At that moment—
Zoya sat up.
She had been sleeping on the mattress next to Minji's. She had woken up early that morning, offered her prayer, and gone back to sleep.
Now her hair was completely messy, her loose shirt slipping off one shoulder, and her trousers wrinkled from sleep.
She blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Then stared at the scene in front of her.
Three girls tangled on the floor.One girl was sitting calmly on the bed, watching as if it were a drama episode.
Zoya tilted her head.
"…Why," she asked sleepily,"…are you three sleeping like this?"
Silence.
Minji looked at Zoya from under Ruhi.
"Zoya," she said weakly,"We were not sleeping like this."
Ruhi lifted one hand dramatically."It started with 'Good morning.'"
Hana groaned."And ended with violence."
Sophia nodded seriously."I confirm. There was kicking involved."
Zoya stared at them for a long moment.
Then—
She lay back down.
"Okay," she murmured, pulling the blanket over her head,"Wake me up when the war is over."
And the room erupted with laughter again.
The war ended.
Mostly.
Morning light spilled through the curtains as the girls slowly regrouped—some on beds, some on mattresses, some still emotionally injured.
Minji dragged herself up first, hair tied in a messy bun, eyes half-open.
"I swear," she said, rubbing her neck, "one day I'm going to wake up normally. Just once."
Ruhi was already in the kitchen area, clattering cups like she was running a café.
Minji's parents were out of the city for some important work—otherwise, Minji's mother would have made a delicious breakfast. Today, the girls were on their own.
"GOOD MORNING AGAIN!" Ruhi announced cheerfully.
"No," Hana replied instantly from the dining table. "Say it quietly, or I'll throw a spoon at you."
Sophia sat at the table too, calmly buttering toast like nothing traumatic had happened.
"I like mornings," she said thoughtfully. "They reveal people's true personalities."
"Yes," Minji muttered. "And Ruhi's is violence."
Zoya walked in last.
Her hair was still messy, and her loose shirt was tucked carelessly into her trousers. She looked like she had woken up from a dream she hadn't finished yet. There is no one outsider that why she does not feel messy...
Minji noticed immediately.
"Ohhh," she said, narrowing her eyes. "Someone looks very… peaceful."
Zoya paused. "What does that mean?"
"That means," Ruhi cut in, sliding a cup of tea toward her,"You slept like a baby while the rest of us were fighting for survival."
"I did not," Zoya said defensively, sitting down. "I woke up."
Sophia raised an eyebrow."You woke up, asked one question, judged us silently, and went back to sleep."
Zoya blinked."…That counts."
Hana suddenly leaned forward.
"So," she said slowly, dangerously,"Why were you at the mosque all day yesterday?"
The table went quiet.
Minji froze mid-bite.Ruhi stopped chewing.Sophia leaned back—interested.
Zoya picked up her cup and took a slow sip.
"I prayed," she said simply.
"All day?" Minji pressed.
"I had time," Zoya replied.
Ruhi grinned."She had peace."
Minji smirked."And an interesting company?"
Zoya nearly choked on her tea.
"What company?"
"Mr. Donghyun was amazing," Minji said. "Very wise. Very calm."
She leaned closer.
"And someone else was very quiet in the car."
Zoya stared at her plate."Traffic was loud."
"That's not what I asked," Minji sang.
Zoya stood up abruptly.
"I'm going to get ready," she said.
"Defensive," Sophia noted.
"Confirmed," Hana nodded.
Ruhi clapped once."OHHH—this is getting good."
Zoya stopped at the door, turned back, and said calmly,
"I'm going to Busan tomorrow."
Silence.
Minji dropped her spoon.
"What?"
"I said tomorrow," Zoya repeated. "Morning."
"No," Minji said firmly. "You're not."
"Yes," Zoya replied just as calmly.
Ruhi looked between them."Do we need helmets?"
Sophia sighed."I knew breakfast was too peaceful."
Zoya met Minji's eyes.
"We'll talk later," she said quietly.
Minji nodded once."We will."
Breakfast was officially over.
"I said we would go together," Minji said to Zoya."Why are you rushing like this? You all haven't even explored Seoul properly yet."
Hana, Ruhi, and Sophia listened silently.
"Minji, I want to go," Zoya said peacefully.
"Zoya—"
"Minjiiiii," Zoya cut her off.
"What is going on?" Sophia finally interrupted."You two are arguing like we're not even here."
"Zoya wants to go back," Minji explained calmly."I'm saying we'll go together, but she's insisting on leaving."
"Can we talk about this later?" Hana snapped."Get ready first—we're already late. Look at the time. It's 11. We were supposed to reach the studio by 9."
"Studio…?" Zoya asked, surprised.
"Yes," Hana explained."Yesterday, when Minji and Jeon.J went to pick you up, Yomin and Jinhun invited us to the studio. And after that, we're going to visit a few other places too."
She turned to Minji.
"Why didn't you tell us earlier? You know TBS?"
"If I had told you," Minji replied,"how would it be a surprise? Now hurry up—we're already late."
She climbed the stairs, then stopped and turned back to Zoya, who was still sitting on the sofa.
"We'll talk about Busan after we come back today. Okay?"
Zoya looked at Minji and nodded slightly.
"Come on," Ruhi said, pulling Zoya up."Move."
All of them headed together toward the rooms to get ready.
To beContinued....
Regards
ZK💌