The morning air was clean and crisp, the kind that made Seoul's streets feel almost new again after a week of mist and exhaustion.
Han Jihoon strolled lazily down the sidewalk, earbuds in, humming along to some random old song . The sky was a pale gray, clouds drifting lazily over tall buildings.
Today felt… normal.
And Jihoon realized just how much he missed that.
He reached the detective agency's glass doors and pushed them open. The familiar smell of coffee, printer ink, and old paper hit him instantly. The receptionist, Hyejin, waved her hand with a grin.
"Jihoon-ah, Kang wants to see you."
Jihoon blinked. "Eh? Did I do something wrong again?"
Hyejin snorted. "If you did, you'd already know. Just go. He's in a good mood today."
That made him suspicious.
He knocked on Kang's office door twice, then peeked inside. The older detective was leaning back in his chair, a faint smile on his face that instantly made Jihoon wary.
On the desk sat a brown envelope.
"Sit, Jihoon," Kang said, gesturing. "I've got something for you."
Jihoon sat down carefully, like he was defusing a bomb. "If it's another pile of reports, I might cry."
Kang chuckled and slid the envelope toward him.
"It's your salary."
For a moment, Jihoon blinked. Then his eyes widened. "Wait—salary? You mean, like… money?"
Kang arched a brow. "That's what a salary usually is, yes."
Jihoon tore open the envelope and stared at the bills like they were sacred relics.
"Hyung… I'm rich!"
"You're not," Kang said dryly. "You're just less poor."
But Jihoon was already laughing, waving the bills in the air like a madman.
"This is it! The moment I stop eating instant noodles every night!"
Kang's grin softened. "You've worked hard, Jihoon. You've handled the last few cases well, even after… everything that happened. You deserve it."
Jihoon froze for a moment, the weight of those words settling in his chest. Kang had always been the quiet type—the kind who rarely praised anyone unless he meant it.
Then Kang added, "Also, about your work… you're getting a promotion."
Jihoon's brain short-circuited. "A—what?! Promotion?!"
"You heard me. Don't faint."
"I—what—Hyung, this is—" Jihoon stood up, shaking Kang's hand like a man possessed. "Thank you! I'll make you proud! I'll catch every bad guy! I'll—"
"Sit down before you break something," Kang sighed, trying not to laugh.
Jihoon collapsed back into the chair, still grinning like a fool. For once, the world wasn't falling apart. There were no whispers in his head, no mysteries clawing at the edges of his sanity. Just warmth.
And it felt beautiful.
By evening, the city was drenched in rain.
Jihoon stepped out of the office, staring at the downpour with an expression of betrayal.
"...I forgot my umbrella."
Raindrops splattered against his face immediately. He sighed and started walking anyway, hoodie up, the sound of rain tapping softly against the pavement.
Halfway home, his phone buzzed.
Ha-Eun Calling...
He picked up instantly. "Hey."
"Where are you?" her voice came through the rain, soft but concerned. "You sound soaked."
"I'm… experiencing the cleansing powers of nature."
"Jihoon."
"Okay, okay. I forgot my umbrella."
A pause. Then, "Stay where you are. I'm coming."
"You don't have to—" But she'd already hung up.
Jihoon smiled helplessly, shoving his phone back into his pocket. He stood under a flickering streetlight, watching the drops form rivers along the sidewalk. The rain smelled clean, like old memories being washed away.
Ten minutes late.....
He turned and saw Ha-Eun—his girlfriend—holding an umbrella, her hair slightly damp from the dash. He climbed in quickly, shaking the water from his jacket.
"You'll catch a cold," she scolded, wiping his forehead with a tissue.
He chuckled. "Then you'll have to take care of me."
She rolled her eyes. "Don't push your luck."
As they walked side by side beneath her umbrella, Jihoon realized something. Her laughter mixed with the sound of rain felt like music. They talked about work, random food stalls, her younger sister's drama with her crush, and how Kang looked like a grumpy penguin when he was annoyed.
They laughed so much that Jihoon nearly tripped into a sewer.
"Yah! Watch your step!" Ha-Eun grabbed his arm, half laughing, half panicking.
"I swear it tried to eat me!" Jihoon said dramatically, pointing at the drain. "That was an assassination attempt!"
"Sure, sure. The sewer's after you."
By the time they reached Jihoon's house, both were drenched but still laughing. His mother opened the door, relief flashing across her tired face.
"Jihoonie, you're home! And you brought Ha-Eun-ah—come in, come in!"
The warmth of home hit him instantly—the smell of soup, the faint chatter of his sister arguing with their brother over the TV remote.
His brother, still in his military undershirt, grinned. "Welcome back, detective! Oh, and your girlfriend's here. Nice."
Jihoon glared. "Hyung, shut up."
But his mom was already bustling around. "Ha-Eun-ah, come sit! You'll have dinner with us, right?"
Ha-Eun tried to protest, but the family's excitement steamrolled her objections. Within minutes, she was sitting beside Jihoon at the table while everyone chatted.
It felt like a small miracle—the kind of peace Jihoon thought he'd lost forever.
For once, everything was simple. He laughed until his stomach hurt. His mom smiled softly, watching him. Even his usually stoic brother teased him less than usual.
Later that night, the rain grew heavier.
Ha-Eun stayed over since going home was impossible.
Jihoon's sister peeked into his room with a mischievous grin. "Oppa, you should let unnie sleep in your room. It's warmer."
Jihoon raised a brow. "You're just trying to start something."
His mother giggled softly. "You two are young. Don't be shy."
"Mom!" Jihoon groaned, face red. "Nothing's happening!"
"Of course, of course," his brother said with the fakest nod imaginable. "Nothing at all."
Ha-Eun laughed so hard she nearly fell off the couch.
Eventually, they both ended up in Jihoon's room—she took the bed, he the floor. Or at least, that was the plan.
Around midnight, the wind howled, and thunder shook the window. Jihoon sighed, staring at the ceiling.
"Can't sleep?" Ha-Eun whispered.
He smiled faintly. "Just… thinking."
"About work again?"
"About everything."
She was quiet for a moment, then said softly, "Come up here. It's cold."
He hesitated. "Ha-Eun…"
"Just sleep, dummy."
He climbed onto the edge of the bed carefully, facing the ceiling. The rain outside became a lullaby, soft and distant.
For a long time, neither spoke.
Then Ha-Eun said quietly, "You seem… different these days."
He blinked. "Different?"
"Calmer. Sadder. Like you've seen something the rest of us can't."
Jihoon smiled faintly, eyes half-closed. "Maybe I did. But right now, I just want to see this—us. This small, ordinary life."
She reached out and intertwined her fingers with his. "Then stay like this a little longer."
"Yeah," he whispered. "A little longer."
When morning came, the world outside was washed clean. The sunlight peeked through gray clouds, warm and golden.
Jihoon woke to the faint sound of his sister yelling about breakfast and his mother's laughter echoing through the house.
For the first time in months, he didn't wake up afraid.
He stretched, smiled at the empty spot beside him where Ha-Eun had been, and whispered to himself, almost like a prayer—
"Maybe… this is what life means."