When the sun finally hid behind the horizon, Kang Jihwan, wearing dark clothes and having gathered his few things, left the motel. The landlady, sitting at the counter with a cup of cheap coffee, looked up in surprise.
— Oh, lad, leaving?
— Yes. I think it's time to go home.
The woman nodded understandingly.
— That's right. If your family has health issues, go back, visit. That's true care.
— Ha-ha... thank you. — Jihwan politely nodded and headed for the door.
A taxi arrived almost immediately. As the city slowly plunged into the evening blue, Jihwan silently watched the neon signs floating past the glass. He himself didn't understand why he had decided to go to the hospital again—after all, Ran-hee was stable, and his presence changed nothing.
"Synchron Med" Hospital met him with the cold light of lamps and the smell of antiseptic. Everything in the ward was the same: white walls, an oxygen mask, quiet breathing assisted by machines. Kim Ran-hee lay motionless, as if she had turned into a fragile glass doll.
Jihwan sat down next to her, not immediately daring to speak.
— If you hadn't seen me then... maybe the attack wouldn't have happened. — He paused and scoffed at himself. — Though, who am I telling this to?
He closed his eyes. His words dissolved into the hum of the ventilators.
He couldn't say he regretted it. Everything was inevitable. Anyone who saw him with blood on his lips would be scared. Some would run, others would raise a weapon. He did what he had to do to survive.
But, strangely enough, when he tried to recall Ran-hee's face—Ryu Seonyeong's face floated up instead.
That same picture he sent during the day.
A profile, illuminated by cold light. Shoulders slightly slumped, gaze—heavy, but calm.
«Was he hurt?» — flashed through Jihwan's mind.
This man was the most insane of all he had met.
He saw his true essence, tried to kill him, then searched for him, then asked for forgiveness. No one else clung to him so fiercely. No one came back, even when everything was already over.
«And if I let go—will I regret it later?»
He didn't find an answer. Only the cold water when he washed his face before leaving seemed more honest than all his reflections.
He needed to return to Lirein.
Night.
The host bar "Vermilion" was shrouded in semi-darkness. A few lamps flickered, reflecting in the bottles on the counter. There was almost no one at the tables—a rarity for this hour. Life once pulsed here, but now the street was deserted, clients had gone to new establishments.
Park Hee-ron, the manager, sat in the back room, staring at his phone. The "Go-Stop" game was clearly not going to plan—losses followed one after another.
— Dammit... — he muttered, throwing the phone onto the couch.
He would have abandoned this bar long ago if not for the small transfers that came to him every month from an unknown sender—but Hee-ron guessed who they were from.
The sound of the door opening made him look up.
— Welcome! — the new waiter shouted.
Hee-ron yawned, about to lazily get up, but the words caught in his throat.
Kang Jihwan stood at the counter.
He looked almost the same as before—except his eyes were a little colder.
— Long time no see, — Jihwan said calmly, his gaze sweeping the hall. — What, is business failing?
Hee-ron swallowed.
— You... are you crazy? Where have you been all this time?!
— Traveling. — Jihwan shrugged, as if it was the most ordinary answer.
— Traveling?! — Hee-ron hissed. — Shin Seonyeong turned the whole city upside down looking for you! What did you do?
— Nothing. — Jihwan sat on the edge of the couch, crossing his arms. — And if I had, I wouldn't be coming back here.
Hee-ron narrowed his eyes. Mistrust and envy were mixed in his gaze.
— Hey, at least eat some noodles, — he grumbled, hiding his nervousness.
— That would be nice.
Hee-ron went to the kitchen. But not for noodles. He took out an old communicator, typed a message, and quickly sent it:
«He's here. Vermilion. Come.»
The recipient was Ryu Seonyeong.
While the noodles cooled on the tray, Hee-ron returned to the hall, trying to stall for time.
— Well, tell me something, — he began. — How are you living? Did you find a new job?
— Still thinking. — Jihwan ate calmly, not looking up.
The minutes dragged painfully slow.
Hee-ron kept glancing at the door. «Why isn't he here yet? He said he'd come right away!»
With every second, it became harder to maintain a nonchalant appearance.
— Hey, I'll bring some fruit, — he finally exhaled, jumping up.
He took out the communicator again and wrote:
«Are you taking long? He might leave. I'm keeping him talking.»
There was no reply.
He cursed under his breath and, turning around, was met by a quiet voice behind him:
— What are you doing?
Hee-ron almost dropped the device. Jihwan stood right behind him, looking searchingly.
— A-ah, nothing. Spam. Deleting it, — he stammered.
— I see. — Jihwan slightly smirked. — Thanks for the food. I was glad to see a familiar face.
He headed for the exit. Hee-ron rushed after him.
— Hey! Will you come in for a shift tomorrow? At least tomorrow, huh?!
But Jihwan didn't answer. He was already looking at the door.
Ryu Seonyeong was standing in the doorway.
Hee-ron didn't even have time to realize when he entered. His gaze was heavy, his face—pale, as if after a sleepless night.
— So, you still haven't stopped watching me, — Jihwan said calmly.
Seonyeong lowered his eyes.
— No. He informed me. — He nodded towards Hee-ron. — I didn't want to interfere.
Jihwan quietly snorted.
— So that's why you were so polite. Sold me out, huh?
Hee-ron flushed.
— I didn't sell you out! I just... he said he wanted to apologize. I thought... well, maybe you...
— Shut up, — Jihwan cut him off.
He turned to Seonyeong.
— And now what? Why did you come?
— ...I missed you.
Hee-ron almost choked on the air. He covered his mouth to stifle a laugh.
Jihwan crossed his arms.
— So, are you going to stand at the door like a shadow?
— If I approach, you'll leave.
These words sounded so quiet that Hee-ron involuntarily held his breath.
A strange, almost painful silence hung in the air.
— Fine, — Jihwan finally said, pushing him aside. — Then step aside.
He walked out without looking back.
The sounds of his footsteps echoed and faded in the corridor.
Ryu Seonyeong stood for a second, then rushed after him. The door slammed, and silence returned to the bar.
Hee-ron sighed.
— Damn, — he muttered. — Was that... an invitation to follow?
He shivered, feeling a chill run down his spine.
Jihwan walked through the streets of Virein, hands in his pockets. Neon reflected in the puddles; the air smelled of soot and rain. Light footsteps could be heard somewhere behind him.
He didn't look back—he knew who it was.
«Still... I didn't think I'd meet him so soon.»
He turned into narrow alleys, crossed small bridges, went towards the old market. And every time he turned around—Ryu wasn't visible. But as soon as he stopped, the sensation of presence returned.
Ten minutes of silent hide-and-seek.
Finally, Jihwan sharply turned around and walked straight towards him.
Ryu was standing, hidden behind the window of a 24-hour burger joint.
— How long are you going to pursue me? — Jihwan asked calmly.
Ryu was silent.
— Then let's talk, — he added and nodded towards the cafe. — There.
Ryu nodded.
— Alright.
And they went inside—into the light, the smell of fried bread, and the quiet hum of the old refrigerator, leaving the nocturnal Virein behind the glass, where snow began to fall again.