The first cold droplets fell onto the leaves, tapping a gentle rhythm as Seo-jin walked along the winding path in the reserve gardens, lost deep in thought. A sudden breeze shifted through the trees, rustling the branches, and then, a low, distinct rumble cut through the quiet night.

She stopped briefly, listening.

A motorbike engine. Distant, but unmistakable.

Then a flash. A single headlight sliced through the trees behind her, briefly illuminating the wet branches, a fleeting ghost of light, before vanishing into the encroaching night.

Seo-jin blinked, hesitating, a strange chill running through her, but the rain suddenly intensified, cold and insistent, urging her back to shelter.

Moments later, Seo-jin rushed back toward the dining tables  slipping under the awning just as the rain intensified into a steady downpour. The tables still held empty glasses and half-eaten plates, the first fat raindrops beginning to speckle them. Others were already moving, a flurry of activity, gathering dishes, stacking cups, laughing as they hurried to clear everything before the deluge grew stronger.

Seo-jin moved instinctively, her hands reaching for dishes, helping gather the abandoned remnants of dinner. Behind her, Min-su’s voice cut through the increasing noise of the rain, cheerful and commanding. "Alright, inside! Drinks in the open lounge, it’s dry and warm!"

People scattered, carrying dishes inside the house. Eun-sol appeared beside Seo-jin, sliding a tray onto the table. She smiled warmly, her hand lightly touching Seo-jin’s forearm.

"Hey. We never got to compare notes," Eun-sol said, her tone light, almost teasing.

"No. Sadly not," Seo-jin replied, a quiet sigh in her voice.

Eun-sol nodded and smiled, her gaze sweeping around the rapidly emptying pavilion. "Have you seen Hyun-woo?"

Seo-jin turned, surprised by the question, a faint unease starting in her stomach. "Why?"

Eun-sol shrugged, shaking water from her sleeves, her composure unruffled. "I was going to head home now. Just wanted to say bye."

Seo-jin glanced toward the trees. The rain was heavy now, blurring the path into an indistinct wash of dark green. She took her dishes and followed the others into the house. Like a line of ants they snaked their way into the kitchen and placed the plates, bowls and glasses onto the long wooden dining table in the middle of the room.

People walked back out towards the open area passing through the hallway. Eun-sol followed behind Seo-jin. Without thought, Seo-jin grabbed an umbrella from the hallway stand.

"I’ll walk you to your car."

"Oh. Thank you," Eun-sol replied, a genuine warmth in her voice. "I’ll just say bye to Min-su. Give me a minute."

The rain poured harder now, a relentless drumming on the umbrella as Seo-jin and Eun-sol moved towards her parked car, the umbrella barely covering them both. Eun-sol clicked her keys, and her car headlights blinked in the gloom.

Seo-jin paused as they reached the vehicle, a prickling sensation telling her something wasn't right. Her eyes shifted from Eun-sol’s car toward the pavilion entrance, then further beyond, to the spot where Hyun-woo’s bike had been parked earlier.

It was gone.

She paused as she noticed the missing bike, the sound of the rain amplifying the silence of the empty space.

Eun-sol glanced at Seo-jin, her expression hidden in the dim light. "Something wrong?"

Seo-jin forced a smile, a brittle, unconvincing stretch of her lips, shaking her head slightly. "No. Nothing."

She stepped back as Eun-sol opened her car door, rain dripping steadily off the umbrella’s edge. Eun-sol paused briefly, her gaze flickering toward the treeline, the direction the motorbike had gone, then back at Seo-jin.

"Well. Lovely talking, even if it was very briefly," Eun-sol said, her smile soft. "Maybe next time we can chat more?"

Seo-jin just nodded. A single, stiff nod.

Eun-sol ducked into her car, pulling the door shut with a soft click, the interior light momentarily illuminating her before it faded. The car hummed to life before crunching away on the driveways gravel.

Seo-jin watched her go, but as the car disappeared from view she stayed where she was, watching the empty space where the bike should have been.

Then, slowly, she turned, walking back toward the building, stepping through puddles without looking down, her mind racing.