Ji-a was waiting by Min-hyeok's car in the parking lot. She kept her arms crossed while her eyes stayed cold. 

Min-hyeok saw her as he walked closer, but he did not look surprised at all. He was thinking about what she wanted from him this time. He walked up to his car and stopped right in front of her. Ji-a looked at him with a challenging expression.

Min-hyeok raised one eyebrow.

"What's this? Why are you here, Ji-a?" he asked.

She pulled her arms closer to her chest.

"I left Yeonjun this morning to come with you," she said. "But don't get the wrong idea. I'm still dating him, so don't start hoping for anything."

Min-hyeok showed no reaction as he put his hands in his pockets. He was looking at her with an amused expression.

"I dated you for two years," he said. "I probably know you better than he does. I'm not hoping for anything, and I didn't come to save your ass because I still care about you."

He paused for a second while he looked away.

"Let's just say I had other reasons," he said.

Ji-a was surprised by the answer, but she tried to hide it.

"Yeah? What kind of reasons?" she asked.

"Reasons that don't concern you," he said.

"Good to know," she said.

She turned around and walked away without looking back.

—

Min-hyeok was clicking his tongue as he watched her leave. He did not say another word while he made his way to the driver's side. His car beeped when he unlocked it, and he slid inside with a heavy sigh. 

Before he headed home, he stopped near a convenience store and went inside. He walked straight to the counter because he wanted to buy cigarettes. As the cashier turned to grab the pack, Min-hyeok glanced to his left and saw Ji-hu. The painting student was alone while he pulled a soda from the refrigerated shelf.

Their eyes met, and Ji-hu's face became serious right away. He slowed down but kept walking toward the counter. Min-hyeok looked at him with eyes that seemed to mock the younger boy. Ji-hu reached the counter just as the cashier put down the cigarettes. He was clearly uncomfortable.

"Are you done? I'm in a hurry," Ji-hu said.

Min-hyeok's expression did not change. He looked at Ji-hu for a moment before he reached for a shelf about two meters behind him. He picked up two boxes of XL condoms and tossed them onto the counter. They landed with a loud slap.

Ji-hu's knuckles turned white as he held his Coke bottle. Min-hyeok paid for his things and took the bag before he left the store without looking back.

Ji-hu stopped for a moment as he touched his fingers to his left side near his lower ribs. He was rubbing the area like it was causing him pain.

"Spoiled, shameless bastard…" he muttered.

—

Yeonjun was driving after school because he did not want to go home yet. He was not ready to see Ji-a after their fight. He did not even know if they were still together, and his thoughts were filled with worry. He kept asking himself where he could go or what he should do next. Nothing felt right while he sat in traffic. He felt lost and unsure about what would make him feel better.

As he was waiting at a red light, he saw his reflection in the rearview mirror.

"I look like shit."

He suddenly made up his mind because he knew he could not face Ji-a tonight. He turned the wheel and drove toward a specific part of the city. 

After he parked on a quiet street, he got out of the car and looked around. Gated houses stood on both sides of the road. The sidewalks were clean, and the windows of the mansions stayed dark. The hedges were trimmed so evenly that they looked almost fake.

He walked up to a tall, cream-colored stone wall. The black gate in front of him looked exactly as he remembered it. A small digital keypad was glowing softly on the side. There was no nameplate or sign to show what was behind the wall. He paused for a moment before he typed in a six-digit code.

I hate this place, he thought.

A soft beep sounded, and the lock clicked open. The gate moved smoothly without making any noise. The air inside smelled faintly of expensive, floral perfume. 

The garden was perfect. Hedges were trimmed into sharp lines while dark koi were gliding just beneath the surface of a pond. Subtle garden lighting showed a curved stone path that led toward the main house.

A gardener was working nearby on a stone basin filled with mossy rocks and small pine trees. He was arranging a Seokbujak¹. When he saw Yeonjun, he quickly straightened up and bowed his head. Yeonjun did not slow down while he followed the path. He nodded once and looked away.

The house finally came into view. Wooden beams and glass panels were shining under the garden lights. The design was traditional, but everything showed modern wealth. The atmosphere felt controlled and cold.

He stopped at the front step for a moment. He remembered the keycard he had left behind a year ago because he thought he would never need it again. He was staring at the door when he finally pressed the bell. He heard light footsteps as someone approached from inside. The door opened, and a woman stood there with a surprised look on her face.

"Young master?" she asked.

Yeonjun looked at her with tired eyes.

"Hello."

"Please, come in," the housekeeper said.

Yeonjun stepped inside while she bowed her head.

"I'll let the lady know you're here. Will you go to the room?" she asked.

"No," Yeonjun said. "I'll wait in the living room. Thank you."

She nodded and walked toward the stairs. 

A few minutes later, a young woman walked into the living room. She was wearing workout leggings and a tank top. Her hair looked perfect as if she had been expecting a guest. She looked down at Yeonjun with a look that showed she did not value him at all.

"You came without calling?" she asked. "You look as pathetic as the day you left."

Yeonjun stayed perfectly still while she moved her hand to his cheek. Her skin felt like ice, and she pulled away as if touching him made her skin crawl. She looked him up and down before she turned her back on him.

I shouldn't have come here, Yeonjun thought.

—

¹ Seokbujak (석부작) A traditional Korean miniature landscape arrangement, typically composed of rocks, moss, and small trees set in shallow stone basins. Often designed to evoke natural mountain scenery.