The yard lights flickered on one by one, their dim glow reflecting off the dirt road still damp from the evening rain. From inside the main house came the sound of people calling to one another, followed by laughter and the steady shuffle of footsteps passing back and forth.

The girls stepped outside one after another wearing traditional clothes borrowed from the villagers. Layered skirts, ribboned hair, soft cloth shoes that made their footsteps quieter than usual.

Seorin stood a little apart from the crowd, adjusting the cuff of her sleeve.

Then her gaze stopped.

Ara had just walked out of the house.

Among all the girls dressed elegantly in traditional clothing, Ara somehow stood out the most. Her shoulders looked too broad for the outfit she’d been given. The fabric pulled tight around her upper arms, and her fingers had been tugging at the collar nonstop with visible discomfort.

Beside her, Minji laughed so hard she had to grab onto Ara’s arm.

Seorin lowered her head quickly before the corner of her mouth could lift too obviously.

“She looks like a boy being forced into a girl’s hanbok.”

Dongchul stood beside her, holding back a laugh.

Seorin didn’t answer.

But her gaze drifted back toward Ara anyway.

Ara’s features were too sharp to be called delicate, yet her jawline and eyes had never felt entirely masculine either.

Traditional music began several minutes later.

The low strings of a plucked instrument drifted through the night air, followed by the steady rhythm of slow drums. The conversations around the yard gradually softened as the ceremony began.

The groom entered the bride’s family yard. Dancers moved slowly ahead of the procession while long strips of fabric hanging around the courtyard swayed gently in the night wind.

Seorin watched quietly.

The bow to the parents.

The carved wooden geese.

The wine cups exchanged carefully between the bride and groom.

That was when her gaze shifted unintentionally to the right.

Dongchul stood there beneath the hanging lights.

The cups rose slowly between the newlyweds’ hands.

And for a moment, another image overlapped with the scene before her.

Dongchul standing across from her.

Warm light spilling faintly across his face.

Seorin’s fingers tightened immediately against the edge of her skirt before the image disappeared just as quickly.

Then something felt strange beside her.

Seorin turned.

Ara was looking at her.

Even after Seorin looked back, Ara didn’t look away.

The night wind brushed cold against the back of her neck.

That old suspicion surfaced again before she could stop it.

Ara liked Dongchul.

***

The ceremony lasted much longer than Seorin had expected.

She only realized how much time had passed when the music finally stopped and the smell of food began filling the yard.

The atmosphere shifted instantly.

The students let out small cheers as long tables filled with steaming dishes. Ginseng chicken soup, grilled fish, stir-fried vegetables, bowls of rice releasing thin wisps of steam into the night air.

Some of the girls helped the villagers pass out food.

At the adults’ tables, bottles of rice wine began opening one after another.

Dongchul lifted his spoon while staring at the feast in front of them.

“Nutritional recovery.”

Seorin let out a quiet snort.

***

The night grew later.

The watch on Seorin’s wrist was already nearing eleven when Teacher Oh finally stood and clapped his hands.

“That’s enough. You still have work tomorrow. Back to the lodging.”

Complaints immediately rose from several students.

Seorin glanced down at the table. There were still dishes she hadn’t gotten to try yet.

But her body felt too exhausted to stay any longer.

***

The village road felt colder that night.

Seorin walked slowly, careful with each step along the uneven dirt path. Her ankle still throbbed whenever too much weight pressed onto it.

Several times, she stopped.

Looked behind her.

Dongchul still hadn’t caught up.

The lights from the villagers’ homes became fewer and farther apart. The narrow road ahead was lit only by the dim glow of her phone screen.

Seorin stopped once more.

Still no one.

A quiet breath left her lips before she finally turned back.

The wedding house still glowed faintly in the distance.

Seorin’s steps slowed.

Then stopped completely.

Beneath the shadow of a tree beside the wooden fence, two people stood much too close together.

Dongchul.

And Minji.

Minji’s fingers gripped the collar of Dongchul’s jacket before Dongchul lowered his head.

Their lips met.

Seorin didn’t move.

The night wind slipped through her hair, carrying the scent of wet earth and woodsmoke from the nearby houses.

Several seconds passed before the sight felt real.

Then something covered her eyes.

Warm.

Darkness swallowed her vision instantly.

Someone pulled her away from the path.

The faint scent of soap and vanilla filled her breathing almost immediately.

Seorin didn’t resist.

Their steps stopped several meters later.

The hand slowly lifted away from her face. The night air felt colder against her skin again.

Something fell onto her cheek.

Only then did Seorin realize her vision had begun to blur.

Ara stood directly in front of her now.

The distant lights left only faint shadows across her face.

“Ah…” Ara rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly. “Those two are seriously careless.”

Seorin lifted her face.

“Why?”

Her voice came out rougher than she expected.

“How can you look this calm,” she continued quietly, “when your girlfriend’s cheating on you with someone you hate?”

Ara blinked once.

“Minji isn’t my girlfriend.”

Seorin forgot to blink.

The night wind suddenly felt colder beneath her collar.

“She’s Dongchul’s girlfriend.”

Seorin stared at her for several seconds.

“Since when?”

“Around five months ago.”

Five months.

The words settled heavily in her chest.

“So…” Her breath caught briefly. “I was the only one who didn’t know?”

Ara didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, Seorin let out a small laugh.

Even to her own ears, it sounded strange.

“Don’t have a breakdown in front of me.”

Ara took half a step back.

But Seorin kept laughing softly, shaking her head.

“All of you knew.”

Her voice was quiet.

“And none of you said anything.”

“Han Seorin—”

“You knew I liked Dongchul.”

Seorin lowered her gaze to the ground.

“And you still let me stay like that.”

Her fingers tightened around her own sleeve.

“Like an idiot.”

“You’re wrong.”

Dongchul’s voice came from behind them.

Seorin slowly lifted her head.

Dongchul’s face blurred behind the tears that still hadn’t stopped falling, but she immediately noticed Minji’s hand still tightly holding onto his.

“We never meant to make a fool out of you,” Minji said softly.

“Dongchul…” Seorin’s voice caught in her throat. “You knew I liked you?”

Dongchul nodded slowly.

“I knew.”

He lowered his gaze briefly before speaking again.

“But I fell in love with Minji before I even met you.”

The night wind moved quietly between them.

“I liked you as a friend.”

Seorin stared at him without blinking.

“If I was your friend…”

Her voice cracked near the end.

“Why did you hide this from me?”

Dongchul let out a long breath.

“I didn’t want to lose a friend like you.”

His eyes lowered briefly.

“Every time I almost told you, you kept talking about our future. University. Debate competitions.”

Dongchul’s fingers tightened around Minji’s hand.

“I thought after that… you wouldn’t want to talk to me anymore.”

Seorin lowered her head.

Her tears still fell, but the breath that escaped her sounded almost like laughter.

“Out of all the men in the world…”

She looked at Minji.

“Why did you pick Dongchul?”

Then her gaze shifted toward Dongchul.

“You should’ve picked someone more handsome.”

Minji went quiet for a few seconds.

Then burst out laughing behind her hands.

“Oh my god, you’re right.”

Minji walked closer.

“Out of all the men out there… why did I fall for this grasshopper?”

Dongchul immediately groaned from behind her.

But Minji had already pulled Seorin into a hug first.

Seorin stiffened for a moment before finally gripping the back of Minji’s clothes in return.

They both broke down crying in the middle of the cold village road.

On the other side of the road, Dongchul rubbed his face with a sigh.

“Women are seriously dramatic.”

Ara slowly turned toward him.

“What do you mean?”

Dongchul immediately cleared his throat.

“Oh… right.” He looked away quickly. “I forgot you’re a woman too.”

Ara gave him a flat look.

“I’m the one suffering most here.”

A small snort escaped Seorin through her tears.

Minji finally pulled away first.

“Let’s go back,” she said quietly, wiping her eyes.

Seorin gave a small nod.

***

The walk back was much quieter than before.

Dongchul and Minji walked ahead at a slow pace.

Seorin remained several steps behind them.

Ara stayed beside her.

Not speaking.

Not drifting away either.

When Seorin’s footing wavered slightly against the rocky road, Ara’s hand lifted toward her instinctively.

But stopped before it could actually touch her.

Seorin looked at the hand for a few seconds.

Then continued walking.

And every time her steps slowed, the sound of Ara’s footsteps remained beside her.