"Why do they make headlights so bloody bright?" he grumbled, continuing on.

His steps stopped in front of a door.

He raised his hand, but hesitated for a moment, slowly bringing it to his mouth and biting the tip of one finger.

"She'll notice..." he murmured. "Better leave it for another time."

He stepped away from the door, walking backwards, but stopped when he felt a few drops fall near his ear.

"Hm? And here I was thinkin' it wasn't gonna rain."

He tried to straighten a strand again, but stopped when he felt a texture on his finger.

Pulling his hand away from his head, he looked at the stained fingertip.

"Tsk... now I definitely shouldn't knock."

He wiped the black residue onto his clothes and moved away from the house, walking faster and staring ahead.

---

The surroundings gradually grew darker.

Leon crumpled the packet of doughnuts he had bought, stood up, and wrapped his arms around himself with a heavy sigh.

"I should've worn a shirt underneath..."

he complained.

"Didn't even bring gloves. I was thinkin' about him so much that I..."

He stopped and looked at his own hands.

There were extra lines across his palm.

Slowly, he raised his hand and brushed his fingers across it, letting out another sigh as the wind and cold weather surrounded him.

"I haven't stopped thinkin' about him..."

he repeated, turning and slowly walking toward a bin.

He watched a man walk past holding a dog on a lead.

The animal looked at him and gave a wag of its tail.

Leon raised an arm and waved at the dog.

The dog turned back around and continued forward.

The blond looked at his palm again, slowly opening his mouth.

"Could it be because... he knows my name?"

he murmured.

Then he shook his head.

"Maybe I just need sleep."

He lifted his head and straightened his posture, continuing along the park's natural trail.

One hand brushed against his chin and the faint beard beneath it.

The other rested over his chest, squeezing lightly.

"What if he... wants something and plans to use that against me?"

he continued muttering.

Eventually, he reached the central pavement.

"That book..."

Stopping on the opposite side of the road, he watched a group of children running toward the park and disappearing inside.

Leon clenched his fists.

He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling the strands of hair move beneath his fingers.

"Hm... hope it doesn't become popular."

He shoved both hands into the pocket of his hoodie and continued walking with his head lowered.

---

He collided with a woman in the street.

Her phone fell to the ground.

She quickly crouched down and picked it up.

"Oh my God, sir! Are you alright?! I didn't mean to..."

"Who are ye talkin' to?"

a voice replied from the phone.

"Ah! Sir, I..."

"I wasn't hurt."

Leon answered before walking past her and continuing on.

She looked back at him.

Another voice came from the phone.

Then she hurried off.

"What a bloody Gri..."

He stopped.

Turning around, he could no longer see her.

He growled under his breath and continued onward, looking higher toward the sky as a few raindrops landed on him.

He raised a hand and looked upward.

Clouds were gathering.

"Hm... stupid weather forecast. Had me fooled completely."

He sighed.

"Good thing I'm already headin' home."

---

After crossing the fence and entering the house, he kicked off his slippers and headed toward the stairs.

As he climbed each step, he glanced toward the kitchen and tightened his grip on the handrail.

He entered the bathroom and turned on the hot water.

While it heated up, he returned to his room, pulled off his hoodie, and walked over to his shelf.

His fingers moved along the books before he opened the shelf and searched through them.

"Hm?"

He stopped and pulled one out.

"'Be the Centre.'"

He read the cover, running a hand across it.

It was actually a magazine.

He returned it to its place and picked up the book he had been searching for.

Leaving it on the desk, he finished undressing for his shower.

---

As water poured over his body beneath the shower, he rubbed his shoulders while leaning against the wall and staring at the floor.

Wet strands of hair hung over his forehead without covering his eyes.

"I don't deserve..."

he began murmuring.

"...this much comfort after everything."

He bit his own lips.

"After being a Grimac... after all the things I've said! Why am I still pretending I did nothing?!"

He tried to hold back every tear.

They fell anyway.

---

Minutes later, dressed in pyjamas, he picked up the book from the shelf and a pair of glasses nearby.

Putting them on, he headed downstairs and entered the kitchen.

He left the book on the table and opened the fridge before preparing to heat up some tea.

After placing the kettle on the cooker, he slowly removed his glasses.

He stared at the lenses and held them carefully.

"Leo... you lie far too much."

He clenched his teeth.

"My life would've been easier... if you weren't a liar just like all the others!"

His fists tightened.

His eyes squeezed shut.

For a moment he nearly crushed the glasses before noticing how much force he was using.

He stopped.

Then ran a few fingers over his eyelids.

"As if he wasn't enough..."

he murmured.

"Now there's Li... I don't even remember his name anymore."

He lowered his hand.

"But I know I can't... take my eyes off him."

---

The moon was already hanging in the sky when Liuk entered his house with heavy steps.

"Little brother?"

His sister looked at him.

"Lyla..."

He stopped and looked back at her.

"Hm... need some time?"

she asked while turning to remove a pan from the cooker.

Liuk closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.

"Yeah... I need some time."

He headed toward the bathroom and closed the door behind him.

Lyla stared at the handle.

Her fingers trembled against the pan, nearly dropping it.

"Ah... God..."

She steadied it and placed it back on the counter.

"Could it be the rain..."

she murmured.

"Yeah... that's probably it."

---

Inside the bathroom, Liuk washed his hands.

With wet fingers, he ran a hand through his hair.

More black residue came away, leaving his strands lighter underneath.

"I forgot to touch it up..."

he said, slowly stepping away from the sink.

He removed his clothes and turned on the shower.

"But I only used that cheap dye on the tips. The rest won't last many more days."

His voice was low.

Relaxed beneath the falling water.

"Maybe it'd feel strange after all this time."

He let out a quiet laugh to himself.