She turned to Rin's mother and bowed her head slightly.

“Thank you for lunch and dessert.”

Rin's mother smiled warmly.

“You're welcome.”

Then she added,

“Come again soon.”

“I definitely will,” Aeryun replied with a grin.

Aeryun slipped her feet into her shoes while Rin handed her a paper bag.

“What’s this?” Aeryun asked.

She peeked inside and froze.

Her school uniform had been washed, dried, ironed, and folded so neatly it looked brand new.

“Oh!”

She stared at it in surprise.

“I completely forgot about this.”

Then she looked at Rin.

“When did you even wash and iron it? How did I miss all of that?”

Rin shrugged.

“It’s magic.”

Aeryun laughed.

“Thank you. Again.”

She slung her bag over her shoulder and carried the paper bag in one hand.

Rin walked her to the bus stop and waited with her until the bus arrived.

When it finally pulled up, Aeryun climbed aboard and took the window seat.

As the bus rolled through the city, she rested her chin against the glass and watched the world outside as though she had been given brand-new eyes.

People hurrying home.

Children riding bicycles.

Store owners pulling down shutters.

Above them all, long streaks of clouds stretched across the sky.

Aeryun smiled.

It's going to be a beautiful sunset today.

She didn't know why.

She just knew.

Once she got off at her stop, she didn't head home.

Instead, she turned toward the coastal road where the sea met the horizon.

The same road where waves crashed against the shore and greenery lined the edge of the pavement.

Without a second thought, she started walking.

Meanwhile, Mansu and Tae were driving the mini truck back to Mrs. Kwon's house.

The sacks of ingredients rattled softly in the back as they made their way through town.

Tae glanced out the window.

The clouds stretched endlessly across the sky.

A familiar feeling settled in his chest.

“Mr. Mansu?”

“Hmm?”

“Can we stop somewhere to watch the sunset?”

Mansu smiled.

“You think it's going to be a good one too?”

Tae laughed.

“You noticed?”

“I've lived here long enough to know.”

Then Mansu pointed ahead.

“I know the perfect spot.”

A few minutes later, he turned onto the same coastal road.

The moment they arrived, Tae lowered the window.

The sound of waves crashing against the shore filled the air.

Sunlight danced across the water like scattered gold.

His eyes widened.

“Wow.”

He immediately pulled out his phone and started recording.

“This is incredible.”

Mansu chuckled.

“I knew you'd like it.”

He parked the truck at the roadside, and both of them stepped out.

For a while, neither spoke.

They simply stood there, watching the sea.

Then Mansu opened the truck door and pulled out an old cassette.

A soft song began playing through the speakers.

Tae blinked.

“This playlist doesn't seem like you.”

Mansu laughed.

“That's because it isn't.”

“Whose is it?”

“My wife's.”

Tae nodded approvingly.

“She has great taste.”

Mansu grinned proudly.

“That's exactly why she chose me.”

Tae laughed.

“I'll take your word for it.”

At the other end of the road, Aeryun finally arrived.

The moment she saw the view, she stopped walking.

The ocean stretched endlessly before her.

The setting sun painted the water gold.

The clouds glowed in shades of pink, orange, purple, and amber.

For a moment, she simply stared.

Completely awestruck.

The world felt quieter here.

Softer.

Almost magical.

Then a faint melody drifted toward her on the wind.

She turned.

A mini truck was parked farther down the road.

Two figures stood beside it, watching the sunset.

Aeryun couldn't make out their faces from the distance.

But she could hear the music.

She cupped her hands around her mouth.

“Nice song, by the way!”

The voice of a man carried back across the road.

“Thank my wife!”

Aeryun laughed.

Neither side knew who the other was.

And somehow, that made the moment even more special.

So they all returned their attention to the sunset.

The sky slowly transformed from gold to pink.

Pink to orange.

Orange to purple.

The waves continued their endless rhythm against the shore.

Tae watched the horizon and smiled.

“This is my first sunset here,” he said quietly.

Then he looked at the glowing sky one more time.

“And I already love this place.”

As they stood watching the sunset, Mansu slipped his hands into his pockets and smiled.

“You know,” he said, “endings and beginnings can be beautiful too. Just like a sunset.”

Tae glanced toward him.

Mansu continued, his eyes fixed on the horizon.

“You can't predict them. You can't control them. All you can do is soak in the moment while it's happening.”

Tae nodded.

“That's true.”

For a while, neither of them spoke again.

They simply stood there listening to the waves.

Further down the road, Aeryun's eyes remained glued to the sky.

The colors seemed to change every second.

Pink melted into orange.

Orange blended into gold.

Purple slowly crept in around the edges.

She wasn't looking anywhere else.

Not at the road.

Not at the sea.

Just up.

Soaking in every bit of the magic with a small smile on her face.

Tae pulled out his phone.

He started taking pictures of the sunset first.

Then the sunlight reflecting across the water.

Then the waves.

Then the clouds.

Then more pictures from different angles because one angle simply wasn't enough.

A few videos followed.

Then a panoramic shot.

Then another video.

Mansu watched the entire process in amusement.

Eventually, Tae turned the camera around.

“Come here.”

“What?”

“Photo.”

Before Mansu could protest, Tae was already standing beside him.

They posed for a few selfies together.

One smiling.

One serious.

One where Mansu blinked.

One where Tae laughed halfway through.

Then Tae handed over the phone.

“Can you take one?”

Mansu took the phone.

Tae stepped back and stood with the sunset behind him.

The golden light painted everything around him in warm colors.

Click.

Another photo.

Click.

And another.

When they were done, Mansu handed the phone back and shook his head.

“You really are lover-boy coded.”

Tae nearly choked.

“What?”

Mansu pointed at the camera roll.

“Look at this. Sunset photos. Ocean photos. Reflection photos. Cloud photos. Aesthetic videos. Selfies.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“That's not normal behavior.”

“It is normal.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

Mansu laughed.

“Trust me. One day you'll fall in love and become even worse.”

Tae looked genuinely offended.

“I'm documenting the scenery.”

“Sure you are.”

“I am.”

“Of course.”

Tae sighed dramatically.

“You're impossible.”

“And you're lover-boy coded.”

The two of them burst out laughing as the sun continued its slow descent below the horizon.