Aeryun finally made her way home after witnessing one of the most beautiful sunsets she had ever seen.

Outside the gate, she spotted her mother waiting.

Ten steps to the right.

Eleven steps to the left.

Then back again.

The moment she saw Aeryun, her shoulders relaxed, her jaw softened, and she let out a long sigh.

"Thank God you're alright."

Aeryun immediately leaned against her mother's shoulder.

"What took you so long?" she asked, her voice wavering slightly.

Her mother wrapped an arm around her.

"I'm here now. Looks like you've had quite a day."

Aeryun laughed.

"Well, it was a little dramatic, but nothing worth hating."

Then she smiled.

"I honestly just missed being at home and doing absolutely nothing."

She paused.

"But I wouldn't trade today for anything."

Then something suddenly occurred to her.

"Oh! What was the secret hiding spot for the house key?"

Her mother blinked.

"The false brick in the backyard."

Aeryun stared.

"The fake brick?"

"Yes."

"You and your father made that hiding spot together."

"Don't you remember?"

Aeryun groaned.

"That was ages ago!"

"I completely forgot."

Then her smile faded slightly.

"Nowadays we don't even eat together as a family."

Her mother sighed.

"Your father is just very busy with work."

Aeryun shoved her hands into her pockets.

"Money and work aren't the only luxuries in life."

Her mother looked at her quietly.

Aeryun continued.

"Good health is a luxury."

"Having lovely people around you is a luxury."

"Having time to slow down in the morning is a luxury."

"Being able to relax is a luxury."

She kicked a pebble down the road.

"Even sharing one meal with your family is a luxury."

A brief silence followed.

"He always says 'I love you' before leaving for work."

Aeryun looked down.

"But does he actually love us?"

Her mother didn't answer.

Not because she had nothing to say.

But because a part of her understood exactly what Aeryun meant.

Eventually, Aeryun shook her head.

"We don't have time to get emotional."

"I still need to find the chocolates for Seoha and move everything back into my room."

Her mother immediately objected.

"We can move your things tomorrow."

"Or next week."

Then she remembered something.

"Oh."

"Seoha texted your father."

"She'll be visiting next week."

"Apparently she's tied up with an important meeting this week."

Aeryun brightened.

"Really?"

Her mother nodded.

"In the meantime, she asked us to send some of her classmates' contact information."

"She said she'd message the details, but..."

Her mother held up her phone.

The screen was cracked beyond recognition.

A thick green line stretched down the display.

"It fell at the hospital today."

Aeryun inspected it.

"Wow."

"You've come to the right person."

"I think I know someone who's pretty good with this sort of thing."

Then she frowned.

"Wait."

"Shouldn't her classmates' contact information already be on her own phone?"

Her mother laughed.

"Let's solve one disaster at a time."

Then she suddenly noticed the white handkerchief wrapped around Aeryun's knee.

Her eyebrows rose.

"What's with the pretty handkerchief?"

"I definitely don't remember buying you something this nice."

"Especially in white."

"We both know white and you are natural enemies."

Aeryun looked down.

"Oh, this?"

"I actually need to return it and replace it with a proper bandage."

Then she placed a hand dramatically over her heart.

"Thank you for showing concern for my injury."

"And not the mysterious white fabric."

Her mother rolled her eyes.

Before she could reply, Aeryun accidentally burped.

The smell of onions immediately filled the air.

Her mother blinked.

"...I see you've already been fed."

Aeryun smiled sheepishly.

"A little."

"Still hungry?"

Her mother asked.

"I made Galbi."

Aeryun froze.

"No."

Her mother nodded proudly.

"Yes."

"Galbi Korean BBQ short ribs."

Aeryun let out a tragic scream.

"NOOOOO!"

Then she dropped to her knees right there in the middle of the road.

"Why am I full already?!"

"Why does fate hate me?!"

At that exact moment, a bicycle rolled to a stop nearby.

Lee Eunjae glanced between Aeryun and her mother.

"Is she okay?"

Her mother nodded.

"She's upset because she's too full to eat her favorite dinner."

Eunjae looked horrified.

"You made Galbi?"

"I did."

He looked ready to cry.

"That's devastating."

Then he hesitated.

"I don't want to impose but..."

"Would it be alright if I bought some?"

Her mother laughed.

"Come inside."

"I'll pack some for you."

Eunjae glanced at the stack of pizza delivery bags hanging from his bicycle.

"I'm actually running late for deliveries."

"Oh."

His expression immediately dropped.

Her mother smiled.

"Then I'd better hurry."

As she disappeared inside, Aeryun suddenly pointed at him.

"You know what?"

"I was just thinking about you."

Eunjae nearly choked.

"Why?"

His face remained completely expressionless.

Unfortunately, the tips of his ears betrayed him.

Aeryun grinned.

"Because you're amazing at repairing phones."

Eunjae instantly waved both hands.

"No."

"It's not like that."

"It's just something I do to earn a little extra money."

Aeryun narrowed her eyes.

"I know you're good at it."

"Stop pretending to be humble."

"You're basically a genius."

Then she held up her mother's destroyed phone.

"When can you fix this?"

"It's kind of urgent."

"And don't worry."

"I'll make sure my mom pays you properly."

Eunjae opened his mouth to refuse.

Then paused.

Aeryun knew him well enough to understand.

He would never accept charity.

But he would accept payment for honest work.

Ever since the accident that took his father, he'd carried far more responsibility than someone his age should have.

He worked harder.

Studied harder.

Spoke less.

Smiled less.

Aeryun still remembered the first week he returned to school.

Everyone had gone outside for sports period.

Everyone except him.

He had been sitting alone at the back of the classroom, quietly crying.

Aeryun had stopped at his desk.

"Oh wow."

"VIP privileges."

"While the rest of us are being roasted alive outside in the scorching sun."

She dramatically looked toward the playground.

"I'm jealous."

Then she leaned closer.

"If you don't mind, should I ask someone to lock us inside the classroom so I can skip too?"

Eunjae had stared at her in complete disbelief.

Aeryun immediately stood.

"Just kidding."

"I'm leaving now."

Then she pointed at his notebook.

"Don't worry about the notes."

"I'll explain everything later."

She never mentioned the tears.

Pretended not to notice them at all.

And somehow that had helped more than sympathy ever could.

No wonder he appreciated her.

Back then they weren't even friends.

Just classmates who occasionally spoke.

Yet when everyone else kept their distance, she had still shown up.

A few minutes later, Aeryun's mother returned carrying a neatly packed container of Galbi.

Eunjae accepted it gratefully.

"Aeryun's loss."

"My gain."

Then he looked at her.

"Oh."

"Be ready tomorrow."

"We're getting a substitute teacher for Mrs. Um."

Aeryun immediately straightened.

"What happened to Mrs. Um?"

"I heard she got injured pretty badly."

Concern instantly crossed Aeryun's face.

"Is she going to be okay?"

Eunjae nodded.

"Don't worry too much."

"I'm visiting her before school tomorrow."

Aeryun pointed at herself.

"Perfect."

"I'm coming too."

Eunjae smiled.

"I'll be here in the morning."

Then he climbed onto his bicycle.

"Don't be late."

"No promises," Aeryun replied.

And with that, Eunjae rode off into the evening.