Chapter 20

The problem was that I couldn’t stop thinking about her, even when I tried. At least when I was working, I was fine… That’s why I’m working harder. Ji-hyuk roughly wiped away his hot tears with his palm.

The only person who saw them was Mr. Choi Hyun. Choi Hyun was not the kind of person who would laugh at him for crying. Ha ha. It was so nice to be able to touch him anytime.

I realized too late that it was nice to be able to see them whenever I wanted. Hindsight is 20/20.” Choi Hyun put down his chopsticks in a heavy mood. “Just…. I’m just crying. Ignore it.”

The tears made the rice taste unappetizing. “…I’m sorry, but I can’t eat anymore. Please leave.” “…Cheering me up won’t help, will it?”

Ji-hyuk smiled at Choi Hyun, appreciative of his friend’s efforts to offer comfort in any way he could.

“Go.” He expressed his gratitude to Choi Hyun, who packed his lunch and headed to the office to eat. Choi Hyun was not just a friend but also an employee who had chosen Seoju Group over a law firm because of Ji-hyuk.

“That’s right, Choi Byun.”

“Huh?” Choi Hyun halted in his tracks as he made his way to the door, his eyes narrowing in curiosity about what was happening.

“What about your instructions?”

“Oh, that?” Choi moved back toward the couch. “It was a long time ago, so I’m having a hard time finding it, but I’m still looking, so we’ll just have to wait and see.”

“Okay.”

I figured it was an old case anyway and would be a pain to find.

“Yeah, and keep an eye on your mom.”

“Okay, don’t worry.”

“…Thank you.”

Realizing that he meant it, Choi Hyun’s lips curled up in pleasure.

“If you’re grateful, get your act together and return to being the Seo Ji-hyuk I once knew.”

“Yes, I will.”

The office was silent as Choi Hyun left. Ji-hyuk stood in the middle of the silence for a moment, slowly getting to his feet.

Then his vision flashed, and he squeezed his eyes shut. It had been happening a lot lately. A few deep breaths, and the dizziness cleared. He staggered into a room attached to his office.

There was nothing in the room that didn’t have a place to rest after work. A bed, a fridge, a couch, a dresser. There was even a bathroom so he could wash up.

Ji-hyuk went to the sink to brush his teeth, looked at his reflection in the mirror, and let out a long sigh. “Ha…ah.” His face mirrored speechlessness.

Hold on. Hold on.

What if I don’t? He grabbed the cold water from the sink and splashed his face. Unable to breathe, but with a clear mind, Ji-hyuk lifted his head just before he might have succumbed. Breathing heavily, he clutched onto the sink to keep from collapsing.

He had to stay awake. There was a lot of work to be done.

After brushing his teeth, Ji-hyuk wiped his face with a towel and left the room. He sat down at his desk, facing away from the front window, and resumed reading the papers. The sight of the piles of documents on his desk made him gasp, but he had to press on.

He had to work tirelessly to make it to the evening when he could go see the moon. Ji-hyuk never missed a day, and sometimes he went to see the moon twice. Despite the loneliness and fear, talking to her helped him breathe.

The corners of his mouth twitched as he recalled his mother’s words about how he did everything for the company.

I don’t do everything, but I try to do as much as I can. If I get caught up in work, I might not think of her or baby moon for a moment.

No, no. There was never a moment when he didn’t think of her and the moon. I’m just bluffing, pretending I’m not thinking about her. …I missed her today.

I had a bodyguard without her knowledge, but I knew that had to stop. Long tails get stepped on, and if she realized it, it would be bad. He was being careful, but what if she found out? She would hate him, despise him.

Ji-hyuk’s hands were busy. Somehow, he had to get home before 7:00, and time was slipping away. Work was something that should be done during work hours, but he committed afterward.

Ji-hyuk handed over the papers without taking a breath.

He pulled into the building’s underground parking lot and got out of the car. He was on his way to visit his baby moon after work at 7 pm. Stepping into the elevator, Ji-hyuk familiarly pressed the third-floor button.

Soon, a voice announced that he had reached the third floor, and the elevator doors opened.

Ji-hyuk walked briskly and stood in front of a securely closed door. He entered the password, and the door opened.

Inside, an office with a solitary desk unfolded before him. He surveyed the space, focusing on the desk, and then approached the front window.

Since breaking up with her, he hadn’t touched a drink himself. Choosing to live a sober life, he refrained from using alcohol to numb the pain. Instead, he confronted the ache fully.

Standing by the window, Ji-hyuk’s gaze lingered outside for an extended period.

“…I’m lucky today.”

Her workshop was in the building across the street, and he considered it fortunate to catch a glimpse of her. While he couldn’t see her yesterday due to her early departure, he felt grateful to observe her from a distance.

Ji-hyuk reached out, his hand touching the window as if to caress her face.

She appeared cheerful as she cleaned the front of the workshop, prompting a smile from him.

“…I want to touch you.”

Crazy.

Ji-hyuk’s shoulders shook as he emitted a ridiculous, jilted sound. …Did I say Han Ki-hyuk? I had no choice but to conduct a background check on someone who was a senior in her college, as he might be approaching her for the wrong reasons. …….

…I know, but I feel bitter even though I know he’s a nice guy. I should wish her happiness. I divorced her for her happiness. “Seo Ji-hyuk, you still haven’t woken up.”

I sat down at the desk, the only piece of furniture in the office. The desk in front of the window overlooks her workshop. It was her happiness to sit here and work.

His jaw clenched, tracking her movements, but Han Ki-hyuk, her senior, kept touching her head.

She consistently pushed his hand away, but when she saw him smiling at her, her heart throbbed.

“He wanted to jump down and scream at her to stop touching him, to grab her by the scruff of the neck and shake her. His face crumpled as if he were going to cry because he was too ugly and bad to approach her.

He feels like he has no reason to show up, and that not showing up is the way to apologize.

Ji-hyuk suppressed the urge to stand up.

His nails dug into his palms. I have to stop watching her smile at another man. I want to pull my gaze away, but I can’t, because her smile is so beautiful, even when she’s smiling at someone else. It’s my life’s work to see her like that.

Ji-hyuk looked at her again and again with wet eyes.

* * *

Yunseul’s head tilted to the side as he opened the workshop door.

“What is it?” He turned to check, but he wasn’t mistaken. “Why is there no trash?” It’s been strange lately.

There was no trash in front of the workshop yesterday or the day before. The first thing I do when I open the door is to pick up the trash in front of the workshop. “Who’s picking up the trash?”

No matter how much I thought about it, there was no one to pick up the trash. Even if there were trash cans, there were still many people who threw trash on the ground.

While staring at the ground without even a cigarette butt, Yunseul was awakened by the sound of the alarm and entered the workshop.

He turned on the lights, turned on the air conditioner, and then turned on her cell phone. Someone had placed an order.

My mouth dropped open at the sound of the alarm when the order came in.

“Huh? Another order?” Yunseul’s voice sounded pleased as she checked the homepage. Another order had come in from the building across the street. It was the Wizard of Oz.

“Why did he order so much?” This time, he ordered quite a few accessories. The address looked like an office. What does he do? I suddenly wondered.

After confirming the order, Yunseul got up to pick up two rings, three necklaces, a bracelet, and a brooch. She felt proud and happy when the order came in. She was so grateful that someone liked the things she made.

I picked out the prettiest boxes, kanji, and furoshiki in the workshop and packed them carefully.

At first, I found it difficult to pack, but now I’ve gotten the hang of it, and it takes less time.

“It’s done!” She wraps it in furoshiki, making it look luxurious and elegant. Yunseul paused in the middle of writing the delivery note.

“Where did I put it?” She stood up and rummaged through her drawer, pulling out a card. She decided to write a thank-you card to her regular customer, the Wizard of Oz.

She felt like she should thank a customer she’d never met in person but felt a connection with.

Yunseul didn’t know what to write, so she started by saying, “How are you, Wizard of Oz?” and then wrote down her thanks.

After finishing the thank-you card and writing the delivery note, she realized that today was not a delivery day. She doesn’t have a lot of orders yet, so she only picks up packages two or three times a week.

It would be the end of the week before the accessories would arrive, and she wanted to make sure they got there as soon as possible. That was it.

My cell phone rang loudly.

“Hello?”

-Hello? I’m calling because I read that you’re looking for students for your workshop.

“Oh, yeah. That’s right, we’re looking for students.”

The corners of Yunseul’s mouth twitched up in amusement.

When she finished the call, she even hummed. She was upset and worried that she hadn’t gotten any students, but somehow, six people had gathered. She hadn’t missed a day of making accessories and uploading photos.

“I’m excited!” Yunseul’s hum became more and more excited. As she organized her schedule, her eyes landed on a box wrapped in furoshiki.

I’ll deliver it myself when I get home from work since it’s on a weekend, and it’s across the street.

Yunseul looked up and saw the building across the street.

“Let’s go get it.” Deciding to go get it, she found the bracelet design she’d drawn yesterday and picked out a chain. Today’s bracelet was a silver ball chain with multiple charms.

She didn’t know if it was the large group of students or the anticipation of seeing the Wizard of Oz, but her heart swelled as time went on.

She stared at the boxes to be delivered, smiling as brightly as ever. Later that evening, when the orders came in and he was late for work, Yunseul stood in front of the building across the street from the workshop, clutching a beautifully wrapped box.

“Wow, it’s tall.”

It was a building that she had seen every day while sitting in the workshop across the street, but when she stood in front of it, she felt so intimidated that she hesitated for a moment before entering the building. It was a building that exuded luxury at first glance.

She muttered to himself, “I’m here to deliver the goods to the Wizard of Oz quickly, so don’t get discouraged,” and stepped into the building.

Her jaw dropped as she walked through the revolving door and was greeted by a ceiling that seemed to go on forever. The sound of her heels clicking with each step was deafening.

“How may I help you?”

I pause.

Yunseul halted in her tracks and hunched her shoulders as someone blocked his path. She looked up and saw a man dressed in all black.

“Who……. Ah…….” She was surprised and didn’t recognize the person, but then she realized it was a building employee. “I’m here for this. Go to room 305.”

Yunseul waved a box wrapped in furoshiki in front of him. He’s a big guy, so my shoulders slumped unnecessarily.

“If you give it to me, I’ll give it to him.”

“Uh… no. I’ll take it upstairs.” She smirked and tried to move past him, but he held out her arm and stopped her from going any further. Yunseul’s eyes widened in surprise.

“The package is supposed to be delivered by one of our employees.”

“Oh…. Really?” I said, disappointed. She wanted to thank the Wizard of Oz in person, and she wanted to know what he was like. She reached for the package, unable to hide her disappointment.

“Yes, you can take it and go.”

The employee’s voice was firm, and he held out the box. Yunseul’s shoulders sagged.

“…Thank you… huh?”

Thinking she sees a familiar face over the employee’s shoulder, Yunseul cocks her head to the side, only to have the employee move just enough to block her view.

She takes a step to the right, and the employee repeats the motion a few times.

“Be careful, then.”

Yunseul’s eyes glued to the employee’s face as he snatched the box away. Surely……. The hand running through her hair trembled slightly. Yunseul leaned hard to the left this time.

“Is there anything else you need?”

She was smiling but in a high-pressure way. She forced a smile at the angry look in her eyes like she shouldn’t be here anymore.

“No, I’m leaving.” It can’t be him, She can’t believe she’s under such ridiculous illusions.

She was up all night last night making things and thinking of designs, and now she’s seeing nothing. Should she have taken the nutritional pills her aunt gave her when she told her they were good for her?

In her youthful pride, she refused, but she promised herself that she would take them from now on.

“Have a good day, then.”

“Yes, thank you,” I said, unable to take my eyes off the box in the employee’s hand, and then turned away, noticing the coldness in his eyes. I felt a piercing gaze on my back as if he was watching me leave the building. But she didn’t look back.

It was building policy, and she had no reason to complain.

It’s a shame they didn’t get to meet the Wizard of Oz, but she’s glad she was able to deliver the accessories quickly.

Yunseul’s steps were light. She can’t wait to get home and eat. After being on the move all day, she was hungry. She’s been getting more and more customers lately, so she’s been enjoying every day.

She was so happy, she wondered if she should be so happy.

* * *

Yunseul, who was making rings for an order, stretched her bent back. A glance. Yunsul’s mouth tightened as she looked out the window. ……There was no trash in front of the workshop again today.

The road in front of the workshop was so clean that she wondered if someone had cleaned it on purpose.

While it warmed her heart to see the streets without any cigarette butts, it also made her wonder. Especially, there was still a lot of trash in front of other shops, and complaints were pouring in every day in the shop’s chat room.

“Well, good is good.”

She thought it must be a coincidence, but if it wasn’t, there was no other explanation.

A rattle.

The sound of the door opening drew Yunseul from her thoughts, and she looked up.

“Hello”

Out of habit, he stood up and said hello.

“Hello?” The person who opened the door to the workshop was a woman with a serene appearance.

“You must be the owner. Nice to meet you.”

Approaching the customer, who had a lot of hair and mulberry blossoms and exuded an air of elegance, Yunseul bowed to her. Pleased to see her around the same age as her mom, she raised her voice.

“Yes, I’m the owner. Can I help you with anything?” She looked particularly dainty in her modified hanbok.

“I got it the other day, and it’s so beautiful, my friends are asking me where I got it.”

“Oh, really?” beamed Yunseul, overjoyed. “Yes. They’re so beautiful that I wanted to give them to my friends as gifts.”

The customer glanced at the display case where the accessories were showcased and then back at Yunseul’s face. Yunseul smiled awkwardly and rubbed the nape of her neck with her hand.

“It’s pretty.”

Since the customer didn’t look away from her face, Yunseul wasn’t sure what they were referring to. “What?” She squinted.

“Your accessories make me feel warm.”

“Ah…….” “Your master must have a warm heart.”

Yunseul’s cheeks flushed at the unexpected compliment. She was about to thank the customer who laughed out loud, as if she found it amusing.

“Mother!” a familiar voice called out. Even before he stepped inside, Yunseul knew who was calling for his mother, even without seeing his face. He didn’t need to see his mother’s face to know who was calling out to him.

“Senior?” Han Ki-hyuk appeared, breathing heavily from how quickly he had arrived.

“Mother, what do you do? why did you come here?”

“Wait a minute. Am I hearing right? you called her your mother as you entered here, does that mean…?”

Yunseul’s head snapped back. Her eyes locked with the customer who had been complimenting her earlier.

She noticed a shiny brooch on the left breast of her modified hanbok. She realized who the smiling customer was.

“Ah…. Hello!” It was Han Ki-hyuk’s mother.

“Mother….”

“Did I come somewhere I shouldn’t have? Why are you calling your mom like this?” The woman who was smiling at her, or rather, his mother, turned her back on him.

“I see you’re taking students. I like to learn these things too, can I sign up for a class?”

“Mother!” The senior looked puzzled.    

“Yes, sure, you can apply.”  Yunseul deliberately lightened her voice. She understood the situation.    

“I’ll give you a special discount.” She burst out laughing, face to face with his mother. Han Ki-hyuk was the only one in the room who wasn’t smiling.

Then she felt a gaze outside the window and turned her head to look out, but there was no one there. …This wasn’t the first time she’d felt a gaze. Was she mistaken again? Yunseul frowned.

Maybe she should start taking nutritional pills today. “I thought you were going to watch a movie tonight?”

Yunseul looked up from her window at the sound of her mother’s gentle voice.

Yunseul, feeling a bit awkward, smiled and shook her head, “No problem at all.” Han Ki-hyuk, frustrated, scratched his head and sighed. It was clear he was not pleased with his mother’s unexpected visit.

“But, Mother, it’s already so late… why are you here now?” Han Ki-hyuk asked, trying to redirect the conversation.

“Well, I was in the neighborhood and wanted to see how you were doing. Plus, I wanted to check out your friend’s workshop. I’ve heard so much about it,” she replied with a pleasant smile.

Han Ki-hyuk’s expression tightened, and he glanced at Yunseul apologetically. Yunseul, however, remained polite and welcoming.

“Your friend’s workshop is lovely, Yun-seul. I’m quite impressed,” Han Ki-hyuk’s mother continued, looking around the workshop with genuine interest.

“Thank you so much! I’m glad you like it,” Yunseul replied, grateful for the compliment.

Han Ki-hyuk’s mother bid farewell with a warm smile and left the workshop. As the door closed behind her, Yunseul and Han Ki-hyuk exchanged a look, a mix of relief and shared understanding.

“Well, that was unexpected,” Han Ki-hyuk remarked, running a hand through his hair.

“I must say, your mother is a delightful person. I’d be happy to have her as a student,” Yunseul replied with a friendly smile.

“Yeah, she’s something,” Han Ki-hyuk mumbled, still processing the unexpected encounter.

The atmosphere lightened, and Yunseul returned to her work, while Han Ki-hyuk lingered for a moment before heading towards the door.

“See you later, Yunseul. Thanks for being so understanding,” he said appreciatively.

“No problem at all. Feel free to drop by anytime,” Yunseul replied warmly as he left the workshop.

“Yeah, your brooch caught my eye,” Han Ki-hyuk admitted, a faint smile playing on his lips. “I didn’t expect to see my mother here, though.”

“I guess life is full of surprises,” Yunseul replied, her eyes meeting his. There was a shared understanding at that moment, a recognition of the unpredictability of life.

“Yeah, it is,” he agreed, a thoughtful expression on his face. “Well, I should get going. Thanks again for being cool about it.”

“Of course, no problem. Take care, Han Ki-hyuk,” Yunseul said, offering a friendly wave as he left the workshop.

As the door closed behind her, Yunseul couldn’t help but smile to herself. Life indeed has a way of bringing unexpected moments and people into one’s path.

She returned to her work, feeling a renewed sense of energy and curiosity about what other surprises life might have in store.

The evening unfolded with laughter, shared stories, and the joy of friendship. Han Ki-hyuk and Yunseul found themselves in a cozy restaurant, enjoying a delicious meal and each other’s company.

As they sat across from each other, the atmosphere lightened. Yunseul, once again, couldn’t help but appreciate the unexpected turn of events. What started as a casual encounter had evolved into a pleasant evening spent with a newfound friend.

The restaurant buzzed with a warm ambiance as the two friends continued to chat and savor the delightful dishes before them. The clinking of glasses and the hum of conversation surrounded them, creating a backdrop for the blossoming connection between Yunseul and Han Ki-hyuk.

Amid shared laughter and the aroma of good food, they found comfort in the simple joy of genuine companionship. Life, as unpredictable as it could be, had a way of weaving together moments of surprise and delight, just like this unexpected friendship that was beginning to take root.

We enjoyed a movie, a delicious meal, and a few drinks—just enough to lighten the mood. As my senior dropped me off, I expressed my gratitude for the enjoyable evening.

“I had a great time with the movie, meal, and drinks.”

“You can stop with the formalities. You’re spending quite a bit. Oh, right, you’re wealthy.”

“Well, I’m well-off too, so next time, let me treat you to a movie, a meal, and drinks. I apologize if I came across as a bit too much.”

“Apologies aren’t necessary. Others might be taking advantage of your generosity. Anyway, you’re…”

“Feel free to say it. It’s a long journey home… That’s why I suggested taking a taxi, remember?” I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt for relying on my senior for rides.

“What kind of a man I am if I let a girl go home alone?”

“I’m sure there are some.”

It wasn’t a taxi, but it was someone who didn’t mind going home alone after a night out.

“No kidding.”

“Get in.”

“Yeah, you be safe.”

Yunseul turned around first, aware that her senior wouldn’t budge until she was safely inside the house. Once within the gate, she closed it behind her, listening to his departing footsteps and the sound of his car driving away.

“…Haah.” Yesterday, when delivering accessories to Mopsa in Oz, encountering someone like him must have been surprising. I sighed heavily, contemplating something I wouldn’t typically dwell on.

Yunsel’s steps slowed as she made her way through the well-kept garden.

“It was a strange sensation, even if it was just a coincidence for a year. No, she hadn’t been mistaken, which meant she hadn’t seen anyone who looked like him. …

Come to think of it, the person she’d mistaken for him yesterday was dressed differently than the person she’d seen behind the desk.”

Yunseul’s eyes twitched slightly.

“Let’s go.”

Yunseul turned and hurried outside.

“Let’s check it out. It might be a good thing. … What if it’s accurate? I don’t know. I just wanted to investigate and put this nagging feeling to rest.”

* * *

She took a taxi to the building across the street from the workshop. Heat rushed to her face, and she wondered if she was getting drunk.

She opened the window. A stiflingly hot breeze entered through the open window and ruffled her hair. She swept a hand through her tangled hair.

The air conditioner was much cooler, but she preferred the hot breeze to the tightness in her chest. She buried her back in the seat and closed her eyes.

It must be an illusion. No, it has to be an illusion. …She wasn’t sure why she bothered to check.

“We’ve arrived.”

The taxi driver’s voice snapped her closed eyes open.

“Thank you.”

She paid for the taxi and got out of the car. Unlike the breeze that had been flowing through the window, a hot wind pierced through her body as soon as she stepped out of the car.

She frowned as she felt her heart heat up.

She tilted her head to look at the tall building.

“I must have gotten a little carried away with the alcohol, because I can’t be sure, and I can’t confirm that I’m standing here.”

She didn’t realize she’d regretted it until she was in front of the building. “You’re crazy, Yunseul.”

She slapped her cheek with the palm of her hand to get herself together.

“I should go home.”

She turned on her phone to hail a cab.

Her eyes widened. Then her clear pupils fluttered.

It was Seo Ji-hyuk coming out of the building. He climbed into the backseat of the waiting car, and she shifted her feet.

No, she didn’t move on purpose, she moved without realizing it. Her body reacted before her mind. She knew it was dangerous, but she couldn’t stop.

She jumped in front of a car that was driving down the road, spreading her arms to the side and glaring at the invisible man.

She almost ran into the car, but she didn’t care about that, only that he was coming out of the building across the street from her workshop.

The car’s back door opened.

Yunseul’s cold gaze clung to the open door. Soon, he appeared.

Slowly, slowly.

The world is noisy, but strangely, she doesn’t hear anything. Only the sound of his approaching footsteps pierced her ears.

He was there, right in front of her, all black. He was there, just a reach away.

Yunseul’s eyes slowly closed and opened. Her pupils fluttered as if she was trying to decide if she was hallucinating or not, but then they found their color.

“…It was real.” It wasn’t an illusion. It was Seo Ji-hyuk.

Did she wish she’d been drunk and mistaken? It felt like a stone had fallen on her shoulder.

Yunseul raised her eyes.

“…Is this a coincidence?”

Her voice was colder than ever. Did she think it would freeze him?

“Yeah, it’s a coincidence.” I was wrong this time.

He didn’t freeze, but his regular expression made her wonder whether it was all a coincidence. But Yunseul didn’t notice. Her pupils widened a bit.

She was about to tell him he shouldn’t lie.

“…We’ll never meet again, not even by chance,” he said, parting his lips and closing them tightly.

“So, live happily ever after.” His straight eyes surveyed her face as if she had trembled. Slowly, it seemed he was attempting to remember her expression.

‘I don’t know what he’s thinking, and I can’t figure out why he looks so sad. Even though I know it’s an illusion, I can’t stop looking at his sad face, and it makes my heart ache.’

This is why she didn’t want to see it.

Yunseul’s lips rose to the sky, yet her eyes were filled with a man’s sadness. He turned away with a smile. Yunseul locked his gaze on his back, not blinking.

She clenched her hands and stared at him as he walked away. His car vanished into the distance at the end of her stare. She let out the breath she’d been holding, unaware that she’d been holding it.

“…He mean we won’t happen to run into each other by chance?” she was taken aback.

“Live happily ever after?” she asked, seemingly astounded. Yunseul couldn’t move even though the car disappeared.

* “Ha…ah.” Seeing him yesterday must have come as a surprise.

 He claimed it was a coincidence, and logically, it should be a coincidence, but for some reason, the uneasy feeling lingered even after a day had passed.

Moreover, she found herself sighing repeatedly. Every time a peculiar thought crossed her mind, she suppressed it forcefully.

Why? Why did she doubt that it was a coincidence? Why did she doubt the sincerity behind his wish for her happiness? “I don’t know, I don’t know.”

What if it wasn’t a coincidence? What if he didn’t mean it about her happiness? All she could do was hope that he wouldn’t reappear, that he wouldn’t care about what he said.

Yunseul’s attention turned to the building across the street. Despite the passage of a year, he appeared unchanged.

A long, heavy sigh escaped her lips. She had been uplifted just the day before when staring at the building across the street. Her mood had plummeted in a single day.

“I can’t… I can’t talk about it. I can’t talk about it with anyone. I have to keep the story of seeing my ex-husband hidden in the back of my mind forever,” Yunseul murmured, slapping her hands against her face to calm herself. What if the past came back to haunt me? She now had a life to live.

Yunseul’s attention was drawn away from the window by the creaking sound of the workshop door opening.

“There…”

A couple entered through the door.

“Welcome.”

The corners of Yunseul’s mouth twitched as she observed the couple holding hands. Recently, it has become a common occurrence for couples to visit and create rings or bracelets together.

“Do you make accessories… that we can make?” inquired the man.

“Yes, I can teach you,” Yunseul replied.

“I’ve never made one before… Wouldn’t it be hard? I’m not very handy…” expressed the woman hesitantly.

This was a sentiment Yunseul had encountered from many first-time visitors.

“Everyone thinks that, but then they make it and say it’s so easy,” Yunseul reassured.

“Really?” the couple exclaimed, exchanging surprised glances.

Yunseul found the exchange particularly poignant.

“What are you going to make? A couple of rings?” Yunseul suggested. The couple’s mouths dropped open as they stared at each other.

“…I want to make a necklace,” the woman finally said, her voice trembling. Despite having no reason to be nervous, the sincerity in her voice drew Yunseul’s attention.

“The necklace?” Yunseul asked.

“…Yes,” replied the woman. It wasn’t just her voice that conveyed her emotions; her eyes were moist, as if on the verge of tears.

Yunseul wondered if something had happened but decided not to pry. Everyone had their reasons. Yunseul looked down, feigning ignorance.

“The child… the ashes… I want to put them in a necklace,” the woman explained. Her lips formed a forced smile, and the man gently put his arm around her shoulders.

“A couple. Can you make a necklace like that?” the man asked, his voice cautious. “Oh… sure. Do you have a design in mind?” Yunseul inquired, ready to assist in creating a meaningful piece.

Yunseul found herself unable to speak. Her eyes welled up, and her nose ran. Her chin trembled with emotions.

The couple must have noticed, as they paused. “…I’m sorry,” Yunseul managed to say. She felt a deep empathy for the pain the couple must be experiencing, wanting to carry the ashes of their deceased baby in a necklace.

While wiping away her tears, Yunseul tried to reassure them. “Don’t get me wrong. I…” She stopped for a moment, summoning a sheepish smile. “Ah… You did…”

Despite the absence of spoken words, the couple seemed to comprehend what Yunseul was expressing. Perhaps it was the shared experience of grief and sorrow that created an unspoken connection, a silent understanding between them.

“…I’m sorry,” Yunseul said, apologizing for crying in front of the customers.

“Don’t be, I know how you feel,” the man said, assuring her. The unspoken agreement appeared to bridge the gap, forging an invisible relationship.

“We believe that our daughter will return to us,” the dad said with renewed certainty, his voice firm and resolute.

“Yes, you’re right, she will come,” the woman agreed, and Yunseul’s eyes twitched, indicating not only agreement but also a profound sense of shared sadness.

“…Do you mind if I come up with a design?” Yunseul asked a genuine eagerness in her voice.

The couple’s faces brightened with warmth, and they responded, “Please do that. Please.” The design of the necklace had already taken shape in Yunseul’s mind.

A week later, they returned to the deserted workshop to create the necklace. Yunseul carefully sketched out the design that had been vivid in her imagination.

The woman went on to say “I’m going to put a picture of my mom and dad on the necklace so they can be together. That way, the three of us can walk around together.”

As Yunseul glanced over at the building across the street, a silent question lingered in her thoughts.

“…I wonder if Moon would have tried to come to me someday? If I hadn’t broken up with him, would he have wanted to come to me again?”

She wondered if they would meet again someday. If she and her husband were a normal couple, Yunseul might have told them about her past, about Moon.

The pain of loss and the shared connection in their grief created an unspoken bond. As the couple expressed their belief that their daughter would come to them again, Yunseul’s eyes twitched, not with disbelief, but with a profound sense of sadness.

He held their unspoken connection close, understanding the silent language of shared pain. Even without explicitly saying it, they communicated the deep sorrow of losing a child.

The couple’s conviction that their daughter would return resonated with Yunseul, who nodded in silent agreement.

As they embarked on the design of the necklace, a poignant reflection lingered in Yunseul’s mind. The couple’s hope for a reunion with their daughter sparked a silent question about her past, wondering if she, too, might have encountered Moon again under different circumstances.

In contemplating the couple’s hope for their daughter’s return, Yunseul found himself wondering if, in a hypothetical normal couple, she would desire the same for her baby moon.

The mere thought caused her to drop her pencil, unleashing a flood of memories about her baby. Memories she had no recollection of, memories that overwhelmed her, rendering sobriety elusive.

As Yunseul’s solitary drinking session progressed, one drink blending into another, and bottles multiplying, she found herself unintentionally immersed in a state of intoxication.

Squatting in front of a convenience store, her head swaying in a rhythmic dance to the effects of the alcohol, Yunseul grappled with the overwhelming flood of memories.

Amid her contemplation and inebriation, someone approached her.