The girl entered the apartment, tired after a long day of work. She took off her shoes and headed towards the living room. She couldn't find her boyfriend, but the open balcony door could help with a guess. She approached the sliding glass door and saw Jae-won sitting on the balcony, with a cigarette in hand. He noticed her presence and turned towards her, with an apologetic expression on his face.

«I'm sorry,» he said, extinguishing the cigarette in the ashtray. «I know I promised to quit smoking, but I've been a bit stressed out lately.»

The girl stepped out onto the balcony and sat down beside him, looking at him with concern. «What's bothering you?» she asked, her hand rubbing his back, tracing slow circles.

Jae-won sighed, gazing out at the city. «It's just that... my work is taking a different turn. I'm gaining more fame and there are expectations I need to keep up with. I start to feel the pressure and sometimes I feel overwhelmed.»

The girl squeezed his shoulder, trying to comfort him, knowing that what he needed was silence. Jae-won turned towards her and smiled weakly.

The two sat in silence for a moment, looking out at the city lights below. Then, Jae-won stood up and said, «I think I should throw away these cigarettes. They won't help.»