The train doors opened at Seoul Station.
Seyoon scanned the crowd, oversized yellow hoodie and suitcase dragging behind her. Then—there she was.
Jiwon.
Leaning against a pillar in all black. Face unreadable. Arms crossed. Looking just the same as the last time she walked away.
“You came,” Jiwon said.
“You didn’t think I would?”
Jiwon shrugged. Seyoon smiled. And then she hugged her—tight, both arms, breathing her in.
Jiwon didn’t hug back. Not yet.
Jiwon’s apartment was still small. Still smelled like coffee grounds and lavender.
Seyoon dropped her bag and looked around. “You still have my mug,” she pointed out, pulling the chipped peach cup off the shelf.
“I use it sometimes.” “You missed me.” “I didn’t throw it away. That’s enough.”
Seyoon pouted, nudging her shoulder. “You’re so bad at this.” Jiwon finally let out a breath of a laugh, short and quiet. “I’m trying.”
That night, Seyoon scrolled through their old texts while Jiwon showered. There were three messages she never replied to from last winter.
“I miss your neck.” “Your silence scares me sometimes.” “Do you still want me?”
She deleted them quietly. When Jiwon came out, towel around her neck, she saw Seyoon curled up in her bed, phone pressed to her chest, eyes wide open.
“Want me to sleep on the floor?” Jiwon asked. Seyoon just reached for her wrist.
They walked to the convenience store in the rain. Jiwon didn’t offer to share her umbrella until halfway there. Inside, under the buzzing lights, Seyoon picked yogurt drinks and spicy ramyeon.