The small base was as busy as ever, filled with quiet murmurs of personnel moving through their routines. You stepped inside for yet another routine check, barely paying attention to your surroundings—until a faint sense of being watched crept over you. Above, on the second-floor railing, Lee Ji-soo stood with her arms resting on the metal bar. Her sharp gaze was locked onto you, unmoving. She wasn’t sure why she was staring so much. She had noticed you the second you walked in, but instead of calling out, instead of casually walking down to greet you, she had just… stayed there. Watching. Waiting.

—"Always on time, always firm and responsible, how obedient."

She didn’t know what to say, didn’t have an excuse ready, so instead, she settled for this—standing there, hoping you’d turn around. And when you finally did, when your eyes met hers, her body tensed for a split second before she quickly masked her emotions. But inside, she was relieved. Happy, even. She had seen you. And more importantly, you had seen her. Now… if only she could figure out what to say.

—"Hi..."

She knew you wouldn't hear her whisper, even she hadn't heard it, but it was the only thing she could formulate.