everything ran on a routine like schedule, with so much errands and stuff on his hands the low energy caught up to him. the sky spilled like dark blue ink when the last bits of the sun had sunken and the moon replaced with its rotation, shining ever so brightly and full. the conscience store was closed at once and twice, a mental check. much of a reminder in his head; sometimes when days like these come around, he often forget having him to run all the way back to lock it. it had only happened once! yedam took the cover of the business for this week, his mother had fallen sick with high fever, a weak cough; yet she spoke stubbornly about going to the convenience store to work which quickly got shut down by yedam himself. ‘as your only son i’ll take care of it.’ the quoted words he told his mother before leaving with no complain after that. a clear plastic hung from his hand; cigarette box, a bottle of water, instant rice with some cheap side dishes while his other hand was occupied with a lit cigarette. the pavement was so damped, puddles of water everywhere in every step having to make him extend his legs wider or walk onto the road in order not to get those shoes wet. this vibe ... it had been like that the day he heard about the murder. a post rainy saturday whilst cleaning the apartment hallways. the mop in hand sloshing softly into the bucket as he dipped it in. “ did you hear? ” the voice that sounded like the landlord’s rambling towards the other old people, they seemed invested, shocked and sorry. “ no suspects yet. can you believe that? ” was added later on in the conversation, “ such a shame, that family already had so much misfortune. ” mrs yeong, an another elder women spoke. “ his nephew left the country, didn’t he? ” yedam bent down quickly, pretending to adjust the bucket. his reflection swimming in the dirty water, “ poor boy. to lose someone like that… he was a great man. ” one of them, miss chae tacked on, “ they say he owed money, ” ⸺ “ eh, everyone owes someone these days. ” and they just kept going, talking about that old hag. yedam straightened, forcing his shoulders to relax. he turned just enough to offer a polite nod, eyes lowered respectfully. “ that’s terrible, no one deserves that. ” its all I could really say.
many others came to their own theories, some ( even the crime investigators ) even thought it was a possible suicide. news tend to spread quickly around the neighborhood, especially when it's a known resident ... it didn't seem like this news won't go going anywhere right away since this was a tragedy. and no, he did not feel any sort of superiority himself even if he didn't, he had to admit that he felt watched on. even when he's speaking to someone or around anyone. it didn't even feel like suspicion anymore but just curiousity. no one had to know what he's done either way. bending the corner he walked slowly, approaching the apartment he took another drag of the cigarette pressing it against his lips for a moment before exhaling. at first it didn't come to him he kept moving closer until he realized someone standing way to still under the street lamp. he didn't approach just yet but swayed to the side catching a glimpse of the person's face. it was so damn familiar. they had a suit case with them aswell so .. fuck. the man's eyes widened as the cigarette in his hand dropped onto the wet road. “ jinho? is that you? ” the question came first from his lips unintentionally, heart hammering violently against his ribcage. everything seemed like it tilted. he showered little to no react of being scared ⸺ instead masking it with a convincing happy face almost elated to see him here. jinho didn't seem like the jinho he had last remembered. much older and mature looking this time way taller. “ youre...back here? in sillam-dong. ” those were really stupid and useless words escaping from his tongue. “ i didn't even know you were coming back ah⸺ i heard the thing about your uncle. ” sorry. he didn’t step closer like it was a form of condolences; he didn’t reach out just yet. his hands stayed where they were, clenched loosely at his sides as if the small distance itself was a form of mercy towards him. “ it's really saddening. ”