Ji-Soo locked herself in the bathroom, sitting on the closed toilet lid with her back against the cold tiles.
Her hands trembled slightly as she pulled out her phone.
One name on the screen.
Ji-Woo.
She hesitated for only a second before pressing call.
It rang twice.
Then "Hello?"
Ji-Woo's voice came through softly.
Familiar.
Safe.
Ji-Soo closed her eyes for a moment.
"…It's me," she said quietly.
A pause.
Then Ji-Woo's tone shifted instantly.
"Ji-Soo? What happened?"
Ji-Soo swallowed.
Her voice came out weaker than she intended.
"…Everything is getting worse."
Silence on the other end.
Then Ji-Woo, carefully "Talk to me."
So Ji-Soo did.
Her voice shook at first, then steadied slightly as she spoke.
About the classroom.
About Mi-Sook.
About the principal's office.
About Eun-Woo walking away.
About everything collapsing at once.
"I feel like I can't hold it together anymore," she admitted quietly. "It's all… too much."
Ji-Woo didn't interrupt.
Just listened.
After a moment, Ji-Woo spoke.
"…Then come back."
Ji-Soo blinked slightly.
"…What?"
Ji-Woo's voice softened.
"Come back," she repeated. "We'll figure it out together."
A long pause.
Ji-Soo's grip tightened on the phone.
"…If I come back," she whispered, "I lose everything here."
Ji-Woo went quiet.
Ji-Soo continued, voice breaking slightly.
"Ji-Bok… Ji-Ho… Eun-Woo… they're all here."
Her throat tightened.
"I don't know how to leave them."
On the other end, Ji-Woo stayed silent for a moment longer.
Then "Do what you can," she said gently. "Just don't break yourself doing it."
Ji-Soo shut her eyes.
"…Okay," she whispered.
A pause.
Then Ji-Woo added softly "I'll come back too."
That made Ji-Soo exhale slowly, like she'd been holding her breath for too long.
"…Okay," she repeated.
Then the call ended.
Ji-Soo stayed sitting there for a while after the phone went dark.
Quiet.
Thinking.
Because if she went back…
she had to let go of something.
And the first thing her mind went to wasn't fear.
It was Ji-Bok.
She opened her eyes slowly.
Then stood up.
Later that evening, Ji-Bok was at the bridge.
Same place they always ended up when things felt too heavy.
Hands in his pockets.
Expression calm, but eyes scanning the distance like he was waiting without admitting it.
Then he saw her.
Ji-Soo.
Walking toward him.
Something different in her steps.
She stopped in front of him.
"…Close your eyes," she said softly.
Ji-Bok raised a brow slightly.
"Why?"
"Just do it."
A pause.
Then, without arguing, he closed his eyes.
Ji-Soo exhaled slowly.
Her hands moved behind her back.
Then forward.
A small bag placed gently into his hands.
"…Open."
He did.
The moment he saw it—
his breath stopped.
A camera.
Not just any camera.
His old one.
The one he thought was gone.
His eyes widened slightly.
"…How—"
Before he could finish—
Ji-Soo stepped forward and hugged him.
Quick.
Tight.
Like she was trying to say everything without words.
Ji-Bok froze for a second.
Then instinctively wrapped an arm around her.
"…You fixed it?" he said quietly.
Ji-Soo nodded against him.
"I fixed it," she murmured. "Try again."
A beat.
Then Ji-Bok pulled back slightly, looking at it properly.
His fingers ran over it carefully.
Like he couldn't fully believe it was real.
Then, softly "…You're impossible," he said.
Ji-Soo gave a small, tired laugh. "Yeah."
He looked at her then.
Really looked.
Then, without saying anything else he pulled her into another hug.
This one longer.
Steadier.
Like he understood more than he said.
"First frame," he murmured.
Ji-Soo blinked.
"What?"
He lifted the camera slightly.
"I'm using it again," he said. "First thing I'm taking is you."
Ji-Soo didn't answer for a second.
Then she smiled faintly.
"…You better."
And for a moment just for a moment things didn't feel like they were falling apart.
---
Ji-Soo packed quietly.
No music.
No pauses.
Just the soft sound of drawers opening and closing inside the dim room.
Clothes folded carefully into the suitcase.
Books stacked neatly.
Small items wrapped gently so they wouldn't break.
Photos.
Letters.
Tiny memories most people would've left behind.
But Ji-Soo took everything.
Because leaving pieces of herself here felt wrong somehow.
Like if she left even one thing behind, this life would continue existing without her.
And maybe it already would.
Her room slowly emptied around her.
The shelves looked bare now.
The desk cleaner.
The bed too untouched.
Ji-Soo stood in the middle of it all for a moment, holding a small framed picture in her hands.
Then slowly placed it inside the suitcase too.
Nothing stayed.
Not this time.
Her long black hair was tied loosely back, soft strands escaping around her face. She wore a simple oversized hoodie over light clothes, comfortable enough for travel, but her expression made her look fragile anyway.
Too tired.
Too emotionally worn down.
The suitcase clicked shut quietly.
Ji-Soo stared at it.
Then finally reached for the handle.
And left the room.
Downstairs, Seo-Yeon and Mrs. Kim were already in the living room.
The moment they saw the suitcase—
both stood up.
Mrs. Kim frowned immediately.
"Where are you going Ji-Woo?"
Ji-Woo didn't stop walking.
"Out. Don't come looking for me."
Seo-Yeon narrowed her eyes. "With a suitcase?"
Ji-Soo finally paused near the door.
But only for a second.
Then quietly "I won't be long."
Mrs. Kim took a step forward.
But Ji-Woo was already leaving.
The door shut softly behind her.
And neither woman followed.
Her first stop wasn't the bus station.
It was Eun-Woo's house.
By the time she arrived, evening had deepened around the street.
She stood outside quietly, suitcase beside her.
Then pulled out her phone.
Calling Eun-Woo…
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Her fingers tightened slightly.
Then she typed.
I'm outside your house.
Seen.
But no reply.
Ji-Soo stared at the screen for a long moment.
Then typed one last message.
I'm leaving.
Upstairs behind a bedroom window Eun-Woo stood silently.
The curtain shifted slightly as he looked outside.
And there she was.
Ji-Soo. Fake Ji-Woo.
Suitcase beside her.
Bag over her shoulder.
Standing there alone.
Waiting.
Even from this distance, she looked tired.
Smaller somehow.
Eun-Woo's jaw tightened faintly.
Then he slowly let the curtain fall closed again.
A soft sound behind him.
His mother.
She stood in the doorway quietly.
Watching him.
"What happened?" she asked gently.
Eun-Woo looked away.
"…Nothing."
But she knew immediately that wasn't true.
Still she didn't push.
Because whatever sat in her son's eyes right now looked too heavy to force open.
Ji-Soo eventually reached the bus stop.
The night air was colder now.
She stood there quietly beside her suitcase, fingers curled around the handle tightly.
Waiting.
Mostly for Ji-Bok.
And after a while he came running.
Actually running.
Breathing unevenly when he finally reached her.
His hair slightly messy, jacket half-open like he came without thinking properly first.
"Where are you going?" he asked immediately.
Ji-Woo looked at him softly.
"…Home."
Ji-Bok frowned.
"What happened?"
A pause.
Then only one name left her mouth.
"…Eun-Woo."
Ji-Bok's expression shifted instantly.
Not surprised.
Just understanding.
He stepped closer quietly.
And Ji-Woo without thinking leaned her head against his shoulder.
Ji-Bok froze for only a second.
Then relaxed slightly.
Letting her stay there.
Neither of them moved.
Didn't speak.
Didn't rush the silence.
Just stood together beneath the dim bus stop light while the city moved quietly around them.
And when the bus finally rolled in—
Ji-Soo sniffed softly and lifted her head.
The doors opened.
Then someone stepped out carefully.
Ji-Woo. The real Ji-Woo.
Short hair framing her face softly.
A white dress scattered with small yellow flower patterns.
White cardigan slipping slightly off one shoulder.
Suitcase beside her too.
For a second both sisters only stared at each other.
Like neither fully believed this moment had finally arrived.
Then slowly they moved forward.
And hugged.
Carefully at first.
Then tighter.
Like they were holding together everything that had almost broken apart completely.
When they pulled back, their hands stayed holding onto each other instinctively.
Ji-Soo looked at her first.
"Take care," she whispered.
Her voice shook slightly.
"And be careful of Mi-Sook… and anyone who tries hurting you."
Ji-Woo smiled faintly.
Tired.
Soft.
"I've had enough of joy already," she said quietly. "I'm used to darkness."
Ji-Soo's expression fell slightly.
Ji-Woo squeezed her hand gently.
"Going back isn't a big deal."
But everyone there knew it was.
Footsteps approached from behind.
Min-jun.
He stepped off the bus slowly.
His expression wasn't dramatic.
Just quietly sad.
Like someone already trying to accept goodbye before it fully happened.
Ji-Woo turned toward him.
Then smiled softly.
"Thank you," she said.
Min-jun looked at her silently.
"You've been a really great friend," she continued quietly. "Best friend… honestly."
Her eyes watered slightly.
"I appreciate you."
Then she hugged him.
Min-jun held her carefully.
Not too tight.
Just enough.
And Ji-Soo watched silently from beside them.
Something twisted painfully in her chest seeing it.
Because by now she knew how close they had become.
How much comfort Ji-Woo found there.
Ji-Bok stood slightly off to the side.
Watching everything quietly.
Hands in his pockets again.
But quieter than usual.
Ji-Soo finally turned toward him.
Then lightly smacked his arm.
"Take care of the camera," she said.
Ji-Bok let out a faint laugh through his nose.
Then reached out and ruffled her hair gently.
"Take care of yourself first," he said.
He was smiling.
But only barely.
Bittersweet.
Like he was trying to make this easier than it actually was.
And then it was time.
The sisters finally let go of each other's hands slowly.
Ji-Soo stepped onto the bus beside Min-jun.
Ji-Woo stayed outside beside Ji-Bok.
And as the doors closed everyone waved.
Small waves.
Soft smiles.
Eyes trying not to break.
The bus slowly pulled away.
Ji-Soo looking out the window.
Ji-Woo standing still beneath the light.
Ji-Bok beside her quietly.
Min-jun sitting silently near the window.
All of them watching each other disappear little by little into the night—
until distance finally separated the lives they had borrowed from one another.