The station felt the same as always—steady, predictable.
But for some reason, Kim So Hee felt slightly… distracted.
She sat at her desk, flipping through a report, her eyes scanning the words without really absorbing them.
Her thoughts kept drifting.
Back to earlier.
Back to Soo Bin.
The way she had looked a little hesitant.
The way she had paused before leaving.
It wasn't obvious.
But So Hee had noticed.
She always noticed.
A quiet sigh escaped her lips as she set the file down.
What is that feeling…?
It wasn't concern exactly.
Not fully.
But something close to it.
Something she didn't feel with just anyone.
"Lieutenant Kim."
She looked up.
Kang Shin Jae stood in front of her, holding a cup of coffee.
"You've been staring at that report for ten minutes," he said, placing the cup on her desk.
So Hee glanced at it, then back at him. "I've read it."
"Have you understood it?" he asked lightly.
She gave him a look.
Shin Jae chuckled. "Alright, I'll stop."
He leaned casually against the desk. "You seem off today."
"I'm fine."
"That's what people say when they're not fine."
So Hee didn't respond.
She wasn't in the mood to argue.
Before Shin Jae could say anything else, a voice echoed from the entrance.
"Wow… nothing's changed."
It was unfamiliar to most.
But to So Hee—
It wasn't.
Her body reacted before her mind did.
She looked up instantly.
And for a brief moment…
She froze.
A woman stood at the entrance of the station.
Tall. Confident. Stylish in a way that stood out without trying too hard.
Her hair fell neatly over her shoulders, and her expression carried a calm kind of amusement as she looked around.
Then her eyes landed on So Hee.
And she smiled.
"So Hee."
The name left her lips so easily.
So naturally.
As if no time had passed at all.
So Hee stood up without realizing it.
"…So Ra?"
Kang So Ra walked toward her, her heels clicking softly against the floor.
"Did you miss me?" she asked, stopping right in front of her.
There was a teasing tone in her voice—but her eyes were warm.
For a second, So Hee just looked at her.
Then—
A small, genuine smile appeared.
Rare.
But real.
"You're back," she said quietly.
"I am," So Ra replied. "Finally."
Without hesitation, So Ra stepped forward and pulled her into a brief hug.
It wasn't dramatic.
It wasn't overly emotional.
But it was familiar.
Comforting.
So Hee let out a small breath, relaxing slightly.
"I thought you were staying longer," she said as they pulled apart.
"I was," So Ra shrugged. "But I got tired of being away."
Her gaze softened. "Korea felt too empty without certain people."
So Hee let out a quiet laugh.
A soft one.
The kind she didn't show often.
"You're being dramatic."
"I learned from the best," So Ra replied smoothly.
Shin Jae watched from the side, raising an eyebrow.
"Well… this is new," he muttered.
Meanwhile—
Across the room—
Ahn Soo Bin stood frozen.
She had just returned.
She had been looking for So Hee.
But instead—
She saw her.
Smiling.
Laughing.
Comfortable.
With someone else.
Who is she…?
Soo Bin's grip tightened slightly around the file she was holding.
She couldn't hear everything.
But she didn't need to.
The atmosphere said enough.
"They seem close…" she murmured under her breath.
Lee Go Eun, who had just walked in behind her, followed her gaze.
And immediately understood.
"Oh," Go Eun said quietly. "So that's Kang So Ra."
Soo Bin blinked. "You know her?"
"Not personally," Go Eun replied. "But I've heard about her."
She crossed her arms slightly, observing.
"Childhood friend. Lawyer. Important person in So Hee's life."
Soo Bin's chest tightened.
"Childhood… friend?"
Her eyes shifted back to So Hee.
Still smiling.
Still relaxed.
Still… different from how she usually was with others.
I've never seen her like that before…
"She just got back from abroad," Go Eun added. "Was studying and working there for years."
Soo Bin stayed quiet.
For some reason—
Her heart felt a little heavy.
"Hey," Go Eun nudged her lightly. "Don't overthink it."
"I'm not," Soo Bin said quickly.
Too quickly.
Go Eun gave her a look.
But didn't push.
Not yet.
Back at the center—
"So," So Ra said, glancing around. "Still the same old station."
"So far," So Hee replied.
"So far?" So Ra smirked. "Should I expect trouble?"
"You usually bring it," So Hee said calmly.
So Ra laughed.
And once again—
So Hee laughed with her.
And that—
That was what Soo Bin noticed the most.
Not the words.
Not the situation.
But the feeling.
She looks… happy.
And she didn't know why—
But that thought made her chest ache just a little.