The night had settled quietly over the city, the soft glow of streetlights stretching across the pavement as people slowly went their separate ways.
Dinner had ended.
But the feeling it left behind… hadn't.
"I'll head this way," Kang So Ra said, adjusting her coat.
She glanced briefly at So Hee, then at Go Eun.
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight," So Hee replied.
Go Eun nodded politely. "Goodnight."
Soo Bin gave a small wave. "Get home safely!"
So Ra smiled faintly, then turned and walked off, her presence lingering even after she disappeared from sight.
For a moment—
It was quiet.
"I should go too," Go Eun said, turning slightly toward Soo Bin.
Soo Bin blinked. "Already?"
"You look tired," Go Eun replied gently. "And I have an early shift tomorrow."
Soo Bin hesitated.
"…Okay."
Go Eun studied her for a brief second—like she wanted to say something more.
But she didn't.
Not here.
"Call me when you get home," she said softly.
"I will."
Then Go Eun gave her a small smile… and left.
Now—
It was just the two of them.
Soo Bin shifted slightly, suddenly aware of the quiet.
"Um… I'll go too then—"
"I'll walk you."
She stopped.
"…What?"
So Hee looked at her, calm as always.
"It's late."
Soo Bin blinked, caught off guard.
"You don't have to—"
"I know."
Simple.
But that made it harder to refuse.
"…Okay," Soo Bin said quietly.
They walked side by side.
The night air was cool, a soft breeze brushing past them as the sounds of the city faded into something calmer, more distant.
For a while—
Neither of them spoke.
But it wasn't uncomfortable.
Soo Bin kept her hands tucked into her sleeves, her steps slightly slower than usual. She wasn't sure why her heart felt like this—beating just a little faster, a little louder.
"Were you uncomfortable?" So Hee asked suddenly.
Soo Bin looked up. "Huh?"
"At dinner," So Hee clarified.
Soo Bin hesitated.
"…Why would you think that?"
"You were quieter than usual."
Of course she noticed.
Soo Bin let out a small laugh. "You really pay attention to everything, don't you?"
So Hee didn't respond right away.
"…Only when it matters," she said.
Soo Bin's steps slowed slightly.
Something about that—
It lingered.
"I wasn't uncomfortable," she said after a moment. "Just… thinking."
"About?"
Soo Bin glanced at her.
Then looked ahead again.
"…Nothing important."
A lie.
A very obvious one.
But So Hee didn't push.
They kept walking.
After a few minutes, Soo Bin spoke again—this time more quietly.
"You and So Ra… are really close."
So Hee's expression didn't change much.
"She's an old friend."
"That's all?"
The question slipped out before Soo Bin could stop it.
She froze.
"…Sorry, I didn't mean—"
"It's fine."
So Hee's voice was calm.
Steady.
"She's important," she said simply. "But that doesn't mean everything stays the same."
Soo Bin blinked slightly.
There was something in that answer.
Something… reassuring.
"Oh," she said softly.
They walked a little further.
Then—
Without thinking—
Soo Bin stepped slightly closer.
Not too obvious.
Not too much.
But enough that their arms brushed.
Just slightly.
She froze immediately.
Did I just—
But So Hee didn't move away.
Instead—
She slowed her pace just a little.
Matching Soo Bin's steps.
And for some reason—
That made Soo Bin's heart race even more.
Neither of them mentioned it.
But neither of them pulled away either.
"Be careful next time," So Hee said after a while.
Soo Bin blinked. "About what?"
"Not eating properly," So Hee replied. "You barely touched your food."
Soo Bin looked down, a little embarrassed.
"You noticed that too…?"
"Yes."
"…I wasn't that hungry," Soo Bin muttered.
So Hee stopped walking.
Soo Bin took another step before realizing, then turned.
"What is it?"
So Hee looked at her.
Not stern.
Not cold.
Just… focused.
"That's not a good habit," she said. "You need your energy."
Soo Bin blinked.
Then laughed softly.
"You sound like my mom."
"Then listen."
There was no hesitation in her voice.
And for some reason—
That made Soo Bin smile.
"…Okay," she said quietly.
They started walking again.
This time—
Closer.
More natural.
As if the space between them had quietly changed.
When they reached Soo Bin's street, she stopped.
"This is me."
So Hee nodded.
"…Get some rest."
Soo Bin hesitated.
Then—
"…Thank you."
"For what?"
"For walking me home."
A small pause.
Then Soo Bin added, more softly—
"…And for earlier."
So Hee looked at her.
"For saying I did well."
There it was again.
That warmth in Soo Bin's voice.
That sincerity.
So Hee felt something shift slightly in her chest.
"You did," she said.
Simple.
But this time—
Her voice was softer than before.
Soo Bin smiled.
And for a moment—
Neither of them moved.
The air felt… different.
Quieter.
Closer.
Almost like something was about to happen—
But it didn't.
"Goodnight," Soo Bin said instead.
"…Goodnight."
She turned and walked inside.
So Hee stood there for a second longer than necessary.
Then—
She turned and walked away.
But this time—
Her thoughts weren't as calm as usual