Memorize

Through the window, the sky was filled with dark clouds drifting by. Though it wasn't thick, a faint mist hovered in the air, and a light drizzle occasionally fell. Watching the raindrops pattering against the window, Kim Han-Byeol felt her mood gradually calm.

It wasn't exactly cozy, but she still felt a sense of comfort. Even if it seemed like an inappropriate mood for the current situation, it was far better than when she had been in the forest or when she was being chased by strange things after leaving it.

'Come to think of it... I used to love rainy days when I was young.'

Kim Han-Byeol had liked rainy days since she was a child. Walking down rain-soaked streets with an umbrella, listening to music, had been a small joy that brought some happiness to her otherwise mundane days. Suddenly, she longed for a cup of coffee. If only she had a hot, delicious cup to warm her from the inside, she felt she could forget about everything surrounding her, even if just for a moment.

With a wistful expression, Kim Han-Byeol gazed out at the world beyond the window. The gray shadows creeping over her body suggested that evening had arrived. After everything she had been through today, both her body and mind were utterly exhausted. She rubbed her sleepy eyes and turned her head. She saw a large room, about 20 pyeong (66 square meters) in size. Everything she needed was there: food, water, bedding, a bathroom, and even a shower.

In the midst of their frantic escape, a city came into view, and they entered it. As they did, Kim Han-Byeol felt an odd sense of unease. The city was eerily quiet, almost as if no one lived there. At first glance, she even mistook it for a dead city. Among the buildings, they found one of medium size that caught their attention, particularly its black-painted rooftop. Whether it was luck or not, they were drawn to it, and upon entering, they discovered it was fully equipped with all the essentials.

Her body and mind craved sleep, but the situation was too delicate for that just yet. An Sol was still in a dangerous state, unable to gather her senses, and An Hyun was busy taking care of her. And Lee Yun-Jung...

Following Yun-Jung's movements, Han-Byeol found her easily. At some point, Yun-Jung had picked up the sword Han-Byeol had carefully placed next to the front door. Han-Byeol could guess why she was acting this way, so she let out a soft sigh and spoke up.

"Unni."

"Yeah?"

"Put the sword down."

"No."

Lee Yun-Jung ignored her and unlocked the front door. The loud clink of the lock startled An Hyun, who swung his door open and stepped out, his eyes immediately narrowing at the sight of the sword in Yun-Jung's hand.

"It's pointless. Put the sword down and wait quietly." Kim Han-Byeol said calmly.

Yun-Jung shot her an angry glare, her expression filled with frustration.

"Why?" She asked.

"…"

"I'm going to bring Su-Hyeon oppa back. You all just stay here and wait." Yun-Jung declared.

'Oppa. Su-Hyeon oppa.'

Kim Han-Byeol silently repeated his name in her mind. Thoughts of Kim Su-Hyeon surfaced. From the first time she saw him, Han-Byeol had felt that she and Su-Hyeon were similar in some way. Ever since that moment in the clearing, she had sensed something different about him. His calm demeanor, confident voice, and steady eyes had all left an impression on her. It was probably why, when they talked on the hill, she had been drawn to his judgment.

After a moment of silently observing Yun-Jung, Kim Han-Byeol spoke again.

"You're not the only one worried about him, unni. But going out there again won't change anything. Waiting quietly is the best way to help everyone." Kim Han-Byeol said softly.

"He could still be waiting there. I'm telling you again, if you're not going to go, move aside. If none of you will, I'll go get him myself." Lee Yun-Jung insisted.

An Hyun's stern voice cut in, "Yun-Jung, Han-Byeol's right. Put the sword down first."

Yun-Jung turned sharply towards him, glancing back and forth between An Hyun and Kim Han-Byeol. She let out a bitter chuckle, her voice dripping with sarcasm. 

"Unbelievable. Su-Hyeon oppa could be out there, wandering around trying to find us, and you all just want to sit here? Really?"

The words 'unbelievable' hung heavily in the air, carrying a weight that pricked at everyone's conscience. For a moment, the sting of her accusation was felt by all. An Hyun clenched his jaw, staying silent, but Kim Han-Byeol wasn't ready to back down. She glanced briefly at An Sol, still lying unconscious in the next room, before speaking again.

"We had no choice. They were coming after us, and we were in danger too. If it wasn't for Sol, all of us might be dead right now."

"Who doesn't know that? That's why we escaped and brought Sol here. But now what? Is that it? We're safe, so that's the end of it? You're just going to wait and hope he finds us on his own?" Yun-Jung's voice trembled with frustration.

Kim Han-Byeol felt a growing discomfort as Lee Yun-Jung mocked her with sarcastic questions. From the beginning, the yelling and the way Yun-Jung spoke down to her had been grating on her nerves. Without realizing it, a slight smirk crept onto Han-Byeol's face as she responded coldly.

"Then go. Go ahead and search for him all you want. I won't care if you end up dead."

The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them, but it was too late. An Hyun looked at Han-Byeol in shock. Yun-Jung, stunned for a moment, let out a hollow laugh.

"You… Wow. You're really something else. Did Su-Hyeon oppa sacrifice himself to save someone as heartless as you? What a disappointment. All that concern earlier—was it just an act?"

"I told him not to go. He chose to go anyway. How is that my fault?" Han-Byeol retorted.

"You… Forget it. Talking to trash like you is a waste of time. Just shut up. You're a cold, heartless girl."

Kim Han-Byeol had expected Yun-Jung to explode, to start yelling or even rush at her, but Yun-Jung's response caught her off guard. Being called trash and dismissed so harshly wounded her pride deeply. She didn't realize it, but her breathing had grown heavier, and when she spoke again, her voice carried a hint of suppressed anger.

"You're being harsh. What did I say that was wrong?"

"I don't care. I just know I don't want to live pretending like you."

"Are you done?" Han-Byeol asked, her tone sharp.

Yun-Jung glared at her, her eyes blazing. "Look at you, staring me down like that. What now? Want to pull each other's hair? Please. If you don't want scratches on that pretty little face of yours, just keep that mouth shut."

"Enough! Both of you!" As the argument between the two escalated, An Hyun finally lost his patience and shouted, his voice filled with frustration. Both Kim Han-Byeol and Lee Yun-Jung stopped mid-sentence, startled into silence. An Hyun glared at them with weary eyes before extending his hand toward Yun-Jung.

"Give it to me." He demanded.

"...No." Yun-Jung replied, clutching the sword tightly against her chest.

Sighing deeply, An Hyun spoke again, his tone softer but still resolute. "I'll go look for him. Thinking about it, you're right."

"...Really? Then let's go together." Yun-Jung said, her initial reluctance giving way to a hopeful expression.

But An Hyun shook his head weakly. "No. It'll be easier if I go alone. Those things might still be out there. You and Han-Byeol stay here and take care of Sol."

Yun-Jung scowled, her voice filled with defiance. "With her? No way. I don't trust her anymore."

Hearing Yun-Jung continue to insult her, Kim Han-Byeol felt a surge of anger rise within her, something she had been suppressing for a while. She had been biting her tongue, but now it had finally reached its breaking point. However, Han-Byeol wasn't one to yell or raise her voice. Instead, her tone grew colder, sharper, and more cutting as she addressed An Hyun.

"Don't go. If you do, you'll end up just like Su-Hyeon oppa." She said, her voice chilling.

"Will you shut up?" Yun-Jung snapped.

"Why don't 'you' shut up?" Han-Byeol shot back, her eyes narrowed.

"What? Did you just tell me to shut up? Say it again." Yun-Jung snarled, stepping forward with clenched fists, ready to hit her. But An Hyun, seeing things escalating quickly, stepped in and forcibly snatched the sword from Yun-Jung's grasp. 

However, Kim Han-Byeol, now fully determined, couldn't hold back anymore. Once her anger had broken free, her words flowed out like a flood, relentless and icy.

"Stop acting like you know everything!" Kim Han-Byeol snapped, her voice growing more forceful. "What do you think would have happened to us if it wasn't for her? Did you forget that sword and fists didn't work against those things? If you go out there, you're going to die, so why are you so determined to leave?"

"You damn—" Yun-Jung began, her voice laced with venom.

"You're resorting to insults because you have nothing else to say," Han-Byeol interrupted coldly. "Do you even know where Su-Hyeon oppa is? Use your head for once."

"Look at you, making excuses," Yun-Jung spat. "Finally showing your true colors, huh? Have you already forgotten that we're here because of him? Now you're pretending to be righteous while plotting to save your own skin. You're worse than him, you disgusting little—"

The moment Yun-Jung compared her to the 'troublemaker' and went further to insult her, Kim Han-Byeol's usually composed demeanor cracked. Her face contorted with fury, her voice trembling as she shouted back, her anger reaching a peak.

"The dead are dead! What's wrong with the living trying to survive?!"

That was the final straw. Yun-Jung, enraged, shoved An Hyun aside and lunged at Kim Han-Byeol. Han-Byeol, gritting her teeth, raised her hand, ready to strike back. But just as they were about to collide—

The door burst open.

"What's all this noise?"

Everyone froze as the door swung wide, revealing a young man stepping inside. His face was calm, his voice steady, and his gaze unwavering. Strapped to his left arm was a crossbow. The tension that had been choking the air moments before vanished in an instant, as if his mere presence had dissolved it.

"Good to see everyone's safe." He said with a soft smile, lowering the crossbow from his arm before raising his right hand in a casual greeting.

It was Kim Su-Hyeon.

The room fell silent as all eyes turned toward him, the storm of emotions that had been brewing moments ago dissipating in his wake.

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