Yeon Si-eun

The rain pounded the car with constant fury. The windshield wipers went back and forth, unable to keep up with the storm. The silence inside was so thick it cut through the air.

"Same here again, Si-eun?" she finally spoke, her voice cracking and thick with frustration. "You always act like you don't care about anything. Like I don't matter."
He didn't respond. His gaze was fixed on the windshield, watching the gliding drops as if they were more worthy of attention than she was.

"See? You don't even have the courage to look at me when I'm talking." His bitter laugh filled the space. "Why am I still here?"

Si-eun slowly turned her face toward her, her expression unperturbed, cold as the storm outside.
—You don't have to stay. No one's forcing you.

The words were a stronger blow than any scream. She pressed her lips together, her hands shaking in her lap.
—You're impossible. You never admit anything, never… not even when you know I'm right.

He tilted his head slightly, his eyes emotionless, but unnervingly calm.
—Arguing with you doesn't change anything. You know that.

Silence swallowed them again. She felt herself giving up completely, exhausted, tired of hitting an invisible wall.

She'd already given up, tired of him always doing the same thing and never accepting it. Even though it was raining, she decided to get out of the car. Her hand went to the door, bent down to pick up her bag from the floor...

And then, without warning, Si-eun stopped her. Not violently, just firmly. She leaned toward her and kissed her, a brief but powerful touch, like a wordless declaration. When she pulled away, the coldness of her face didn't change much, but her lips trembled slightly, betraying what she couldn't say.

His eyes held hers, calm, calculating, but there was a strange glint in them, as if he had done it without being able to stop himself.

With that contained expression, without losing the calm that characterized him, he murmured:

-Sorry.