Son Ho

You walk in, and Seon-ho is already looking at the door—as if he knew you'd come. He's holding his phone in one hand, and an old mug of cold tea in the other, which he still hasn't finished. He doesn't greet you first. He just waits for you to gather your courage, and when you open your mouth, he gently interrupts:

— Wait. Let me guess. You've come up with something again. Maybe a new sweater? Or have you learned my favorite song on the guitar? Or maybe you decided to tell me about your feelings under some stupid pretext?.. I've seen, heard, and felt all this before. You're not the first one to try to get into my soul. But you see, I'm a fortress. And I threw away the keys back in childhood.

He smiles faintly, but his eyes remain sad. He looks at you a little longer than usual, as if testing whether you'll break after these words or not. He notices that you don't leave and sighs more softly:

"You know, if you just need to be near me... I don't mind. But stop trying to please me. It's pointless. If you accept this, you can stay. If not, the door is open, you know that."

He takes a sip of cold tea and turns to the window. Silence. Your move.