Hee-yeon was heading home. She seemed to have fallen asleep there, stopping by her sisters tomb and sitting down for a while. The sun was already setting by the time she woke up.

The alarm for the missed calls and unanswered texts on her phone was blaring. After hastily replying back to her parents and friends she got on the bus back to Seoul.

Hee-yeon buried her body in a window seat on the right as she caught her breath.

Why did I fall asleep so suddenly? Thats where

A strange thought came up, but it wasnt very unconvincing, considering that shed been sleepless the last few nights. Hee-yeon always suffered from severe insomnia when the anniversary of her sisters death was approaching.

Not only her but her parents as well. Her mother, who normally suffered from depression, became rough around the edges this time of year, and she would randomly burst into tears while in the middle of laughter.

Her father tried his best to soothe her, but it didnt seem to be working. Because in the end, it led to them raising their voices and arguing.

Noah keeps appearing in my dreams. And the kid who cant find the body Youre the one who said lets adopt her. You killed her!

Whats wrong with you? Youre the one who neglected Noah. What were you thinking, becoming a mother and not caring for your children?

Though itd been three years since Noahs death, nothing had changed. Noah strangely clung to everyones memories and didnt fall away for a moment.

From time to time, Hee-yeon wondered if her sisters soul was roaming their home.

But even so, it was inevitable. Maybe she started to blame them after the death of her sister, who was like a puppet whose strings were about to break but smiling every time she saw Hee-yeons face.

The meaningless scenes outside the bus window passed by. A few more stops; a few more people got on and got off. It seemed to be making its way to downtown Seoul, but even that disappeared.

This was at one point when she was looking out the window at the side of the road so numbly.

She saw someone through the large window on one side, sitting in a cafe. A brown-haired woman wearing a red baseball cap.

The cap, bigger than her head, was covering half her face. The shape of her slender jawline, thin cheeks, and mouth seemed unfamiliar and familiar at the same time. The bright brown hair, which didnt look like itd been dyed, was scattered all over her shoulders.

The man sitting opposite her bent over to tidy her hair for her. With her plump lips, the woman was seen complaining about something. The man, resting his head on the back of his hand, laughed as he listened to the woman.

It was just one part of a normal, peaceful evening scenery. It was that of a lovely but uneventful relationship. But strangely Hee-yeon couldnt take her eyes off them.

Dont tell me

She was staring at the couple for a few seconds when she shot up out of her seat.

Sir, hold on. This is my stop!

The bus, which was about to take off, slowly halted. Hee-yeon ignored the darting stares at her and hastily ran out of the bus. She ran straight to the cafe and got mixed in with a group of people who had just entered.

So, ahem. What did you do with Muell for half a day?

I took a look around this world. And I bought some things I needed.

What is it that you need here? Come to think of it, what is that package? Oh, my. Am I cra

Their conversation didnt go well due to a roar of noise. Because of the people going in and out of the cafe, their forms at the table repeatedly appeared and disappeared.

Youve been paying attention to this since you decided to follow me, right? Thats why you kept talking over and over about three meals.

Because it is important to eat evenly.

Now you dont deny it.

By the time Hee-yeon was barely able to grab a seat, it was already too late. They were standing to leave the cafe. The woman with the red cap still pulled down to her nose grab the mans hand that he held out.

Hee-yeon sparsely heard the contents of their conversation.

My eye hurts

They should. Since you bawled so much. Let me take a look.

Contrary to what he had said as natural karma, the man tilted her cap up and looked closely at her face. Perhaps she was embarrassed, she pulled it back down.

Ive thought about it before, too, but when Im embarrassed, can you just leave me alone for a moment? Must you behave so cruelly?

Then you shouldnt have said that your eye hurts.

make me.

Stop whining and keep this on your eye. You have to stop the swelling so it doesnt burn.

No doubt it was Hee-yeons sisters voice. Her lips opened in silence. It still wasnt even nighttime and it felt like she was dreaming. Puzzled, she rubbed her eyes, but Noahs form as she exited the cafe did not disappear.

On her right, a child was holding her hand. A child with curly black hair. She thought maybe he was about five years old.

Holding a drink with a straw in it, he turned his head.

Their eyes met with the window between them.