Zoya slid the black glasses onto Teahun's face with unnecessary seriousness and placed the cane in his hand.
"Remember," she whispered, struggling not to laugh, "you're blind. Completely blind."
Teahun tilted his head.
"Ah..." he muttered. "The role of a lifetime."
Inside, the restaurant was crowded. Voices overlapped from every direction, cutlery clinked against plates, and soft music played somewhere beneath the hum of conversation.
"Careful. There's a step," Zoya warned.
Immediately, Teahun slammed the cane against the floor.
Thud.
Thud.
THUD.
Zoya's eyes widened.
"Why are you hitting everything?"
"You told me I'm blind," he replied innocently, leaning closer. "How am I supposed to know what's in front of me? A table? A wall? A human being?"
He paused.
"I'm blind, remember?"
Zoya shot him a warning look.
"Stop it. People are staring."
"Oh?"
Teahun leaned toward her ear, lowering his voice into a teasing whisper.
"I can't see them staring. I can only hear you panicking."
He swung the cane slightly to the side.
Tap.
It hit someone's leg.
"Oh—sorry," the man said kindly, smiling at them.
Zoya froze.
"I'm so sorry. He's... visually impaired."
Teahun nodded solemnly.
"Yes. Emotionally, too."
Zoya elbowed him.
They continued forward.
Unfortunately, the cane had apparently developed a mind of its own.
It wandered again—this time dangerously close to a waiter's hand.
The tray in the waiter's grip trembled.
Glasses clinked.
Tea sloshed dangerously close to the edge.
The waiter froze.
Teahun tilted his head.
"Zoya... why is the floor suddenly shaking?"
"It's not the floor," she whispered furiously. "Lift the cane. Now."
He didn't.
The waiter, completely convinced that he was dealing with a genuinely blind man, carefully steadied his tray and stepped aside with a polite smile.
Zoya's face burned.
"Are you blind?" she whispered.
Teahun turned toward her.
"Apparently."
"Why are you doing this on purpose?"
He leaned closer, his lips almost brushing her ear.
"How would I know? I'm blind. You keep reminding me."
Zoya inhaled slowly.
"This is because of the drama upstairs, isn't it? You're getting revenge because you made me lose that bet in front of everyone."
Teahun smiled beneath his mask.
"Congratulations."
His voice was filled with satisfaction.
"You finally understand me."
The moment they stepped outside, cool air brushed across their faces.
Zoya released a long breath.
"Finally."
They walked a few steps.
Then, suddenly, Teahun crossed the walking path with complete confidence.
No hesitant steps.
No cane.
No dramatic performance.
Nothing.
Zoya stared at him.
And then—
THUD.
He tripped.
Properly.
No acting.
No warning.
Teahun went straight down.
"Oh my God!"
Zoya rushed toward him.
But before she could even panic, Teahun started laughing.
Not smiling.
Not chuckling.
Laughing.
Full, helpless, breathless laughter.
Zoya stared at him for two seconds.
Then she gave up.
She dropped down beside him, sitting cross-legged on the pavement, and burst into laughter too.
Within seconds, they were laughing so hard that both had to hold their stomachs.
People passing by slowed down.
Some stared.
A few whispered.
A couple even stopped, looking concerned.
"Oh—he's blind," one man said gently, stepping forward to help.
Then he looked at them again.
They were laughing at each other.
Completely gone.
The man paused.
Then quietly walked away.
The others followed.
"Must've escaped from somewhere," someone muttered.
Neither Zoya nor Teahun cared.
For once, the world around them had disappeared.
And among the crowd, no one recognized the man whom millions adored.
His mask was still on.
His dark glasses still covered his eyes.
And the cane lay completely useless beside him.
From a distance, Minji lifted her camera.
The moment she saw them, she started laughing too.
She almost dropped the camera as she struggled to keep recording.
Up above, behind the glass wall, their friends watched the scene.
And laughed.
All of them.
Except one.
Standing beside Minji was Jeon.J.
He didn't laugh.
He didn't even smile.
His hands slipped into his pockets as he stood completely still, his gaze fixed on the two figures sitting on the pavement.
His face remained unreadable behind the mask.
Cold.
Steady.
Silent.
Watching.
Teahun finally brushed the dust from his coat with exaggerated dignity and turned toward Zoya.
"Now tell me," he said, lowering his voice, "who was he... the one you came here with?"
Zoya stared at him for a moment.
Then she stood.
"I'll tell you once you're standing."
Teahun tilted his head.
"You know I'm blind. I need support."
Zoya narrowed her eyes.
She grabbed his arm as if she were about to help him up—
—and suddenly let go.
Teahun dropped straight back onto the ground.
"Zoya!"
"Stand up on your own," she snapped. "Or I'm leaving."
Teahun opened one eye and looked at her.
Then, without another word, he stood up properly.
The next second, he slipped right back into his act.
His shoulders hunched.
His steps became uncertain.
The cane began tapping from side to side.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Zoya glared at him.
"Stop waving that cane around. You're going to hit someone again."
They entered White Bowl Kitchen, where the crowd was just as thick.
From the doorway, Minji leaned closer to Jeon.J.
"Where are they going now? Come on. Let's see."
"I'm not going."
Jeon.J's answer was flat.
"If you want to, go."
Without another glance, he turned and walked back inside the restaurant.
Minji sighed.
"When they come back, I'll ask."
She followed him inside.
At the reception desk, Zoya smiled politely.
"Excuse me. Where can I find Mr. Ji-ho?"
The moment she said the name Ji-ho, Teahun's ears practically perked up.
He leaned toward her.
"Oh..."
His voice was filled with sudden interest.
"So his name is Ji-ho?"
Zoya elbowed him hard in the stomach.
"Oof!"
Teahun immediately clutched his side.
"You're attacking a disabled man. I can sue you."
"Stand still," Zoya hissed. "Overacting shop."
The receptionist checked the system.
A few moments later, Ji-ho appeared from inside.
The second Zoya saw him, she leaned toward Teahun.
"No more acting," she warned softly. "Just stand quietly."
Teahun smiled.
A dangerous smile.
Zoya knew immediately.
He was not going to behave.
"I thought you wouldn't come," Ji-ho said warmly as he approached.
"We were actually about to leave," Zoya replied with a smile. "But then I thought I should see your restaurant."
She glanced around.
"Who knows when I'll be back again?"
Ji-ho looked surprised.
"So... you're leaving tomorrow?"
Teahun's head turned sharply toward Zoya.
Where is she going now?
"Maybe tomorrow," Zoya answered casually.
Teahun immediately interrupted.
"Zoya."
She looked at him.
"Aren't you going to introduce me?"
Zoya clenched her jaw.
"Of course."
She turned toward Ji-ho.
"He's... a friend of a friend. He wasn't feeling well during dinner, so I brought him along for some fresh air."
Behind the dark glasses, Teahun stared at her.
Clever girl.
Sometimes I lose bets.
Sometimes I go blind.
Sometimes I get sick.
He almost sighed.
What else did she turn me into today?
"Oh, please be careful," Ji-ho said kindly. "It's crowded here. You could get hurt."
That was enough.
A flicker of real irritation crossed Teahun's face.
"I—"
Zoya immediately stepped forward.
"No, it's fine."
She smiled politely at Ji-ho.
"We should go. You're busy."
Then, more gently, she added,
"And please take care of Mr. Donghyun."
Ji-ho hesitated.
"At least have something. Tea? Coffee?"
Teahun leaned toward Zoya.
"I want coffee."
"No."
The answer came instantly.
Teahun slowly turned toward her.
"I won't have anything," Zoya continued calmly, "and he's not allowed coffee. His health isn't good."
Teahun burned behind his glasses.
He looked like he had just been personally betrayed by the entire universe.
"Bye," Zoya said cheerfully.
Before he could protest, she grabbed his arm and dragged him outside.
The moment they were outside, Zoya started laughing.
She took a few steps.
Stopped.
Laughed again.
Walked.
Laughed again.
By the time they reached Riverlane Table, she was barely able to breathe.
The moment the others saw them, everyone burst into laughter.
Zoya laughed with them.
Teahun, however, looked murderous.
"I'm blind."
He pointed at himself.
"I'm sick."
Another point.
"I'm not allowed coffee."
He glared at Zoya.
"Apparently, I have no rights."
Zoya laughed even harder.
The others joined in.
Teahun began reenacting the entire incident dramatically, twisting his face, imitating Zoya's voice, and loudly listing all the crimes she had committed against him.
Everyone was laughing.
Even Jeon.J smiled.
Just for a second.
Then his eyes shifted toward Zoya.
The smile disappeared.
His expression became cold again.
Zoya felt it.
She slowly looked up.
Their eyes met.
She couldn't understand that look.
She only knew that ever since she had arrived, Jeon.J had been watching her like that.
Distant.
Unreadable.
Cold.
And somehow...
uncomfortable.
Everyone settled down with their coffee after dinner.
The mood was warm again, the earlier laughter still lingering around the table.
Zoya sat slightly apart from the others, quietly scrolling through her phone.
"How is Mr. Donghyun now?" Minji asked.
Zoya looked up.
"He's better now."
She paused before adding,
"Like I told you earlier, Ji-ho is his son. White Bowl Kitchen is Ji-ho's restaurant. Mr. Donghyun's health suddenly worsened, so Ji-ho brought him here."
Minji nodded.
"That's good. I'm glad he's better."
"So..." Hosu leaned back in his chair. "What's the plan for Easter? It's in two days."
"You tell us," Minji replied easily. "If everyone is free, we can plan something together."
Sophia, Hana, and Ruhi immediately exchanged excited smiles.
Zoya, however, remained quiet.
Her attention returned to her phone.
"Then it's decided," Kim Joon announced. "Easter is at our place. You're all invited."
"Wow!"
"Done!"
The girls cheered while the boys agreed just as enthusiastically.
Zoya said nothing.
"Let's go," Minji said eventually as everyone finished their coffee and began getting up.
Minjo noticed the cane lying nearby.
He picked it up and handed it to Teahun.
"Teahun, your cane."
Then he looked around.
"Where are your glasses?"
Teahun swatted Minjo lightly on the waist.
"Ouch!"
Minjo exaggerated the reaction.
"If you can walk this well, I'll just keep the cane."
He stepped aside, still laughing.
Zoya adjusted the strap of her bag.
"Minji, I just need to buy one or two things from the supermarket. I won't be able to buy them in the morning."
Minji paused.
"Why won't you be able to?"
Zoya looked at her calmly.
"Because I'm leaving tomorrow morning."
The laughter disappeared.
Everyone stopped.
For one brief second, even the air around the table seemed to change.
Jeon.J's hand paused on the zipper of his bag.
Only for a second.
Then he continued pulling it closed as if he hadn't heard anything.
"But we just talked about Easter," Minji said, confused. "We were going to go after Easter."
"No, Minji."
Zoya gave her a small smile.
"I've already booked my ticket. I'm taking the morning train."
"When did you do that?"
"Just now."
Zoya glanced at her phone.
"I asked Ji-ho to book it."
Minji's expression changed.
"Oh..."
She finally understood.
"So that's what you were doing on your phone."
Zoya nodded.
"Please, you all come after Easter. Let me go."
"That doesn't make sense," Minji protested. "We came together. We'll leave together."
"I had to go."
Zoya looked at all four girls.
"If I'd told you earlier, you wouldn't have let me leave."
She smiled faintly.
"You know I have work."
"But—"
"Enough."
Her voice was gentle, but firm.
"It's getting late. I still need to pack."
No one answered.
The boys stood quietly, listening.
Jinhun finally spoke.
"It would've been nice if you stayed."
Zoya smiled.
"I know."
A small silence followed.
"I have to go."
Minjo gave her a soft smile.
"We really enjoyed these days with you."
He paused.
"Especially when you disappeared..."
Everyone chuckled.
"...or when your friends forgot you."
Zoya laughed softly.
"I enjoyed it too."
Then Hana suddenly raised her voice.
"Can we take a picture?"
Everyone looked at her.
"For memory."
The sadness in the air broke for a moment.
Everyone laughed.
"Come on," Jinhun said.
"I'll take the picture," Zoya offered. "You all stand."
Yomin frowned.
"Why won't you join us?"
Zoya shook her head lightly.
"My pictures never turn out nice."
"Stop it."
Minji walked over, grabbed her hand, and pulled her into the group.
"No excuses. Come here."
She set the camera down and turned on the five-second timer.
Everyone quickly gathered.
Teahun, Minjo, and Hosu crouched in front.
Hana, Ruhi, and Sophia stood together on one side.
Kim Joon, Yomin, and Jeon.J stood behind them.
Zoya stood at the far right, next to Jinhun.
Her scarf was wrapped gently around her neck, as it always was.
Five seconds.
Four.
Three.
Two.
One.
Just before the camera clicked—
Zoya looked away.
Click.
A memory was captured.
A simple photograph.
A group of friends smiling together.
A moment that none of them knew would soon become something much more painful.
Because sometimes...
you don't realize you're saying goodbye
until the goodbye has already happened.
To be continued...
Regards,
ZK💌