I stepped back first.
Almost too quickly.
Like I needed distance—
even though a part of me didn't want it.
"I'm okay," I said softly.
Not looking at him.
I could still feel it—
where I had fallen against him.
"Be careful," he replied.
His voice was calm.
But something about it felt… different.
We started walking again.
This time—
a little more distance between us.
But somehow,
it felt even closer than before.
My thoughts were a mess.
I didn't understand what I was feeling.
Or why everything suddenly felt so complicated.
We kept walking in silence.
The sound of our footsteps felt louder than usual.
I didn't know what to say.
Or how to act anymore.
"…You get distracted easily,"
he said quietly.
I looked up, surprised.
"What?"
He didn't look at me.
"You almost didn't notice the car."
His voice wasn't teasing.
Just… calm.
Careful.
I looked away again.
"…I was thinking," I said softly.
"Don't."
I blinked.
"At least… not when you're walking alone."
"You don't have to carry everything in your head all the time," he added quietly.
I hesitated for a moment.
Then quietly—
"What about you?" I asked.
He looked at me, slightly surprised.
"You never really tell me anything about yourself."
I lowered my gaze a little.
"…I don't know much about you."
For a moment,
he didn't answer.
His steps slowed slightly.
Like he wasn't expecting that question.
"…There's not much to tell," he said quietly.
"I just… moved around a lot."
I looked at him again.
"That's still something."
He let out a small breath.
"…I don't really stay in one place," he said.
"So I stopped getting used to things."
I didn't know why—
but hearing that…
made my chest feel tight.
"…That sounds… lonely."
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
He didn't respond immediately.
His steps slowed for a moment—
then continued.
Like he heard it…
but didn't know what to do with it.
"…Maybe," he said after a pause.
His voice was calm.
But softer than before.
I looked at him.
Really looked this time.
And for the first time—
I felt like I was seeing a part of him
no one else noticed.
"But…" he added quietly,
"you get used to it."
I didn't say anything.
Because somehow—
I didn't think that was true.
hesitated for a moment.
Then quietly—
"You don't have to get used to everything alone."
The words felt familiar.
Like I had heard them before.
His steps slowed.
He looked at me.
This time—
really looked.
Like he wasn't expecting that.
"…You said that before," I added softly.
We stopped in front of my house.
Neither of us spoke for a moment.
"Go inside," he said quietly.
I hesitated.
"…Okay," I replied softly.
I turned around—
then walked toward the gate.
I didn't look back.
But I could feel it…
he was still standing there.
He stayed for a moment after I went inside.
Then slowly turned to leave.
"Hey!"
A voice stopped him.
He turned.
The watchman was looking at him seriously.
"You're Jia's friend, right?"
"…Yes."
The man stepped closer.
"You should go home quickly."
His voice dropped.
"A criminal escaped nearby."
"They say he might be hiding somewhere around here."
"The police haven't found him yet."
Sihoon froze.
For a second—
he didn't think about himself.
Only one thing came to his mind.
Jia.
Without another word—
he turned back.
And ran.
Straight toward her house.
I reached home quietly.
The house felt the same as always—
calm.
Normal.
But I wasn't.
My mind was still full of him.
His voice.
His words.
The way he looked at me.
And that moment—
when I fell against him.
My heart started beating faster again.
I shook my head slightly and walked toward the bathroom.
"I should just freshen up…" I murmured to myself.
Maybe that would help me think clearly.
Warm water ran over my hands.
But even then—
I couldn't stop thinking about him.
Then suddenly—
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Someone knocked on the door loudly.
I froze.
My heart skipped.
The sound came again—
louder this time.
I quickly walked toward the gate.
"Who is it?" I asked, my voice slightly unsteady.
The moment I opened the door—
it was him.
Sihoon.
His breathing was uneven.
Like he had been running.
His eyes searched my face immediately.
Before I could say anything—
he pulled me into a hug.
I froze again.
My hands didn't move.
My heart…
felt like it stopped.
"Are you okay?"
His voice was low.
But it carried something I had never heard before.
Fear.
"I was worried," he said quickly.
"You didn't open the door for a while…"
"I thought something happened."
I slowly lifted my hands—
then hesitated.
"…I'm fine," I said softly.
He seemed to realize it too.
His hands loosened—
and slowly,
he stepped back.
For a moment,
neither of us spoke.
His gaze shifted away slightly.
Like he was… embarrassed.
I felt the same.
My heart still hadn't calmed down.
And I didn't know what to say.
The space between us felt different now.
Not far—
but not the same as before either.
Something had changed.
And this time…
I couldn't ignore it anymore.