The chapter begins on the bridge.
Cold wind whipped across the dark river. Streetlights flickered like distant stars. Jaeahn stood at the edge, her hair lifting gently, her eyes empty — as if life had already slipped away.
Her toes touched the railing.
And then—
She jumped.
Water roared up to swallow her.
A scream tore through the night.
"JAEAHN!!!"
Jongsuk's voice cracked, breaking apart with fear and helpless rage. He ran — reaching, reaching — but the water closed over her like a dark mouth.
He couldn't save her.
He never could.
The world shattered.
And then —
He woke.
Jongsuk sat up suddenly, breath trembling, sweat sticking to his forehead. His chest heaved as if he had been underwater too, drowning beside her. For a few seconds, he didn't move — he just stared into the darkness of the living room, heart pounding like a drum inside his ribs.
The sofa beneath him felt rough. The clock ticked softly.
A nightmare.
Again.
"Are you awake?" a voice came from the kitchen. "It's so late, Jongsuk!"
Do Hwan.
Footsteps approached, and Do Hwan leaned over the back of the sofa, frowning.
"Why are you sleeping here again? Didn't you go to bed last night?"
"I came home late…" Jongsuk muttered, rubbing his face. "I must have fallen asleep."
Do Hwan studied him quietly.
"Are you still having those nightmares?"
Silence.
Jongsuk didn't answer.
"It's been two years since… everything happened to Jaeahn," Do Hwan continued gently. "You can't keep hurting yourself like this. You have to let your heart rest."
Jongsuk forced a smile and waved him off.
"Okay, okay — stop lecturing. I'm already late. I've got court today. Important trial."
"Hey!" Do Hwan snapped. "Don't cut me off. If you're so late, why did you sleep so long?"
Jongsuk covered his ears dramatically.
"Oh, spare me, Do Hwan! Please!"
"Why? Do you hate me that much?" Do Hwan shook his head. "Am I that annoying?"
"If every girl disappeared from the earth," Jongsuk said, smirking faintly, "I still wouldn't like you."
Do Hwan glared. "You—!"
Before he could finish, Jongsuk jumped up.
"Later! I'm going to be late. Bring my laptop and the files."
"Wait — aren't you going to change?"
"I'll change at the court. Pack my clothes."
"Fine, fine. Go!"
Jongsuk headed toward the door — but stopped.
His gaze lifted to the wall.
Her photograph hung there. Jaeahn's smile — quiet, strong, stubborn — watched him from the frame.
He swallowed slowly.
Do Hwan noticed.
"After court, don't forget what we have to do," he said softly.
"What?" Jongsuk asked.
"We're moving. Remember? Today we shift houses."
Jongsuk turned around sharply.
"What? Why? I told you — I don't want to move. This place… it's not just a home. It's memories. We grew up here. We laughed. We fought. We cried…"
Do Hwan stepped closer, resting a hand on his shoulder.
"Just six months. That's all. I don't want to watch you suffer inside this house anymore. If you still feel attached later, we can come back. Okay?"
A small, tired smile touched Jongsuk's lips.
"Okay, Do Hwan."
"That's better. Now go — you're late."
"Oh no—!" Jongsuk grabbed his bag. "Bye! Meet you in front of the court!"
He bolted toward the stairs.
"Hey!" Do Hwan shouted from behind. "Don't run! You'll end up in the hospital!"
"Okay, Hwan!" Jongsuk yelled back.
Do Hwan blinked.
"Hwan…?" he whispered to himself, surprised. "He gave me a nickname."
He shook his head and sighed.
"He's impossible."
The phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Senior — where are you? We're next! Hurry!"
"I'm coming," Jongsuk answered, hanging up.
A short time later, he reached the courthouse. His junior, Young-min, took one look at him — still half-formal, half-messy — and struggled not to laugh.
"Stop smiling," Jongsuk warned. "It's not that bad."
"Okay, okay, senior. But please change first. We're next."
"I will. Go ahead, I'll follow."
—
Courtroom
The judge entered. Everyone rose.
Today's case: a girl abused by her own father.
Jae Yeon sat quietly, hands shaking, eyes low.
"Please begin the trial," the judge said.
"Before we start," Jongsuk said calmly, "I want to show the court something."
He handed over a phone — the father's phone.
"Check the gallery."
Yeon's father's lawyer scoffed.
"Your honor, this is normal. A father having photos of his daughter—"
"Don't you dare say that," Jongsuk snapped. His voice echoed cold through the courtroom.
He swallowed anger and continued.
"Judge — there's a video. Yeon was changing clothes. He filmed her. Without consent. Please view it privately for the victim's dignity."
After reviewing the evidence, Jongsuk then revealed the call records — conversations about "selling" his own child.
The courtroom went silent.
Even the father stopped pretending.
The judge lowered his head.
"There is nothing to defend. He will be punished."
Jongsuk let out a slow breath. Justice — at least today — had worked.
As he walked out, Yeon ran to him and hugged him tightly.
"Thank you."
"You don't need to thank me, little sister," he said softly. "Live bravely. And if anything happens, call me."
He handed her his card and left.
"That's enough for today," he whispered to himself.
—
His phone buzzed.
Hwan again.
"Come straight to the new place."
"Okay. I'm on the way."
In the car, the city passed by in flashes of gray and sunlight. Jongsuk leaned back, tired.
The phone rang again.
"What is it now?"
"Did you find the address?"
"Yeah. Almost there."
"Our things will be moved tomorrow. It's your holiday, remember."
"What? No, no, no — I don't want to!"
"Yes you do," Do Hwan laughed. "Now hurry."
"Fine. Which floor?"
"Twelfth. See you."
The call ended.
Jongsuk walked inside the building and stepped into the elevator.
A girl slipped in beside him.
She wore a hat. Her hair covered half her face. She kept looking down, quiet, distant.
Why… do I feel strange? he thought.
Like I've seen her before.
The elevator dinged.
They stepped out together.
They walked down the corridor — side by side — both silent.
Curiosity gnawed at him.
Just as he turned to look at her properly —
Someone rushed past, accidentally pushing her.
She stumbled.
Without thinking, Jongsuk lunged forward and caught her.
Their eyes lifted.
Time stopped.
He stared.
Her breath hitched. His hands trembled.
No.
It couldn't be.
But it was.
Jaeahn.
Right in front of him.
I don't know jaeahn lived hear
His chest tightened. Tears burned his eyes.
They stood frozen — neither speaking — the past hanging between them like ghosts.
And the world grew quiet.
End of chapter.