Haejin.
"Can I sit?"
"I don't think that's a good idea."
"Please. Just for a minute."
She gestured to the chair.
He sat.
They didn't speak at first.
Just sat there.
Coffee cooling between them.
"I'm sorry," he finally said.
"You keep saying that."
"Because I keep fucking up."
"Yeah. You do."
He smiled slightly.
"I'm working on it."
"Work faster."
"Noted."
Silence again.
More comfortable this time.
"Tonight's going to be complicated," she said.
"When isn't it?"
"Fair point."
"What do you mean though?"
"Just... a feeling. Like something's coming."
He nodded slowly.
"I feel it too."
"Then we need to be careful."
"We?"
"Yeah. We."
He reached across the table.
Stopped himself.
Pulled back.
"Right. Careful."
"Haejin—"
"I know. I get it. Just... it's hard."
"I know."
They sat there a bit longer.
Then other people started arriving.
Breaking the moment.
"I should go," he said.
"Yeah."
He stood.
Paused.
"Whatever happens tonight. We'll handle it."
