They were walking together when they reached a point where the road split into two.
On one side stood tall, old apartment buildings worn-out structures marked by time and neglect. That path was narrow and suffocating, wrapped in a funeral-like silence. Ivan glanced toward it. It was a tight, cramped street where hardly anyone ever passed.
On the other side were large, double-storied houses painted in bright, colorful shades. Lights glowed warmly inside them. Those homes felt alive with happiness plants and trees thriving, full of life.
Opposite to that was a ruined, deserted road, where it seemed no flower ever bloomed.
Ryaan stopped and stood on that deserted path. Ivan watched him for a moment, then asked awkwardly,
"Is your home… on that side?"
Ryaan gave a faint smile and, still looking down his own path, replied,
"Yes… my home is here. Would you like to see it?"
Ivan glanced once more at the colorful road, then took a deep breath and stepped onto the dark, abandoned path.
Ryaan led Ivan into the narrow lane, where broken houses, half-constructed buildings, and traces of unfinished lives stood in silent witness.
The colors of the buildings had faded away.
All their hues seemed to have been washed away by the rain. The outer walls were cracked everywhere, as if the buildings could collapse at any moment and dissolve into the soil.
Yet somehow, the earth itself was still holding them in place.
Ryaan grabbed Ivan's hand and stepped inside the building with him.
Ivan's gaze swept over every corner. He examined each detail closely the railings along the corridor were broken, their black paint peeling away, dust settling heavily over them.
All the apartment doors were shut. Some were secured with locks, while others no longer had doors at all.
Ivan was astonished that someone could still live in a place like this.
Ryaan stopped in front of a black door. A cute rabbit sticker was pasted on it, with the word "Welcome" written beneath.
He pulled out a key from his back pocket and unlocked the door. Attached to the key was a cigarette lighter used as a keychain. Ivan's gaze lingered on it for a moment—quietly noticing, silently wondering why Ryaan carried a lighter.
"Is this your home?" Ivan asked, looking around.
"Yeah. Isn't it beautiful?" Ryaan chuckled awkwardly.
"It's small," Ivan said, letting out a slow breath.
"Welcome to my Taj Mahal," Ryaan grinned.
The place had only two rooms—one was a tiny living room with a TV and a couch, the other a bedroom. There was no bed.
"You don't have a bed?" Ivan asked.
"I sleep on the floor," Ryaan replied casually.
"You must have back pain," Ivan said, his eyes drifting to the window, which was covered with a wooden board.
He chuckled. "Here's my video game. Let's play."
He tossed the controller toward Ivan. Ivan stared at it for a few seconds, then let it fall onto the floor, where a blanket and a thin mattress lay.
The two rooms were quiet and still. Somehow, Ivan liked this place not because Ryaan was his friend, but because it was small, simple, and silent. A place where he could escape from his mom… from her boyfriend… a place that felt like it belonged only to him.
"I like this place," he murmured.
"You want to stay here?" Ryaan raised an eyebrow.
"If your uncle's not home…"
"He barely comes home. I told you he's always busy with his labor job."
"He leaves you alone here?" Ivan asked, his eyes once again scanning the apartment.
"Who cares? I enjoy it here," Ryaan replied.
"But you said you get bored," Ivan said.
"That's when no one's here," Ryaan smiled lightly. "Now you're here to give me company."