Anne held herself together, forcing strength into her steps. The city swallowed her whole—endless traffic, blaring horns, towering buildings that blocked the sky. Everything felt fast, loud, and indifferent, as if the city didn't care whether she existed or not.
She wandered without direction until she stopped at a quiet café tucked between tall concrete walls. Inside, the air was warm, smelling of coffee and sugar. She ordered a coffee and a slice of cake and sat alone near the window.
For a moment, the noise faded.
Then a voice cut through the calm.
Low. Heavy. Certain.
"Are you Momo?"
Anne stiffened.
She turned slowly.
A man stood behind her—tall, well-built, with sharp features and dark black hair that fell carelessly over his forehead. His eyes were the strangest part—deep, dark, unreadable, as if they hid more than they revealed. He moved without hesitation and sat across from her, uninvited.
Her heartbeat quickened.
In a city she had never seen before, on her first day, a stranger had spoken a name only her father and grandfather knew.
"Yes…" she said carefully. "But how do you know my name? And who are you?"
A faint smile touched his lips—not warm, not friendly.
"It's my capability."
She frowned. "Capability?"
"My name is Han kai," he said calmly. "I'm a detective."
Her grip tightened around the coffee cup. "How do you know about me? What do you want?"
He leaned back slightly, studying her.
"Didn't I already tell you? It's my capability." His eyes narrowed. "And I want to know why you came to the city instead of staying peacefully in your village. Are you here for your father's investigation?"
The words hit her like a blow.
The café suddenly felt smaller. The air heavier. Every sound distant.
Seeing her silence, he stood up and placed a business card on the table.
"You don't have to answer now," he said. "Think. When you're ready, call me."
As he turned to leave, he paused.
"The city looks beautiful near the riverside," he added quietly. "Especially at night."
Then he walked away—leaving questions behind like shadows.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
By the time Anne reached her building, dusk had settled. The streetlights flickered, casting long, distorted shadows along the walls. As she climbed the stairs, the owner lady stopped her and handed her a few eggs.
"There's something I need to tell you," the lady said hesitantly.
"Yes?" Anne replied.
"After your father left, some people came asking about him. Only for two days. Then they disappeared." She paused. "But three years ago… a young boy came."
Anne's breath caught. "Who? What did he ask?"
"He asked about your family," the lady said. "Your father used to talk about you. I had even seen your photo in the apartment."
Anne's voice dropped. "What else?"
"I told him only about your father's village and that he had a daughter. Nothing more," the lady said. "But he told me—if any family member ever came to the city again, I should inform him."
Everything clicked.
The boy.
The man at the café.
"Did you tell him that I'm here?" Anne asked.
The lady nodded, guilt in her eyes. "He said he was a detective. That he was investigating something."
Anne exhaled slowly. "It's fine. Just… don't tell anyone else."
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Inside her apartment, the silence felt heavier than before. She sat on the couch, staring at the business card. The name printed on it lingered in her mind, forming a connection she hadn't noticed earlier.
An idea surfaced.
Her phone rang.
"Who is this?" she asked.
"Did you forget me already?" came the familiar voice.
Anne walked to the window, looking down at the dim street below.
"Did you also get my number from the building owner, Mr. Detective?"
A quiet chuckle came from the other side.
"Are you the son of Mr. Han?" she asked suddenly.
There was a brief pause.
Then—soft laughter.
"Did you investigate me as well?"
"No," Anne replied, her voice steady.
"It's my capability."