Seina lay face down on the bed, her face buried in a pillow already wrinkled from too many tears. Her phone glowed and vibrated on silent, ignored like a stranger. She couldn't even lift herself up. The weight of last night pressed against her chest like an invisible hand.
Thalya's words echoed in her head, heavy and cruel. "You're a stalker. I should have known."
It was like a shard of glass lodged into her soul—and the more she tried to pull it out, the deeper it sank.
She wanted to blame herself, hate herself, punish herself… but deep down, she just wanted to disappear.
The silence was broken by a sob escaping her throat, until a sweet voice, full of worry, came from the other side of the door.
"Sweetheart? Are you okay?"
Seina blew her nose but couldn't answer.
"Are you crying, honey?" Her mom tried the door, but it was locked.
"I'll make you some tea… alright?"
No answer. Just silence.
Later, she came back with a cup of tea in her hands. Knocking softly, the door opened as if it had slipped away from her grip.
"Sweetheart?"
Seina sat on the bed, shoulders slumped, eyes downcast like she'd just watched a tragedy. Red-rimmed eyes—that look that says "I'm a mess."
Her mother approached and handed her the cup.
"Drink a little, so your head won't hurt later." She sat beside her.
Seina drank while her mother gently stroked her hair.
"You've grown up so much, my little girl."
Minutes later, Seina held the empty cup without saying a word.
"So, what happened?"
"There's a person…" She froze, spinning the cup in her hands like searching for the right words.
"Ah, a person, huh? I get it."
For the first time that morning, Seina looked at her mom. Her surprised, reddened eyes wanted to explain, but silence was already cut short by the woman in front of her.
"A boy broke your heart, didn't he?" She looked down at her wedding ring. "You know, I went through that too, and honestly… it doesn't matter. Move on, sweetheart. Your self-love is worth so much more than anything fake…"
"I… I understand."
"Really? That's good." She stood up, pulling a piece of paper from her apron. "Here, buy yourself something sweet, you'll feel better."
"We're still using this?" Seina took the money.
"Of course, we never know when all this might end."
"I see… thanks, Mom."
Her mother just smiled and left the room.
Seina left the house without much thought. She wore her usual gray shorts, the oversized greenish shirt, a pair of simple slippers, and her hair—messy, untouched for months… maybe even years.
She walked slowly up the street, eyes fixed on the ground. Her thoughts circled back to Thalya again, but not in the same way as before. This time, she wanted to avoid her. She didn't want to hear those hurtful words repeated by the lips of someone she still found beautiful.
"A hotteok would be perfect right now…" Her stomach growled in agreement. "Do they even sell those here?"
The irritating ring of a bell greeted her as she opened the door of a tiny market, a sign right ahead reading: Homemade Korean Food.
A smile tugged at her lips—as if the sign itself had waved hello.
The smell inside was inviting her closer, the sound of something frying was calling her not to be shy.
Approaching the counter, an old lady with kind eyes turned her way.
Even though she looked aside, Seina spoke up.
"E-excuse me, do you happen to sell—"
She was cut off by another voice beside her.
"I'd like a hotteok, please!" the girl said, louder.
Seina turned her head, and her heart nearly stopped. Those silver strands of hair could only belong to one person.
She froze. Just stood there, staring at those beautiful long hair and catching a whiff of sweet perfume.
She didn't know whether to run away—or say hello.