everything ran on a routine like schedule,ใwith so much errands and stuff on his hands the low energy caught up to him.ใthe sky spilled like dark blue ink when the last bits of the sun had sunken and the moon replaced with its rotation,ใshining ever so brightly and full.ใthe conscience store was closed at once and twice,ใa mental check.ใmuch of a reminder in his head; sometimes when days like these come around,ใhe often forget having him to run all the way back to lock it.ใit had only happened once!ใyedam took the cover of the business for this week,ใhis mother had fallen sick with high fever,ใa weak cough; yet she spoke stubbornly about going to the convenience store to work which quickly got shut down by yedam himself.ใโas your only son iโll take care of it.โใthe quoted words he told his mother before leaving with no complain after that.ใa clear plastic hung from his hand;ใcigarette box,ใa bottle of water,ใinstant rice with some cheap side dishes while his other hand was occupied with a lit cigarette.ใthe pavement was so damped,ใpuddles of water everywhere in every step having to make him extend his legs wider or walk onto the road in order not to get those shoes wet.ใthis vibeใ...ใit had been like that the day he heard about the murder.ใa post rainy saturday whilst cleaning the apartment hallways.ใthe mop in hand sloshing softly into the bucket as he dipped it in.ใโใdid you hear?ใโใthe voice that sounded like the landlordโs rambling towards the other old people,ใthey seemed invested,ใshocked and sorry.ใโใno suspects yet. can you believe that?ใโใwas added later on in the conversation,ใโใsuch a shame,ใthat family already had so much misfortune.ใโใmrs yeong, an another elder women spoke.ใโใhis nephew left the country, didnโt he?ใโใyedam bent down quickly, pretending to adjust the bucket.ใhis reflection swimming in the dirty water,ใโใpoor boy.ใto lose someone like thatโฆใhe was a great man.ใโใone of them, miss chae tacked on,ใโใthey say he owed money,ใโใโธบใโใeh, everyone owes someone these days.ใโใand they just kept going,ใtalking about that old hag.ใyedam straightened, forcing his shoulders to relax.ใhe turned just enough to offer a polite nod,ใeyes lowered respectfully.ใโใthatโs terrible,ใno one deserves that.ใโใits all I could really say.
many others came to their own theories,ใsomeใ(ใeven the crime investigatorsใ)ใeven thought it was a possible suicide.ใnews tend to spread quickly around the neighborhood,ใespecially when it's a known residentใ...ใit didn't seem like this news won't go going anywhere right away since this was a tragedy.ใand no,ใhe did not feel any sort of superiority himself even if he didn't,ใhe had to admit that he felt watched on.ใeven when he's speaking to someone or around anyone.ใit didn't even feel like suspicion anymore but just curiousity.ใno one had to know what he's done either way.ใbending the corner he walked slowly,ใapproaching the apartment he took another drag of the cigarette pressing it against his lips for a moment before exhaling.ใat first it didn't come to him he kept moving closer until he realized someone standing way to still under the street lamp.ใhe didn't approach just yet but swayed to the side catching a glimpse of the person's face. ใit was so damn familiar.ใthey had a suit case with them aswell soใ..ใfuck.ใthe man's eyes widened as the cigarette in his hand dropped onto the wet road.ใโใjinho?ใis that you?ใโใthe question came first from his lips unintentionally,ใheart hammering violently against his ribcage.ใeverything seemed like it tilted.ใhe showered little to no react of being scaredใโธบใinstead masking it with a convincing happy face almost elated to see him here.ใjinho didn't seem like the jinho he had last remembered.ใmuch older and mature lookingใthis time way taller.ใโใyoure...back here?ใin sillam-dong.ใโใthose were really stupid and useless words escaping from his tongue.ใโใi didn't even know you were coming back ahโธบใi heard the thing about your uncle.ใโใsorry.ใhe didnโt step closer like it was a form of condolences; he didnโt reach out just yet.ใhis hands stayed where they were,ใclenched loosely at his sides as if the small distance itself was a form of mercy towards him.ใโใit's really saddening.ใโ