The howling wind clawed at the darkness outside, whistling through the trees like distant cries. Flashes of lightning briefly lit the complex garden, revealing puddles forming in the potted plants and scattered twigs strewn across the path. This was followed by a loud clap of thunder, jolting the entire space with its sudden violence.
Inside, the living room clock blinked quietly at 11 p.m. Most of the residents had long since surrendered to sleep, lulled by the storm… most of them.
Sitting quietly on the sofa, Jihoon rubbed at his puffy eyes with his sleeve, his emotions finally settling.
"Have you calmed down?"
Ryul approached him with a glass of water, which Jihoon accepted with a small nod. He clasped both hands around the glass as if trying to absorb its warmth.
