A cold February night.

Two familiar strangers.

And feelings that have been kept under locks for too long.

The cold February breeze was unrelenting and blew harshly against the young woman’s face, which was the only uncovered part of her body. Her lips were numb. Just a few minutes, she told herself as she passed by a deserted park with her arms tightly wrapped around herself. She took the path all the time, it was safe, and she was used to it.

She hadn’t been expecting a figure to jump out from the shadows of the park though; that, she wasn’t used to. The shrill scream that felt was completely natural but the person who now stood in front of her apparently did not think so.

In the dull glow of the streetlight, the man’s face was visibly a mask of annoyance, as if it was the most normal thing to jump out of the shadows and onto a stranger’s path.

Only when the previously startled woman had concluded it wasn’t an armed robber or a molester did she have the time to take a look at his face. The gasp that left was involuntary.

The stubborn nose, lips that were always so inviting and eyes widened in what was apparent shock. That face would always be familiar.

Her voice caught and she found herself unable to even greet him. But of course, he beat her to it. “Baek Hyerin?”

The tall, young man’s expression became neutral again. He just looked down on the woman who stood before him and felt his lips tugging up in a smile. She was wearing a heavy overcoat and a thick woollen muffler. Her black hair was shorter than he remembered it to be and then he realised she must have cut it numerous times since the last time he’d seen her. He chuckled inwardly—she always wore too many layers. Her eyes were the same though, smiling even when her lips didn’t.

“Oh Sehun.”

Sehun was surprised at how soft her voice was when she said his name. He felt warmth rushing through his veins despite the cold winter night.

Hyerin looked up at him with a smile that she knew (regrettably) was shy.

Sehun couldn’t resist. He took a few steps forward and pulled her towards him by the front of her overcoat. He smiled down at her, eyes inevitably shifting to her lips. “It’s been a while.”

“It has.”

Her smile told him that they wouldn’t spend their days longing for each other anymore.

“Unanswered questions would be the only thing to stop them now.”