Miso jumps off the bench, looking back at the boy with a slight tilt. For a moment, it appears as though the wrong choice had been made as Jae’s face deepened into a strange sorrow, but it passes. A subtle smile emerges.

“Alright, let’s go,” he quietly says at last.

Their feet make the gentle rhythmic thud of the night, even as they retrace their steps to where they came from. By and by, they pass a convenience store.

“Oy, Miso, let’s grab something for the others,” suggests Jae.

Upon entry, he decides on a few snacks and a pack of banana milk. The cashier handles the purchase and arranges them in a paper bag. Their journey continues. When the dog suddenly hugs the boy’s leg, he laughs.

“You know, you have a way of bringing a smile on my face, Miso,” confesses the boy.

By the time they return, it’s half past eleven. Sungjin greets them, although tiredness is visible on his face. The others have gone back to their own rooms already. Only the leader was patiently waiting in the living room.

“Thank you for waiting,” says Jae, feeling touched. “I had the keys. You didn’t need to.”

“A familiar face at the end of the day is always nice – oh, you bought stuff?” replies Sungjin, surprised.

“We can surprise the others in the morning,” whispers Jae with a growing smile.

[click here to continue]