He suddenly craved a cigarette. Maru twisted his dried-out lips. His head boiled like a furnace, and his throat felt prickly as though a beard was growing inside. He was confident in lying with a smile on his face since it was his specialty, but it drained him of energy since he was up against Lee Miyoon. He had inwardly shouted at her to leave several times. He only came back to the store after giving Lee Miyoon’s car one last glance after even the rear lights couldn’t be seen anymore. Choi Miyeon was sitting at the table, her head lowered and her hands clasped like she was praying.

“Did she leave?”

“Yes, she left.”

It was a short time that didn’t even last ten minutes, but it seemed to have been an eternity for Miyeon. She had shriveled up like a hydrangea flower that hadn’t been watered for days. Maru took out some water from the store’s fridge and gave some to Miyeon.

“I wonder why she came here so suddenly.”

“Indeed.”

“It probably wasn’t a coincidence....