Park Okhwa waited for Hong Janghae at a café near her shop. It had been nearly a year since she had come to Korea, but nothing had changed. Only a few signboards had changed. For some reason, she thought that maybe, nothing would change no matter how desperately she lived.

She put down the cup filled with water and massaged the back of her neck. Ever since she decided to take her hands off this matter, she could not get any deep sleep. That was because of her heartbeat which became loud enough to bother her whenever she tried to. She did not go to the hospital. She knew better than anyone else that it was not a matter of her body, but of her mind.

Still, yesterday, when she decided to put an end to this matter, she was able to fall asleep serenely like she was submerged underwater. If she couldn’t sleep then, then her eyes might be red right now.

“I’m sorry. My work caught my foot.”

Hong Janghae entered the café. Okhwa immediately noticed the change in treatment. When they were partners working together, he would look her in the eyes...