Please let our paths not be crossed due to unavoidable circumstances of being unable to contact, and may the reason be trivial.

“Is Eunjae missing?”

“I was waiting in front of the academy after finishing class, but couldn’t reach her and when I went up, she said today’s classes were canceled…”

“P Studio. I’ll come there. Please wait there.”

He will definitely go there. One responsibility is strong like a fool. He is not someone to irresponsibly quit like this.

After answering the call, Sunwoo rushed out like crazy and searched every possible place Eunjae might have gone.

The shopping district near the academy and hospital. Only those, but he looked around without missing anything. However, there was no trace of Eunjae anywhere.

Already, for who knows how many times, the call goes to voicemail.

With a deep sigh, Sunwoo pressed the end button while looking at the approaching clock for the commuting time and unavoidably turned the steering wheel towards the hospital.

Drenched and staggering, he appeared. The inside was stirred, but no sound or gaze could be felt. Now it seemed to have reached a state that couldn’t be controlled on its own.

“Um, Professor?”

Ah. He was in the middle of a consultation. Sunwoo quickly organized his scattered thoughts as he watched the patient, who looked like Eunjae’s peer, during the consultation.

“Uh… take the medicine and I’ll see you in three months.”

“Thank you. Um, Professor. It’s not much, but please have this.”

“Thank you.”

After the last patient left, Sunwoo looked down at the grape-flavored candy that the patient had given him.

Crinkling the candy wrapper in his hands, he glanced down at his quiet phone. Lost in thought for a moment, Sunwoo quickly reached for the internal phone.

“Nurse, are there any patients being received right now?”

[No, there aren’t. Are you leaving work?]

“Yes, something came up, so I think I need to go in. Is that okay?”

[If you can go in just 5 minutes early, that’s fine. Please go in quickly.]

After putting down the receiver, Sunwoo quickly took off his gown and put on his jacket. About to grab the jacket that had become damp, he stopped. He looked down at the quiet phone with a slightly wet gaze. As if lost in thought for a moment, Sunwoo quickly reached for the internal phone.

“Driver, is it ready?”

[Professor… The part-time worker says today’s a day off.]

When Sunwoo remained silent, the driver’s bewildered breath sounded clearly through the phone.

[S-Sorry. Professor. I should have investigated more thoroughly.]

“I’ll hang up.”

As soon as the call ended, Sunwoo threw the phone into the passenger seat. Leaning against the driver’s seat, he took a deep breath.

It’s not because of the driver that Eunjae disappeared. He’s venting his frustration in a harsh place.

The suitcase he saw in the morning kept turning around in his head. Sunwoo forcibly erased that image and pressed Eunjae’s number again.
Even though I didn’t expect to receive it, I couldn’t hide the growing restlessness as the signal beeped longer.

She already went. She already left. Like this, without a word. Without any greeting, smiling so brightly like that?

There’s no way. Your warmth that was in my arms is still here, so vivid.

“Where on earth did you go?”

Sunwoo parked his car near the officetel and revisited the place he had checked in the morning. Due to the continued monsoon, as the afternoon approached, the chilly wind gradually blew.

Pitter-patter. Although rainwater pooled on the roadside, Sunwoo did not care and walked through the rain.

The umbrella hasn’t functioned for a long time due to the heavy rain. Somehow, it felt cumbersome, so he didn’t use it at all. Rain quickly soaked into the shirt.

I’m worried that she might be sitting somewhere on the street crying. The gaze that was heading towards the building now searched every corner of the street.

Did she take the umbrella with her? She didn’t leave it at home again, right?

“If you get wet in the rain, you’ll catch a cold again.”

Rather, should I have divorced her? Should I have given her a generous alimony? If I had, would I worry less than now? Maybe that would have been a better choice.

Engulfed in thoughts that spread without context, Sunwoo suddenly found himself standing blankly in front of the officetel. In a situation similar to some time ago, Eyerim suddenly came to mind.

Sunwoo searched the saved phonebook just in case and called Eyerim.

[Yes… Hello.]

“How have you been…? By any chance, is Eunjae with you right now?”

[No? What are you talking about? What happened to Eunjae?]

Eyerim’s voice was noticeably tense.

“I can’t reach her right now.”

[What? No… Why. Weren’t you doing well? What in the world is going on…?]

“If, by any chance, she contacts Eunjae―”

[Eunjae doesn’t cut off contact without any reason. You should know better as her husband. Even if she contacts me, if Eunjae doesn’t want it―]

“Don’t ask me anything and just stay with me for a while.”

It would be reassuring to know where she is, so… Please…

“Please.”