In The Dark (SNOWDROP)

"saranghae"

❄︎ — chapter 13 — ❄︎

"Sooho-ya," Jang Hanna said, walking up to her cousin, who was getting ready to leave at the end of the day. "My car won't start. Can you give me a ride home?"

"Sure, noona," Lim Sooho said. "I just need to give these papers to timjangnim. Wait for me in the front."

Hanna nodded, shouldering her bag and exiting the office. She waited by the door of the factory for a couple minutes until she heard the headquarters' door open and footsteps approach.

She turned, but instead of Sooho, Lee Kangmu was walking towards her. Hanna stepped aside, assuming he was just passing through, but he stopped in front of her. She looked away, reading a random paper invoice someone had taped to the wall behind her.

"Hanna-ya," Kangmu said. "Sooho says he has to stay a little later. He asked me to drive you home."

Ssi-bal, Hanna thought.

"Um... I can wait for him."

Kangmu looked her dead in the eye. "He knows."

She didn't have to ask any questions. His eyes conveyed everything with perfect clarity. They stared at each other silently, a million unspoken words hanging in the air.

"Let me take you home," Kangmu finally said, softly. "It's already late."

Hanna's mind screamed at her that this was a bad idea, but she followed Kangmu to his car, parked two spaces away from her broken-down one. She silently got into the shotgun seat, while Kangmu tossed his bag into the back and started up the engine.

Hanna's apartment wasn't that far from the office, and Kangmu easily remembered how to get there. The ride was silent, each acutely aware of the other's presence, but it wasn't quite as awkward and tense as the silence they'd shared in the office. Hanna stared out the window at the passing lights and buildings, her breathing completely silent, even to her. Kangmu occasionally glanced over at her, but he didn't try to say anything.

Soon enough, they'd arrived at the apartment building, and Hanna unbuckled her seatbelt and went to unlock the door of the car, but Kangmu stopped her with one word.

"Mianhae."

She froze, looking back at him. "Sillyehamnida?"

"I know you're angry with me," he said quietly. "I don't blame you. I deserve it."

"Angry?" Hanna repeated. "Anniyo... I'm not angry with you. Just... confused, I think. Disappointed."

"That's much worse," Kangmu said, his hands clutching the steering wheel as he turned his gaze away from her. "Anger and hatred I can take. But I completely wrecked our—"

"Timjangnim," Hanna said softly, reaching over and laying her hand over one of his. "You're tired. We can talk about this tomorrow."

"We can?" Kangmu asked.

"Tomorrow," she said, quickly getting out of the car.

She hadn't taken three steps towards the apartment building when Kangmu also got out of the car and caught up with her, catching her hand.