enigma ◇ ikon | jinhwan

2.1

He didn't think the day would be any different from any other day.

There was nothing from the previous days indicating a change from her.

Jinhwan arrived at their place at the park. Eun Mi wasn't there yet but that didn't really worry him. There had always been times when she came by late, and it wasn't as if they always planned to be there. It was just that it had become such a routine for the two of them. He was always there on his days off now, and it had always been Eun Mi's spot even before she met him.

She was late -- more so than usual -- and he had thought that maybe she wasn't going to be there.

A few minutes later and he decided to get up. He wiped off the dirt from his pants. When he looked back up, he saw her coming his way.

"Eun Mi-shi!"

She stopped just a few feet away from him, but he could see her clearly. Her hair was a bird's nest and her eyes were bloodshot. She wore an oversized sweater and skinny jeans, matched with her combat boots. She barely covered her tattoos before unless it was too cold out.

Before he heard her story, Jinhwan had always thought Eun Mi was proud of her tattoos. The way she showed it off to the world without a care had led to this assumption. But now he knew, and he realized she was always ashamed. Did she really think that bad about herself?

"What's wrong?" he asked, eyebrows scrunched in concern. It was only then he realized that she was shaking.

She shook her head, and he noticed her tears. She was saying something, but he couldn't understand what she meant. She was speaking so fast, though he caught his name as she spoke.

"Eun Mi, what's wrong?" he asked, taking a step forward.

And then she ran.