The first snow ✗ eunseok

✗ 26

"I'm still walking wherever you go"

Beomgyu hastened towards Eunseok, his concerned gaze locking onto him.

"Have you seen Jiwon?" he asked urgently, his voice laced with worry. Eunseok's expression faltered, confusion etched on his face. "Isn't she resting at the dorm?" he replied, his brow furrowed in puzzlement. Beomgyu shook his head vigorously, his agitation palpable.

"No, she came to work today, but she's been missing for the past four hours" he explained, his words tumbling out in a rush. Eunseok's gaze narrowed.

"Did you try calling her?" he asked, his tone firm but laced with concern. Beomgyu nodded. "I already did. She's not picking up" He tried calling her again, his fingers flying across the dial pad.

"Aera said Jiwon looked like she'd been crying and-" Beomgyu continued, but his words were cut off mid-sentence. Eunseok's eyes flashed with alarm as he strode away swiftly, leaving Beomgyu behind. His long legs devoured the ground, driven by a surge of protectiveness.

"Wait!" Beomgyu called out, rushing after Eunseok, but his voice was lost in the distance. Eunseok's determination didn't waver, his focus solely on finding Jiwon. The thought of her tears, of her vulnerable and alone, fueled his urgency.

Eunseok swiftly navigated through the winding paths of the village, his long legs covering the distance with ease, fueled by urgency and concern. He had often found Jiwon in the serene back garden

"Please be here" he silently pleaded, but his hope shattered when he found no trace of her.

His heart throbbed with fear as the reality of Jiwon's disappearance sank in. This was an unknown village, where could she have gone without knowing the navigations? The thought sent a chill down his spine.

Eunseok's promise to protect her echoed in his mind, now a haunting reminder of his failure. He realized how much she truly meant to him - her laughter, her tears, her quiet strength.

Losing her was unbearable. He couldn't afford to spend another day without her by his side, ensuring her safety. The thought of Jiwon alone and vulnerable in this unfamiliar place was suffocating.

Eunseok hastily retrieved his phone and dialed Anton, who answered on the third ring with a loud yawn, having been asleep. Eunseok cursed under his breath, his impatience growing.

"Trace the number I send you, ASAP" Eunseok ordered, his tone laced with urgency.
"Min Jiwon?" Anton's tone shifted from grogginess to alertness. "Sending you the location now" he replied, his fingers flying across the keyboard.

  ✗

Jiwon's gaze drifted towards the sea shore, where waves crashed against the rugged rocks, mirroring the turmoil brewing within her. The relentless tides, like her emotions, ebbed and flowed, each wave a reminder of the turmoil she couldn't calm.

Despite her efforts to shake off the past, its grip remained unyielding. She often found herself drawn to familiar haunts - the park where her mother's laughter still lingered, the neighborhood shops where cherished memories were made. These places held a bittersweet allure, reminding her of what she had lost.

Her mother's legacy, however, remained a beacon of hope. "Always be kind and help others" she had taught. Jiwon followed this mantra, hoping to make her mother proud. Would she be proud of her now? The question hung in the air, unanswered.

People often remarked on her resemblance to her mother, but none knew the truth. Jiwon had consciously adopted her mother's moralities and personality, ensuring her memory lived on.

By being like her mother, Jiwon kept her spirit alive for Jieun. This realization brought both comfort and pain, a poignant reminder of her loss.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow across the turbulent waters, Jiwon's eyes remained fixed on the horizon, searching for solace, as the sea's fury and beauty wrapped around her until someone had reluctantly interrupted her isolation.

"Angel.."

he found her.. again