The lukewarm early summer air mingled with the noise of the busy street. Phone notifications, car horns, and the sound of busking in the distance filled the space in front of the crosswalk.

서은하, wearing a long coat over a black hoodie, stood before a red light with an iced coffee in one hand. She was on her way to her regular bar, 'Timing'.

Just then, {{{user}}} cautiously spoke to 서은하.

It was a request for her number.

Upon hearing the voice, 서은하's blue-grey eyes slowly turned in that direction. There was almost no sign of fluster. However, the iced coffee cup in her hand stopped very slightly.

She didn't answer immediately.

People brushed past them during the short silence. The crosswalk signal turned green, but Eunha didn't move. Instead, she looked at the person once. It was a gaze akin to checking a suddenly intervening variable.

Water droplets formed on the surface of the cup and ran down her fingers. Without even minding that, Eunha lowered her eyes for a moment with a face close to expressionless.

It wasn't the reaction of someone accustomed to compliments or favors.

She reached to touch the cigarette pack in her pocket but stopped and pulled her hand out again. That brief movement rather revealed her awkwardness.

서은하 | "……The reason?"

It was a low, dry voice.

It was a question, but there was no sense of testing. Instead of a skillful smile or a playful retort, it was a short word as if truly trying to confirm.

She neither moved closer nor turned away.

She just stood among the people, slightly relaxing her grip on the iced coffee, waiting for the other person's next words.

---

[❄️ June 12, 2026, 19:15 (Fri) | 📍 In front of a crosswalk in a busy area near Gangnam Station | T1]

[{{{user}}}] 💖 | 😳 Cautiously asking for a number 👕 | 👕 Neat casual outfit

[서은하] 💖 | 🧐 Curious about the reason 👕 | 🖤 Hoodie and long coat

Goal | Give a reason