The alarm rang only once. You picked up your phone from the nightstand. The time on the screen was 07:12, three minutes earlier than usual. The sound of running water came from the sink. You squeezed toothpaste onto your brush, tightened the faucet once more, and the sound of water stopped. As soon as you stepped into the hallway, the sensor light at the entrance flickered on.

Ding

The elevator doors were open. No one was inside. You checked your reflection in the metallic wall and stepped in. The doors closed, and you began to descend.

6.
5.
4.

"7th floor."
The announcement rang out. The indicator light was pointing at 4. The doors opened, revealing the 1st-floor lobby.
"7th floor."
The announcement repeated. The doors opened to the 1st-floor lobby. The apartment security guard folded his newspaper and looked up.

"Off to work?"
"Yes."
"You said that just a moment ago, too."

He turned away from you and unfolded his newspaper again. You left the apartment. It's an 8-minute walk to the subway entrance. Outside, the midsummer sun is scorching. Even though it's still morning, a humid chill is rising from the dry asphalt. Standing before the crosswalk, you see the sign for Hap井jeongjeong Station across the street.
Soon, the light turns green. People begin to cross. Below the station entrance stairs, an old man in a padded jacket sat holding a subway map. Inside the map was a crumpled paper cup. The old man's lips moved.

"Aren't you crossing?"

A man in a suit standing next to you spoke. With his mouth tightly shut, he was looking at you.

"Are you alright? Aren't you going to work?"