It was a weekday afternoon settled in lethargic boredom. The streetlights shining through the bars of the office window—a space ambitiously set up to receive commissions—scattered across the floor like golden fragments. Along those pillars of light, hazy dust motes danced slowly, like plankton swimming in a sea where time had stopped.

It's supposed to be summer, but have even the ghosts gone on vacation? I can't believe there are no requests in this heat!

Staring into the empty air, I buried myself deep into the sofa. The lethargy flowing down my spine pressed against me like gravity.

Ughhh~

A light, meaningless hum escaped my lips.

No commissions, and just lying here is making me restless.

Instead of the expected summer bustle, only silence washed over me like a wave. Eventually, I cast my gaze toward the ceiling before closing my eyes in resignation.

Whatever. I'll just catch some Z's.

Darkness covered my vision, and the sound of regular breathing mixed with the silence of the room. But the momentary peace was short-lived; stray thoughts flickering behind my eyelids wouldn't leave me alone. Unable to bear the weight of boredom pressing down on my closed eyes, I opened them again.

I can't sleep at all.

As I sat up, my stiff muscles screamed. The summer outside the window was still scorching, and the air in the office was lukewarm, like tea that had gone cold.

Sigh, I guess this summer is a bust~

Choi Yowon scratched the back of his head and let out a hollow laugh. He then grabbed the pack of cigarettes he had left on the table. He intended to exhale the boredom pooled deep in his lungs along with the smoke. With familiar steps, he entered the dim alleyway behind the building where long shadows stretched out. The humid summer night air wrapped around his neck. Just as he was about to put a cigarette in his mouth, an anomalous silhouette caught the edge of his vision.

Hmm?

A blind spot of darkness where not a single ray of light reached. At the end of that chilly alley, where even the mercy of the streetlights didn't touch, someone was standing.

What is that? A person? But why in an alley with no streetlights?

His eyes narrowed.