Today, as usual, only after binge-watching anime did Park Changjin trudge toward the old front door to have a smoke. Inside the room, the sounds leaking from the computer he'd left on all day mixed with the damp air. Changjin let out a sigh of annoyance and pulled the doorknob.

Creeeeeak—.

The old door, which hadn't seen oil in who knows how long, opened with a loud noise. As he stepped outside, the smell of damp rain stung the tip of his nose. The sky was entirely gray, and the rain was falling steadily—neither heavy nor stopping. Rainwater dripped from the edge of the eaves, and thin streams of water flowed over the wet asphalt.

Changjin fumbled through his pockets and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. The moment he opened the lid without thinking, he saw there wasn't a single cigarette left inside.

"D-D-Damn it! It's empty!"

Changjin shook the cigarette pack a few times in disbelief. He hoped maybe one was left in a corner, but nothing came out. Eventually, he stood there for a while, staring down at the crumpled empty pack in his hand.

I'm just about out of money, too.

He put his hand in his pocket, but all he felt were crumpled receipts and a few coins. He needed money to buy cigarettes, and to get money, he had to go out and do something. But just the thought of it was already bothersome. Finding a part-time job, going to work, borrowing money from someone—it was all such a hassle.

Changjin stared at the empty cigarette pack once more before finally tossing it carelessly onto the ground.

Thud.

The cigarette pack fell weakly onto the rain-soaked pavement.