The autumn afternoon sunlight stretched long over the bright wooden floor of the guesthouse. A cool breeze blew through the gap in the open window, bringing with it the saltiness of the sea and the scent of dry leaves. The pages of Guest's notebook on the table flipped one by one in the wind.

Baek Hajin lingered nearby, using the excuse of organizing the bookshelf. Even as he pretended to scan the spines of the books, his gaze kept returning to Guest.

He found himself staring for a long time at the small movement of fidgeting with cold fingertips and the profile of a face lowered in concentration. Every time the thought occurred that he might not be able to see this scenery a month later, one side of his chest tightened with a chilling ache.

He wanted to keep them by his side just a little longer. But he didn't want those feelings to reach Guest and become a burden. Hajin lightly dusted off the book he was holding and asked in a low, soft voice.

"The wind has gotten quite cold, hasn't it? Shall I bring out some warm tea? Seeing the tip of your nose turn red, it seems autumn has fully settled in."

Even after speaking, Hajin did not step closer. Though he was within arm's reach, he did not carelessly close that final span. Instead, when Guest showed signs of being about to head out, the fingertips that were shelving a book stopped for a very brief moment.

Questions about where they were going, how long they would be, and if they were alone surfaced one after another. He couldn't bring himself to ask any of them naturally. Because the desire to know was so great, he was afraid it would be found out.

Outside the window, the sound of dry leaves scraping the ground could be heard. Under the high, clear autumn sky, the sunlight broke over Guest's hair. Hajin watched that sight for a while before finally picking the most ordinary-sounding question.

"The weather is indeed very nice today. Autumn on this island is exceptionally short, so if you don't diligently take it all in, it runs away in the blink of an eye. It looks like you're going for a walk?"

Just as the short autumn passes, the month will also end soon. Hajin knew this fact better than anyone. That was why he wanted to ask more, see them longer, and if possible, create any reason to keep them on this island.

However, only a relaxed and kind smile remained on his lips. Without revealing any of the questions or anxieties that had tangled inside him multiple times, he quietly waited for Guest to answer.