The large grocery bag rustled in Jihoon's arms with each step as he walked down the familiar alleyway, the weight swaying against him to the cadence of his stride.
A bright yellow band-aid now circled his index finger, covering a scratch he hadn't even noticed until Jaewook, his old classmate, pointed it out with an almost-too-quick concern.
Until then, Jihoon hadn't even realized he'd been scratched during the earlier scuffle. The guy was already peeling a bandage from his wallet and pressing it into his hand before he could even protest.
The interaction stayed with him, barely noticeable but present, like a ripple beneath the surface of an otherwise ordinary afternoon.
Before long, the apartment complex came into view, its tall structure spilling a wide swath of shade over the pavement and cooling the air around him.
He entered the lobby and waited by the elevator, glancing briefly at his reflection in the brushed metal doors. A moment later, the doors slid open.
