One of the university's club rooms buzzed with discussion and collaboration, filled with students huddled around long tables, their laptops open, screens glowing with a soft light.
Papers lay scattered across the surfaces --some neatly stacked, others in disarray, covered in handwritten notes crammed into the margins. The air thrummed with overlapping voices, punctuated by the rhythmic clatter of keyboards and the rustling of shuffled documents.
"Alright, everyone, submit your files to me."
A loud voice cut through the noise. It belonged to a guy with bright blond hair. He clapped his hands together, signaling the end of their long meeting.
A collective sigh of relief rippled through the room as students stretched their stiff limbs, rolling their shoulders and leaning back in their chairs after hours of discussion and revisions.
Seated at the far end of the table, Jihoon tapped at his laptop, preparing to send his file. But, fingers halted over the keyboard when a sudden knock on the table startled him. Looking up, he found himself locking eyes with the blond guy.
It was Senior Kijun.
"Here's everyone's file. Why don't you arrange it properly in order and give it to me by tomorrow?"
A sleek purple USB drive was placed in front of Jihoon. The device was smooth and metallic, its reflective surface catching the light as it lay there--seemingly innocent yet oddly weighty, as if burdened with unspoken responsibility.
"Oh, right. And if you find anything that doesn't look right, adjust and refine it a bit."
Jihoon blinked. Wait, what?
Before he could protest, Kijun had already turned away, slipping into an easy conversation with his friends, as if he hadn't just dumped extra work onto Jihoon's lap.
The youth stared at the pendrive, momentarily dumbfounded.
Jihoon couldn't quite grasp what had just happened, but with a sigh, he picked up the flash-drive and slipped it into his bag.
'IguessI'lljustdoitsinceIfeelbadformissingafewmeetings.'
Although Jihoon had kept up with the project discussions in their group chat, he had been absent from some of the actual meetings due to the funeral and the move. He figured he could go through everything tonight and get the work done.
As he absentmindedly zipped up his bag, a sudden shift in the room's energy made him glance up.
Conversations quieted, and all eyes subtly turned toward the blond guy, who was now holding his phone to his ear, his brows furrowed.
"Hmm… yeah? I mean, you can come if you want," the guy said, his face twisting slightly in discomfort as if regretting his words.
A few students exchanged uneasy glances, whispering among themselves.
"Umm… okay."
The guy ended the call and immediately turned to the group gathered nearby.
"Ah, damn! He said he's on his way here."
"Fuck! Why does he keep coming here every day?"
A strange sense of dread curled in Jihoon's stomach. He seemed to have an idea of who they were talking about, and he wasn't about to stick around to find out if his guess was right.
Quickly, he packed up his things, slung his bag over his shoulder, and slipped out of the room. His steps quickened as he moved down the corridor, occasionally glancing over his shoulder.
"He must've lost his mind," Jihoon muttered under his breath, adjusting the strap of his bag as he hurried away.
Keeping his head down, he walked toward the bus stop, his heart still beating a little too fast from the uncomfortable atmosphere he'd left behind.
He didn't even remember getting off the bus. His thoughts were a blur, and before he knew it, he was already walking down the road, carefully weaving through the crowd. His mind was preoccupied, but his body moved on autopilot.
A quick glance at his watch told him he still had time before his shift at the cafe. Deciding to stop by his apartment to freshen up, he took a familiar shortcut, turning off the bustling main street into a quieter alleyway.
As he walked, he exchanged brief nods and greetings with a few neighbors from his complex before continuing on his way.
But as Jihoon turned a corner, something made him stop.
Near a tall wire post, a small child sat alone, his tiny frame trembling as he hugged his knees to his chest. Quiet whimpers escaped him, his shoulders shaking.
Concern immediately washed over Jihoon. He approached carefully, crouching down to speak properly.
"Are you okay? Why are you here alone?"
The child only sniffled, his eyes red and puffy. His lips trembled, but he didn't say a word.
'Didhegetlost?HeevenlooksyoungerthanHaneul.'
Jihoon reached into his bag, suddenly remembering the candies he had bought for his younger brother. He unwrapped one and gently placed it in the child's hand.
The boy hesitated before accepting it, his sniffles quieting slightly as he focused on the small piece of candy.
Jihoon gave him a moment before softly asking, "Do you remember your parents' phone number?"
The child shook his head.
Jihoon glanced at his phone, checking the time. He still had an hour left before work. It was cutting it close, but…
"I'll take you to the police uncles, okay? They'll help find your parents."
The boy hesitated but eventually nodded.
Wasting no time, Jihoon led the child to a nearby station. Fortunately, the officers were able to contact his school and track down his family. After ensuring everything was settled, Jihoon rushed to work, barely making it in time.
The rest of the day passed in a blur.
By the time Jihoon returned home, exhaustion weighed heavy on him. He cooked dinner and told Haneul not to disturb him that night as he had something important to work on.
While Haneul played quietly in the living room, Jihoon sat at his desk, ready to start on the files.
But then--
"Ahhh!!!"
The boy jumped at the unexpected shout. He hurried into the bedroom to find his older brother in full panic mode, frantically rummaging through his bag.
Papers and books spilled onto the floor as Jihoon searched desperately, his hands shaking.
"…It's… gone."
Haneul blinked in confusion.
Jihoon's breath came in short bursts as reality settled in.
The USB…. It's gone.