Seoul mornings have always been cold but it was much colder today. It's noticeable, the drop in temperature.

Shivers run down bodies even through the thickest layers of clothing and mere exhales created clouds. The morning was also gloomy, a stark contrast to the usual sunny days Seoul basked in.

Even the faces of the people reflected the somber weather and Min Song-hee tries not to feel so downcast. She understood, though, why it was all like this- why everyone was like this.

How were people supposed to feel when another person too young breaks the headlines? What were they supposed to think after last night's reminder that the safety of their daughters or sisters or their own selves could no longer be guaranteed?

A shudder runs down her spine. It's absolutely terrifying and musing over it made Song-hee incredibly uneasy.

Unconscious to her, she starts to rub her arms through her pale-colored coat - a nervous habit she's always had.

Is she crazy? She must be. She has to be. Pursuing learning more about this killer for a new publication under her belt?

'It won't be just for that anyway' is what she tells herself.

She also tells herself that the danger is justified, that she would essentially be helping the whole of Seoul by her own means of field work on the 'Lotus'- information, suspects, motives, more patterns, more links in the killings, hidden pieces that might complete a bigger picture. But at what cost, now that more and more victims are showing up on the news?

She sighs and closes her eyes, her breath forming and her thoughts reflecting the now-obvious truth of her intentions.

If only the money being offered wasn't so good, then maybe she wouldn't even consider doing this. She's not dumb or naive - she knows that the pay is so high because of how dangerous obtaining information is.

She's just torn - she wants to do it, maybe even teetering on the edge of needing to, but -again- at what cost?

Her cell phone buzzing in her bag is what breaks her reverie, and though she jumps slightly in surprise, she's more than thankful for the timely distraction.

Constantly thinking for weeks about what she should do has given her nothing but migraines.

Song-hee pauses in her tracks and moves to the opposite end of the street curb when she can't locate her phone fast enough, making way for the people passing through.

She nods in bashful contrition to those who give her pointed looks, fishing for the device more thoroughly.

Kim Seokjin.

"Jin?" Her intonation comes off as surprised.

"Hey, where are you?"

Despite herself and the despondent vibe the city was under, she can't help a titter. With half a smile, she presses her phone closer to her ear as she begins walking again.

"Just dropped the decorum, huh? Good morning to you, too. I'm on my way to work but I'm passing for my coffee first. Why?"

On the other end of the line, she hears some rustling and the faint combination of muffled voices and passing cars. She guesses Jin is on the way to the office as well.

"Oh, I dropped the decorum? I didn't hear any honorifics," Jin chastises, although his jesting tone proves how serious he actually was about it.

She can already imagine the smile on his face and that, in turn, makes her grin.

"As if that matters so much to you," she counters, checking both sides before crossing an intersection. "Anyway, why are you asking?"

Jin hums at her question, as if thinking of what to say. Her eyes roll before she can stop herself, already predicting what he might decide on.

"I just wanted to confirm if we're still grabbing a bite for dinner later."

Pleasantly surprised, Song-hee's eyebrows shoot up for a second before replying, stammering without meaning to.

"Ah, oh - yeah, if you're still up for it."

He chuckles, her mild bemusement not going unnoticed. "Why do you sound so surprised? What did you think I was going to say?"

Song-hee's face and ears turn hot and, in an instant, she feels incredibly silly.

She puts a hand to her reddening cheek. "Nothing! I'm just happy you didn't say anything cheesy 'cause you would've ruined my morning,"

At that, Jin's laugh is all she can hear as it grows considerably on the other end of the phone call.

"Don't be so assuming next time, okay? I promised you I won't be corny anymore, didn't I?" He teases further, making her frown and burn up even more.

"Well, I gotta go now. I love you!" He makes sure to blurt the last part out quickly.

With her eyes widening, the scowl etched on her face deepens. "Hey! What did you just-"

"See you later."

The line dies before she can say anything and she's left somewhat speechless. It was Jin she had been speaking to - so why is she so shocked? Especially considering that he pulls things like this tirelessly?

She's soon unbothered by it though. She shakes her head and gathers her dark brown hair before flipping it over her back, letting it cascade slightly past her shoulders.

She also checks her phone and feels gratified seeing that it's 6:57 AM, a considerable amount of time to have her coffee.

It's a nice sight, Song-hee acknowledges, that the cafe's still bustling with people despite the circumstances.

She pushes the glass doors open just enough to let herself in and holds it wider for the middle-aged man entering behind her. He rewards her with a kind smile which she politely returns.

Every morning as far as she can remember since moving to Seoul, she's come to this cafe after having discovered it on a whim. It's been years since then and she appreciates how unchanged it is.

Taking a deep breath, she welcomes the cozier temperature and rubs her hands together to warm herself up quicker.

Of course, it's gone through some renovations here and there but it never strayed from its warm colors and rustic feel. The polished brown wood of the ceiling down to the varnished mahogany chairs and tables, the nuanced ambient lighting cast by hanging bulbs, the lively plant wall with the cafe's name behind the counter, and the decorated brick panel by the black couches filled in with copper, brass, and emerald decorations.

Still, she thinks the smell was even better than the aesthetic; the fragrance of their classic freshly brewed coffee hits you right as you open their door and their pastries could have your mouth watering before you even see the selection.

Her favorite part of the cafe was not the cozy interior or the amazing menu though. It was the mild-mannered and handsome barista - her first friend in Seoul and now easily one of her favorite people, Park Jimin.

"Song-hee-ya," his cheerful face greets once she stands in front of the line.

His crescent-shaped eyes are hidden slightly behind his overgrown bangs but the smile in them is unmistakable. His kind and friendly aura was definitely uplifting and today, more than ever, she was grateful to bask in it.

Jimin pushes the sleeves of his off-white sweater up, baring his strong forearms before planting his hands on the wooden counter.

"I can't say I'm surprised to see you again, though you're here earlier than normal. The usual?"

Song-hee nods her head in answer and in appreciation, reaching for her wallet.

"Yup, the usual, and yeah - I guess I am," she agrees, although just now realizing so.

She hands Jimin her money after he tells her her total and she leans her elbows, eyebrows raising blithely as she watches him work the register.

"Very sweet of you though. You keep tabs on all the times I'm here?" she jokes, to which his smile grows noticeably.

Without looking at her, he says, "Well, you're here every day so it'd be strange if I didn't expect you when you usually come, right? Which makes me wonder - are you early now 'cause you're always late for your work?" He tilts his head.

If she didn't know any better, the innocent look he was pulling would've fooled her.

She grins at him.

"The office is an intersection away from here. I can be five minutes from being late and still make it with a cup of your coffee in my hands," she boasts playfully.

Putting her hands together as if holding a cup, Song-hee inhales with decadence. Jimin chuckles at her display, his eyes crinkling.

Once he hands her her change, she thanks him and puts the rest of the bills in the tip jar before bidding goodbye and moving out of the line.

She turns to look for a vacant spot and, just as quickly, she sees a lady standing from her seat.

Song-hee sighs with great pleasure, a 'thank you' running inside her head for the woman now gathering her belongings from the table.

With a small bounce in her stride, Song-hee makes her way towards the newly vacated spot.

Just as she is about to lay her things down though, a man in a black hoodie with his head hanging places a hand on the chair.

"Hey-" Her eyebrows knit, hand outstretching in slight protest.

The man lifts his gaze at Song-hee's voice and he looks just as startled as her. His rounded brown eyes look from her to his hand before quite quickly retracting his hold.

"S-sorry," he falters, patting his dark disheveled hair in a way that makes him look apprehensive.

Before she could tell him it was okay, the man swings his black backpack over one shoulder, pulls his hood over his head, and leaves the cafe.