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[ Sweater Weather ] - [ The Neighbourhood ]

As they arrived at the desolate fields surrounding Ni-ki's home, Vienna closed the distance between them, her eyes wide and expectant. She waited, hoping Ni-ki would break the silence and ask about her day at school.

But Ni-ki remained silent, his gaze fixed ahead, indifferent to her presence.

After a moment of this quiet standoff, Vienna finally spoke, her voice tinged with uncertainty, "Are you angry?"

"No, I'm not." Ni-ki casually plucked a few green foxtails from the ground, his demeanor nonchalant. He then turned the question back to her, "And you?"

"Ah?"

"Are you unhappy?"

Vienna shook her head, her tone firm despite her confusion, "I'm not unhappy either."

The setting sun cast a fiery golden glow across the abandoned field, bathing everything in a warm, surreal light.

Unable to contain her curiosity any longer, Vienna ventured, "Why did you bump into him back there?"

"Who?" Ni-ki asked, feigning ignorance as he continued to idly brush his fingers through the grass.

"Yang Jungwon," Vienna clarified, her voice edged with irritation.

Ni-ki scoffed, "What an unusual name."

"Why did you bump into him?" Vienna pressed, her gaze unwavering. "I saw you— it was intentional."

"I don't like him, so I knocked into him," Ni-ki said casually. He shifted slightly, leaning down to lightly brush a green foxtail against Vienna's nose. With a teasing smile, he added, "Are you planning to take revenge for him?"

Vienna's cheeks flushed with embarrassment at his close proximity. She took a moment to compose herself before asking, "Why do you dislike him?"

Ni-ki chuckled softly, his gaze fixed on Vienna with a trace of amusement. "Don't you already know why?"

Vienna looked away, her cheeks flushing as she tried to discreetly wipe her sweaty palms. "But I don't... like him. Not in that way."

"If that's the case," Ni-ki said, tilting his head slightly and narrowing his eyes with curiosity, "who do you like?"

Vienna felt her face turn even redder, the warmth spreading across her cheeks.

The tall grass around them swayed gently in the breeze, a subtle rustling sound filling the silence.

Vienna didn't respond immediately. Instead, she shyly extended her hand, gently slipping it into Ni-ki's palm. It was as though her hand was a delicate fish, weaving its way into the soft, welcoming mud of his grasp.

Despite the ease with which their hands fit together, the suddenness of the gesture caught Ni-ki off guard.

With a tender, almost reverent touch, Ni-ki clasped Vienna's hand, leading her through the wild expanse of the field. As they walked side by side, the golden hues of the setting sun bathed them in a warm, amber light, casting long shadows that danced across the landscape.

The two youths walked towards their home, their fingers entwined in a firm, comforting grip.

Suddenly, Ni-ki's mobile phone rang. He glanced at the screen, his expression darkening as he answered with a chilling tone, "I've told you before—don't contact me during the afternoons or evenings." Vienna, walking beside him, understood that Ni-ki's friends were calling.

Ever since the incident, Ni-ki had become increasingly protective of her, reserving his time with friends for when she was at school. The call was a stark reminder of how much his priorities had shifted.

Ni-ki ended the call with a decisive snap, his mood visibly shifting as he focused on Vienna.

"Let's try cooking something for dinner tonight," Vienna suggested, her voice hopeful.

Ni-ki's face softened into a warm, indulgent smile. "Sure."

As they approached the grounds of the abandoned steel mill, Vienna's eyes were drawn to the two thick ropes hanging from a nearby mulberry tree. Her gaze flicked questioningly to Ni-ki.

He met her look with a grin, explaining, "I'm building a swing for you. After the exams are over, you can come here and use it every day. I've sprayed a lot of insecticide on the tree, so you won't be bothered by any pests while you're swinging."

Vienna's eyes lit up with surprise and gratitude, her earlier unease fading away in the warmth of Ni-ki's thoughtful gesture.

Vienna gave a small, gentle nod.

Upon reaching Ni-ki's home, they discovered they were out of rice and instant noodles. All that remained was a handful of spaghetti noodles. Vienna set some water to boil and added the noodles to the pot.

She turned to him and asked, "Is this enough for the both of us?"

"It doesn't seem to be enough. Let's add two eggs," Ni-ki suggested, cracking the eggs into the pot with practiced ease.

Vienna rummaged through the fridge, her eyes lighting up as she found cabbages, mushrooms, and tomatoes. "Oh, look at this!" She pulled out the vegetables and tossed them into the pot, adding a burst of color and flavor to their modest meal.

Grabbing two pairs of chopsticks, Vienna and Ni-ki settled onto the chairs and began eating directly from the pot. To their surprise, the noodles were delicious.

In the heat of summer, they enjoyed the hot, flavorful meal as beads of sweat trickled down their foreheads. The electric fan whirred softly in the background, offering a welcome reprieve from the stifling air.

"Do you like it?" Ni-ki asked, glancing at Vienna with a hint of curiosity.

Vienna nodded, her face brightening with a genuine smile.

Ni-ki pushed a bottle of beer towards her, "Try some."

Vienna took the bottle cautiously and sipped the bitter liquid. Her eyebrows knitted together as she tasted it. Ni-ki watched her with an amused glint in his eyes.

"Is it tasty?"

Vienna pressed her lips together and replied, "No, it isn't." Despite her comment, her lips curved into a smile as she looked at Ni-ki.

"Why are you smiling?" Ni-ki asked, intrigued by her reaction.

Vienna shook her head gently, "There isn't any particular reason."

"Are you happy?"

Vienna stared off into the distance, considering the question. After a moment, she slowly nodded. Her voice was soft but sincere as she said, "Happy."

Ni-ki responded with a simple "Oh," his gaze dropping to the noodles in the pot. A small, contented smile crept across his lips as he watched the steam rise.

Vienna returned the question, "Are you happy?"

Ni-ki looked up, meeting her gaze. "I'm happy too."

As if guided by a celestial hand, the irresistible aroma of freshly baked bread meandered through the alley, gently brushing against the senses of the two youths. Ni-ki's eyes lit up with a spark of enthusiasm.

"Would you like some?" he asked, his voice carrying a note of eagerness.

Vienna hesitated for a moment before nodding, "Yes, please."

With a burst of laughter, Ni-ki sprang from the window, his movements a graceful blur. Moments later, he reappeared, triumphantly bearing a warm loaf of bread and an extra lollipop. He handed the lollipop to Vienna, who eagerly unwrapped it and let the sweet treat dissolve in her mouth.

As she turned away from the table, her gaze fell upon a Bible resting on the drawer. Her face paled slightly, and with a furtive glance around, she quickly moved to conceal it from view, her heart pounding with an unspoken apprehension.

Turning back to Ni-ki with a casual air, Vienna remarked, "Hana's missing."

"Oh," Ni-ki replied, his face a mask of indifference. With a practiced ease, he inserted a straw into a small box of milk and slid it toward her.

"Where could she have gone?" Vienna asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.

"Who knows?" Ni-ki shrugged nonchalantly. "There are countless people who might be unhappy with her. Her whereabouts are none of our concern."

"Oh," Vienna echoed, her gaze shifting back to the freshly baked bread, as if searching for answers in its golden crust.

But if the police started investigating Hana's disappearance, it would undoubtedly create a significant commotion. Frowning deeply, Vienna abruptly stood up and headed toward the bathroom. As she entered, she began rummaging through the drawers and clothing pile with a sense of urgency.

Ni-ki made no move to intervene; he simply sat at the table, sipping his milk and watching her with a passive gaze.

Vienna wrenched open the bottom drawer beneath the sink, only to find it empty. Frustrated, she continued her search through the bathroom's cluttered corners. Finally, she called out, her voice tinged with exasperation, "Where are the clothes?"

"I burned them,"

"You burned them?" Vienna was taken aback by Ni-ki's careful approach. "But wouldn't someone have noticed the smoke when you were burning the clothes?"

"I know a place where they incinerate rubbish daily," Ni-ki explained, his tone calm and collected.

Vienna opened her mouth to ask another question, but Ni-ki cut her off. "Don't you need to study for your exams today?"

"I do," Vienna admitted, returning to her seat at the table. Ni-ki plugged in the lamp for her with a casual efficiency.

They settled into their respective places—Vienna at the table, buried in her textbooks, and Ni-ki at the other end, leafing through his comic books. Occasionally, Ni-ki would glance up from his reading to check on Vienna, his gaze softening with a subtle, protective concern.

Vienna closed her books as the familiar screech of the train echoed in the distance. The torrential rain hadn't arrived that evening, leaving the house bathed in a serene silence.

"It didn't rain tonight," Vienna remarked.

Ni-ki walked over to the window and peered out, a thoughtful expression on his face. "The rainy season is about to end..." He paused, gazing up at the night sky.

"Vienna,"

"Hmm?" Vienna turned to look at him, curiosity in her eyes.

"Come and take a look." Ni-ki urged, his voice carrying a hint of excitement.

She walked to the window. As she leaned out, her eyes lifted to the canopy of luminous stars spread across the inky night sky. Ni-ki hopped onto the windowsill beside her and extended his hand toward Vienna.

"Come on," he said with a grin, "let's enjoy the view together."

The two youths sat side by side on the rooftop, their shoulders brushing lightly as they gazed up at the starry night sky. The canopy of stars was so breathtakingly beautiful, it seemed to touch something deep within them.

As they marveled at the vast expanse, their eyes glistened with unshed tears, moved by the serene magnificence of the universe.

All of a sudden, Vienna was reminded of the sentence which she had previously studied in English class. "We are in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars."Ni-ki lowered his eyes and turned to look at her.

Vienna, her gaze still fixed on the stars, turned to him. "I've been thinking about that line," she said, her voice laced with curiosity. "What does it mean to be 'looking at the stars'?"

Ni-ki's eyes met hers, his expression thoughtful. "To me, it's about this moment—right here, right now.

Vienna's brow furrowed, her confusion deepening. The stars twinkled above them, casting a serene glow on her face, as she struggled to grasp the meaning behind his words.

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