The apartment building was old, but it still looked like a decent middle-class place.
Yemir walked ahead with his black umbrella folded beneath one arm while Irin followed beside him, her white cane tapping lightly against the sidewalk.
After a few more steps, Irin tilted her head.
"How much farther?"
Yemir glanced ahead.
"We’re almost there."
He pointed toward the building.
"It’s just up ahead."
Irin extended her cane.
Tok.
The tip struck something wooden.
She stopped.
"Is that the entrance?"
"Yeah."
Yemir stepped closer and unlocked the main door.
"Come on."
They entered the building.
A few minutes later, they reached his apartment.
Yemir unlocked the door.
Click.
The old wooden door opened with a low creak.
He took the backpack from Irin’s shoulder and carefully guided her inside with her white cane.
Click.
The light came on.
Irin took one step forward.
Then stopped.
Her nose twitched slightly.
"...I smell something strange."
Yemir scratched the back of his head.
"Heh..."
He looked around.
"I haven’t cleaned this place properly in a while."
"Looks like my laziness has finally come back to punish me."
A faint smile appeared on Irin’s lips.
"It’s okay."
She gave a small laugh.
"Honestly, I never knew which parts of my own room needed cleaning either."
Yemir laughed quietly.
"Then we’re both terrible at this."
Irin slowly removed her shoes.
Yemir touched the tip of her cane to the floor.
"The shoe rack is right here."
Irin immediately crouched down.
She moved one hand across the empty space, found the rack, and placed her shoes inside with care.
Yemir stared.
"...Impressive."
Irin straightened.
"Um..."
She turned her face toward him.
"Could you explain the entire layout of the apartment?"
"The whole thing?"
"Yes."
"I need to build a map in my head."
Yemir nodded.
"Okay."
He began guiding the tip of her cane toward different areas.
"This is the main door."
"Straight ahead is the table."
"Your room is on the left."
"The kitchen is on the right."
"And over there..."
He pointed.
"...the bathroom."
Whenever he mentioned a place, Irin lightly touched the area with her cane.
She counted the distance between each point.
One step.
Two.
Three.
She memorized the corners, the furniture, and the spaces between them.
Yemir watched quietly.
After several minutes, he stepped back.
"I think that’s everything."
He smiled.
"Now try finding each place yourself."
Irin nodded confidently.
"Okay."
Yemir moved aside.
Irin began walking.
Tap... tap... tap...
From the doorway...
to the table.
Then toward her room.
Her movements were careful, yet steady.
She didn’t rush.
She counted her steps and used the cane to confirm what she already remembered.
Yemir watched from a short distance away.
Seriously...
I only explained it once.
She’s incredible.
A faint breeze brushed against Irin’s face.
She stopped.
"There’s a window nearby."
"That’s the balcony."
Yemir smiled.
"You found it."
Irin turned toward the balcony.
Then she smiled to herself.
"See? I can do it."
She turned back.
"Hehe..."
"Now I’ll go back and show you."
Yemir folded his arms.
"Go ahead."
Irin carefully retraced her steps.
She didn’t notice the small flower pot placed near the corner of the wall.
Her cane touched it.
Cling!
The pot tipped.
Crash!
It shattered across the floor.
Silence.
Irin immediately stopped.
The smile disappeared from her face.
"I..."
She lowered her head.
"I’m sorry."
"I broke something."
She instinctively moved one foot forward.
"Don’t move!"
Yemir’s voice came quickly.
Irin froze.
"There are broken pieces all over the floor."
Her fingers tightened around the cane.
"...I..."
Before she could finish, Yemir’s voice softened.
"Don’t blame yourself."
He crouched down.
"That was my mistake."
"I forgot to tell you the flower pot was there."
Irin remained still.
"Could you bring me a broom and dustpan?"
"I can clean it."
Yemir laughed softly.
"You’re worrying too much."
"You just arrived."
"Leave it to me."
He carefully gathered the broken pieces and swept them into the dustpan.
Once everything was cleared, he checked the floor with his eyes before throwing the pieces away.
A few minutes later, he returned.
"All clear."
Irin nodded.
"Now turn to your right."
"Then walk straight."
"Your room is right there."
She started moving.
Yemir smiled.
"But—"
"Go get some rest."
"I’ll handle the rest."
Irin stopped near her doorway.
For a moment, she said nothing.
Then a soft smile appeared.
"...Thank you."
Yemir gave her a small smile.
"You’re welcome."
A gentle breeze moved through the apartment.
For the first time in a long while, Irin felt something unfamiliar.
The place was strange.
She had only just arrived.
It wasn’t beautiful.
It wasn’t perfect.
But somehow...
she didn’t hate being there.
Yemir finished cleaning the last pieces from the floor.
He washed his hands and face before walking toward Irin’s room.
"I’ll be outside for a while."
"I need to buy a few things."
"Oh..."
Irin’s voice came from inside.
"Could you buy something for me?"
"Of course."
"What do you need?"
"...A pair of slippers."
Yemir nodded.
"Got it."
He turned toward the door.
"But—"
Click.
The door had already closed.
Irin stood there for a moment.
"...He forgot to take the money."
She reached into her backpack and placed a few notes inside a small envelope.
"Never mind."
"I’ll freshen up while he’s gone."
She picked up her white cane and slowly made her way toward the bathroom.
Outside, Yemir walked along the sidewalk beneath his black umbrella.
A small smile appeared on his face.
"...A girl is actually living in my apartment now."
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"I still can’t believe this."
He kept walking.
Whenever he thought about Irin, something felt different.
He had never spent much time thinking about what girls needed.
But Irin was different.
Perhaps it was because he already knew how difficult her situation was.
Or maybe because she seemed to handle every problem with a calmness he couldn’t understand.
Either way, he found himself thinking about her more than he expected.
A few minutes later, Yemir reached a shopping mall.
He stopped at the entrance.
He looked at his wallet.
"...What does a girl actually need?"
He opened it.
"Please don’t betray me today, brother."
After checking how much money he had, he walked inside.
He stopped in front of a shelf.
"Hair bands..."
He picked one up.
Then put it back.
"No."
"She keeps her hair covered."
He moved to another shelf.
"Face wash..."
"Maybe."
"Makeup..."
He paused.
"Probably not."
"Face masks..."
"No."
Yemir scratched his head.
"Why is this so difficult?"
Then he noticed a row of room fresheners.
He picked one up.
"...Ah."
"This."
"She mentioned that the apartment smelled strange."
He placed it in his basket.
Then he continued shopping.
A pair of slippers.
Some snacks.
Instant chicken-flavored noodles.
Bread and jelly.
Fresh vegetables—tomatoes, cabbage, cauliflower, and potatoes.
Then his eyes stopped on a shelf of red berry drinks.
He remembered his own supply at home.
He picked up several bottles.
"...That should be enough for today."
He looked over the basket one more time.
Then headed toward the checkout.
By the time Yemir started walking home, light rain had begun falling.
He held the umbrella in one hand and several shopping bags in the other.
A quiet smile appeared on his face.
"Living alone was much easier."
He glanced at the bags.
"I never had to think about someone else’s preferences."
He sighed.
"I don’t even know what Irin likes."
A few minutes later, he reached the apartment building.
He stopped outside his door.
Then looked down at the shopping bags.
"...Wait."
"How am I supposed to give these to her?"
He imagined the conversation.
Here. I bought these for you.
Yemir immediately shook his head.
"No."
"That sounds strange."
He tried again.
"I went shopping and picked up a few things."
He frowned.
"That sounds like I’m showing off."
He thought for another moment.
"Maybe..."
"Just take these."
He blinked.
"But she can’t see what I’m giving her."
Silence.
He sighed.
"I’ll just put each item in her hands and explain what it is."
He stared at the door.
"Why can’t I make one simple decision?"
He stood there for several more seconds, thinking far more than the situation required.
Then—
Knock. Knock.
"I’m home."
Irin’s voice came from inside.
"Wait a moment!"
Yemir folded his umbrella and waited.
Click.
The door slowly opened.
A sweet fragrance drifted through the doorway.
Yemir blinked.
"...What’s that smell?"
He stepped inside.
"Everything smells completely different."
Then he looked up.
And stopped.
Irin stood in front of him.
She had just finished bathing.
For the first time, the black covering over her eyes was gone.
Her long hair remained covered beneath the simple veil she wore at home, but her face was fully visible.
Small drops of water remained along her cheeks.
Yemir stood completely still.
His thoughts disappeared for a moment.
"...Is that really Irin?"
Irin tilted her head.
"Yemir?"
She noticed his silence.
"Why did you suddenly stop talking?"
Yemir quickly returned to reality.
"W-What?"
He looked down at the shopping bags.
"Oh..."
"These..."
"I bought a few things for you."
He crouched and placed a pair of slippers near her feet.
Irin carefully slipped them on.
She moved one foot.
"Wow..."
A smile appeared.
"These are comfortable."
She took another step.
Beep!
Irin stopped.
"...What was that?"
She moved her foot again.
Beep! Beep!
Yemir scratched his head.
"I bought slippers with little squeakers."
"Squeakers?"
"Yeah."
He gave an awkward smile.
"So if you ever need me, I’ll know where you are."
Irin remained quiet.
Then her lips curved into a gentle smile.
"You really thought about that?"
Yemir looked away.
"Kind of."
Irin slowly walked around the room.
Beep... beep... beep...
Then she stopped.
"I’ve never seen my own face."
Her voice became quieter.
"Do these make me look like a little child?"
Yemir laughed.
"Not at all."
"I just thought they’d be comfortable."
He paused.
"And it makes it easier for me to know where you are."
Irin smiled.
"Okay..."
She took another step.
Yemir added,
"They suit you."
Irin tried to hide her smile with one hand.
"...Thank you."
She continued walking.
Beep... beep...
Yemir watched her from behind.
Does she actually like them?
He scratched his cheek.
Why am I thinking so much about every little thing she does?
Then another thought crossed his mind.
She might be hungry.
She had arrived in a new place.
She probably needed time to settle in.
Yemir walked toward the kitchen and began taking the groceries out of the bags.
Bread.
Jelly.
Vegetables.
Noodles.
Drinks.
He arranged everything on the counter.
Then—
Beep... beep...
Irin approached.
She followed the direction of his voice.
"What are you doing, Yemir?"
"I’m here."
Yemir turned toward her.
"Oh."
Irin faced him.
"Then tell me."
"What are you doing?"
Yemir quickly changed the subject.
"Don’t ask so many questions."
"Go sit in the chair first."
Irin tilted her head.
"The chair?"
"Why?"
Yemir smiled.
"Just wait and see."
Irin stood there for a moment.
Then she followed his voice toward the chair.
The little slippers made another soft—
Beep... beep...
Yemir watched her sit down.
He placed the last bottle of red berry drink on the table.
Then he looked at the groceries.
A strange thought crossed his mind.
For the first time, the apartment didn’t feel quite as empty as it had before.