The line outside Dani’s departmental store had grown longer than usual.
Four girls stood together, waiting for their turn.
At the very back stood a small girl named Ino.
She had been watching Yemir for several minutes.
He was busy arranging products behind the counter, occasionally answering customers with a polite smile.
Ino stared.
He looks even better than the hero from that drama series.
Her mind replayed scenes from the show.
The prince standing beneath the palace lights.
The prince walking into the ballroom.
The prince turning around with that perfect expression.
Ino looked at Yemir again.
Even better.
She became so distracted that she failed to notice the line moving.
Two girls behind her stepped forward.
A few seconds later, Ino finally noticed.
"Hey!"
The girls turned.
"You went ahead of me!"
"We thought you weren’t moving."
"I was waiting!"
"You were staring at him!"
Ino’s face turned red.
"I wasn’t!"
Their argument grew louder.
Dani came over with her hands on her waist.
"Enough. All of you, move aside for a moment."
The girls immediately stepped away.
More customers filled the empty space in the line.
Ino puffed her cheeks and folded her arms.
Then Yemir started speaking to a customer.
"Your total is this much. Thank you. Please come again."
Ino’s expression changed.
She watched the way he moved around the counter, the casual way he handed over the shopping bag, the small smile he gave the customer.
"So handsome..."
She clasped her hands together.
"Just like my crown prince."
The girls behind her heard it.
One covered her mouth to hide a laugh.
"Did she really say that?"
"At this age?"
"She has already chosen a crown prince?"
Ino turned around angrily.
"What did you say?"
Dani slowly turned her head toward them.
The girls immediately became interested in the floor.
At that moment, someone outside tried to open the store door.
Dani walked over.
"Coming."
She unlocked it.
"Come in. I’ve opened the door."
A light tapping sound followed.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Irin stepped inside with her white cane.
Dani’s expression softened.
"Oh, Irin."
She moved closer.
"Careful. There’s a small step here."
"Thank you, Dani."
Dani guided her inside.
Such a lovely girl... and she can’t see any of this.
Yemir was still busy with another customer.
He hadn’t noticed her arrival.
A woman finished paying and turned toward the exit.
Irin remained near the counter.
"Do I need to stand here?"
"Yes," Dani answered. "Your turn is coming."
Ino’s turn came next.
The little girl pointed toward a packet on the shelf.
"That one."
Dani picked it up.
Ino glanced at Yemir again.
Her cheeks warmed.
Maybe he’ll finally look at me.
She rubbed one fingernail against the other and waited.
Dani placed the packet on the counter.
"What else?"
"Nothing."
Dani raised an eyebrow.
"Then why are you still standing there?"
Ino quickly looked away.
Dani sighed.
"Yemir, help her first."
Yemir turned.
Then his eyes landed on Irin.
"Wait..."
His face brightened.
"Irin?"
Irin tilted her head.
"Yemir?"
Ino’s expression froze.
The two girls behind her exchanged a look.
"He called her by name."
"He never even talks to us like that."
"And she has a cane..."
One whispered something else.
Her friend nudged her.
"Stop."
Dani looked from Yemir to Irin.
"You two know each other?"
Yemir scratched the back of his head.
"Yes."
Irin smiled.
"We’ve known each other for a short time."
Dani watched them for another second.
"Really?"
Her tone carried a hint of amusement.
Yemir returned to the counter.
Irin heard a small movement beside her.
Then came a sniff.
She turned toward the sound.
"Is she crying?"
Ino quickly covered her face.
"I-I..."
The two girls behind her exchanged tired looks.
"She’s acting again."
"Seriously?"
Irin held out a hand.
"What happened?"
Dani explained that Ino wanted the last packet of chocolates on the shelf.
Irin turned toward the sound of Ino’s voice.
"You can take mine."
Ino stopped pretending to cry.
"What?"
"I don’t mind."
Yemir reached for the packet.
"This is the last one today. The next supply comes tomorrow."
"That doesn’t matter," Irin said. "I can buy it somewhere else."
Ino shook her head.
"No."
Irin paused.
"I’ll take it from him."
Yemir handed the chocolate packet to Ino.
The girl accepted it.
She opened her mouth, clearly preparing to say something.
Dani interrupted.
"Yemir, isn’t it your lunch time?"
Yemir glanced at her.
He understood immediately.
He reached for his umbrella.
"Irin, come on."
"Where?"
"Lunch."
"Now?"
"Of course."
"But where are we going?"
"Somewhere nearby."
He gently took hold of her cane and guided her toward the door.
Irin followed, still confused.
Behind them, Ino stared at the chocolate packet.
The two girls whispered to each other.
One looked annoyed.
The other shook her head.
Dani watched the three of them leave.
A small smile appeared on her face.
"Hmm..."
She turned toward the windows.
Outside, dark clouds covered the sky.
Dani’s smile grew.
"Fooling my eyes isn’t that easy."
A few minutes later, Yemir led Irin into a small café where he often ate.
Irin stopped near the entrance.
"Where are we?"
"My usual place."
He guided her to a table.
A waiter pulled out a chair for her.
Irin touched the edge before sitting.
Yemir sat opposite her.
She placed her cane beside the chair.
Around them, dishes clinked against plates. Conversations filled the café.
A few customers glanced in their direction.
"Isn’t that the guy from DANI’S?"
"Maybe."
"Who’s the girl with him?"
Irin heard the whispers.
Her fingers tightened around the edge of the table.
Yemir noticed.
"Ignore them."
She turned toward him.
"They’re talking about us."
"I know."
"And you don’t care?"
Yemir picked up the menu.
"We know each other now. That’s enough."
Irin lowered her head.
Yemir continued.
"Besides, weren’t you supposed to go to your studio today?"
"Yes."
"How is everything going?"
Irin’s fingers moved over the table.
"It’s... okay."
Yemir looked at her.
That answer had come too quickly.
"You’re hiding something."
"I am not."
"You are."
Irin turned her face toward the window.
Before she could answer, a waiter approached.
"Sir, ma’am. What would you like?"
Yemir looked at him.
"What are today’s specials?"
The waiter smiled.
"We have a special couple offer today. It comes with two main dishes and drinks. It should be good for you."
Irin’s lips parted.
"But we..."
"Sure," Yemir said.
Irin turned toward him.
"Yemir—"
"And bring two red berry juices."
The waiter nodded.
"Of course."
He walked away.
Irin faced Yemir.
"I was trying to say something."
"What?"
"Why did you order that?"
"The offer?"
"Yes."
"You don’t like it?"
"It’s expensive."
Yemir blinked.
"Oh."
He leaned back.
"I thought you were worried about something else."
Irin turned her face away.
Yemir smiled.
"Would it really be so bad?"
She didn’t answer.
Their conversation stopped there.
At a table near the restroom, three men sat close together.
Their voices were low.
"I placed mine near the bathroom."
"Where exactly?"
"Inside the flush compartment."
The second man nodded.
"I put mine inside the flower pot."
The third man looked nervous.
His bag remained beside his chair.
The first man noticed.
"Where’s yours?"
The man glanced down.
"I haven’t placed it yet."
Both men stared at him.
"What?"
"It’s still in my bag."
The second man grabbed his arm.
"Are you trying to get us killed?"
"I was going to place it!"
"You know the time limit."
"I’ll do it now."
The first man stood.
"No. We’re coming with you."
The three men rose from their seats.
Across the café, Yemir suddenly turned toward Irin.
"Stay here."
"Why?"
"I need to use the restroom."
He stood.
"I’ll be back."
Irin nodded.
Yemir walked toward the hallway.
Halfway there, he stopped.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
His head turned.
He listened.
Beep... beep... beep...
"What is that?"
The sound was faint beneath the noise of the café.
Yemir followed it toward the restroom.
He checked one door.
Nothing.
The sound continued.
Beep.
Beep.
He moved closer.
One stall door was locked from inside.
"Is anyone there?"
No answer.
He knocked.
"Hello?"
Silence.
The beeping continued.
Yemir looked at the gap beneath the door.
No feet.
He stepped back.
Then he climbed over the partition and dropped inside.
Nobody was there.
The sound came again.
Beep... beep... beep...
Yemir searched the small space.
His eyes stopped at the flush compartment.
He opened the panel.
A tiny red light blinked inside.
His expression changed.
"Seriously?"
A timer glowed beneath it.
15:00
The numbers began to fall.
14:59
Yemir stared.
For a second, the café disappeared from his thoughts.
He remembered a military camping program from years ago.
One of the instructors had demonstrated emergency bomb-disposal procedures.
Yemir had watched carefully.
He had even practiced once.
He had never considered himself good at it.
And now a device was sitting in a public café.
People were eating only a few meters away.
Irin was still at the table.
Yemir looked at the timer.
14:32
"Everyone here..."
His voice dropped.
He could not leave it.
He could not call for help without causing panic.
His hands moved toward the device.
He studied it for another second.
There was no time to hesitate.
He made a desperate attempt to disable the device, using the only fragment of training he could remember.
His hand moved.
The timer continued.
13:58
Yemir shut his eyes.
"Please..."
His fingers tightened.
He pulled hard.
The beeping stopped.
For one second, nothing happened.
Yemir slowly opened his eyes.
The red light was gone.
He stared at the device.
Then he looked toward the café.
Irin was still sitting at their table.
She had no idea how close everyone had come to danger.
Yemir wiped his forehead and stepped back.
"Now I really need to figure out who put this here."