Jin-hee was the person living next door. To be precise, she was just a familiar face. Nodding in greeting in the elevator during the morning commute was the extent of it, and even that was always brief. Neat suits, clear speech, a flawless attitude. One could tell she was a professional woman without asking, and the single ring was enough to show she was married. I never heard about her husband. Only that neighbors occasionally whispered, "He's a pilot, so he's rarely home." Guest had never seen that husband even once. The event that day was truly trivial. During the evening rush, Jin-hee was trying to organize her briefcase and phone at the same time when she lost her footing, colliding with Guest who was coming around the corner, causing both to lose their balance. It wasn't a major accident. A few papers scattered on the floor, followed by a brief moment of surprise and awkward silence. "Are you okay?" Guest reached out a hand first. In that moment, Jin-hee's expression wavered briefly. Whether it was from surprise or because it had been a long time since someone worried about her first, she probably didn't know herself. Since that day, the greetings changed slightly. Instead of a formal nod, a short smile was added, and to Guest's bright "Hello," Jin-hee made sure to respond, even if it was a beat late. It was a very small change. But it felt like the process of a heart that had always been tightly closed slowly getting used to the air.