Inside the cab—
Mochi broke.
Not loudly.
Not suddenly.
Quiet.
Tears slid down her cheeks without sound.
Bunny gloves pressed to her face.
Hiding.
Her shoulders shook.
Every few seconds she turned toward the window.
Ashamed.
Even in front of Candy.
She didn't sob.
She leaked sadness.
Slow.
Shaking.
In her head—
A loop.
I wasn't good enough.
I scared him away.
Who would choose me?
Too tall.
Too awkward.
Too strange.
It wasn't the date.
It was hope.
She had believed.
Just once.
That hurt the most.
Her breath came out in small hiccups.
She wiped her tears quickly.
Pretending no one saw.
They did.
Candy saw.
Maya saw.
The moment they noticed—
Chaos.
Candy stood up on the seat.
Six years old.
Angry.
"I hope his shampoo gets in his eyes!" she yelled.
Maya paced the cab.
Jaw tight.
"That boy is finished," she said.
"I'll remove his kneecaps."
Candy gasped.
"Yes! Break his toothbrush!"
"I'll break everything he owns," Maya snapped.
"I hope all his socks get holes," Candy added.
Threats.
Ridiculous.
Serious.
Protective.
Mochi covered her face harder.
Crying more.
Suddenly—
A sound.
Through the earbud.
scrub…
scrub…
scrub…
Mochi froze.
Crying stopped.
Instant.
She listened.
scrub…
scrub…
scrub…
Her gloves lowered.
Slow.
Eyes wet.
Breath shaking.
The sound grew louder.
She turned—
Toward the bench.
And her heart jumped.
Laddu was there.
Sitting.
On the same bench.
Bent forward.
Brushing his teeth.
Tiny.
Colorful.
Children's toothbrush.
Foam at the corner of his mouth.
Jacket half open.
Plastic water bottle beside him.
Calm.
Normal.
Like this made sense.
Like the world hadn't just collapsed.
Mochi's emotions collided.
Shock.
Fear.
Relief.
Embarrassment.
Happiness.
Confusion.
All at once.
Her body reacted first.
She jolted.
Slipped.
Boots slid.
Bunny gloves flew.
Jacket puffed.
Earbud fell.
She slid off the bench.
Thud.
Into cold grass.
Snow puffed up around her.
She lay there.
Two seconds.
Frozen.
Eyes wide.
Cheeks burning.
The cab doors flew open.
Candy jumped out.
"SIS! WHAT HAPPENED?!"
Maya followed.
"WHO PUSHED HER?!"
They dropped beside Mochi.
Hands everywhere.
"Can you move your legs?"
"Did something bite you?"
"Blink twice if you're alive!"
Mochi blinked.
Fast.
Panicked.
She tried to speak.
Only squeaks.
Her hand lifted.
Shaking.
Pointed.
Left.
Maya and Candy turned.
And froze.
Mochi whispered—
"He… he was here…?"
Maya's jaw dropped.
Soul gone.
"HE WAS THERE?!"
"THE WHOLE TIME?!"
"BRUSHING HIS STUPID LITTLE TEETH?!"
Candy stared.
Then whispered—
"Unnie… your boyfriend is weird…"
Laddu finished brushing.
Spit into the bottle.
Neat.
Wiped his mouth on his sleeve.
Looked at them.
Waved.
Small.
Casual.
"Good morning," he said.
And nothing was normal anymore.