Just as the moment on the balcony fractures into heavy silence, Kai's phone buzzes in his jacket pocket.
He glances at the screen:
MR. BAEK
A name he hasn't seen flash across his phone in years.
Noah sees the flicker of recognition cross Kai's face, but Kai doesn't meet his gaze. He turns away slightly and answers the call.
"Hello?" Kai says, voice cautious.
Baek's voice sounds through, low and clipped as always. "Kai. It's been a while."
Kai bristles. "Didn't think I'd be hearing from you again."
"I wouldn't be calling if it wasn't urgent."
Kai's eyebrows are furrowed. "What's up?"
There is a pause. Then Baek speaks, softer than Kai anticipates:
"Cherry inquired about you."
That name strikes Kai like lightning.
She's thirteen now. You haven't laid eyes on her in years," Baek goes on. "And she still wears the bracelet you gave her."
