A scent i still remember

The hallway was empty except for the hum of distant voices and the soft tap of Ji-Woo's shoes on the linoleum floor. He walked with his head down, hands buried in his pockets, like he was trying to disappear into the cracks of the building.

He turned the corner sharply—and stopped.

Min-Ho was standing by the window, back turned, the soft winter light casting long shadows on the floor. He hadn't noticed Ji-Woo yet.

But Ji-Woo noticed something else.

A scent.

Faint. Familiar.

Warm sandalwood with a hint of bergamot.

The same cologne Min-Ho used to wear.

The one Ji-Woo used to steal from his gym bag just to smell it in secret after they fought.

His chest tightened. For a second, he forgot how to breathe.

Min-Ho turned his head slightly. Their eyes met.

Neither spoke.

And yet, everything was loud. The blood rushing in Ji-Woo's ears. The echo of past words. The scent that made the walls feel closer, the air heavier.

He walked past him without a word.

But as he did, Min-Ho whispered, just loud enough to be heard:

"You remember it, don't you?"

Ji-Woo stopped mid-step.

That one sentence shattered the fragile silence he had built for months.

He didn't turn around. He didn't speak.

But his hand trembled slightly as he clenched it tighter in his coat.

Yes.

He remembered.