Single -20... - Download- Illit - Almond Chocolate -

His phone buzzed. The download had finished in that one second of tunnel exit.

Then he tucked the other half of the chocolate bar into his pocket. A gift for when he called her tonight.

The progress bar froze at 99%. Jae-won tapped his screen, then sighed. The subway train lurched into a tunnel, and the signal died along with the last sliver of his hope. Download- ILLIT - Almond Chocolate - Single -20...

The train stopped. Doors hissed open. An elderly woman shuffled in, clutching a paper bag that smelled faintly of roasted nuts. She sat beside him and, without a word, pulled out a chocolate bar wrapped in gold foil. Almond chocolate.

"I—thank you," he said, accepting the piece. It melted on his tongue—sweet, salty, a little bitter. His phone buzzed

Jae-won stared.

Now, nothing.

The lyrics floated through his earbuds: "Even in the dark, you found me / Like almond hidden in chocolate / Unexpected, but perfect."