Chapter 249

A biting February wind howled against the car window.

Today was the day of Yeongpung High's graduation ceremony.

Since Grandfather and Aunt Jeong-hui had other matters to wrap up first and would be joining later, Sae-i found herself riding to school alone with her dad, just the two of them, for the first time in a long while.

Inside the car, the heater humming softly, a comfortable silence had settled in for quite some time.

When the car came to a stop at a red light.

Her dad, hands on the wheel, carefully opened his mouth.

"Sae-i."

"Yes, Dad?"

"……How was it, before?"

His voice was careful, tender.

It was a question only her father — who knew Sae-i had died once and come back — could ask.

Sae-i smoothed the hem of her coat for a moment, then smiled faintly.

"……I never got to have a graduation."

"……."

"I'd…