Only the soft chirping of insects filled the brief silence as both men stopped in their tracks, standing motionless.
Ryul, sensing the shift in Jihoon's demeanor, turned to glance over his shoulder, following the younger man's line of sight.
The path behind them stretched into the darkness, shrouded in the muted glow of streetlights. He frowned slightly, scanning the shadows for anything unusual, but nothing stood out.
"What's wrong?" Ryul asked in concern, turning back to face Jihoon.
"….."
For a moment, Jihoon remained silent, his brows drawn together in quiet uncertainty before he forced a smile and let out a small, sheepish laugh. "Ah, it's nothing. I thought I saw something move in the shadows… Probably just a stray cat," he reasoned, though his voice lacked conviction, betraying his doubt.
"….Alright," Ryul said simply, deciding not to press further.
They resumed walking, now much closer to their apartment complex.
