A year ago, Elias had fallen from the fourth floor during a daring rescue, his left leg slamming into the outdoor air conditioning unit. The impact caused severe internal injuries. The doctor had cautioned him to take extra care, especially during the rainy season, as the cold would exacerbate his condition and only worsen with age.
Mira had been by his side every step of the way, attending physical therapy sessions with him, even reminding him to wear his knee pads on rainy days. She had always been terrified that his old injuries might resurface during a mission. Many nights, she woke up in tears after dreaming of him dying in one of those rescues.
Elias had always promised her he would take care of himself, that they would grow old together. But now, it seemed as though those promises no longer mattered. His old injury was forgotten, overshadowed by his obsession with winning Vera's affection and giving her the perfect wedding.
Mira, watching as her husband fought for another woman, felt a painful numbness settle in her chest. The sadness that should have gripped her never quite came.
The crowd around her grew larger, their murmurs intensifying. In the dark water below, Elias and the other young man were slowing down. Elias had been leading by three or four meters, but now, the young man was gaining ground.
As the distance between them closed, the young man powered ahead, his strokes growing more frantic, splashing water in every direction. The gap shrank with every second.
Only two hundred meters remained. Elias, unable to maintain his pace, was caught up and overtaken.
"Looks like the ex-boyfriend's going to win her heart," someone remarked with a smirk.
"Did the current boyfriend cramp up or something?" another person laughed.
"No surprise, he's about to lose," someone else added, their voice dripping with amusement.
The young man surged ahead, now several meters in front of Elias, and Mira stood there, frozen.
At that moment, Vera’s voice rang out over the crowd, clear and desperate: “Elias, I just want you to be my groom, come on, I love you—”
As if her words were a lifeline, Elias, who had been struggling in the water, suddenly surged forward. His movements became more purposeful, more powerful. The reassurance her voice gave him seemed to fuel his every stroke.
In the final stretch, only fifty meters to go, Elias' speed increased dramatically. The water around him splashed in great arcs as he pushed himself to the limit.
"Elias, come on, come on—" Vera’s voice cracked with emotion, her calls now tinged with tears.
With the finish line in sight, Elias surged ahead, his body moving like a machine. He overtook the young man with ease, crossing the finish line first. The young man, just a beat too slow, slapped the water in frustration, cursing under his breath.
The crowd, which had gathered to watch, slowly began to disperse, their excitement fading with the race. But Elias remained in the water, struggling to catch his breath. A man jumped in to help him, pulling him to the shore where he collapsed, utterly exhausted.
Mira, standing at a distance, took slow, deliberate steps toward the scene. She stopped behind a large tree, watching as Vera knelt beside Elias.
"Elias, are you stupid? Is it worth it?" Vera’s voice trembled as she scolded him, tears streaming down her face. She quickly took off her coat and draped it over him.
“Be good, don’t catch a cold, I’m fine.” Elias, barely able to lift his head, smiled weakly, still breathless. He reached out, despite his exhaustion, to help Vera adjust her coat over his shoulders. "I won, right?"
Vera nodded, her face filled with gratitude and relief. “Yeah.”
Elias' smile deepened. “I’m still your groom, right?”
Vera couldn’t hold back anymore. She threw herself into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. He wrapped his arms around her gently, his hand soothingly patting her back, as if trying to calm her.
Mira stood motionless, watching the two of them. The scene was a sharp reminder of her place—of the promises now broken and the love now given away. With a quiet, steady breath, she turned and walked away.
Alone, Mira made her way down the street, the soft snow beginning to settle on her cashmere coat. She walked until she found a convenience store, where she bought a bowl of oden, the warm broth comforting her frozen body. The heat of the soup spread through her, but it did little to warm the ache inside.
As she stepped out of the store, she came face to face with Elias and Vera.
