The neon sign blinked above the door.

  Half the letters no longer worked.

  Even so, the bar was full.

  Purple and blue lights cut through the smoke in the air. Soft music, clinking glasses, tired conversations of adults who had long since stopped pretending to be happy.

  Yudoson entered without drawing attention.

  Dark coats, rumpled suits, loud laughter—no one gave him a second glance.

  From the background came the dry sound of billiard balls clinking.

  Clack.

  Clack.

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  He stopped near the bar for a few seconds, just observing.

  Then he saw.

  In the middle of the tables, leaning against the side of the billiard table, twirling a cue stick between her fingers as if she were bored…

  Sugus.

  Outfit flashy enough to attract attention. Posture too relaxed for someone normal in that place.

  Some men around laughed, trying to start a conversation.

  None of them lasted more than a few seconds.

  She wasn't interested in them.

  She'd already noticed him.

  Even before he started walking.

  Sugus tilted his head slightly, a slow smile appearing.

  Like someone finding something they'd been waiting for.

  Yudoson approached silently.

  The neon lights reflected on his face—

  for a moment, the shadow behind him seemed to rise half a second late.

  No one noticed.

  Except her.

  The pool cue stopped spinning.

  She rested her chin on it, looking directly at Yudoson.

  The bar remained noisy.

  But between the two of them…

  the sound seemed distant.

  He stopped on the other side of the table.

  He didn't greet her.

  He didn't ask anything.

  He just stared.

  Waiting.

  Because he knew she was going to start.