[ Soleum focuses on eating as the agent carries on speaking, his throat itching, skin tacked with a special sort of sheen that could only be thanks to the spice of their meal catching up to him. But he manages to maintain his composure, watching Agent Choi chew on the fish cake and talk at the same time. It's a little like watching a dog successfully perform a trick; he nearly wants to tell him 'good job,' and offer another as a reward.

But then Agent Choi indirectly reminds him: He's still got his pack of cigarettes in his pocket. He starts to hand the box over, only to pause, fingering at a single stick jutting out from the group. ]

Do you mind if I keep one? I quit smoking some time ago. [ He doesn't remember when. ] I wouldn't say I was the best at it, but it was… nice to have something to fall back on after work.

[ Oftentimes, during, he suspects. Corporate work was just like that. ]

I suppose I saw you doing it and thought I'd be able to go back to how I was before. I was wrong, though… How'd you get into the habit?