007. Opportunity (3)
Shin Na-young's heart fluttered.
"A-are... are we heading out now? Like, clocking off early?"
With just 16 days until open beta, this thrill of betrayal. Sucking the company dry of salary and blood while sipping a café latte outside—life didn't get more exhilarating. It felt like stealing someone else's stuff.
And yet, Shin Na-young wasn't entirely convinced. Maybe because she'd lived her life without much cunning. Is it really okay to live like this? Won't I get punished later?
But Im Seong-u just gave her that rock-solid look and said, "Yeah."
Na-young-ah, wanna play hooky today?
His words made her heart race like crazy. But what slipped out of her mouth was nothing but practical, worried realism.
Deep down, she might even know it herself. Part of her wanted him to turn her down.
"But Seong-u-ya... aren't you busy? We don't have much time left before open beta."
Inside the office. For some reason, her heart was pounding so hard she could barely get the words out.
Warm spring day. Did Im Seong-u know she was jealous? That she was thrilled?
She felt like she might burst—pop!—and float away on the excitement.
That was her true feeling.
Go out with me.
Back in high school, it would've been a breeze. Super-hyped Shin Na-young was always bursting with energy. She'd just say it straight, and Im Seong-u would go along without much fuss. Probably the same now, right?
Ah, fuck, Seong-u-ya. What're you up to today?
Nothing.
Wanna grab drinks? Or hit up a PC bang?
She could've talked like two dudes shooting the shit. But once she started seeing him as a guy, everything changed.
She was anxious. A worry she couldn't distinguish from excitement made her heart thump, turning every word into a cautious ordeal.
"Na-young. You know that, right?"
"...What."
Shin Na-young doubted her own ears.
"It's actually all done already. Open beta."
She marveled at how sexy he made it sound.
"Nah, it's not like that. Less planning means less dev work. Cut 30% of the features, and boom—done. Half of it was just bug fixes, but you wanna stick around in this office?"
"..."
"C'mon, let's go."
Shin Na-young nodded vigorously.
I wanna hang out with you.
She hadn't decided what to do. Just... anything with him.
Anything with you sounds good.
Flower viewing by the riverside with yellow forsythia blooming.
Even if there was nothing special planned. Even without packed lunches.
Or pedaling duck boats on the Han River.
If you get tired pedaling, I'll help.
Or a picnic under blooming magnolias.
Were the magnolias gone by now? Even if they were all wilted and disappointing where we went, it'd still be fun with you.
Or a café with sweet desserts.
The most important part of a date was the person beside you. If they were great, boring games became hilarious, crappy songs turned unique, and bad movies became comedies.
Liking someone wasn't light. Emotions snowballed heavier and heavier, impossible to lift once they'd settled.
Shin Na-young wished she could go back to high school. Back then, she was a total rascal with rock-bottom self-esteem. She'd even blurt stuff at Im Seong-u like, Hey, fuck! Wanna fuck? C'mon, you want it too, right? I'll take the lead!
He'd always look at her pitifully when she half-jokingly threw that out.
Not the time to get lost in memories.
"Let's go, Na-young-ah."
"Yeah."
This was the time to claim him.
Get it together, Shin Na-young.
A once-in-a-lifetime chance had come. The perfect shot to get him in bed and win his heart.
She recalled the crude jokes from the hospital admin "unnie"s.
Na-young-ah, know why period cramps happen?
Why, unnie?
It's your eggs pissed off at not getting pregnant, protesting. Hurry up and get knocked up!
Crude as hell, but Shin Na-young got it now. If she focused, she could almost hear her womb screaming.
Listen to your womb...
Her two ovaries chimed in, each with their say.
Masturbation's boring now! We want sex! Sex!
Master! Oink oink! Let's do it! Oink~
They didn't shy from threats.
Try not fucking~ Try not getting pregnant~ We'll make your cramps kill you~
Ovulation time—estrogen surging! Your tits are bigger than usual! Go claim your love!
Got it...
Blushing at her vulgar thoughts, Shin Na-young followed Im Seong-u.
...
We debated what to eat and mindlessly ended up at a pasta joint. Perfect spot for couples. No clue what philosophy the owner had for the interior, but white lace curtains draped the ceiling, and ivory cute knick-knacks were everywhere.
Two guys here? We'd get pegged as gay.
Friday afternoon. The pastel-decorated pasta place was packed. No idea why pasta—basically noodles, salt, sauce stir-fried—cost over 10,000 won. Might as well get a hearty bowl of gukbap instead...
Practical dev brain said so, but seeing Shin Na-young today changed my mind.
Suggest gukbap and she'd probably slap me.
She looked stunning today. (No idea why women do it, but) her short bob was trimmed another 1cm shorter, making a huge difference. Cleaner, sharper vibe.
Her sly eye-smile felt more mature, sexier than usual. She kept sweeping hair behind her ears too.
Is this her green light for me? Or overthinking?
I glanced at her face. Pale, pretty skin as always. If Han Yu-ra had that mature twenty-something allure, Shin Na-young was girlishly bubbly. Soft, squishy cheeks; dimples blooming wide when she smiled. She could pass for a teen.
Today, she'd even done sexy eyeliner and black mascara—stuff she never bothered with. It suited her shockingly well, giving off a taboo vibe.
What's with her today.
She's just a friend.
Despite my thoughts, my eyes roamed her body.
You're short, huh.
Late 150s cm. Maybe 160 tops. Shorter than Han Yu-ra. Not as stacked, but small face made her chest pop under the gray hoodie—slightly emphasized.
No safe place to look.
Extra aware today.
"Seong-u-ya, Seong-u-ya."
"...Yeah?"
Suddenly, unprompted, she slid into the seat next to me.
What the...
Similar to usual, but with a weird edge.
She rubbed her soft arm against my shoulder as she spoke. My heart dropped.
Ah...
Light, squishy feel through the hoodie top. Not heavy like major weight, but a longtime female friend pressing her softest part against you? Devastating impact.
"Whatcha wanna eat?"
"Usual tomato spaghetti..."
Shin Na-young met my eyes. Staring openly. Cat-like, shameless gaze at something intriguing—so pretty I nearly looked away.
What're you doing...
She stuttered, like someone who'd tried taking charge and failed.
"Uh, um. Special day today—how 'bout this?"
She pointed. "Seong-u-ya. Couple set?"
A couple set.
"Couple set?"
"Yeah. Saves like 3,000 won..."
She added unnecessary details.
I checked the bottom of the menu. Pink hearts everywhere for couple set; below, bland "2-person set."
2-person set's 1,000 won cheaper...
Similar contents, but 2-person more generous. Like a couple tax.
Dev neurosis kicked in. Inefficient, irrational, performance drop, unoptimized...
I looked into her eyes. Blush on cheeks, brows slightly furrowed, desperate look.
Got it. Got it.
"Excuse me."
"..."
"One couple set, please."
"Yes, what pasta?"
"Clams and tomato."
"Got it."
Na-young giggled happily.
You weren't like this before.
Fuck, Seong-u-ya, drinks.
Pork belly.
Let's go.
That girl suddenly acting all coy and feminine... Not hating it.
"Seong-u-ya."
"...Yeah?"
"You heading straight home after eating?"
Honestly, planned to crash at home. Hadn't been long since with Han Yu-ra—no horniness. Body ground down by a year at Railroad Software craved rest.
But somehow. Didn't wanna go home today.
Home meant solo beer, PC games, bingeing backlog dramas, sleep. Worth more than time with Na-young?
"Seong-u-ya."
Extra touchy today. Playfully poked my arm. Usual move, but felt loaded now.
"Kinda bored today. Feels weird leaving early."
Don't wanna go home today. Seong-u-ya.
"Maybe."
"...Sure."
She beamed. I watched her smile in the sunlight.
All the pretty smilers around me are girls.
Thought that as I polished off my spaghetti.
"Seong-u-ya."
"...Yeah?"
"What now?"
...
We settled on a movie. Solid entertainment flick: stealing super-important national secret USB (or whatever) on a train.
I analyzed it editorially the whole time—no one asked.
Chase scene too long?
Heroine's sudden kiss—unrealistic personality? Why the kiss?
Real NIS women probably buffer, not glam. Wait, spy trainees get makeup training...?
YouTube bait thoughts swirled.
Brain fried on that, but Shin Na-young looked thrilled. Sparkly eyes at the matinee—adorable.
You...
Suits you better. Pasta, dessert, loved by a guy, enjoying any movie. Life of simple joys.
Programming doesn't fit you.
Something more creative. Eyes sparkling at schlock like this proved it.
Kinda sad.
Her hammering keys in that prison office vs. now—worlds apart.
Know what Nekaraku Baedangto is, Seong-u-ya?
Acronym for Korea's big IT firms: Naver, Kakao, etc. Tribe of the giants... Na-young's big dream.
Your dream was just landing a corporate job.
Gunshot in the movie. Blonde blocks it, dies. Silicone tits, looked it. Guy hugs her sobbing. Big tits gone—even fake ones hurt.
Tech world's advanced now. Implants common.
Coding became "basic literacy." Korean schools added programming. Brutal job market turned specialty into "common sense."
Math-haters crammed code for better lives. Bootcamps, Unity classes, post-work "self-improvement."
Na-young too—barely squeezed into Railroad Software, a shit startup.
Sad fact.
She had coding talent. Not genius, but not hopeless. Still, no fast track to normalcy. Grind forever, mediocre marriage, endgame.
Shin Na-young... you...
Then. She looked at me during the movie.
Friday afternoon theater—empty. We stared into each other's eyes, ignoring the screen.
Seconds, but I knew. This moment. Whimsical cat-like, she'd lost interest in the film.
Her hand reached slowly. Natural touch. Her soft palm brushed my cola-holding hand—her warmth transferred instantly.
Oddly... not bad.
Pull away? Okay for friends?
Thoughts swirled, but she smirked lazily, gripping tight.
You're mine now.
Ah...
Heart raced. Stupidly.
What're you doing.
We're... friends, right?