Regret
“Ughhh... I’m so tired.”
After getting back from the amusement park and flopping onto my bed, an intense wave of fatigue crashed over me from wandering around all day. My soles were throbbing especially hard.
Remembering the product I’d recently bought, Jang Ha-rin headed straight to the fridge in the living room.
“I put it here somewhere... Ah, found it.”
It was a famous item for relieving foot fatigue when applied to the soles. Just imagining it already felt refreshingly cool.
“Ye-eun, want one too?”
“Huh? Oh! Thanks.”
I handed one to Kim Ye-eun without forgetting and hurried back to my bed.
“Hehehe.”
Just peeling off the packaging had me grinning uncontrollably. My lips refused to come down from that upward curve.
“Alright, applying it~.”
I carefully—very carefully—positioned it to cover as much of the throbbing area as possible. The moment it finally settled into the perfect spot and pressed seamlessly against my skin, a cool energy seeped deep into my aching muscles.
The stubborn pain melted away in an instant, like an intense wave of relief.
“Uwaaaah...”
I couldn’t hold back the groan even if I tried. It felt like all the day’s exhaustion was dissolving away. Jang Ha-rin lay there on the bed, savoring the sensation a bit longer.
“Today was so much fun...”
Memories from the amusement park naturally bubbled up. I’d been looking forward to it since it had been so long, but it exceeded every expectation.
We lucked out with the draw for the date tickets, so there weren’t many people. We rode every ride we wanted, and even caught the parade at the end. It was basically the full experience.
There was a bit of drama in the middle, sure, but Lee Jun-woo handled it all, and everything turned out fine.
“Lee Jun-woo...”
Once his name popped into my head, memories of him started lining up one after another.
From the day we’d first intensely crossed paths, when he helped me after I twisted my ankle. Then saving my childhood friend Kim Ye-eun. And finally...
He doesn’t look like the type, but...
Suddenly, the moment on the roller coaster when Lee Jun-woo boldly grabbed my hand.
During the ride itself, I hadn’t really noticed. There was no room to think when my life was flashing before my eyes.
But afterward, replaying the roller coaster in my mind, the screams faded into a blur—only the memory of holding his hand stood out crystal clear.
Bigger and rougher than expected. That sensation still lingered on my palm.
That must’ve been why. I was so embarrassed. I didn’t want him catching on to it. So from the moment we got off the roller coaster until the parade ended, I kept picking pointless fights with him. Nitpicking for no reason, starting arguments out of nowhere.
“I shouldn’t have done that...”
Would the only memory left of today’s amusement park be our fights? It worried me. It hurt.
And now, I had no choice but to admit it. After just a few meetings—not quite love yet, but I’d definitely developed a fondness for him.
I wanted to learn more about him. Spend more time with him.
The situation had flipped in an instant. What I had to do was obvious.
“Ye-eun.”
Lee Jun-woo’s childhood friend. My one-and-only bestie in the world. I had no choice but to ask her.
“Today, I’m staying in and resting for real.”
My cozy two-room apartment near the university. I had zero plans to step outside today.
Deep down, I was a total homebody. In my previous life, to save money, I’d eaten nothing but ramen for a week straight without leaving the house. And I never got bored.
Videos, dramas, movies, web novels—endless entertainment right at home.
That was the plan for today.
“Let’s see... Dinner ingredients: check. Drinks: check. Snacks: plenty. Booze: got it.”
Just in case I missed anything, I double-checked everything meticulously. Satisfied, I dove onto the bed.
A small table sat on the bed—today’s entertainment kicked off with a cooking variety show. About an hour per episode. I’d binge three back-to-back, then whip up dinner.
“Hmm. Not bad.”
The popcorn I’d impulse-bought from some viral short-form ad? Tasted better than expected. Not quite movie theater level, but a notch above convenience store junk. Half the time these buys flopped, but today was a win.
“Gotta recommend this.”
I fired off the product link to Kang Min-jun right away. A routine we’d had since high school: I test viral stuff first, then he enjoys the vetted goods. Seems like I’m losing out, but he buys me meals if he likes it—so I’m the one pushing these now.
He probably wouldn’t reply right away, so I turned back to my tablet.
Ding-. The screen switched with its signature short sound. I hit play.
“Oh, this one looks doable.”
True to its focus on solo dwellers, the recipes weren’t too tough. Not that I could make them all, but with my basic skills, a few seemed worth trying.
Time slipped by. My focus waning, I fiddled with my phone now and then while watching.
Short alert chime, then a message from Kang Min-jun. We chatted back and forth a bit—turns out he was asking if I’d join drinks tonight.
Attendees: Kang Min-jun, Lee Soo-min, Kim Seo-yeon, and Ji-soo noona. The usual crew.
I didn’t remember any plans for today, so probably a last-minute booze-up. Kim Seo-yeon or Kang Min-jun were the prime suspects.
What to do...
It was tempting since everyone would be there, but no matter how I thought about it, recovery took priority today. Sorry, but I texted I couldn’t make it.
“Samgyeopsal tonight, huh.”
The spot Kang Min-jun sent was an all-you-can-eat samgyeopsal joint near school. Unlike places where quality tanks with refills, this one stayed decent—famous for it.
Still early evening, so they were pairing pork belly with soju.
Samgyeopsal and soju... Mouthwatering just thinking about it. But I shook my head and steeled myself.
If I didn’t rest properly today, I’d catch a cold or something tomorrow. Rest hard when you rest—that’s wisdom beaten into me from getting ground down daily at my old mid-tier company.
“Hmm... Can’t watch more, huh?”
Focus in the toilet, down to the basement. No point forcing it.
Still 30 minutes shy of 6 PM—earlier than planned. But hearing about Min-jun’s pork and soju, I couldn’t resist.
“Sigh. Time to eat.”
Roll up sleeves, head to the kitchen area. Nothing fancy for a rest day. Prep done ahead since it needed time, so cooking was quick.
Jjigae-based with a touch of doenjang—my twist. A go-to when I’m too lazy for rice.
“Whew... Stuffed. Leftovers for tomorrow.”
My belly rose like a mountain, fullness right up to my chin. Felt like I needed a 10-minute walk outside.
But today’s me chose to plop down on the floor. I’d be a full pig for the day.
This violent blood sugar spike. Sitting blankly, sleepiness crept in.
Just close my eyes for a sec?
Eyelids growing heavier. Like always, I gave a little squeeze, then let go.
Darkness came naturally. Cozier than ever.
Sure, early for bed. But today was recovery day. Plans after were just solo drinks anyway.
This was fine. Consciousness faded, plunging into deep sleep.
Bang bang-.
The harsh pounding on metal jolted me awake. Peering out the half-open window, it was still dark. Some bastard banging in the middle of the night.
“What the hell...”
Who the fuck bangs this late? The periodic noise might get complaints from neighbors.
Checked the time: around 10 PM. Definitely risky.
I threw on some clothes haphazardly and rushed to the door. If it’s a peddler, I’ll chew them out proper.
Vowing that, I swung the door open.
“Who i—”
“Hehe. Jun-woo oppa~.”
Kim Seo-yeon stood there, face flushed dead drunk.
“Wanna drink with me?”
Clutching soju bottles in both hands.
Jang Ha-rin Pondering on the Bed (Image)
