#5 - A Chance Encounter
My daily life can be divided into two main categories.
Usually, when I'm at home. I just lie around spacing out without a care, play games, or hit the gym if I'm not doing either.
Honestly, I think this is the ultimate privilege and freedom for a guy in his early twenties fresh out of the army.
The other one is prepping for Na-eun's tutoring sessions. Surprisingly, I have quite a bit to prepare for her lessons.
One of those things is...
"Ughhh... Ah, so that's how you solve it."
Me solving the problems myself.
This might sound weird, but I don't really know the current curriculum that well.
So to teach Na-eun properly, I need to know how it's changed. That's why when I assign her homework, I solve those same problems myself.
The good news is that tutoring her has jogged my memory of a lot of what I studied before, so I don't have much trouble with them.
Anyway, that's how my days flow...
The constant messages picking fights make it clear this Seung-min guy hasn't changed a bit since we were kids—he's still a total troublemaker.
As I pondered how to shut him down without starting rumors, I found out why he'd messaged me.
Just seven letters. Those seven letters magically erased any reason to mess with Seung-min.
What were they?
I'm just solving these problems for a quick review anyway—not like I'm studying hard. And if it's a full party just waiting on me? Gotta game.
I glanced at the problem in front of me, solved it mentally, jotted down the answer, and checked it against the key.
Luckily, I nailed this one too. Satisfied, I powered up my computer.
*
About four hours later, we faced our inevitable fate.
"Seung-min, you trolling bastard."
"Just quit the game already. Why even play?"
"Shut up, you should've carried."
Defeat thanks to Seung-min's trolling—the most predictable outcome ever.
"Argh, so annoying."
This neck-twitching frustration... it's been ages. I'm seriously pissed.
Screw it. Time to snack it out.
"Yo, I'm grabbing drinks."
"Now?"
"Yeah, now. Ten-minute break, then queue up."
I tossed my headset on the desk, grabbed my puffer jacket and wallet, and headed out.
But someone interrupted me.
"Hey~ lil bro, where you off to?"
The monster called my sister had sniffed out my outing.
"...Grabbing snacks."
"Get mine too~"
"......What?"
"Hmm~ Dubai Chocolate?"
"That's ridiculously expensive."
"Yeah~ Just get it~"
"Tch, fine fine."
In this house, I'm at the bottom of the power hierarchy. Dad's third, Mom and Seong split first and second.
No way to fight Seong in this setup.
I zipped up my jacket and headed to the convenience store right outside.
Thank goodness. If our apartment weren't the closest, it'd take five minutes just to get here.
I beelined for the snack aisle the second I walked in.
It's 9:30 p.m.—late enough that snacks beat ramen.
I grabbed some famous nitrogen potato chips and the Dubai Chocolate Seong wanted.
Man, this Dubai Chocolate is pricey. Over 5,000 won—not pocket change.
Pretty sure it was half that at the PX.
Thinking about it bummed me out more. Drinks under 1,000 won at the PX now cost over 2,000.
Oh well, that's society for you.
Swallowing my regrets, I stood by the fridge picking a drink.
Then...
"This one... or this... ughhh..."
...a familiar voice from the woman next to me, hat pulled low.
"......Na-eun?"
"Mommy?!"
She jumped, turning to me with wide eyes—like she'd been caught sneaking something.
"S... Seonwoo oppa...!?"
"Hey, looks like we both ended up here."
"Ah, uh, y-yeah...."
She ducked her head, mumbling passively.
This Na-eun felt off—unfamiliar. The Na-eun I know is always bright and bubbly. This is totally new.
To this strangely subdued Na-eun, I tossed out a conversation starter. Maybe something casual would loosen her up like usual.
"You out grabbing snacks too?"
"Uh... yeah, you too, oppa...?"
"Yep. Snacks and drinks."
I pulled out a drink can and eyed hers—a zero-sugar one. Those are popular these days. I had one too.
"This the one you want?"
"Ughhh... y-yeah...."
"Cool. Here, I'll get it."
I took the drink she'd picked.
Na-eun stared at my hand in surprise, so I said it with a bit of shameless charm.
"Least I can do~. Need anything else?"
"No, really, I'm fine...!"
"Hmm, alright then—just the drink. Take it."
"Okay...."
Sounds bad, but Na-eun's parents paid generously for tutoring—per subject, even.
Spending it on her would probably make them happy.
"Snacks?"
"Uh... no snacks... I'm good...."
I thought I'd steered the chat okay, but she was still super passive.
Something wrong? No way to know.
Regretfully, I led her to the counter.
"Checking out."
"Yes~ 9,100 won~"
Pricey. PX prices would've been around 4,000 for all this.
Depressing, but I played it cool and pulled out my card.
"Here."
"Yes~ Bag?"
"Uh... no bag, it's fine."
"Got it~ Thanks~"
"Thank you."
I bowed to the clerk—who looked my age—handed Na-eun her drink, and headed out.
"G-good work...!"
Na-eun took the drink with both hands and scurried after me.
I fell in step beside her naturally and tried again.
"You sure just the drink? I can grab something else right now."
"I'm really fine, seriously...!"
She seemed dead set against it, so I dropped the snack push.
And so we...
-step step step step -step step step step
...walked in silence, just following the road.
Until we passed my apartment.
Na-eun knew where I lived, so she glanced at me.
"Um, Seonwoo oppa."
"Yeah."
"...Isn't that your place?"
"Yep."
"Then why..."
I knew what she meant and cut in.
"Why? Gotta walk you home."
"You don't have to..."
"Nah, it's fine. Round trip's five minutes tops."
I shrugged, cutting her off, and kept walking with her in silence.
All the way to Na-eun's apartment.
* * *
-thump! thump! thump! thump! thump!
My heart's pounding like crazy.
Running into Seonwoo oppa at the convenience store? Never imagined it. But now that it's happening, it's thrilling, happy, and so embarrassing.
Being next to Seonwoo oppa is pure bliss. But right now, I look wrecked.
'It's just a quick store run~' I thought, throwing on my childish pink winter pajamas and a sloppy puffer—no makeup or anything.
Then I bump into Seonwoo oppa. Of course I'm mortified.
That's why I was extra passive, a bit snippy even...
But he doesn't pry, just offers to walk me home.
Yeah, that's Seonwoo oppa's charm—understanding, considerate, kind to everyone.
That's why I fell for him.
I want to stay by his side forever. Greedily, hold his hand. More greedily, snuggle into his arms. Even more, press my lips to his.
No, can't. We're not there yet.
So for now, just being beside him is enough. For the moment.
But this happy time flew by too fast. Home—usually my favorite place—loomed way too close.
I want more time with Seonwoo oppa. Don't wanna go inside. Stay stuck together longer.
That wish didn't last. He'd already walked me to the apartment entrance.
"Get home safe."
"...Yeah, you too, oppa."
I bowed low, saying goodbye...
-whoosh!
...but suddenly Seonwoo oppa stepped right up.
-thump! thump! thump! thump!
My heart raced harder. Him closing in? Natural reaction.
But what he did next? Total surprise.
"Na-eun, a gift for you."
"...Huh?"
In his hand: Dubai Chocolate.
The trendy one that's easy to find now but still hesitantly pricey.
"Oppa, that's the one you were gonna eat..."
"Just take it~ I don't like super sweet stuff anyway. Plus, it's Valentine's Day. Call it that."
Tempted by his words, I took the chocolate with both hands on impulse.
So happy. Not the meaning I craved, but Seonwoo oppa's Valentine's chocolate? Ecstatic.
"...I'll treasure it. For real."
"Good, do that."
Watching him wave with that gentle smile, I screamed unspoken words inside.
Seonwoo oppa, I like you. Seonwoo oppa, I love you.
Someday, I'll say it to his face. No—I will say it.
Definitely.