Chapter 93
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: The World is Too Small
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Can this really happen? The world is too small, isn't it? No, more than that, it's weird that she's showing up right when I was thinking about her... Or should I say it's amazing? Should I buy a lottery ticket today or something?
Come to think of it, the odds of running into each other weren't zero.
If you have a girlfriend, the chances are high of hitting a trending hotspot on a Sunday like this.
Anyway, what should I do?
"Hyunwoo?"
My thoughts didn't last long.
Because Jo Ki-hang was walking this way with his girlfriend. Pretending not to see him awkwardly could lead to an even more awkward situation.
I carefully stood up and raised my hand in greeting toward Jo Ki-hang.
"...Ah, hey?"
"Who's that? Huh?"
Both of them looked flustered.
I'd hung out with him pretty often back in college, but trying to greet him after so long, I almost slipped into polite speech without realizing it.
"Hyunwoo!"
At least Jo Ki-hang handled it better. He remembered my name right away when he saw me. I'd mooched off him plenty, yet I'd briefly forgotten his name...
On top of that, Jo Ki-hang greeted me with a much more relaxed attitude than expected, seeming genuinely pleased. Maybe it was natural since he'd given me so much. Damn, was this just my guilty conscience overthinking? But it was a fact that I'd mostly just taken from him, and that left me feeling a bit sorry.
"Long time no see, for real."
"Yeah."
Leaving the two puzzled women behind, we exchanged brief greetings. It really was brief. Jo Ki-hang had been considerate toward me, which helped a lot.
"Looks like you're on a date. Have a good one."
"You too."
Saying that, he naturally placed his tray one spot away from where we were originally sitting. I could see his girlfriend asking, "Who was that?" Jo Ki-hang confidently replied, "A close friend from college." He hadn't changed.
He was still the same good guy.
"Mind if I ask who that was?"
"Ah, a friend from college. The one I mentioned earlier that I used to mooch off."
"Ah..."
Han Aebom nodded. That was it.
She didn't pry further, suggest chatting since we'd run into each other, or offer any meddling advice like, "Why not keep that promise you mentioned?"
Regardless of my own incompetence, maybe I was just lucky with people?
Jo Ki-hang, Han Aebom... I kept running into good folks.
"Excuse me."
I was mulling over whether to say a prayer of thanks when a voice piped up from the side. Turning my head, the face looked familiar.
Of course it did.
She was the girlfriend who'd just come up with Jo Ki-hang.
"...Ah. Sure."
"I heard he's Ki-hang's friend from college. Isn't it an incredible coincidence that we ran into each other like this? Why don't we chat together since we're here?"
Honestly, I didn't want to.
"Noona, don't do that."
My friend looked troubled too. He was so nice that he seemed weak against his girlfriend.
His girlfriend, on the other hand, had this aura of dominance about her face. She didn't even flinch at Jo Ki-hang's protest.
"No, why not? Running into each other like this is fate. It's not that two-person talks are boring or anything. We do that every date anyway. Sometimes variety like this is nice. Don't you think? It's not that you hate it, but after always just talking one-on-one, don't you sometimes want to enjoy these serendipitous encounters?"
I couldn't relate even a little. How was I supposed to empathize when this was their first date? Well, even if it wasn't, I doubt I'd want to...
I glanced at Jo Ki-hang. He was giving me the world's most apologetic look. Seeing he couldn't do anything about it made it seem like his girlfriend had him wrapped around her finger. If I refused here, it might ruin his date today...
"You're right. It is fate since we met like this. But let me check with the person I came with first."
"Of course. Don't feel pressured. It's just a suggestion for us all to have fun. Four people chatting means no awkward silences, right?"
That's exactly why we're hesitating—because it won't be fun.
"What do you think, Aebom?"
"I'm fine with it."
It was unexpected. Part of me had hoped Han Aebom would decline. But she nodded more straightforwardly than I'd thought. Why? ...No idea.
"Fine..."
"Great, then?"
Before I could finish, there was a clatter as another tray was added. It was a four-person window table originally, so space wasn't an issue.
What the hell? Something about her had been subtly grating on my nerves since earlier. It was... annoying.
"Sorry, Hyunwoo."
"Nah."
I shook my head at Jo Ki-hang's quiet whisper of apology. I couldn't exactly say it was fine. Meanwhile, Han Aebom had picked up her bag and moved to the seat next to me.
We could've sat side by side—me with Jo Ki-hang, her with the other woman—but apparently, she didn't like that setup.
"Wow, what a coincidence. How do these things even happen?"
She was the only one thrilled. Also, that casual tone bordering on informal...
Flinch!
Sure enough.
Han Aebom's eyebrow twitched slightly as she lifted her coffee. She was holding back, though.
"Ah, self-introductions first, then. I'll start since I suggested it. I'm Lee Seon-hwa. This is my boyfriend, Jo Ki-hang."
"Kim Hyunwoo."
"Han Aebom."
"Jo Ki-hang. Nice to meet you."
In this hastily formed group, awkward silence started to creep in. Jo Ki-hang cautiously asked me and Han Aebom,
"Hyunwoo, did you just get out?"
The safe question eased my discomfort a bit.
"No, I came out this morning, saw a movie, had lunch, then came to the cafe."
"Movie? Dod Theater by any chance?"
"Yeah, that's the one."
Jo Ki-hang smiled in surprise.
"Wow, seriously, what are the odds. We watched one there too today. The 10:40 showing of Villainess."
This really was insane. We might've even crossed paths there. Was this some inescapable fate?
"What movie did you see?"
"Uh? In the Countryside..."
"Coun...tryside? Is there a movie like that?"
It was possibly the saddest response imaginable. If the director or anyone involved was here, they might've cried.
"Hold on."
The diligent guy immediately searched online, then paused after checking the audience numbers for In the Countryside.
"Ah... this one."
"No need to pretend you know it. It only had two screenings—lunch and evening. It wasn't even that fun. I nearly died of boredom. How was Villainess?"
"Eh, just your standard Korean flick. Decent action, romance, comedy. Watchable, I guess?"
It was a comfortable conversation. Building the mood step by step like this with light topics wasn't bad. Especially with an old friend.
But then.
"You two have such great makeup and fashion sense."
Lee Seon-hwa's abrupt comment cut right through, crumbling the atmosphere we'd built. Like painstakingly constructing stairs only for some bratty kid to come stomping and giggling all over them.
"Ah, this is someone I kno—"
"You could pass for actual actresses."
Listen when people talk, bitch.
Her interruptions made me seem like I had anger issues. Or was I overreacting because I already disliked her?
"Ah! So, where do you two work?"
Overreacting my ass. Fuck.
She was unlikeable, alright. Jo Ki-hang called her "noona," so she was probably the oldest here, but acted the most immature. Actually, was she just average for a Korean?
-One thing foreigners struggle to adapt to in Korea is how people immediately pry into your personal specs during conversation, some comment said.
...Now I got it.
Why were they so desperate to dig into others' jobs and status?
Han Aebom answered nonchalantly.
"I just part-time at a study cafe."
"Whoa, no way! The guys studying there must love you."
Was that sarcasm or a compliment? Hard to tell anymore. But it felt sarcastic.
"And you?"
"...Job hunting while part-timing at a convenience store."
"Ah... I see. You're both part-timers, huh. You seemed so mature, I assumed you had real jobs. Sorry. That question must've been uncomfortable."
Whether it was malicious or not, I couldn't tell—and that pissed me off more. If it was innocent, it was shitty anyway; if intentional, she was a total bitch.
Getting scratched by crap like this sucks.
Was I too sensitive because I had nothing going for me? This was infuriating.
"And you?"
Maybe to avoid awkwardness if we kept talking, or just plain curiosity—Han Aebom turned the question back.
"Ah, I work at Hyeonggang Electronics. Small company, so you probably haven't heard of it."
Han Aebom nodded.
"Yeah, first time hearing it. Must be pretty small."
Her deadpan response somehow soothed me. Was lunch digesting already?
Lee Seon-hwa's eyebrow twitched faintly.
"I'm preparing to switch jobs while working there."
"......"
"......"
For a split second, sparks seemed to fly.
My friend and I sipped our now-icy coffees in silence. If our eyes met, we'd flinch and exchange looks of lingering apology. I subtly shook my head at him.
What could we do? It wasn't his fault.
"Ah, as for our Ki-hang."
"Cough!"
Jo Ki-hang, about to pop an ice cube in his mouth, choked as his girlfriend hooked her arm in his. I'd jump too. What the hell? If it got stuck in his throat, would she Heimlich him?
"He works as an assistant manager at Mirae Catch. Impressive at 29 to be an assistant manager, right?"
I blanked out for a second. Not knowing what "assistant manager" meant.
Assistant manager? What rank was that? Shit. I'd know if I'd worked at a company. Isn't it staff then senior staff? So was assistant manager like executive level?
"No, that's because Dad owns the comp—"
"Nepo baby, then."
This time, Han Aebom cut in. Lee Seon-hwa's eyebrow twitched again at the blunt term.
Jo Ki-hang nodded calmly in contrast.
"Yes, exactly. Nepo baby. Dad's the company president. Still, maybe from watching him since I was young—I'm at least doing a decent job as an assistant manager."
"Ah, I didn't mean nepobabies lack ability. No matter what, starting ahead of others is what makes it nepotism."
Jo Ki-hang scratched his cheek lightly and nodded. He didn't seem offended.
Honestly, yeah.
When Han Aebom talked about company stuff, I didn't feel like arguing or getting upset. Because she was right.
Well, maybe one person here disagreed.
"By the way, forgive the rude question, but... you two are dating, right? The distance feels a bit off otherwise."
Rudeness aside.
The straight-ball question caught me off guard. What should I say? "We're in that ambiguous phase" would be easy, but I didn't want to. Arbitrarily deciding might upset Han Aebom, though...
"Yes. Hyunwoo's girlfriend."
In that instant, as Han Aebom's warmth naturally linked arms with mine, all the displeasure I'd felt evaporated.