Past Recollection: Seo Euna, Han Ga-eun (5)
Her black hair, tied back in a ponytail, swayed softly in the wind. Her sparkling eyes were like jewels—cliché, but no better word fit. Even in her slightly oversized gym clothes, her voluptuous figure was unmistakable. Her small face had it all, perfectly proportioned.
She's even prettier in person. No joke—she didn't photograph well; the real thing outshone the screen. If he'd met Euna before Heena, he probably would've made her his girlfriend.
"Hello."
"Oh, h-hello."
Euna greeted him first, and he bowed his head in response.
*Ding.*
"Ah, one sec."
He excused himself for the phone notification and checked it. Sure enough, a message from Dahyeon. They'd planned to meet today but hadn't set a time, so he'd let the hours slip by. When he asked what time, no reply came, so he'd eaten dinner alone. Experience had taught him that much.
If Dahyeon was too busy to respond, she was really busy. No way they'd share a meal then.
The photo Dahyeon sent showed a miniature black hole sucking everything in the lab into oblivion.
Whoa. AI tech had come a long way. The quality was insane, and even the lab parts getting sucked in looked real. One labeled "Time Accelerator" caught his eye, but that didn't exist—pure AI, obviously.
How'd she generate that? 'Draw a lab's time accelerator being pulled into a black hole'?
He started typing back: Quit messing with AI.
No. She's got something she can't talk about. He knew Dahyeon well. She might prank like this, but she rarely bailed on plans. The photo was fake, but she was genuinely swamped.
That's why he replied wishing her well and pocketed his phone. Definitely not because of the 50,000 won Baemin voucher.
Ah, but he registered that voucher right away. This was this, that was that.
"Huh? Girlfriend?"
"Huh? No."
He laughed and waved it off. Dahyeon was a female friend, not a girlfriend like Heena.
"R-right."
"Here for a workout?"
"Yeah. I hike whenever I get time."
"Ah, hiking's great. Good for health and exercise."
He hated mountains—screamed bloody murder on field trips—but no need to show it.
"Um, but..."
"Yeah?"
"You ran all the way up from down there... Insane stamina."
"You saw? It was more doable than I thought."
Euna gasped in awe, clapping like a seal.
"Amazing. I come often, but it's tough every time..."
"Haha, train more and you'll run up like me. Fighting!"
"Y-yeah... Fighting."
She shyly echoed his cheer, smiling awkwardly.
"Seo Euna."
"Yun Geon-woo."
Sharing that awkward smile closed the distance, leading to introductions.
"I'm 23. You?"
"19."
"Huh?"
Adult vibes, but high schooler? Senior year?
"Thought I was an adult? November this year, so next month it's next year? I'll be 20 then—basically adult."
"Pfft, 'basically' doesn't count. You're a student."
Note to self: No such thing as "basically adult." That led to inevitable backlash.
"But mister, are you an actor? Or idol?"
"Huh?"
Mister... No damage. Korean guys got called "mister" after military. His HP was already zero.
Groan.
"I was shocked. Even in gym clothes dragging a suitcase, you had this huge presence."
Her wide-armed gesture made him chuckle.
"Then shouldn't it be oppa, not mister?"
"Eek, 10s are seats ahead, 20s are mister. Ten-year gap's too much for oppa."
"Hey, real age difference is under five."
"Ehh, wanna hear 'oppa' from a high schooler as an adult? Trouble."
"Damn. Fair point."
This girl was cute. Energetic. Different charm from Heena. Chatting freely with a near-stranger, teasing... Some might call it rude, but not him. She just drew people in.
Before he knew it, he'd dropped formal speech naturally—no asking.
"Must be tough."
"Huh?"
"That cafe boss eyeing you."
"Quit already."
"What?"
"Kept saying 'adult next year, 23-year gap's nothing, I can hook you up with someone good'... Pushy."
Real English forty. Hopeless case. Flirting with a high schooler aside, 23 years? His age.
"You saw him glaring at you. I made his coffee, he chugged it. Then made yours with extra ice. Saw him hawk a loogie—done."
"What?"
Spit? His face probably twisted horribly—no mirror, but Dahyeon would've burst out laughing.
"Don't worry. I stopped him. His coffee was fine."
He sighed in relief. Close call with English forty spit coffee.
"Th-thanks..."
"No biggie. Blocking terrorism's basic. Quit that day."
She flashed a V-sign with her right hand. Adorably grin-inducing.
"Good call. Nothing good under trash like that."
"Paid 20,000 an hour, but couldn't hack it. No matter how broke."
Come to think of it... First time chatting like this with a girl he just met. Heena was hypnotized girlfriend—excluded. Girls had approached, but Dahyeon always blocked.
-Sorry, Geon-woo's discussing construction with me.
- Am I invisible?
- Got anything better than me? Prove it.
- Geon-woo, dinner plans.
- No. Comic cafe tomorrow. And day after.
- Closed a month ago? Whatever.
Not important memories.
"So, agency?"
"Uh... Just a normie."
"C'mon."
"Stake my life, true."
"All-in, gotta believe. But never seen a guy handsomer than you..."
"Thanks. But Euna... ya."
"Casual's fine, mister."
"Shouldn't you spill your agency?"
"Ah...?"
"Watched a movie. Killer has killer moves."
"A-ah..."
Euna flushed beet red, like she'd explode.
"Y-you saw it."
"Yesterday. Fun. Dodge roll from knife throw, wire-spinning on rope—not wire or CG? Too natural."
"Y-yeah... Not that high-difficulty..."
"That?"
Backflips, Tarzan swings, mid-air spins to land? No wire/CG meant her action skills were pro-level.
"Wasted as extra. Lead material. No, must be lead."
Even he, no film buff, preferred her few minutes over the protag's. Reviews agreed: "Lead worse than extra," "High school killer action worth the ticket"—top sympathy ranks. Not just him.
Supporting role should've been hers by now. Weird.
"Th-thank you..."
Playful vibe gone, shy now.
"W-wanna... go somewhere else?"
"Huh? Other spot?"
She nodded.
"Great night view spot."
Night... porn? "Ah, nightscape. Sounds pretty. Let's go."
Shit. Near disaster. He followed quietly.
"Huff, huff..."
Ragged breaths. Tired.
"Rough?"
"No... Eek?!"
She slipped hard. He caught her back and calf quick.
Déjà vu...
"Th-thanks..."
Blushing, meek thanks. He stepped toward her direction.
"P-put me down."
"Twisted ankle. Could worsen. Body's your lifeblood as actress—take care."
"I-it's fine, mister."
"Stay healthy, act long. Right?"
"......"
Euna was light. Under 50kg. He started running with her.
"H-here."
"Oh, here?"
Under five minutes to her spot. A few others there too—Seoul skyline at a glance, perfect for stargazing wishes. He set her down. She wobbled but strode firm.
"Make a wish."
Euna closed eyes, hands clasped. He started to mimic, then just looked up.
"Wished?"
"Yeah. You?"
Nothing really.
"Did. For good terms with Mom."
"Mom?"
She smiled bitterly. He didn't pry. Probably big fight. Cliché plot: Mom against acting, Euna pushes—likely.