Yoko's Terrifying First Date
The word "date" so familiar to us originally meant just a point in time on the calendar. But at some point, it came to encompass meetings between lovers, filling those red marks with special meaning. A budding romance where they share time together—and eventually, the touch of their bodies. It's a cheesy thrill that gives every youthful heart butterflies. And even Minami Yoko, the invasive Japanese species, was no exception.
"...Why?"
Seonggwang's sudden date proposal hit Yoko like an unwanted gift, plunging her into shock and horror. He hadn't outright called it a date—it might just be two people hanging out—but to her, it was clearly a date. Three people meet to play around; two people meet, and it's all lovey-dovey squeals. From the perspective of Minami Yoko, with her 17 years of pure singlehood (16 by Japanese count), this was undoubtedly a date.
It was so shocking she said it twice. "Just the two of us... this is definitely a date, right?"
Thinking about it more, it was even more shocking—so she said it three times.
Her first-ever date invitation in life. And from someone she'd only recently met but had long admired from afar. Yoko had her own pink-tinted dreams of romance, but now that the chance was here, her head was filled not with excitement or anticipation, but chaos and fear.
Lack of experience. Anxiety that it might turn into a bad memory. Fear that it could ruin their relationship. They'd finally built a fun daily routine—would it all go back to how things were before?
"......"
With a pale face buried in her attachment pillow, Yoko thrashed her feet for a long while, unable to escape the swamp of her thoughts.
Beep beep beep beep beep.
And then, into the empty house came her roommate.
"I'm home, Yoko."
"Siwoo-chan!"
"Whoa, what's with the sudden hug? I haven't showered yet—don't touch me."
At those words, Yoko skidded to a halt mid-pounce and slyly backed away from Im Siwoo. Though she'd started it herself, Siwoo felt a pang of hurt at the rejection. She quickly hung her suit jacket on the rack and dashed into the shower for a speedy wash.
"Phew."
After a brisk 30-minute shower, fresh and fluffy, Siwoo recalled Yoko's earlier reaction and spotted her huddled on the sofa.
"So, what's up? Did some streamer troll get you again?"
"No! I got asked on a date!"
"And?"
"And what do you mean 'and'?"
"You got asked on a date—so what? What do you want me to do about it?"
Exhausted from work, Siwoo responded coldly, and Yoko felt deeply hurt by it. Siwoo cherished Yoko like a little sister, but she couldn't care less about her social life or love affairs. It wasn't her place to meddle.
...What a hassle.
Above all, she had zero interest. As long as it wasn't a major issue, there was no need for adult intervention, right? She positioned herself as Yoko's guardian to some extent, but she had no intention of playing mom.
"How can you say something so harsh! Don't you have any heart?!"
"Whoa, pulling out the Kyoto dialect all of a sudden. If you don't like it, turn it down. If you do, accept. What do you want from me?"
At Siwoo's words, Yoko started to whine for date advice but swallowed her words, remembering her roommate's spotty romantic history. In the end, getting nothing from Siwoo, she pettily jabbed at her cold attitude.
"You're so mean."
"Mean? I'm tired, so I'm heading to bed. Make your own dinner."
"You're really mean. I won't dance my 'Siwoo-chan concert cheers' for you anymore."
"I don't have concerts to go to anymore anyway, and you never even asked."
Siwoo really went to bed, and that night, Yoko glared resentfully at her before dozing off sometime later.
On the day of the promised "date," Yoko dressed up nicely and headed out. Siwoo, back from her morning workout, spotted Yoko's awkward getup and muttered.
"Her on a date... even this day has come."
A loaded comment in many ways. Siwoo turned her attention back to enjoying the rest of her day off. She'd later react entertainingly upon learning the date partner's identity—but that's a story for another time.
Jongno in Seoul. Any musician worth their salt has to conquer two major dungeons here.
The first is said to be some musician's home, home to a washed-up bandman who peaked long ago but squandered his fame with scandals and shitty personality.
The second is Nakwon Arcade. A paradise dreamed up for musicians. Jongno's Ochanomizu, etched with the deep footprints of music lovers, still buzzing with people. Despite the controversies, it's the first place anyone into instruments thinks of.
If you're even mildly into music, come check it out. But if not? Not much reason to visit. You could if you wanted, but why bother when Jongno has better spots? Like Daehangno—bright vibes, catch a play while you're at it. Just watch out for the bleached-hair auntie prowling for smokes at dawn.
Anyway, not a spot I'd recommend for a date, yet here I am with a girl. Why? Do I get off on deceiving people in front of shady shops?
"Why? 'Cause this isn't a date, duh."
Sunday meetup at Nakwon Arcade. Dressed to the nines, Yoko blankly scanned me up and down. I waved at her.
Her dolled-up gaze swept over me: beat-up sneakers, baggy tracksuit. Peak dawn-convenience-store chic.
Yoko grimaced at my outfit.
"Wha... gross."
"Your clothes are cute, but too flashy! You gotta dress like a total nerd to be adorable, y'know?"
Yoko ground her teeth at my words, but not just 'cause I dissed her fashion sense. Nah, time for a preemptive strike to avoid misunderstandings before the main event.
I cleared my throat, grubby as ever, and addressed Yoko, who'd been dragged to an instrument mall after I suggested we meet alone.
"Yoko, lemme say this upfront: I don't like you like that."
"..."
"This isn't a date—it's just hanging out. Whatever misunderstandings or delusions you had, that's not on me, so don't get mad."
Yoko's face hardened. Fair enough—I'd phrased it pretty dickishly. If this were Lara, I'd be eating foot or fist already. Lara's justice comes from her fists.
But pure-hearted Yoko, not quite venomous enough yet, didn't smite me with righteous fury. Instead, she scowled and asked,
"...Then why'd you ask to meet today-yo?"
"Today's goal is checking out guitars for you. You're our band's guitarist—how's it gonna work with no electric guitar?"
"Why just us, no Lara-senpai?"
"Lara doesn't play instruments and doesn't know shit about 'em. With her personality, she'd get bored and impulse-buy one. For Lara's healthy spending habits and financial sense, better not bring her, right?"
"......."
"Embarrassing, but my silver tongue must've led to the mix-up. Sorry, what now."
Not actually sorry. Just polite words. I never said "date"—she jumped to conclusions on her own. Her fault entirely. No guilt on my end.
At least that's what I thought. I pointed out her thinking error, but Yoko, pissed at being called out for ignorance, refused to admit fault and pinned the blame on me.
"You could've just said it straight like that-yo. Why not call and say 'let's buy a guitar'-ssu? But yesterday's message said nothing..."
"I was curious what kinda reaction I'd get from you, all deluded about it being a date."
Said it now, but yeah—I'd been deliberately vague. Enough to make her wonder if it was casual or with ulterior motives, no clear answer given. Who phrases a simple "let's shop for instruments" like that? Straight-up baited her.
"......"
"I didn't lie, did I?"
I asserted my innocence again, and the undeserved bullet of hate whizzed past, turning tail back where it came from.
"I'm outta here."
"Where you going, Yoko?"
"This ain't it. Total hand-cut. Block me."
"You really gonna go?"
"Seriously, how can you toy with someone's feelings like that-yo? I'm furious. Truly disappointed."
Yoko's face was utterly crestfallen. Disappointment and contempt in her eyes, not a spark of expectation or affection left for me. Yeah, maybe I went too far. I knew toying with feelings was shitty. Guilty as charged: Seonggwang, sentenced.
"Tch... no excuses."
I sheepishly hung my head. But what could I do? Yoko's heart had already turned away. Alone in atonement, I muttered a monologue of regret and reflection loud enough for her to hear.
"Maybe pranks like this just aren't forgivable..."
"Hmph. Doesn't make you forgiven."
"Sigh. Thought gifting you any guitar regardless of price would smooth it over."
"But still, can't ignore the victim's side. This once, special pardon—buy it for me-yo. Forgiven."
Wise choice. Nothing buys forgiveness like bail money. Middle-school lawyer Seonggwang strikes again, freeing another innocent citizen...
"More importantly, you even know 'pardon'? Smarter than you look."
Her mangled speech hides it, but she's dropping some advanced vocab. Yoko might've already surpassed native Korean speaker Shin Lara in vocabulary.
"Hehe."
At my words, Yoko puffed up proudly, straightening her back. Yeah, talking her up like that should work.
"Alright, let's buy that guitar today, Yoko."
"Yay~ Actually been wanting an electric one! Les Paul! Electric's gotta be Les Paul!"
"Heh, you know your stuff. Cool! Pick whatever you want today!"
"For real?"
"Nah, kidding obviously. Just pick a decent one."
"......"
"Yoko. Not that I don't wanna buy it for you—circumstances. Won't be buying directly; you'll pick a model, and I'll get that one from a connection."
Circumstances, y'know? If I could afford it, I would! (Even if I had the cash, probably wouldn't, but anyway.)
"So quit with those eyes already. Not cool to look at someone like that."
"...Jeez."
"Ow! This brat staring at me like trash... Hey! Only Moon Juhee, Shin Lara, Lee Jeongyeon, Im Siwoo, Kim Jonghun, and Lee Junwoo have given me that look!"
Probably more, but I can't remember names. Anyway, these are the ones in my memory, so that should suffice.
I dodged Yoko's piercing glare and hustled her inside the arcade. More chit-chat would just tank my image further—better dive into the main event and hype the mood. Show her a few guitars, she'll go "whoa awesome~" and forget it all.
"Ahem... anyway, let's go guitar shopping, Yoko. Time to find your fated partner. Nakwon Arcade, let's go~"
"...Hmph."
Anyway, gotta cheer Yoko up quick.
So it'll be easier to achieve my real goal.
I grabbed the wrist of Yoko, still eyeing me warily, and hurried inside.