At the very end of the street corner, there was a store with a strange atmosphere. The store had a sophisticated atmosphere that didn't fit in with the surroundings, and it felt somehow out of place.

The name of the place is Emotional Properties. It's a shop run by Yeoju. Using advanced science, Yeoju creates and sells emotional stones that infuse human emotions into stones, allowing them to trigger specific emotions.

Some call her a witch, others revere her as a saint. The difference, of course, is a thin line.

“Hmm~ Should I start organizing things slowly?” ((Yeoju

The heroine hummed and began to tidy up the shop. The past few days had been filled with mundane tasks, but today, for some reason, she had a feeling something quite interesting was about to happen.

Ding-

Feeling a sense of satisfaction that her intuition was right, the heroine poked her head out at the sound of the door opening. With a couple of dry coughs, a handsome young man stood right in the center of the store.

“Welcome, this is Emotional Material. If there is something you are looking for, please call me and enjoy the emotions comfortably.” ((Yeoju

Anger, despair, emptiness, sadness, grief, and the happiness that existed between them all made him a very interesting boy.

I'm sure I'm feeling the other emotions, but I'm certain I bought the feeling of happiness at the store I run. So I should definitely remember it, but no matter how hard I try, I can't recall it.

“It’s a face that’s hard to forget, but I guess this is my first time here since I don’t remember it.” ((Yeoju

"..." ((Beomgyu

“So, did you come here to find out where the stone came from? Or the necklace?” ((Yeoju

"A necklace...?" ((Beomgyu

Beomgyu lowered his head, his expression bewildered. Then he looked at the necklace around his neck. Slowly, he raised his hand and touched the small stone on the necklace.

“It seems like you have been given the gift of happiness. Happiness is contained in the necklace you are wearing now.” ((Yeoju

Yeoju rested her chin on the counter and smiled faintly. Beomgyu strode over and slammed the emotional stone on the desk.

“What is this stone?” ((Beomgyu

“It’s my rule not to tell you unless you bought it yourself…” ((Yeoju

“Then why did you tell me about that necklace earlier?” ((Beomgyu

“If you say it like that, I have nothing to say...” ((Yeoju

As she spoke, Yeo-ju glanced at Beom-gyu. Of course, she was curious about the handsome boy's circumstances, but she also felt like she might be able to secure a sucker, or rather, a good customer.

“Unfortunately, it would be better for you to ask him, but it seems like he has some circumstances, so I will tell you. Please wait a moment until I feel it. It seems like I have used up all my emotions.” ((Yeoju

Yeoju carefully lifted the stone. She was worried that it might break because Beomgyu had carelessly thrown it at her earlier, but thankfully, it didn't.

“I don’t think it will take much time, but would you like to take a look around for a bit?” ((Yeoju

Beomgyu shifted his gaze from side to side, turning his head here and there. Yeoju looked at him and muttered softly, "That's not what I meant when I said look around..."

“What is this place?” ((Beomgyu

“It’s a place that sells emotions. We have all the emotions that a person can feel, including joy, sadness, emptiness, and happiness. If you want a special emotion, we can make it for you. For example, an emotion that is a mixture of sadness and happiness.” ((Yeoju

'' ...I see. '' ((Beomgyu

Hearing Yeoju's words, Beomgyu stared blankly into space. This was emptiness. Yeoju defined Beomgyu's feelings. This damn occupational disease has no cure. Yeoju suppressed the urge to capture Beomgyu's feelings.

"Well then, maybe..." ((Beomgyu

“Please speak comfortably.” ((Yeoju

“Are there people who experience negative emotions like sadness or emptiness?” ((Beomgyu

"Yes, the stone you brought is exactly that case." ((Yeoju

'' Yes...? '' ((Beomgyu

Beomgyu was deeply shocked by Yeoju's words. Yeoju returned the emotional stone that had once held his sorrow to Beomgyu. Yeoju, who absentmindedly looked up from the emotional stone to Beomgyu, was startled to see Beomgyu shedding tears and looked away.

“It seems like the story will be long.” ((Yeoju

Yeoju went outside, turned the pen-stick that said "Open" to "Close." She locked the shop door and changed the lighting to something a bit more moody. She blocked all the emotional stones to keep her emotions from spilling out, and handed Beomgyu a glass of warm milk.

“Would you tell me your story in exchange for your feelings?” ((Yeoju

Dandelion seeds

Welcome to Emotional Properties.

Beomgyu still remembers that shitty day. The first memory of regret from that day is when he received a large sum of money from his girlfriend, Obin, who had been in hiding.

''Jung Oh-bin... You really don't contact me...'' ((Beomgyu

Beomgyu took a sip of his drink and looked at the number 1, still etched on his face. Feeling exhausted, Beomgyu turned off his phone screen. "I won't even look at your texts anymore," he said, quietly vowing.

If I had known that the number would never be erased, I probably wouldn't have been so impulsive that day. I would have just sent an "I love you" and "I miss you" text like I always do.

'' Ha... I didn't block you, what is this '' ((Beomgyu

At that moment, Beomgyu's phone rang. The alarm simply said, "From Jeong Oh-bin..." Jeong Oh-bin. As soon as he saw those three letters, Beomgyu hurriedly pressed the alarm, making his promise from earlier seem meaningless.

It wasn't the KakaoTalk message he'd been waiting for, but a money transfer notification. And it was a large sum. Beomgyu was surprised by the amount he'd never seen before and counted the zeros two or three times. There were ten zeros and two more.

"What are you doing, Beomgyu?" ((Yeonjun

Yeonjun, still heavily intoxicated, rested his head on Beomgyu's shoulder. Beomgyu frowned at the stench of alcohol and pushed Yeonjun away, but Yeonjun only smiled and didn't push away. Instead, he wrapped his arm around Beomgyu's waist and looked at his phone screen.

"Ah, okay!" ((Beomgyu

"ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ" ((Yeonjun

Yeonjun chuckled as if he found Beomgyu's reaction amusing. Then, he released his hand from around Beomgyu's waist and pointed to the screen, asking.

"Who sent this?" ((Yeonjun

"...a girlfriend." ((Beomgyu

"What? Did you really send it to tell me to break up?" ((Yeonjun

"No, what is that..." ((Beomgyu

Before Beomgyu could even confirm, Yeonjun turned his head and waved vigorously at the children cheering on Beomgyu's secret romance. Everyone looked at Yeonjun, but no one responded. Undaunted by the lack of response, Yeonjun smiled and shouted.

"Hey!! It's over, it's over!!! " ((Yeonjun

“Oh, what are you talking about!! That’s not it” ((Beomgyu

"Hyung, I told you, right? It's not a submarine, it's a breakup in hiding" ((Taehyun

"What did you come here for? Did you really come here to break up?" ((Soobin

Everyone walked towards Beomgyu, one by one. Beomgyu glared at Yeonjun. Choi Yeonjun himself was the one who created this stupid situation, and yet he made such a shocking statement.

“I suddenly sent you money.” ((Beomgyu

“Did you say you were going to play with us here today?” ((Subin

“Oh my, please tell Dandelion that I enjoyed it” ((Huening

"Huh? Why Dandelion Noona?" ((Yeonjun

“The last message that Obin sent to Beomgyu hyung was a picture of a dandelion and a message saying that spring had come.” ((Taehyun

"I'll give it back" ((Beomgyu

"No, why? Just write it" ((Yeonjun

“I think it’s right to return it. It’s such an absurd amount.” ((Beomgyu

Subin wanted to ask how much he got paid, but she held back after seeing Beomgyu's expression. Well, from Beomgyu's perspective, it probably felt like he was just asking her to take the money and break up with him. Subin patted Beomgyu's shoulder and said,

“Just play today. We met to play, so what should I do if you’re this depressed?” ((Soobin

At Subin's words, Beomgyu nodded with a slight smile.

"Yes, " ((Beomgyu

Just then, Beomgyu's phone rang. He had a call. Beomgyu naturally looked at his phone and checked the caller. It was Obin.

"Beomgyu hyung, Dandelion noona is calling" ((Huening

"Just turn it off" ((Beomgyu

"It keeps ringing?" ((Huhing

“So turn off your phone. I can’t answer right now because my phone battery is dead.” ((Beomgyu

Huening fidgeted while looking at Beomgyu's phone, which already had three missed calls, and eventually closed his eyes tightly.

“Hey, give it to me. I’ll do it.” ((Beomgyu

Beomgyu took his phone from Huening and turned it off. He'd actually asked Huening to do this because he was afraid he'd be rude and answer the phone if he held it, but he didn't seem to hesitate as much about intentionally not answering the phone.

Without a moment's hesitation, Beomgyu turned off his phone in one swift motion and tossed it onto a random, soft-looking surface. The phone bounced a couple of times on the sofa before falling over.