"Hey."
"Hey, wake up."
Someone calls me. I open my eyes, not even realizing I had closed them, and there he is, the handsome guy from the convenience store I saw yesterday.
"Uh... huh?"
I’m not sure if I should greet him or ask why he's suddenly in front of me. I get confused about the order of things and end up speechless.
"Did you sleep well? But this is a dream."
Ugh... (I knew it, but this feels so real...)
"But since this is a dream, I can see what you're thinking."
"Uh... what??? No, that's... "
(Argh, why can’t I speak properly?)
"Hahaha, I’m just kidding. You’re so innocent. You really believed it?"
Honestly, if someone else had said this, I would’ve been mad, but why am I not angry? Haha. I wonder if I’ve lost my mind.
After the shock wore off, I quickly glanced at his handsome face.
Wow... should I just stay dazed and forget about it?
His perfectly groomed eyebrows slant down to his eyes, which sometimes look cute and foolish but, in reality, are alluringly sexy.
His nose is so perfect, it makes me want to bow towards it, and his lips are plump and tempting... Heh...
"Ugh... What am I doing? I think I’m crazy."
"What’s wrong? ...But, hey, if you don’t get up now, you’ll be late for your interview."
"Oh, right, the interview..."
Chapter 2
"INTERVIEEEEW!!!"
I woke up in a rush, threw on my suit, squeezed my shoes on, and ran out of the house without thinking.
After arriving at the interview location and barely making it inside, I finished the interview. But because I had been rushing, I couldn’t help but think I looked sloppy compared to the others who were waiting.
"Ugh... I’m so tired."
It wasn’t just one or two places I visited. I had gone to multiple interviews, and by the time I was done, it was already evening. Without thinking, I went into the convenience store to grab some chocolate for a quick energy boost.
"Can you ring me up?"
"If you eat so much in the evening, it’s not good for your health..."
As I looked at the cashier who was muttering while scanning the items, it was him, the handsome guy.
It was exactly the same as in my dream, and I couldn’t take my eyes off him.
When the transaction was finished, he raised his head to take the money, and I quickly looked away, like I was trying not to let my feelings show.
I didn’t want to admit it. I always thought that love was based on a person's heart, but now I was recognizing that I was first drawn to his appearance.
"Um... the total, please?"
"Ah, yeah, just a second, my wallet..."
As I bent down to rummage through my bag, I lost balance and couldn't hold myself up.
Snap!
"Ah!"
I fell to the floor in surprise.
I hadn’t noticed. I had been rushing around the interview venues in those crumpled shoes, and I didn’t even realize my heel had turned red from the pain.
Tap, tap.
??
As soon as I fell, the handsome guy rushed over with a first-aid kit, silently applied some ointment, and handed me a bottle of peppermint drink.
"Drink this and feel better. Seoul life is tough, right? You’ve had a hard day."
"Can you make it home? If you're tired, you should rest for a bit."
"Thank you..."
He put a chair next to the counter, where customers usually come, and tapped it lightly, signaling for me to sit.
"I feel like I’m being rude... Sorry."
"It’s okay~ We can consider the umbrella as even, hehe."
Idiot... he gave me the mint chocolate milk back then.
Still, I was grateful.
A word of encouragement when you’re really tired can be so powerful.
"By the way, I don’t know your name. We’re neighbors, after all."
"Ah, right? What’s your name?"
"I’m Huang Hyunjin. Just call me Hyunjin."
"Oh, I’m Seolha. Min Seolha!"
"Seolha~ Your name is pretty."
Ugh... How do you even say something so sweet?
Does he treat everyone like this?
Well, if you’re this good-looking, I guess even a little kindness would make everyone fall for you.
Sigh... Why do I not like this?
Wait, why don’t I like it?
No... Min Seolha, what are you doing?
My heart was racing, and I was worried it would echo in the small space of the counter, wondering if Hyunjin would hear it and figure out my feelings.
It’s only been two encounters, but I’ve already gotten so ahead of myself. I feel so pathetic.
Even though my legs still hurt a little, I stood up first and left the convenience store.
Late, Hyunjin caught up with me, slipped something into my pocket, and went back into the store.
It was a few band-aids and a small mint chocolate.