"Yeoju, do you know that?"
"what?"
"Actually, the first time I saw you wasn't at university?"
"...? really??"
"Yeah, you didn't realize you'd forgotten."
Everything Seokjin said is true. Unlike the two who met two years ago, Seokjin had already met Yeoju five years ago.
5 years ago
"hello -"
"......."
At the time, Yeoju was working part-time at a convenience store because her friend had asked her to fill in for just that day, promising a pretty decent daily wage, and she figured she would have plenty of time. A man appeared at the sound of a bell, wearing a hat pulled low over his face, and simply nodded in response to Yeoju's greeting.
At that time, Yeoju was in a very good mood. While working her part-time job, an older woman bought her a drink, saying that a young person was working hard, and when an older man asked for directions and she showed him, he gave her some pocket money. She wondered if part-time jobs were really this easy and thought about actually giving it a try, but after that man came in, followed by another man wearing the exact same hat pulled down low, Yeoju changed her mind not long after.
"hello -!"
The first man who came in headed straight for the drinks, but the next man who came in didn't even look at the display case and came to the counter.
"cigarette."
What kind of cigarettes are you talking about?
"......."
When she asked the name of the cigarette, the man seemed to frown and roughly grabbed a random one with a gesture; as Yeoju picked it up, she asked to see his ID, but hearing no response, she stared at his face. At that moment, Yeoju almost screamed for real right there.
The person whose picture was prominently displayed in the elevator of the apartment building where the female lead lived. The title read: Public Wanted – Murderer Who Killed 12 People. It was the person who had left a deeper impression on the female lead's memory due to his burn marks.
"....."
Seeing the pale face of the female lead, the man seemed to catch on and fiddled with something with his hands behind his back. Terrified by the situation and the man's murderous intent, the female lead clamped her mouth shut and remained motionless.
Thump -
Bang -
Aren't you going to report this to the police? What are you staring at?
The man, whom I had completely forgotten about, instantly pinned the man in front of me to the ground, climbed on top of him, and spoke to me with such nonchalance.
"Yes... Yes? Ah, yes..!!"
Yeoju was sweating profusely and trembling uncontrollably as she took out her cell phone and immediately called the police.
"Don't work a part-time job alone late at night. The world isn't like a cartoon. Any crazy person shows up when you least expect it."
It was something Yeoju heard on the way home with the man, who offered to take her home since it was late at night, after she had been writing a statement at the police station for quite some time.
Yes... I really appreciated today's work.
"...It looks like you've arrived, aren't you going inside?"
"This person really has a talent for making people feel awkward." Seokjin watched Yeoju go inside after she awkwardly bowed her head in greeting, and only left a few minutes later did he finally step away, finding himself absurd. He wondered why he had gone out of his way to save her, go to the police station with her, and act as her spokesperson. He even found it strange that he had gone so far as to drive her home. Seokjin, who usually disliked investing his time in things like this, found it ridiculous that he had spent all his time on Yeoju as if today were some special occasion.
"...I'm behind on all my lectures."
Seokjin let out a hollow laugh.
"OMG, that was you, oppa?!?!?!?!"
Seeing the look of genuine ignorance, I had expected it, but I felt a bit bitter.
"Yeah, back then I was a kid who knew nothing but studying. Everyone says I got into this university by talent, but I really worked hard. I literally didn't sleep or eat; I just studied right up until I was on the verge of death haha."
"You worked hard, my oppa." As Yeoju hugged him with a smile, she couldn't have been more adorable in Seokjin's eyes.
Now I really have a reason not to break up with you. You're my lifesaver, after all.
"Would you have broken up with me if it weren't for that?!"
Oh, no~ The last day of the year passed with the mischievous appearance of the female lead.
_