MAGIC SHOP
4. HOSEOK: It's hot, right? Come here. (1)
Yesterday's experiences were like a dream.
The little prince, who is like a small sun,
They were like a single, captivating crimson rose
It was so unrealistic that it seemed like something out of a novel.
But when I went there today...
Last night, I couldn't sleep well, so I headed to the store a little earlier than yesterday, just in case.
나
It's not open yet...?
Around 8 a.m., when people were starting to arrive for work one by one, the door opened, and a red-haired boy came out, stretching, putting up a sign at the entrance to the street, and then wiped the sweat that had formed on his forehead and spoke to me.
정호석
Whoa- It's so hot today, isn't it? Come in here.
나
Me...?
정호석
Then is there anyone else besides you?
나
ah...
정호석
It's pretty, right?
He was smiling with a bright and pretty smile like the innocent smile of a 15-year-old mermaid princess.
나
Isn't it hard to manage on your own? It's as big as an aquarium...
정호석
It's more about giving attention than managing. Isn't it pretty... hehe
나
Ah, that... I'm sorry to just watch... but could you please give me a menu?
As soon as I finished speaking, the boy held out a sky blue plastic board with a piece of paper with the menu written on it.
나
thank you.
정호석
Don't worry. Please tell me when you've chosen everything.
나
Yeah haha (You mean 'cafe' during the day and 'bar' at night...?)
It's amazing. The owner, interior, and atmosphere of the store change with every hour and every day.
나
Is this tasty? (Points to a picture of a blue drink with index finger)
정호석
I don't know either. No one else knows if it'll taste good or not.
나
Oh... I see.
anything
I wanted to know more.
나
(But since I've already set foot in the store-) Please give me this.
I chose the one marked as recommended. There was no other reason; it simply looked remarkably similar to the blue lemonade I used to drink every summer in high school.
He took the menu in front of me and after a while, he handed me a glass of blue lemonade.
정호석
Try it and let me know if it's not sweet. If you like sour things, it's just the right amount.
weird.
I think they brought me that blue lemonade back then. Thinking it couldn't be true, I took another sip, but the result was the same.
Clearly, that summer. It tastes like the blue ade I drank in front of the school.
정호석
Is something wrong?
I was dumbfounded and just stared at him blankly.
나
What is this?
정호석
What is it? Oh, is this your first time drinking it?
나
No, it's just... something familiar...
The moment I was about to make eye contact with the boy, the sky suddenly turned blue and a white sandy beach and an emerald sea appeared before my eyes.
나
...? ocean?
정호석
Do you like the sea?
I nodded to the boy. Then he grabbed my wrist and turned as if to run towards the sea.
정호석
Hold my wrist tight, okay?
Before I could even answer, the boy had already started running, and I was drenched in the azure water. The sunlight reflected off the water droplets, making them look like shards of aquamarine, and the boy's hair shone even brighter, like a ruby.
정호석
How is it? Is it refreshing?
나
Yes, it's cool haha
As I went deeper, the white one-piece I was wearing became soaked in the sea and turned a deep aqua color, decorated with lace reminiscent of waves.
As I was staring blankly at the sea and going deeper, Hoseok grabbed my wrist.
정호석
What's going on?
나
yes?