Later that evening, Nari set two steaming bowls of ramyeon on the low table in her apartment.
Sara and Nari sat cross-legged on the floor, clad in pajamas whose informality seems to be synonymous with complicity.
‘Wait!’ Nari said, rushing to the fridge.
‘We need beer.
I want the details.’ With two cold cans in hand, Nari returned, sliding one across the table to Sara.
‘Now,’ she said, cracking her can open.
‘Tell me.
How did you meet the mysterious boy?’ Sara hesitated.
‘It’s a little embarrassing,’ she began.
‘It was like a movie.
I was rushing to catch my flight and we crashed into each other.
I spilled juice all over him.
He was pretty upset, so I gave him my number to pay for the cleaning.
From there, we started talking.’ Nari leaned forward with curiosity.
‘What did you talk about?
I mean, with a stranger, that has to be so awkward.
How do you even start a conversation like that?’ Sara’s smile widened, her tone turning fond.
‘With him, it wasn’t awkward at all.
It was surprisingly easy.
He’s smart, funny, and just…
easy to talk to.
The next day, we ran into each other again—this time on the beach, at dawn.’ Nari’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.
‘Wait,’ she interrupted, her tone almost accusatory, ‘didn’t you agree to meet up?’ Sara shook her head.
‘No, not at all.
I went for a run, and so did he.
We just…
happened to be there at the same time.’ Nari gasped, throwing her hands up in disbelief.
‘That’s destiny!
Think about it—what are the odds of running into each other on Jeju´s Island, at dawn?
It’s like the universe is trying to tell you something.’ Sara’s expression softened, her smile bittersweet.
‘Yeah, it felt like fate,’ she admitted, her voice dropping to a quieter tone.
‘But after Thursday, we won’t see each other again.
Not even talk.’ Nari frowned, her excitement dimming.
‘Why not?’ Sara’s smile faded.
‘Because it’s not practical.
I’ll be back in Spain, and I’ve had a bad experience with long-distance relationships.
I don’t want to repeat that.’ Nari leaned forward insistent.
‘But with video calls, distances are short now.
It could turn into a nice friendship, like ours.’ Sara let out a small, almost bitter laugh, shaking her head.
‘If it were just friendship, there’d be no problem.
But with him, there’s a special chemistry.
From the moment I saw him… Maybe that’s why I gave him my number under the excuse of cleaning.
I couldn’t just be his friend.
And a long-distance relationship?
That’s not an option.
I’ve been there before—it ended badly.’ Nari’s eyes softened with understanding.
‘Was it the boy who was unfaithful to you?’ Sara nodded again.
‘Mmh.
He went abroad to study, and I surprised him with a visit…
but I ended up being the one surprised.
Old cliché.
He could’ve told me; you know?
I would’ve understood.’ Nari’s brow furrowed as she asked, ‘Would you have forgiven him if he’d been honest?’ Sara stared into her beer, swirling the remnants as if searching for an answer.
‘I don’t think so,’ she admitted quietly.
‘But at least I would’ve had a choice.
He took that away from me by lying.
Since that day, there are two things I can’t stand: lies and infidelity.’ Nari reached across the table, giving Sara’s hand a reassuring squeeze.
‘I understand.
But if you don’t plan to see this boy again after you leave, why meet him on Thursday?’ Sara looked up, conflicted.
‘Because I feel like I need to.
It started as a joke… but now, it’s stronger than my rational efforts.
I’ll only see him this one last time.’ Nari’s eyebrows shot up.
‘Does he know it’ll be the last time?
If he feels the same way you do…’ ‘Yes,’ Sara interrupted firmly.
‘I’ve been clear from the beginning.
We don’t even know each other’s real names.’ Nari stared at her friend, her lips parting in disbelief.
‘Sara, this is a little weird… And if he’s okay with it, he’s either weird too or he really likes you.’ A faint smile crept onto Sara’s lips.
‘Better to think we’re just two weirdos,’ she said with a shrug, though her smile carried a trace of sadness.
… The night was warm as the group stepped out of the bustling restaurant.
It was one of those September evenings that seemed suspended between the yellow of summer and the orange of autumn.
It was the kind of night that made you linger on the sidewalk, reluctant to return home, as if by doing so you’d miss the last chance at something special.
Leaving the restaurant, Yoo stretched his arms skyward.
‘What now?
I’m not ready to go home.’ ‘Me neither,’ Sang-in agreed.
‘It’s late,’ Nari said, though her tone lacked conviction.
‘Come on, Nari,’ Yoo pressed.
‘We’re celebrating Sara!
She deserves a proper send-off.’ Eu-jin turned to Sara.
‘Where do you want to go?’ ‘There’s something I’ve always wanted to do’ Sara hesitated, then spoke a little shy ‘I’ve never been to a karaoke place in Korea.’ Nari’s eyes widened.
‘Really?!’ Sara nodded sheepishly.
‘What are we waiting for?’ Eu-jin declared.
‘You can’t leave Seoul without singing at karaoke!’ Therefore, Sara bid farewell to Nari’s friends with the kind of easy camaraderie that only off-key songs could give to half-drunken people.
… The next day, the chaos that consumed Sang-in’s room bore testament to the unbridled revelry of the night before at the karaoke bar.
On the nightstand sat a half-filled glass of water.
A jacket hung precariously over the back of a chair, one sleeve dangling toward the floor.
Near the door, a bag lay slumped, its contents half-spilled—crumpled receipts, a stray karaoke ticket, and a phone charger.
In the midst of the disarray, Sang-in was sprawled across his bed, utterly still save for the slow rise and fall of his chest.
The faint echo of karaoke choruses still lingered in his mind —a blend of laughter, off-key singing, and the clinking of glasses that made the night unforgettable, and the morning headache unmistakably unforgiving.
The silence of the room shattered abruptly as the phone began to ring.
Sang-in stirred, reaching out blindly, his fingers fumbling until he grasped the device and brought it to his ear.
His voice was thick with sleep.
‘Hello…’ On the other end, Seon-woo’s voice brims with playful incredulity, as if he’s been awoken for hours and finds Sang-in’s tardiness amusing.
‘You’re still sleeping?
It’s 11 in the morning!’ Sang-in yawned deeply, stretching as he slowly begins to sit up.
‘Yeah…
Yesterday I got home pretty late…’ ‘On a Monday?’ Seon-woo teased with mock disbelief.
‘What were you doing out so late?’ Sang-in chuckled, his memories of the night before surfacing.
‘It was Nari’s friend’s farewell party.
Yoo and Eu-jin came too.’ ‘You must’ve had a great time if you’re still wiped out!’ ‘It was!
I haven’t laughed that hard in ages.
You missed out meeting Sara.
She’s fun.’ ‘Well, we’ll see her with Nari on Friday before she leaves,’ Sang-in leaned back against the headboard, his eyes scanning the mess on his floor as he tries to shake off the last remnants of sleep.
‘Where are you, by the way?
When are you coming back?’ ‘I’m in Tokyo,’ Seon-woo said casually.
‘Flying back on the 17th.
That’s actually why I called—are there any cool concerts or music events that day?’ ‘Why the 17th?’ Seon-woo hesitated for a moment before answering.
‘I’ve got…
plans to listen to music with someone.
Need your advice.’ ‘Who’s this ‘someone’?’ ‘A girl…
but that’s beside the point.’ ‘No, it’s exactly the point!
Who is she?
Where’d you meet her?’ ‘It’s…
complicated,’ Seon-woo said, evading the question.
‘I’ll explain later.
For now, just recommend something good.
I need to impress her.’ Sang-in sighed, his curiosity piqued.
‘Fine, fine.
Let me check…’ He reached for his laptop, pulling it onto his lap.
After a few minutes of searching, he grins.
‘Bruno Mars has a concert that day, but tickets might be tough.
Easier to get into the Blue House than snag those.’ ‘What else?’ ‘There’s this new group in town.
Funky pop-rock vibe.
They’re performing that day too.
Tickets should be easy.’ ‘Perfect,’ Seon-woo said with satisfaction.
‘Send me the link and a few tracks.’ Sang-in closed the laptop, leaning back with a pleased smile.
‘So, when do I get to meet her?
It’s been ages since you’ve mentioned a girl.’ Seon-woo’s reply was deliberately evasive, but tinged with excitement.
‘We’ll see…
I’m just hoping to see her again.
It’s not exactly a sure thing yet…’ … After two grueling weeks of jetting across Asia for back-to-back work commitments, Seon-woo could finally savor a moment of solitude.
He sat in his Tokyo managerial room, perched on the edge of a sleek but uninviting chair at the small desk tucked by the window.
The city’s neon skyline blazed outside, but the heavy blackout curtains muted it to faint slivers of light.
The only illumination in the room came from his laptop, its pale glow painting sharp angles across his face.
A steaming cup of coffee sat forgotten at his elbow, untouched since he’d brewed it.
The weariness in his body was bone-deep, but he couldn’t give in to sleep—not yet.
The thought of that girl kept him awake.
She was more than a fleeting thought; she had become a vivid daydream that accompanied him through the monotony of meetings and polite but impersonal business dinners.
The rhythmic tapping of his fingers filled the otherwise silent room as he typed out a message on his phone.
He paused, rereading it for the third time, hesitating.
His thumb hovered over the ‘Send’ button.
‘Hello!
How’s it going at Jeju?
I hope you didn’t finish all the oranges on the island.’ Far away in Seoul, Sara reclined on her sofa, her hair still damps from a shower.
When the message appeared on her phone, she smiled, her thoughts drifting to the sun-soaked orchards of Jeju.
Her reply was swift, her fingers fast across the screen.
‘I’m already back in my dear Seoul!
Yes…
I was just about to finish them…
but they don’t taste the same without a collision.’ Seon-woo’s lips curled into a grin as he read her response.
Without indecision, he typed his reply, the words flowing naturally.
‘I prefer oranges that way too…
By the way, I’ve already got tickets for the 17th.
It’s a surprise.
So, to make sure you don’t run away, you owe me dinner wherever you like.’ Sara’s laugh echoed in the quiet of Nari´s apartment as she read his message.
Her reply was light and teasing.
‘Sounds great!
For my last night in Seoul, music and spicy food!
What more could I ask for?
Postscript: I don’t run away…
I just disappear!’ Seon-woo leaned back in his chair, smiled, shaking his head in amusement.
Maybe that was exactly what he needed—to play like he did when he was 20.
Or perhaps, back then, he had never truly played or enjoyed himself as much as he did now with that strange girl.