After hours of house hunting, Ga-young, Ji-hye, and Ye-seul sank onto a bench, each clutching a popsicle, drained of the energy they had carried just hours before.
Ji-hye exhaled loudly as she stood. "Hey, ladies! I didn't get Hyun-woo to babysit Ha-eun just to sit here licking a popsicle that tastes like a hospital."
"Never knew you had tasted a hospital before," Ga-young casually said, licking her popsicle.
"Hey, Choi Ga-young!" Ji-hye said, pausing. "You're lucky I've lost the energy." She sank back onto the bench.
"You know, I could actually get someone to help," Ye-seul offered.
"Really?" Ji-hye asked, her energy returning like a spark.
Ye-seul nodded. "I know a guy, Min-jae's friend to be precise. He is a real estate broker."
"Why didn't you say so?" Ga-young jumped to her feet. "Let's go there right now."
"Wait—did you just say Min-jae's friend? He actually has friends? He wasn't joking when he said he did?" Ji-hye asked, perplexed.
"If he could have you as a friend, I'm not surprised," Ga-young replied smoothly.
"Oh, he just texted back. He's actually in the area. He said he'll be here in five minutes," Ye-seul said, clapping her hands.
"Ye-seul, you are such an angel," Ga-young said, hugging her tightly.
"You're oddly energetic today, humorous too. Why? That's suspicious," Ji-hye said, narrowing her eyes.
"I had a fantastic night where you weren't present. That's why," Ga-young replied.
"What happened?" Ji-hye asked, leaning closer.
"Look, he is here," Ye-seul said, smiling and waving.
"I swear, if this man shows us another shoebox and calls it cozy, I'm throwing an actual shoe at him," Ji-hye whispered to Ga-young.
Ga-young almost let out a loud laugh but suppressed it.
"Ms. Hwan, I wasn't expecting a call from you, ever," he said teasingly, bowing politely at Ji-hye and Ga-young. "Good day, ladies."
"Oh, he is well-mannered," Ji-hye muttered under her breath.
"Okay, without wasting much of your time," he said, exhaling, "you are just in luck. We have a vacant apartment a few blocks from here. We can go there immediately if you are free."
"That would be great," Ye-seul said.
---
A few minutes later, they stood inside the apartment. Their minds were blown. It was furnished, the water pressure perfect, everything in its place.
"I'm so envious right now. Turns out I'll be keeping my shoes on today," Ji-hye said, walking around.
"When can I move in?" Ga-young asked, eyes wide with curiosity.
"You can move in right now, Ms. Choi. We provide immediate services," Jun replied.
"The moment I saw you come yourself, I knew it was real," Ye-seul said, offering a fist bump.
"Okay, so… can we talk about negotiating the price?" Ga-young asked.
"Oh, that has been taken care of already," Jun said simply.
"Taken care of? By who and why?" Ga-young asked, glancing at Ji-hye, who was examining the acrylics on the shelf.
"Hey, Ji-hye! Did you do this?" she questioned, almost annoyed scolding in her voice.
"The word is thank you," Ji-hye said, walking over. "It's just for a year. You can start paying your bills next year. It's a gift from me to you."
"But…" Ga-young began.
"You should learn to accept gifts without feeling the weight. It hurts my emotions," Ji-hye said sincerely this time.
Ga-young smiled and covered her face.
"Hey, you can't ruin your makeup. We haven't even taken pictures yet," Ji-hye scolded.
"Why? You both keep putting me in these situations," Ga-young whispered, fighting back tears.
Ye-seul dabbed her eyes, trying to hold back her own tears.
Ji-hye grabbed both of them by the shoulders. "We could cry all day, but it's not part of the schedule."
Jun smiled at their friendship, genuinely smiling. Who wouldn't?
A few minutes later, all the papers were signed, the deal sealed. The three ladies blasted hardcore music in the car as they drove toward the park. By this time, the sky had turned golden with sunset.
They didn't know when the park stopped being a place and became a feeling.
The entire space had been emptied for them alone. No children shrieking, no couples wandering past, no strangers to intrude. Just wide paths dusted with fallen leaves, lamplight spilling softly from old-fashioned posts, and the low hum of a generator powering the outdoor screen. It felt indulgent, unreal, like stepping into a memory before it was even finished being lived. They went on every ride possible. Why wouldn't they? It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and they lived it to the fullest.
Afterwards, they found themselves at the cinema. Ji-hye sat in the middle, shoulders squared, as Ga-young and Ye-seul clung to her. When the horror movie began, too loud, too sharp, too eager to terrify, she became their man. Feeling safe in her embrace, she was their center, their protector at that moment.
It was the kind of friendship people spent their lives searching for without knowing its name. The kind that made you crave it the moment you saw it, because once you did, you understood. This was what it meant to belong.