"Here… your food, ma'am," he said, setting the plate in front of her.
Hae-in's face brightened instantly. The weariness clinging to her eyes softened the moment she saw it.
This wasn't a hurried packet of ramen poured into a bowl and forgotten. Steam rose gently, carrying the comfort of a broth that had been given time. The noodles were cooked just right, neither soggy nor stiff. A soft-boiled egg rested on top, its yolk glowing like captured warmth. Spring onions, sesame seeds, and a few vegetables are placed with quiet care.
It looked like a meal. A real one.
Her stomach responded before she could. "This doesn't look like just ramen," she said, a small smile curving her lips.
He rubbed the back of his neck, returning the smile, a little shy. "I couldn't give you just instant noodles when you look like you fought the whole world today."
That made her pause.
She looked up at him, something unspoken settling between them. For a moment, neither of them spoke. The restaurant felt smaller somehow, cocooned in warmth and late-night stillness.
"Thank you," she said softly, genuinely.
He smiled back, bright and unguarded.
She picked up the chopsticks, then took her first bite.
The warmth settled slowly, seeping into her chest before she even noticed. Her shoulders loosened. Her breathing evened out.
"Ummm…This is really good," she murmured, her eyes softening.
He leaned against the counter, watching her without meaning to. The way she ate like she hadn't had a proper meal all day. The subtle easing of her brows. The quiet sound she made, unaware.
A smile curved onto his lips, uninvited. His heart fluttered again, surprising him.
What are you doing, Ji-hoon? Behave. She's just a customer. At this rate, you'll ruin your own business, he thought.
Just then, she looked up. "You work here alone?" she asked, curiosity lining her voice. "Where's the owner?"
His expression shifted, pride pricked just a little. "I'm the owner," he said slowly.
She laughed softly, covering her mouth. "Oh— I'm sorry. I didn't know. I thought you worked here," she said, already reaching for another bite.
He smiled again, unbothered. "It's okay. I do have staff, but today was our chef's daughter's birthday. Everyone left early to attend the party. I was about to close when you walked in."
She looked up at him. "Oh… really? I'm sorry. I'll finish quickly so you can go," she said, taking a much bigger bite than necessary.
"No, no," he said immediately. "Eat comfortably. Don't rush. I can manage."
She studied his face. "You sure?"
He smiled, easy and sincere. "Yes. Please take your time. You look tired, too."
A soft smile crossed her lips. "Ah… Yes. Today was hectic," she said between bites. "Too much workload."
He watched her for a moment before asking, "You work in corporate?"
She nodded. "Yeah. I'm a software developer. I work nearby, in an IT company."
"Oh," he said, nodding again.
She smiled faintly, and he spoke, almost as if thinking aloud. "I could never survive in corporate. It suffocates me. I love my freedom. I always told my dad I wouldn't work under anyone, getting scolded by a boss. I wanted to be an owner, not a worker. That's why I opened this restaurant. And… I like cooking."
She looked at him with genuine interest now. "That's actually a good decision," she said. "At least you're clear about what you want in life. And it seems like your parents support you too."
He smiled. "Yeah… I'm kind of the spoiled one at home," he said, chuckling.
She smiled back, studying him. "Mine's a different story. I'm the eldest," she said lightly. "You know how it is with elder kids. Parents expect more. I've just been… obeying them till now."
He listened, then smiled. "My hyung is like that too. He wanted to move to Seoul and start his own business, but now he's handling my father's import-export business instead." He chuckled. "The same thing was about to happen to me. But Omma saved me. And here I am."
She nodded slowly. "Hmm… privilege of being the younger child," she said with a soft smile. "I have a younger sister too. She's pursuing her master's in Seoul, final semester."
He smiled, and just like that, the conversation flowed easily, one small story folding into another, until her bowl was empty.
"Ah… thank you, Mr…," she said, standing up and gently wiping her lips. "You really saved me today. I was losing my mind from the weakness."
"My pleasure, ma'am," he replied, already turning toward the counter to calculate the bill.
She walked over, pulling out her card. "How much?" she asked.
He turned the screen toward her, showing the bill. She paid without a word.
"Thank you… and here," he said, sliding two small chocolate toffees across the counter.
She blinked, then smiled. "What's this for?"
"I keep them for kids who come here," he explained, smiling. "It was my nephew's idea. He said every kid should leave with a toffee."
She chuckled and took them. "Thank you."
"You're welcome, ma'am," he replied.
She smiled again. "Alright… now you can close the restaurant and go. I'm leaving. And yeah—once again thanks for the food."
He smiled, watching her turn toward the door. She stepped out of the restaurant. The night felt lighter. Outside, she stretched slightly before walking ahead, breathing in the cool air, mind calm, body relaxed.
Inside, he watched her through the glass wall, smiling like an idiot, rubbing the back of his neck.
She's cute, he thought.
He finally turned away, picked up the empty bowl she'd finished earlier, the warmth of the moment still lingering long after the door had closed.
The weekend
The weekend arrived quietly.
7:30 a.m.
"Wake up, Hae-in… it's already seven thirty," her mother's voice echoed through the house.
Hae-in stirred lazily, fumbling for her phone. With one eye barely open, she squinted at the screen, 7:32 am, then groaned softly. She scratched her scalp, yawned wide, and finally pushed herself into a sitting position, making her already messy hair look even worse.
She blinked slowly, her body still heavy with leftover exhaustion.
Her mother walked in, holding up a dress. "You're still sleeping?"
Hae-in's grumpy morning face, sleepy gaze, followed her mother as she marched straight to the cupboard.
"Where did you keep that flower hairpin?" her mother asked, opening drawers and searching through them. "The one you bought last time?"
Hae-in rubbed her eyes. "Why do you need it now… this early?" She mumbled.
Her mother didn't look up. "Did you forget? Today is Mr. Park's daughter's wedding."
"Which Mr. Park?" Hae-in asked, frowning.
"Your Appa's office friend," her mother replied. "Don't you remember? He visited our house recently."
"I don't know who you're talking about," Hae-in said, pushing herself out of bed. "I wasn't even home."
Her mother sighed, clearly done. "How would you know? You're always lostn busy in your own world. Office, work, office, work. And on weekends too, sitting in front of that laptop."
She shook her head. "Step out of your little mystery world for once and look around. Talk to people. Make connections. At this point, people might think you don't even exist."
Hae-in tied her hair up slowly, her expression unimpressed. "I barely get enough sleep," she said flatly. "And you want me to socialize?"
She scoffed. "And what do these people even talk about? Absolute nonsense. Gossiping about others."
Her mother gave her a long, weary look. "Hmm. According to you, everyone is brainless, and everything they say is nonsense. You're the only one who's right in this world."
Hae-in chuckled, unfazed. "You're right. That's exactly why I don't talk to anyone. Nobody talks about anything worth listening to."
With that, she walked out of the room to freshen up, leaving her mother staring after her, torn between frustration and concern, before she finally shook her head. "This girl… God knows when she'll change," she muttered, gathering the things she had come for.
Later that day, Hae-in sat in front of her laptop, browsing through something, focused on her own thoughts.
The door swung open without a knock.
"What are you doing now? Go get ready," her mother said.
Hae-in looked up, confused. "For what?"
"We're going to the wedding," her mother replied. "Didn't I tell you in the morning?"
"Why me?" Hae-in said immediately. "You both go. I have work."
Her mother's expression hardened. "Don't piss me off, Hae-ina. Go get ready quickly. Your Appa said we're all going. Mr. Park invited the entire family. Don't make your father angry."
"But Omma—"
"Your Appa said everyone is going," her mother cut in. "Now it's up to you."
With that, she walked out.
Hae-in stared at the door, irritation simmering under her skin. "Fuck…" she muttered under her breath, snapping her laptop shut with more force than necessary.