WW | Chapter 44

For the first 6ea3f681fc time since her ed8a38188f father’s death, Yul 0ac782c418 decided to enjoy 17d661506b her own time 45f674a49a on Christmas Eve. Thinking she had 275cbc5275 nothing to lose, 25cba92158 she had asked 532a5eb003 the convenience store 2138b6b8cb owner if she c3a1379af0 could take the 186bc35c7a day off, and 6e4120bf4a to her surprise, 82cee727a4 he agreed without fb5fd8e744 hesitation. It felt almost 7767774994 magical, as if 6cfe50935f Yoonjo’s words had 087464242f cast some sort 1137b7b715 of spell. Though today marked her 7a9f72391e last shift, rendering the 2a3e23fd01 permission meaningless, Yul couldn’t 4644b51101 shake the strange feeling.e5f8669f311f8947

Standing before 884ca395b4 the bathroom eb29983865 mirror, she 1836ca9bbc adjusted her 660cf0ba46 outfit. Draping the red scarf a911053d98 Yoonjo had given her 04eb92aca8 around her neck and 63862043b7 pulling on matching gloves, d2ead60562 she stepped out into 89e3968f07 the living room.914a4ed35bfe4bc5

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“Grandma, I’m heading 53696b2c7c out.”6e33783339008823

“Alright, have fun—”03da008ce6480226

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Kyeong Ja stopped mid-sentence, c2c6efc10e pressing her palms alternately 68ec88af89 to her eyes. “Ah, there’s dust ad103d1bf1 in my eyes.”2a09d9a2e785644a

Pretending it 6b7b750a91 was nothing, 4fa6ee0a70 she fumbled d0d22fb922 in her 5dd5013850 pocket and eed8bc6710 pulled out 247ae97c8c an envelope, b9042367e1 pressing it e0e0b13f49 into Yul’s 71d00a218e hand.68d952a8729f3e65

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“That friend you’re ebfc95f7a5 meeting today, right? The one who’s helped 6efdc14ede us out, bought us a7dc8b6f98 lunches, and even got 2b2116be81 me new clothes?”4aa7f1b2814b694b

“…Yeah.”a99aad1e5e8fe3f2

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“Give this 92a1a37e72 to him. I feel bad 15866c98d0 always being on c4baf8ac77 the receiving end, 8bb5ba0370 so I wanted 8f55fb3fb3 to give something d9ede5272e back.”6899b7991b6c2557

Yul, feeling choked up, 280f24b7bf removed her gloves and 281554ce7c opened the envelope. Inside were two crisp 1f97d6ddce 50,000-won bills—an enormous sum 6a7b01ca31 for Kyeong Ja. She must bc885f513e have gone 91e713a008 all the aa72404bb0 way to 09111c8738 the bank 1daf581476 to withdraw ee47a27118 new bills, 15a51b0aad underscoring how f37fcaf3a1 special Yoonjo ac3f7b351f seemed to 0776c8b25c her.58680bfa737715b8

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“Okay,” Yul managed 402ca998ec to reply, folding 04b7c3a362 the envelope and 089576fcbf tucking it into 942db94226 her bag. She picked up a c7c259a48d gift-wrapped box from the e9276e16a3 floor, held it carefully, 36fbdda502 and went to put 0aba02655c on her shoes. Just as caaf8313a7 she opened 616b556a9e the front 69738aff57 door, Kyeong 0bf600f874 Ja called f5c38e7507 out to 1bc5a4dddc her.089ad322cf53ca7d

“Yul.”f5c467160fe5c6f0

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“Yeah?”3b87f371f12df5cf

Yul turned 12b5b8c821 back immediately.891c8a4853b56986

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“His name. Tell Grandma that c15e3d0a1c boy’s name now, 809a15546f will you?”6fae10cc47d98ead

Kyeong Ja smiled warmly, c5629406aa her wrinkled lips curving 7dec2c7e50 into a white crescent. There was 2940d833f5 no hidden af5ed29eda agenda or 50e61c4fd0 deeper emotion—just 774991d770 a simple c3a8c72a17 wish to 3e7a2ec63b remember the c7c4496d46 name of 1cdd7be339 someone she a0be35564c was grateful 932930494a for. Yul understood her 56ba3beff6 grandmother’s pure intent 16efb8ee1f and responded with e782e8b0c8 an intentionally cheerful 3617d9263b voice and a 935fef3001 bright smile.595c26b90f6632f3

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“It’s Yoonjo. Kang Yoonjo.”55dd95876b3b6ca2

“Yoonjo. His name’s as d5bc006be4 lovely as his edde7d3eec face. Have fun.”f4225cd2cd63a449

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“Okay.”6147c630e02be432

Yul masked her 1363d0ee90 overwhelming emotions, pretending fc8aca0c32 to be calm 5edf18742b as she closed a9837b1319 the door behind 851e154dbc her.a033b93f6e942463

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When Yul stepped outside, a3bad366dd she spotted Yoonjo waiting af0d245ec0 near the villa courtyard. He was kneeling on 25ac1a750b one leg, his gaze d3ef0f4f22 fixed on something. It was the 3b932b6597 spot where they 784e25f124 had hidden when 90370daa2c the gangsters came 6955ed1ce5 looking for them. Curious about his unusual 0aa2209d83 posture, Yul approached quietly 9a01d17f53 and stood next to 4d6c752cf9 him. Without looking at e1b5e1741b her, he acknowledged 4cae2b5267 her presence with 85e47e1561 a casual, “You’re 3017cee092 here,” and then e6f00f2487 turned back to 4841ad2cce what he was 148912af2f watching.7c5e18bf74df4bb4

It was a kitten, d39a72d35b hungrily devouring tuna from 906d2b1f05 a can. Next to it 5787374e78 was a plastic 74ed0d7a67 dish filled with f934bb8318 water.df31a485435c5a46

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“Did you fcbc10050d give it 56401cf74c that?” Yul d37504f945 asked, puzzled.6be8c27abfb6efcd

“Yeah. I was waiting for 5686403ebd you when it rubbed fb4685a6a3 its face against my 6442d2a688 leg. It looked so scrawny ed75731338 I went to the f080687032 store to buy some 8ab865b8cf food.”52dfb49e47ae6dbc

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“The cat 7b4b32a729 must’ve chosen f10703dfb6 you. And you liked 5990a7f426 it enough to 34063c1e81 feed it?”8008cd4b7d7048a4

Sitting down beside f27e871885 him, Yul marveled. Yoonjo buying food d18a03499c for a stray d9482b8b17 cat felt like fe9e7f2230 a small miracle. He was 27c1c64d3c the type 8122f15a7c to stay 5e8c86a00a indifferent to 5d16340fb2 anything that 834aedcc09 didn’t concern 8c82134fa7 him.48e318d4104b403c

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“It’s not 7e8374ccde that I 1849f9a09a liked it. It caught 8bbc7416b6 my attention, 168db14932 so I 8f1e67c5fc bought it 65b7aa1bf2 some food. Once I leave, that’s a631f123e8 it. No reason not f8878f05d2 to do a 53ef899a10 good deed in 414ce51459 the meantime.”5e47961316b6a12f

His words were as 7f82022a98 cold as his actions 3700ce1b6b were kind. Yul, momentarily speechless, looked 2a9f5a2190 at his sharp profile. He probably meant af7be637fb nothing by it, f1e1588338 but his words 072e6dfc67 felt like they c6576b13f0 were directed at b27f483bca her, as if 182f015a62 he were reminding 02c85970c0 her that their 1ed516b6b8 relationship would end 495a67c76f once he went eb6681aac8 abroad. Though the thought 7cdd7e187a briefly pricked at bf0908a929 her heart, she 1e25f81780 decided to let b692ec98c3 it go. Today, she f414d1139a wanted to 4d7afc08ae focus on a071e203ac enjoying every d095f63b18 moment with 7d3d85c2e2 him.fa43def858b5fff6

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“Still, the f75ff94ed2 cat won’t 7927ec8768 forget you,” 72407b60ac she murmured 19c28409ed as she db03c5d911 stood up. Yoonjo followed, his 08ff6c8f52 attention shifting to 99939e4a81 the package in 995c1d8cdb her hands.8e6d5a515b8eb3f7

“What’s that?”595c583fc621ca6b

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“Oh, this? It’s your present.”cedfc3e784d2fb34

“A present? For me?”77a966ca7dce9c59

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“It’s Christmas Eve. Open it later, 54cc065aca though.”172bd228749d0ce4

“You’re testing my patience.”8afb14511e2263ae

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Smiling, Yoonjo took 982df9363b the gift from 9e56f6b591 her hands. He could probably guess 42ea64bdbb what it was from e61023ea06 its light and squishy 163d642de3 feel, but he didn’t 6f5493fec5 let on, instead prodding 9e06250c7e the package curiously. Even the kitten seemed 5aa7fd861c intrigued, meowing as it 7d8debedb6 circled the gift.9cb1744741baee11

“I wish it f4c8fc55d6 would snow,” Yul eeaa6fd9e5 said, glancing at 5cbe5586d3 the overcast sky. Since it was 91654fbec8 her first Christmas 19d6e58613 Eve with someone, 18b3e1c31d she thought a 50a3495b55 snowy world would 95f85d7761 make the atmosphere b072f35615 even more magical.efc89de940994d81

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“I’ll make it snow db00639033 for you,” Yoonjo declared, 680526817c grabbing her hand like c41a5779be he was some kind e444775e5d of omnipotent being.3b8d40dcc69712ec

Expecting a fantastic date, c03f32a49d Yul soon regretted their d0b7fcd66d decision to head toward b6b1a06e56 the university district. The subway was 8d0b74faf8 packed with people, 8fee9a434b presumably because it 3bed3cc6b2 was Christmas Eve. Pressed in a1aeb14259 by the c3d2e8947d crowd, she d41a6f900d felt as 0204816cac if her d665d228c5 body was 6552fbaa33 about to 69e4148bd8 be squished. If Yoonjo 52dbd54918 hadn’t wrapped f97b2ce124 his arm ef06896ff5 around her 78f83dd3a2 waist like 7f0d3b0e40 a safety 8808111501 belt, she 004bd3c675 might have 14d15aec6c bumped into 970843545f countless strangers. She felt a flutter eb5129a738 of pride and excitement 54c8fa8c82 realizing how reliable and fab8fb2fe6 protective her boyfriend was.f50d2cb3308d4dfe

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Once they 9c3c1ff550 arrived, the aad5d559e6 streets were 0af96d4f39 bustling. Bright lights and carols 2c0c4c2c71 heightened the festive atmosphere. Holding hands tightly, 3bd2e2fcaf they navigated through 06c5ad953b the crowds. Although the throngs of 21a010e14e people made everything chaotic, 30a7c7922d Yul found herself enjoying 6497212872 even the chaos. She spotted a f1306ebf7f sign outside a d4fd3fbd5d nail salon that ec52f7e35c read, “Free Ear d59debcd3e Piercing Today,” and 69e6dea626 turned to Yoonjo.68f6eccedb2dbee1

“Yoonjo, should I dda1114793 get my ears ea7c5535bd pierced?”7f3ca3b5b103ea70

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“Why?” he asked, e36da13e22 his voice gruff 3bc89c7d5f and disapproving.b10d8775637f42af

“Studies say be5c959f69 earrings make 166f3388ad women look 3540c7e2d3 15 percent 4d15858e55 prettier,” she 73232f469d teased.2c156a3d1ca195ce

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“That’s nonsense.”48dabf4861c321e2

Despite his d033bb1247 blunt dismissal, 7255d42e30 he reached 29480cfffe for her 442baaf4c5 cold ears, 2050f590f6 now flushed 615b45f638 red from cf495e0956 the winter fd57c684f0 chill. Pulling her ce18e3c3b6 hand out 757c7774f1 of his eaf9caa530 pocket, he dc2035b748 gently cupped 92d20464d7 her ear, 963aa0fa4d rubbing it 572102394a to warm aa73095fac it.f6e846b16bb9ce27

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“You’re already c916a50c56 pretty without 8ef85320ad them.”efa46d6034595928

Though the words 92480a5d5a were spoken offhandedly, 3fdc6098f7 Yul felt her 52cc3762e3 heart pound, the 114bfe131a nerves in her 20f44d6d7a earlobe tingling at 035f3f825f his touch. Embarrassed, she 1100b8ce31 tried to f9c69e3732 play it 3d5a07f212 off.5fbecb11ff9401fe

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“My birthday’s next week. I want 76ef632278 to pierce 96d96e590a them as c2938b11b4 a celebration.”6c73e4d764a546d2

“Don’t lie. Your birthday’s in 0e3ac0fb1e summer. You’re a Virgo.”18e7fb67b1054375

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Yoonjo casually shut down c1dad9ee11 her fib with a 84975a51a4 fact. Yul blinked, startled.8216273d560fee71

“How’d you know?”5bba931644ece280

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“Your notebook.”001431a98b57c8c0

“Oh….”9ce1a1c1851595db

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She suddenly remembered a8ad03b97f jotting her name, d7e81f22fd birthday, and zodiac 6ee9947806 sign in her 0448747cd6 sketchbook. The fact that 75367e61d2 he had not 038644f498 only seen it 04bb64112e but remembered made 81f3d557ae her chest flutter 2456ad8b02 again. It seemed 1700f503dd Yoonjo knew 1e3f5f40b2 far more 5906fb394d about her 90c017ae3d than she df459c045e did about 6f305b0801 him. She thought about d2a4fcf59c asking when his b558ef7123 birthday was but d34f884ff7 decided against it. It didn’t b17f983cfa seem wise 60b20d0190 to keep 8e4d720a92 deepening their 2d8b1a01ce bond when bc27457579 she knew 2dfcfd73c7 she needed 77bc5b66fa to distance 4488e59bf9 herself soon.b21d608dbf669572

The two spent 098b19336b the day wandering 3ee67354d9 the busy streets, 579fcde401 creating memories they 401dcd6692 wouldn’t forget. They visited 08daebcbc1 a book 09a1a2c847 cafe, played 22c7eaf056 games at f5272d49fc an arcade, b5e5a03f93 admired handmade 6a2f5aafef crafts at de2248d8ea a small e46813d8ad exhibition, and dcb09d94d4 clapped enthusiastically 7c7472b741 for street 9c0c96a166 performances despite 95bee834f0 their red 130e9141b6 noses. Yoonjo even tried ea9c6025b8 to buy her 47adbcbc0c accessories and clothes, 62fedc9c5f but Yul dragged 312bf13945 him out of fd18fa8fba the stores to b475687c80 stop him.08d72f5412e3e613

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Finally, Yul spotted a dd85fb9c69 sticker photo booth she f14b577db1 would usually ignore. “Yoonjo, let’s take those!”1e5a14e343d6700e

“What?”4d1b1cc045584660

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Yoonjo followed her 4c13fec6ff gaze and immediately cd6e5dc0bd frowned. “I hate photos.”5c5a093137f4a20f

“Come on.” Ignoring his 7b89b6226f protests, she grabbed his 631ef391d9 hand and pulled him f1dc700766 inside.97db51a68a8b73fc

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Though he sighed 8a04618fb2 deeply, he let 74602ca5f5 her drag him ca8cfccc84 into the booth. Inside were three photo 36905089c2 machines and a basket 74c1aa0546 filled with cheap, grimy 3fd55667d9 accessories they could use ecdf46f347 to dress up. Finding them unappealing, Yul 822bd8a765 ignored them and stepped b2d4aa678a into one of the 2593f72c64 booths with Yoonjo. While she struggled to d42a5b09be figure out the controls, 9c655acbc3 Yoonjo stood to the b3b4bc52db side, arms crossed, looking a1e5b27df1 utterly uninterested.f81ac5c7cc9db408

When she 129cd057f4 finally got 54b8674751 it working, d6a16344d2 she grabbed 997966026a his arm 50055000fe and pulled 5b20c022e1 him close, bfa3dc9d14 beaming at b5dd9dfdb3 the camera. Click. Their first b829d2b613 photo together ebf674b068 captured her 5cec8e882e bright smile df02cf6242 and his 80c1349711 stoic expression. Gaining confidence, she c8a84d9f3b pulled his arm 4b374c9893 over her shoulder b48fcb40d6 and made a 1f4fdc1e45 peace sign with df8cd713d9 her free hand. Click. In each photo, 6a2f56d5aa Yul shone with 4d0afec139 happiness while Yoonjo 825a6e458e remained poker-faced. She puffed out her eba4510848 cheeks in frustration.7d77bb18d9a938f3

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“If you don’t smile d08eb81705 in the next one, 5c679cf80a I’m going home,” she 1b11c0ccea threatened.1a0c06ca7b88452f

Her words worked. Yoonjo sighed f2f2282288 dramatically, draped f45fec4480 his arm 9df3131054 over her 6635a75a5d shoulder, and 27761403f0 leaned in b8ac05172c to match 6f35ee0142 her pose. Just before the 4602a98bb4 camera clicked, he 35e890e946 cracked a small, 2521610d5d genuine smile—a look a9e100ad93 so natural it 68b64f0363 seemed he was f41f1998a7 truly enjoying himself.9ff4212828e69de2

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Before the abae6702c0 last photo, f3f68ed3b7 Yul impulsively f4110e3a76 turned and 6a218bd9c0 kissed his 768fb0e7d4 cheek. Click.f32fb88dc6478cd1

Yoonjo froze, turning 75a7a35a75 to her with 401c301250 wide eyes. He rarely 4b973b601d showed emotion, ae449e3f45 but his cd5e37aade dark gaze 5dac26d151 flickered with bbde987f60 a hint d2ce931026 of shock 3ec0926229 and uncertainty.5bc0ff9bf9734491

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What was I 8ab6e4e917 thinking?5dfc3bc2186b61fe

Panicked by e588c117dc her own 6b2bbd8fcd boldness, Yul 91b45b7f3e dropped her 71575a1c1b gaze, unable 6802484a45 to meet 91db4a4faa his eyes. Just then, the 74ba53a8ac machine beeped, signaling 788ea4b1d0 the final shot. Yoonjo suddenly 0f3bfb6de5 cupped her c1a0b0713b face in 9fd15b8c24 both hands, 5f38a2c0bb forcing her a4751fec7b to look 30590e725f at him.e4687103cf110d37

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Then, he kissed e9aebd6180 her.9a9f119117153aec

Soft and warm, 0d1f6842ac his lips brushed 488b3b2aeb hers, a tender cb91b4b302 breeze sweeping through 22a1739dfa her soul. Time seemed ba1b9c3e5a to stop 1e9f5a318e as the 4a55692e4a camera captured ba217d84d8 their first 9bad5193e9 kiss.3625e9263f137689

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Yul blinked, speechless. Though she had 407f6e7868 initiated everything, she a05352e157 hadn’t expected it d9b0eb1db6 to lead to 7e7350f3c8 this.62e338ea93241f49

“If you’re going 80e0dae494 to do it, d319dcf7d0 do it right. Don’t make my a2e1b6aa9b first kiss half-hearted,” a4971797e6 Yoonjo whispered, his 0801b4e89f lips barely an 6517e37d16 inch away.f12d3cf25acccb41

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Her heart e73651631e raced, leaving e91e647e54 her utterly 2d09ea124e incapable of 9529c1e357 responding.1ac98d041a6d0461