* * *

Zzzzz. Zzzzz.

“……”

He was so dazed that he forgot to even catch his breath when his phone buzzed.

He reached out to check the message, but his hand kept slipping.

Eventually, Yeongdeok knocked the phone off the shelf.

Nothing’s going right today. He bent down to pick up the fallen phone.

• Secondhand Marketplace

[Buyer: Hello]

[Buyer: Um… is the ribbon still for sale?]

The ribbon the buyer referred to was a Christmas gift Seonwoo had given Yeongdeok.

At that time, he had learned about secondhand sales from Jihoon and, thinking it was something an obsessive person wouldn’t do, listed the ribbon for sale online.

Of course, no one had shown any interest, and even Yeongdeok had forgotten about it.

But now, there was a buyer.

[Still selling.]

[Buyer: Let’s do an in-person trade.]

[Alright.]

It was his first sale in nearly four months, so he decided to take a shower and get ready to meet the buyer.

By the time he exchanged a few more messages with the buyer, the strange dream had long been forgotten.

ꔚ

Yeongdeok arrived at Exit 4 of the subway station a little early and waited for the buyer.

Right on time, the buyer sent a message.

[Buyer: I’m in front of Exit 4, wearing a blue cap and black T-shirt.]

After checking the message, Yeongdeok scanned the surroundings and spotted a woman matching the description.

As he approached the woman, who seemed to be in her mid-thirties, she acknowledged him.

“Are you the seller?”

“Yes.”

“My daughter really wanted this. I’m so glad it wasn’t sold yet.”

Yeongdeok didn’t care in the slightest who wanted the item, not even a tiny bit.

Wanting to get this over with quickly, he handed her the box with the ribbon.

The woman examined the item.

“Oh, it’s practically new. You really never used it.”

Yeongdeok wanted to snap back and ask why he would ever need a ribbon like that, but he kept quiet.

He just wanted to finish the trade and leave.

“My daughter is only five. She’s still so young.”

“I don’t really care.”

“Could you lower the price just a little?”

He wondered why she kept mentioning her daughter, but it was all to haggle, as expected.

A frown creased Yeongdeok’s forehead.

“As far as I know, it’s considered rude to negotiate the price after already agreeing on an in-person trade.”

“Oh, come on, give a young man like you a break.”

Young man? She didn’t look that much older than him.

But Yeongdeok hadn’t come here for the money, so he asked her.

“How much are you thinking?”

“Hmm… 10,000 won?”

She was seriously offering half of the listed 20,000 won.

He couldn’t help but feel a pure sense of amazement.

“How shameless.”

“Just this once, please.”

She awkwardly smiled, holding up a finger as if asking for one last favor.

Yeongdeok held back from sarcastically asking if she wanted to meet up twice to finalize the deal.

After a few more exchanges, they settled on 15,000 won and parted ways.

He had considered canceling the deal altogether, but he didn’t want to go through the hassle of finding another buyer over a few thousand won.

As he was walking back to the bus stop to head home, he noticed an elderly woman sitting on a mat beside a street vendor.

As he passed by, the woman called out, as if she wanted him to hear.

“You’re fated to be hit by a truck.”

Yeongdeok stopped in his tracks, turned around, and flashed a cold smile.

“That’s nonsense.”

“Nonsense? Heh. I’ve seen it. Your fate.”

The old woman cackled as she spoke.

Yeongdeok wanted to dismiss it as the ramblings of a senile old fool, but the fact that she specifically mentioned a truck bothered him.

“You’re still caught in the web of fate.”

“……”

“You wouldn’t be standing here, listening to an old woman’s nonsense, if it didn’t resonate with you.”

She pointed to a sign next to her mat, inviting him to take a seat and hear more for a steep price of 200,000 won.

A scam.

That single word was enough for him to dismiss her.

He walked away, ignoring the old woman’s continuous cackling.

Even though he had left her far behind, the eerie laughter lingered in his ears.

Then, his phone buzzed again.

It was a message from Baek Seonwoo.

[Seonwoo: Cha Yeongdeok]

[Seonwoo: Cha Yeongdeok]

[What do you want now?]

[Seonwoo: What were you doing?]

[Seonwoo: I was thinking about you.]

It was meant as a joke, but it was an obnoxiously bad one.

As he seriously considered leaving the chat, another message popped up.

[Seonwoo: How much longer are we going to chat on this app? Give me your phone number.]

[Seonwoo: Should I give you mine first?]

[Seonwoo: 010-xxxx-xxxx]

[Seeing how you act, there’s no way I’m giving you mine.]

[Seonwoo: That’s harsh~]

[Seonwoo: (Crying Leo emoticon)]

After sending several pitiful emoticons, Seonwoo sent another message, as if getting to the real point.

[Seonwoo: Can I visit your store today?]

[And if I say no, will you still come?]

[Seonwoo: No? I’m coming anyway.]

If you’re going to come no matter what, why even ask?

Yeongdeok’s eyebrow twitched in annoyance.

[You’re shameless.]

[Seonwoo: Wasn’t it someone I know who told me to live life on my own terms?]

[Seonwoo: Well, I’ll take that as permission.]

With that final declaration, Seonwoo vanished from the chat, leaving only the notice that he was coming.

“Annoying brat.”

Muttering under his breath, Yeongdeok put down his phone.

At least, thanks to that loudmouthed idiot, the unsettling laughter that had been echoing in his ears was gone.

ꔚ

As he tended to the store, just like any other day, Yeongdeok frowned at the sight of an unwanted visitor, exactly as promised.

“Cha Yeongdeok.”

The sound of his name, mingling with the jingle of the doorbell, was drawn out in a playful tone.

Seonwoo stepped inside, giving a small wave and smiling with feigned innocence.

In contrast, Yeongdeok’s brow furrowed even more.

“Just like I promised, I’m here.”

“I told you not to come.”

“But how could I resist when I wanted to see you?”

Seonwoo walked over to an empty table and sat down.

Despite being in a bad mood, he was still a customer, so Yeongdeok approached to take his order.

Seonwoo, who had been staring intently at the menu, finally made his decision and looked at Yeongdeok.

“Uh, one soy sauce chicken, a soda, and…”

Seonwoo’s eyes narrowed like a snake.

Seeing that sly expression, Yeongdeok vowed to himself to endure whatever nonsense came out of Seonwoo’s mouth, as a responsible business owner should.

“Could you give me your phone number?”

“Get lost.”

Unfortunately, that vow barely lasted half a second.

“Did you seriously just tell a customer to get lost? This place is a disaster. Your service sucks.”

“And you suck at using your brain.”

“I won’t bother you, just give it to me, please?”

“No, I won’t.”

Suddenly, Jihoon approached from behind Yeongdeok, slamming down a pitcher of water and cups on the table with a forced smile.

“Jihoon, long time no see. But, I wasn’t asking you, was I?”

“We get a lot of idiots like you hitting on the boss. I thought you were another one.”

A strange tension passed between the two.

They were both smiling, but their gazes were cold.

“Would you rather take my number?”

“I’ll pass. Your number’s worthless.”

Yeongdeok found the subtle power struggle between Jihoon and Seonwoo baffling.

He had no idea why they were fighting, but as long as it didn’t affect his business, he didn’t care.

So, he quietly slipped away to the kitchen to fry the chicken Seonwoo had just ordered.

As he dropped the prepared chicken into the hot oil, Jihoon grumbled as he approached Yeongdeok.

“What the hell’s wrong with that guy? Did he eat something bad?”

Jihoon made a circular motion near his temple, implying Seonwoo was crazy.

Yeongdeok chuckled at his bluntness.

“Honestly, you’re probably right. He’s out of his mind.”

If he wasn’t, there was no way Baek Seonwoo would have kissed him.

The unpleasant memory of that day resurfaced, and Yeongdeok rubbed his lips with the back of his hand.

“I’ll take care of serving him and handling the bill, so just stay here.”

“Feeling extra motivated today, aren’t you?”

“I’m always motivated. You know how much I love this place.”

Jihoon’s added words carried a tender sincerity.

Yeongdeok had always thought Jihoon tried to act like the boss, and it seemed like his attachment to the restaurant was pretty deep.

* * *