Late one night when Geon arrived home, Shihwa, who was eating watermelon and watching TV, asked, "What's with you? Why are you so late? You've been hanging out with the girl next door, haven't you?"
"Ha-ha, just made acquaintance, nothing much."
"That girl next door is innocent, treat her well. She's kind and cute, so treat her like a sister."
"Got it, she did seem that way, haha. I'm going to the rooftop to get some fresh air."
Shihwa shook her head as she watched Geon carrying his guitar to the rooftop, "Can't you go a day without singing? I don't see what's so fun about singing on the rooftop every night."
Then Shihwa's phone rang.
Jihee: "Shihwa unnie, you know… I think I saw something strange… I wanted to ask… are you asleep?"
Knowing that Jihee had spent some time with Geon, Shihwa sent a message back with a playful expression.
Shihwa: "No, I'm not sleeping. What's up?"
After a moment of silence, Jihee started sending a flurry of messages.
Jihee: "Unnie, unnie, did someone come to your house just now?"
Shihwa: "No one besides my brother, why?"
Jihee: "No, because I swear I saw Kay entering your house just now? You know Kay, right?"
Shihwa: "Yeah, I know."
Jihee: "But I definitely saw that person enter your house just now? But you said only your brother came?"
Shihwa: "Oh, Kay did come to our house."
Jihee: "??? What are you talking about?"
Shihwa: "Kay did come to this house."
Jihee: "Really?! But why did you say no one came earlier!!! What's your relationship with Kay? How do you know him? Why would he enter your house?"
Shihwa: "Kay is a son of this house, and my brother."
Jihee: "?? There's another sibling above or below Geon oppa?"
Shihwa: "No, it's one boy and one girl in our house."
Jihee: "Huh, what does that mean."
Shihwa: "ㅋㅋㅋㅋ So funny."
Jihee: "I'm so frustrated, stop teasing me...."
Shihwa: "ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ."
Meanwhile, Jihee, who had been sending messages without changing out of her clothes, threw her phone onto the bed in frustration.
"Ah, what's with this unnie! Shoot, I'll just shower first."
After a shower and drying her hair, Jihee turned on her phone and was surprised.
Shihwa: "If you're curious, come up to the rooftop now."
Jihee looked up at the ceiling since her apartment was on the 22nd floor, right below the rooftop.
Jihee, clutching her racing heart, hastily put on a tracksuit and went out again, despite just having come back in. Yoonhee asked her, "Where are you going again? You just came back."
"Ah! Just going to the convenience store for a bit!"
Rushing to the rooftop, Jihee was greeted by the soft sound of a guitar. Standing in front of the closed rooftop door, she quietly opened it to avoid making noise.
On the rooftop under a large full moon of early winter, a beautiful man was playing the guitar.
Not seeming scared at all, the man sat on the edge of the rooftop, playing the guitar. His mouth opened, and a beautiful melody filled the air.
"My friend, my friend.
The world is so complex that I cannot beat them all by my power.
When my soul shrinks in a huge storm and does not know what to do.
In a world full of hypocrisy, I do not know where to go.
The only place I can avoid, music is enough for life.
Life is not enough for music. Yes, my friend."
Jihee, intoxicated by Geon's beautiful voice, stood still with a dazed expression. The silhouette of Geon illuminated by the moonlight was enough to make a high school girl's heart race madly.
As the song ended and the guitar playing stopped, the silhouette quietly turned to look at Jihee and jumped down from the edge of the rooftop. As he approached, Jihee's heart raced even more.
Finally, as his face became visible in the moonlight, Jihee stammered, "K, Kay oppa?"
Geon came closer, looked at Jihee's face, and smiled, showing his teeth.
"It's me, Geon."
"Eh… Eh… Yes?"
"Geon oppa."
"What do… huh??"
Geon laughed as if he found Jihee's astonishment cute and ruffled her hair.
"Ha-ha, it's me. Geon. And I'm also Kay."
Jihee, too shocked to speak, just stammered in response. Geon took Jihee's hand and led her to the rooftop edge.
Having climbed onto the rooftop edge first, Geon reached out, took Jihee's hand, and pulled her up. Thankfully, there was a net-like safety fence, so it didn't seem dangerous. Sitting on the rooftop edge, Geon looked up at Jihee, who was still standing, and said,
"Sit down."
Jihee sat down with a blank expression, and Geon, taking a deep breath of the chilly rooftop air, said, "I was going to say something earlier, but your reaction was so funny, haha, sorry."
Jihee, putting her hands in her pockets and pulling out her phone, alternately looked at Geon and her phone, saying, "So, the Geon oppa who took me for a walk around the school on his bike... is Kay? Kay lives... next door to us?!!!"
Geon burst out laughing, "Krahaha!!! Yeah, oh, it's funny. Why is your reaction so funny, hah."
That day, Jihee couldn't regain her senses until Geon held her hand and led her back home.
Standing dumbfounded in front of the shoe rack after opening the front door, Jihee once again looked at her phone and sent a message.
Jihee: "Shihwa unnie, is this for real?"
Staring blankly at her phone screen, Jihee saw Shihwa's reply and broke into a bright smile.
Shihwa: "Yeah, it's real. Dead if you spread rumors. You did a lot of pretty things, so I gave you special service. Keep your mouth shut! Sleep well, Jihee."
"Kyaaaaaa!!!!!"
Jihee, banging on the shoe rack with her fists, caused a commotion until her mother, wearing pajamas, ran out yelling.
"What in the world are you doing in the middle of the night, girl!! Go to bed right now?!!"
Avoiding her mother's stern look, Jihee entered her room and laughed heartily as she looked at the chat window with Shihwa.
Jihee, lying on her bed, fell asleep looking at the chat with Shihwa. The next day, she arrived at school with a dazed expression, as if she couldn't wake from a dream. Her friends gathered around her, all looking sleep-deprived and haggard.
"Hey, Jihee Han! You traitor! So you're happy you got to see Kay, huh?"
"Wow, total betrayal! How could you ignore all those messages and calls?"
"Why are you acting like a criminal? Snap out of it!"
Munseon, Yeonju, Sangmi, Miyeong, and Jingyeong bombarded Jihee with questions, but she seemed lost in a sweet dream, not returning to reality. Jingyeong lightly pushed Jihee's back, saying, "Hey Jihee Han! You lucky girl! Living next door to such a cool oppa and even meeting Kay, you're so blessed!"
Miyeong asked with a puzzled look, "Next door oppa? What cool oppa?"
Jingyeong crossed her arms and said, "I mean, a few days ago, I saw her at the school entrance with a super handsome oppa on an incredibly expensive motorcycle?"
Munseon shook Jihee by the neck, "You! Open that cursed mouth!! Spill the beans, you thousand-year-old fox!"
Jihee, letting Munseon shake her back and forth, swayed limply. With a dreamy expression and unfocused eyes, Jihee finally opened her mouth as everyone focused on her lips.
"In our next door... our next door..."
Sangmi, frustrated, yelled out, "Ah!! So frustrating, what's next door!"
The other friends also beat their chests, shouting, "Ah!! Can I swear? I just high-fived Yama because I'm so frustrated!! Open your mouth!"
Just then, the door opened, and the teacher walked in. "Sit down, everyone. We're starting the roll call."
Seeing the teacher enter, the kids quickly found their seats. Jihee, the last to move, mumbled as she sat down, "Kay lives..."
*
Arena Biz, a small company formed by 15 developers, was only 8 months old. Despite being a small team, the company, founded by former employees of major corporations, had already launched their second game on the store.
The first game hadn't been a success, but it had achieved commendable results, satisfying the CEO, who had staked the company's future on the second shooting game.
Byungho, a Project Manager (PM) with 15 years of experience in the game industry and also a former employee of a major corporation, was reviewing the sound work files outsourced to "Studio Experience" for the second game. After launching the APK file and listening to the BGM, Byungho nodded appreciatively and said, "Phew, once it's unpacked, the quality really shines through. This is good enough to use right away. And it's quite addictive. It seems CEO Yongtae really does have the skills."
Satisfied, Byungho sent an email to confirm the addition of the sound files to the development product and picked up the phone to call Yongtae.
"Hello?"
"Ah, CEO, it's Byungho Cha."
"Ah, PM Cha. Did you check the sound file?"
"Ha-ha, yes, very satisfied. You really are something, CEO."
"That's good to hear. I was worried about getting rejected again. If that happened, we'd be out of options."
"Ha-ha, if the quality was like this from the start, there wouldn't have been any issue. Anyway, thank you. I'll apply it right away and send the final payment. But, was it you who worked on this, CEO? The quality is completely different from last time."
"Ha-ha, is that so? Last time, it was Eunpyo who worked on it, but this time, someone else did."
"Really? Not you, CEO? Did you outsource it again?"
"No, not really. It was just a friend who visited our studio and tweaked it a bit."
"Ah, that's relieving. Must be a professional musician, given the quality."
"Yes, it's Kay."
"Excuse me? Who?"
"Kay."
"Do I know this Kay you're speaking of?"
"Yes, that's the Kay."
There was a moment of silence as Byungho was taken aback.
"Please don't use Kay's name. Just 'Studio Experience' will do. We'll see each other next time."
The call ended, but Byungho couldn't take his phone away from his ear, staring into space. Snapping back to reality, he stood up abruptly and began to pace, muttering to himself.
"Not to use Kay's name... Ah, I should have been more polite when discussing the last sound file... Ah, a golden marketing opportunity just flew by..."
Late fall was merging into early winter, yet the library at HanYoung Women's University was packed with students busy preparing for their final exams rather than enjoying their holiday break. The only sounds filling the air were the flipping of pages and the occasional music leaking from someone's earphones turned up a bit too loud. It seemed that wearing earphones had become the norm to help concentrate, ensuring that these minor disturbances didn't bother anyone.
Yoonhee Han was a freshman at HanYoung Women's University, having just turned twenty about ten months ago. Despite being in the prime of her youth, vibrant and fresh, Yoonhee wasn't much into going out. Instead, she preferred to roll around at home watching YouTube videos. She was tall and pretty for her age, though not strikingly beautiful. She was just an average girl whose youth shone through her pure innocence.
While studying from her textbook at a large desk designed for eight, Yoonhee frowned and switched her constantly ringing phone to silent mode.
"Ah, Ji, you girl, I told you I'm at the library, why do you keep texting? Don't you know I have a mountain of studying to do?"
Preview messages filled her phone's screen.
[Annoying Sister] If you bring home chicken when you come, I'll tell you a huge secret.
[Annoying Sister] It's true! Not lying! It's not just about the chicken.
[Annoying Sister] It's news about Kay you'd want to hear.
[Annoying Sister] Sharing it because I'm your real sister.
[Annoying Sister] Ah!! I'm dying to tell you!! When will you be home?
Yoonhee grimaced at the messages, then massaged her forehead as if the frown lines were bothering her.
"News about Kay? What's new now?"
Instead of responding to the texts, Yoonhee searched online for any news about Kay but found nothing new. Even a YouTube search only brought up videos she had already seen, which made her sigh.
"Sigh, I'm the fool for being tricked, that bundle of annoyance!"
After shoving her phone back into her bag, Yoonhee turned off the sound and refocused on her studies. After reading through her textbooks for about three hours, she glanced at the clock, quickly packed her books into her bag, and pulled out her phone only to be shocked.
"What? 81 unread messages? Has Ji completely lost it?"
As Yoonhee left the library, she dialed Ji's number. Ji picked up almost immediately, as if she had been waiting by her phone.
"Hey!! Ji!! Didn't I tell you I'd be studying late because of exams? Why do you keep bothering me?"
"Listen, sis. If you don't hear me out, you'll regret not contacting me for these three hours for the rest of your life."
"Stop talking nonsense. You just want chicken, don't you? Did you already spend all the allowance Dad sent you? How can you run out of money so quickly and start asking for more? Learn to save some, will you?"
"No, that's not it!"
"What then?"
"Ah, really, it's not that! Kay is living in the house next door!"
"What?"
Without another word, Yoonhee hung up, considering the conversation not worth continuing, and made her way to the subway.
"Even for a clueless high schooler, this is too much. I never did such things when I was in high school. Who did Ji get this from?"
Grumbling to herself, Yoonhee's steps quickened until she noticed Shihwa, who seemed to have just finished her classes, walking alone toward the subway station. Happy to see her senior who usually took good care of her, Yoonhee quickly caught up and grabbed Shihwa's waist.
"Sister!"
"Ah!! You scared me!!"
"Kyahaha, did you finish your classes, sister?"
Shihwa, startled, looked Yoonhee up and down before responding.
"Ah, you really scared me. Yeah, I finished a while ago. I stayed a bit longer to work on a report for a liberal arts course. You've been studying for your exams, I see?"
Yoonhee smiled softly.
"Yes, sister. Let's go home together!"
"Sure, we live next door anyway. Did you study well?"
Yoonhee grimaced and waved her hand dismissively.
"Don't even mention it. Ji kept bombarding me with texts so much that I could hardly focus. I eventually had to put my phone on silent and barely managed to concentrate for three or four hours. And when I was leaving the library, guess what? Over 80 messages had come in. I swear, she might end up being a possessive stalker someday."
Shihwa smiled knowingly and teased.
"Why? What did she say?"
Yoonhee pulled out her phone and shook it frantically.
"Can you believe the nonsense she's talking? You're supposed to bait someone with something believable if you want them to bite. She said if I bring home chicken, she'll tell me a secret. And what's the big secret? That Kay is living next door. You know Kay, right? The one who's still a student but already a global superstar."
Shihwa tried to suppress a laugh and said, "Yeah, I know him. He's really handsome, that guy."
"Right, insanely so! I first saw him in a YouTube music video, and my heart nearly stopped. So, knowing I'm a fan of Kay, she tries to bait me with chicken. As if Kay would live next door, of all places! And isn't Kay currently in Nepal? Everyone knows that!"
"Well, I think Kay might have come back to Korea?"
Yoonhee looked surprised and started searching her phone for any news of Kay's return. As they walked towards the subway, not paying attention to the path and relying on Shihwa, Yoonhee couldn't find any news articles about Kay's return to Korea. She looked up at Shihwa and said, "There's no news about it? I'm a fan, so I check the news every day, but there was nothing about him coming back to Korea. Where did you hear it?"
Shihwa awkwardly laughed and replied, "Ahaha, it wasn't something I read. I just thought I heard something. Maybe he came back in secret."
Yoonhee looked at Shihwa skeptically but then nodded, "I guess celebrities of his caliber might enter the country secretly. But even so, the idea that Kay is living next door sounds more realistic than saying the chairman of North Korea is my neighbor, right?"
"Ahahaha, the chairman of North Korea? That's hilarious."
"Ugh, that girl is always up to no good, skipping study to think up pranks. These days, she's been sneaking off to our uncle's studio twice a week under the guise of going to a study hall, claiming she's practicing singing. She begs me to keep it a secret from Mom. At this rate, she might not even make it to college."
"Really? Ji sings? Is she good?"
"Well, she gets compliments at karaoke, but she's nowhere near professional level. I should be honest with her, but everyone else, including our relatives and her friends, keep telling her she's great, so she believes she actually is."
Shihwa thoughtfully stroked her chin and then said, "Didn't Ji tell you to buy chicken?"
"Yeah, since Mom will be home late because of church volunteer work, and cooking's a hassle, she told me to buy it."
"Hmm... Do you like chicken too?"
"Are you kidding? Chicken is the god of our times, the deity of this planet!"
"Kyahaha, really? Then how about I treat you, and we buy some chicken?"
"Really? You'll buy?"
"Yeah, my mom and dad went to a reunion together, so I was supposed to cook dinner for me and my brother. But it's easier to just eat chicken. Why don't you come over, and we eat together?"
Yoonhee hesitated before saying, "Actually, Ji was talking about your brother... But it's... I've never met your brother before... I get sick easily if I eat in front of men I'm not familiar with..."
"Aw, are you still shy around new guys at your age? What's the big deal? He's just the guy next door. My brother is quite handsome, though, hehe."
Yoonhee, intrigued by the mention of Shihwa's handsome brother, asked, "Really? Ji said he's very handsome, is it true?"
Shihwa folded her arms and raised her nose proudly, "Of course! Look at me. Could the brother of a beauty like me be unattractive?"
"Kyahahat, does he look like you? Kehehehe"
Shihwa raised her hand high and waved it as she said, "What's with that creepy laugh?!"
Laughing, Yoonhee quickened her pace, racing into the subway station.
"Ah, no, sister! Kyahaha"
The two, in good spirits, headed to Shihwa's home after buying two chickens from a store near their house. Upon their arrival, Ji, whom Yoonhee had briefly returned home to fetch, rummaged through the house excitedly.
"Where's your brother? Hey, Ji, you can't just come into someone's house and start digging around. Will you stop?"
Ji, ignoring her, scurried over to Shihwa, who was unpacking the chicken, and asked, "Sister, where's brother?"
Shihwa playfully smacked Ji's forehead and said, "He'll be here soon, you wild thing. Sit down and behave. My brother likes calm girls."
Ji suddenly clasped her hands together, hurriedly sat down on the sofa demurely, and lowered her flushed face, much to Yoonhee's bewildered amusement.
"Where did your brother go? The chicken will get cold."
Shihwa was transferring the chicken to a dish and said, "Oh, he went to apply for a military service exemption today because he's been studying abroad for more than a year. He called a while ago and said he's nearby. I told him we're eating chicken at home, so he'll be here soon."
"Ah, I see. Can I help with anything?"
"Just opening the packaging is enough; just sit and maybe watch TV."
Yoonhee hesitated for a moment beside Shihwa, then sat next to Ji, who was still posing demurely on the sofa, and glared at her.
"What are you even doing?"
"Don't make me talk. It's time to be a quiet girl."
"What does that even mean?"
"You don't need to know. It's punishment for ignoring my texts for three hours."
"Seriously, what are you talking about."
At that moment, the sound of the door's keypad being entered echoed through the house. Ji's face lit up with excitement, but she desperately tried to maintain her composed posture, barely resisting the urge to leap up in anticipation. Shihwa, who had been in the kitchen, rushed out, asking,
"Is my brother back?"
Keeping her pose, Ji looked eagerly towards the entrance, while Yoonhee, puzzled by Ji's behavior, turned her head towards the door.