A week has passed since my almost-kiss with Lee Ye, and my mind remains jumbled like a knot. Questions swirl around like leaves caught in the wind. Does he like me? If he does, why did he leave the way he did? Has he thought about me at all since that night? Unfortunately, I have no answers…
Life continued with its usual rhythm—writing, eating, sleeping, job hunting—but my thoughts keep drifting back to him no matter how hard I try to focus every day. I keep telling myself I'm holding it together. With Hye Ri and Ha Eun returning from their Busan trip, they somehow became my distraction. Yet deep down, I know it's just a temporary escape.
"Ahjuma! I ran out of soju! Bring me another bottle!" My voice rings out louder than I intend, cutting through the low hum of chatter around me. The older woman behind the counter rolls her eyes as she grabs another bottle and slams it onto the table.
"Thank youuu," I slur, mumbling the words that tumble out of my mouth.
She turns to leave, but I suddenly grab her hand. She raises an eyebrow, clearly annoyed. "What is it again? Another bottle?" she groans.
"Ahjuma! Do you think he likes me?" I ask earnestly, resting my cheek against my palm as if seeking her wisdom.
She sighs heavily before replying, "Okay, he likes you… I guess."
"Then why did he leave like that after almost kissing me?" I whine, tugging at my hair in frustration. "Are you sure Lee Ye really likes me?"
The woman scoffs, a laugh escaping her lips. "Lee Ye? The famous singer?"
I nod earnestly, my eyes wide and hopeful.
She chuckles, shaking her head. "If Lee Ye is your lover, then the President of South Korea must be my husband!"
I blink at her, trying to process the absurdity.
"Hey, don't mock my love life!" I protest, swaying slightly, trying not to fall off the chair.
"Love life? Sweetheart, you're one drink away from declaring your undying love to this bottle of soju or a random trash can by the roadside." she scoffs, rolling her eyes.
I gasp dramatically, clutching my chest. "A trash can? How could you?!"
She continues to tease me, saying, "Oh, I apologize. What I really meant to say is I'm looking forward to the wedding invitations from you and Lee Ye!"
"So do you think he likes me?" I ask again, seriously.
"Listen, young lady," she snaps back, "Stop asking me stupid questions! If you want answers, go ask him yourself. That's if you ever get the chance to meet him one-on-one in this lifetime. I'm busy!" With a huff, she yanks her hand away and stomps off.
I feel the curious gazes of others in the tent boring into me. Ignoring them completely, I seize the bottle of soju and pour myself another glass, downing it in one swift motion.
"Ah, Lee Ye! You are a piece of shit!" I yell as if he could hear me through the walls of this food tent.
"Stop being a nuisance and get lost! Don't scare off my customers!" The woman's voice echoes from behind the counter.
Staggering home feels like an endless journey through a fog. Tears stream down my cheeks as people avoid eye contact and murmur among themselves. Finally reaching the apartment, Hye Ri's eyes widen in disbelief at my disheveled state.
"Kitten! What have you done to yourself?" she exclaims as she rushes over to help me remove my shoes and drag me toward my room. "Thank God, Ha Eun is asleep. You look terrible!"
Catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror as she pulls me along, I can't help but laugh hysterically at my reflection—a wild mess of hair resembling a bird's nest. No wonder people stared at me on the way home.
Hye Ri tucks me into bed with gentle care before sitting beside me, her hand patting my hair soothingly. Concern etched across her face, making my heart ache even more.
"What exactly happened between you and Lee Ye while I was gone? You've been acting off since I got back. I know it has everything to do with him." she says with annoyance in her voice.
Fresh tears spill over for no reason, likely due to the alcohol still swirling in my system as Hye Ri continues to stroke my hair softly. "We almost kissed," I manage to choke out between sobs.
"What?!" Her eyes widen in shock. She clasps her hands over her mouth as if to contain her surprise.
"Hye Ri," I sniff loudly, "He just left without any explanation. I feel so embarrassed!" My voice cracks under the weight of my emotions as fresh sobs wrack my body like waves crashing against a rocky shore.
Hye Ri's expression softens as she wraps an arm around me. "Oh, Kitten," she murmurs gently, "Now I hate him for bringing you to this state."
Waking up feels like a battle for survival. My head pounds with every heartbeat, and the sunlight streaming through the curtains feels like a spotlight shining on my hangover. I groan and roll over in bed, wishing I could sink into the mattress and vanish completely.
As I finally muster the strength to sit up, I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror, hair sticking out in every direction, eyes puffy. "Oh great," I mutter to myself.
I shuffle into the living room, where Hye Ri is already bustling around the kitchen, her hair tied up in a messy bun and an apron tied around her waist. She turns at the sound of my footsteps, a smirk spreading across her face.
"Look who decided to join the land of the living. Come to the table, I'm making you hangover soup," she calls out cheerfully.
"Ugh!" I groan as I plop down at the table.
Hye Ri ladles steaming soup into a bowl and sets it in front of me. "Last night was quite the adventure, huh?"
"Adventure? More like a drunken disaster!" I reply, taking a sip of the soup. It's surprisingly good, but my mind drifts back to Lee Ye. "I still can't believe he almost kissed me."
Hye Ri raises an eyebrow, clearly still shocked by my revelation from last night. "And then he just left…"
"I know right? One minute we are about to kiss, and the next he's gone like a freaking ghost!" I exclaim, frustration bubbling up again.
"Maybe he got spooked by your wild hair," she teases, chuckling as she settles opposite me. "Ah, I just remembered how you looked like you were auditioning for a horror movie last night."
I roll my eyes but can't help but laugh. "Very funny! But seriously, I really thought there was a connection between us."
Hye Ri leans closer with a mischievous grin. "Ooh, naughty naughty! You really want to kiss that fine man, huh? Just imagine Lee Ye's lips on yours right here in our living room… That would be so hot!"
I screech, clasping my hands over my mouth as mental pictures run through my mind. "Hye Ri!"
She bursts into laughter. "What?!"
"Stop it!" I giggle uncontrollably. "Your mind is in the gutter."
We both laugh until our sides hurt, and I take a moment to catch my breath before thanking her for the soup. "Seriously though, thank you for this," I say between giggles.
Hye Ri leans back with a satisfied smile. "You are welcome, Kitten. And for what it's worth, I think Lee Ye likes you too."
"Really?" My heart skips at her words.
She shrugs nonchalantly while downing a glass of water.
"But what if he doesn't?" I ask, biting my lip nervously.
"What's the worst that can happen?" she replies casually. "Just ask him!"
I ponder her words as I finish my soup, feeling both terrified and excited at the thought of confronting Lee Ye again.
The rest of the day passes in a blur as Hye Ri keeps teasing me about Lee Ye. Each time she brings up the almost-kiss, I feel heat creeping up my cheeks, and my mind racing with possibilities.
As night falls, I find myself staring out the window, lost in thought about everything. Then it hits me hard, like a wave—overwhelming and undeniable. As the realization settles in, I spring up quickly, filled with urgency. I feel a rush of excitement and I dash toward my room, my heart pounding fast. I grab my jacket from the chair and throw it over my shoulders as I hurry back to the living room.
Hye Ri looks up just as I burst into the room, eyebrows raised in surprise. "Where are you going at this hour?" she calls out, her voice a mix of curiosity and concern.
I can't help but grin widely, unable to contain the excitement bubbling inside me. "I'm going to him!" I shout back, pulling on my sneakers in a hurry. My feet fumble as I struggle to keep my balance with one shoe half on.
"Wait! You're serious?" Hye Ri gasps, her eyes widening in disbelief before breaking into a huge grin. "You're really going to see him? Right now?"
"Yes!" I exclaim, finally managing to wrestle my sneakers into place.
"Go get him, girl!" Hye Ri cheers, bouncing on her toes like an excited puppy. Her enthusiasm is infectious as she grabs a pillow from the couch and pretends to wave it like a flag.
With one last glance back at her, I open the door and rush out of the apartment, feeling like I'm flying. The night air hits me like a refreshing splash of water, and I can't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. I realize, in that instant of clarity, that what I feel for Lee Ye is not a mere crush… I really like him.