The morning air was crisp and filled with the sounds of chirping birds as Rina stepped outside, clutching a small bag of packaged cards for her latest orders.
She planned to mail them at the nearby post office—a routine that had quickly become a part of her life.
As she walked down the street, the lively sounds of the modern world buzzed around her.
Cars honked, people chatted on their phones, and street vendors called out to passersby.
Though still foreign to her, Rina was beginning to feel a strange sense of comfort in this world's chaos.
Her steps quickened as she turned a corner, but just as she did, she collided with someone.
"Ah!" she yelped as the contents of her bag spilled onto the ground.
"Oh, sorry about that!" a male voice said, equally startled.
Rina looked up and froze.
Before her stood a boy, about her age, with striking features.
His dark hair was slightly messy, as though he'd just rolled out of bed, and his brown eyes held a mix of amusement and concern.
He wore a casual hoodie and jeans, giving him a laid-back vibe.
"Are you okay?" he asked, crouching down to help pick up the scattered cards.
Rina quickly snapped out of her daze. "I'm fine, thank you," she replied curtly, bending down to gather the cards as well.
The boy held up one of the cards, examining it with a curious look. "These are really nice. Did you make them yourself?"
Rina hesitated. She wasn't used to strangers commenting on her work. "Yes, I did."
His eyes lit up with genuine admiration. "That's impressive. You've got talent."
Rina blinked, taken aback by the compliment.
She wasn't sure how to respond, so she simply muttered, "Thanks."
After they had gathered all the cards, the boy handed her the last one with a smile.
"I'm Jiho," he introduced himself, extending a hand.
"Rina," she replied, shaking his hand hesitantly.
"Nice to meet you, Rina," Jiho said warmly. "Do you sell these cards somewhere? I might want to buy one."
Rina tilted her head, studying him.
Was he genuinely interested or just being polite? "I have an online shop," she said carefully.
"Cool. Let me know the name sometime," Jiho said, stepping back. "Anyway, sorry for bumping into you. Hope you have a good day!"
Before Rina could say anything else, Jiho gave her a small wave and jogged off down the street.
Rina stood there for a moment, staring after him.
Something about the encounter felt... different. Jiho's casual demeanor and easy smile were so unlike the merchants and nobles she used to deal with.
Shrugging off the strange feeling, Rina adjusted her bag and continued to the post office.
That night, as she worked on new designs at her desk, her thoughts kept drifting back to Jiho.
His kind words and genuine interest in her work had stirred something within her—a strange warmth she couldn't quite explain.
"Focus, Rina," she muttered, shaking her head. "You've got orders to complete."
But despite her best efforts, the memory of Jiho's smile lingered, a small spark of light in her otherwise busy day.
And though she didn't know it yet, their paths would cross again—sooner than she expected.