After finding a suitable inn, Ji Hoon began to organize his life in the new place. Although the inn was simple, he felt freer and could manage his own time and life. However, this independent life was not always easy. Ji Hoon had to learn to manage his finances, take care of himself, and face various challenges without the help of his parents.
One night, Ji Hoon sat at the small table in his inn, thinking about what he would do next. Despite the loneliness, he was relieved to be taking steps towards independence. His mind still drifted to Soo Jin and what happened between them. She felt that even though they were just friends, their relationship might develop more over time.
However, underneath all this, Ji Hoon is also starting to realize that his life is not only about relationships with others, but also about himself. He should pay more attention to his dreams and goals without being overly influenced by other people's expectations.
After a few days of adjusting to the inn and going through the routine, Ji Hoon felt the need to find a part-time job to make ends meet. He didn't want to always depend on his parents, even though they had paid for his tuition and other needs. Ji Hoon knew that being independent was the right step for his future.
One morning, Ji Hoon decided to look for a job as a temporary courier. The job is flexible and can provide additional income without disrupting his school schedule. He searched the internet for job vacancies and found a delivery company that was in need of couriers.
Without hesitation, Ji Hoon sent his application via email and got a quick reply. As it turned out, the company needed people to work part-time and immediately contacted him for an interview.
The interview went well, and Ji Hoon was hired as a courier. Although the job requires extra effort and labor, Ji Hoon is satisfied that he can make his own money and not depend too much on others.
The first day of work, Ji Hoon carried small packages on his motorcycle, traveling around the city to deliver goods. Although he was tired, he was happy because this job gave him freedom and a sense of accomplishment.
The next day, Soo Jin starts to feel something different about Ji Hoon. She often saw Ji Hoon skipping class, and sometimes she noticed that Ji Hoon always wore a jacket, gloves, and a hat even though it was quite hot. That's very unusual for Ji Hoon who is usually more casual with his appearance. Soo Jin felt suspicious and started paying closer attention.
One day, after the school bell rang, Soo Jin approached Ji Hoon who was sitting alone in a corner of the cafeteria. "Ji Hoon, why have you been skipping school so much lately? What's wrong?" she asked with a curious face. Ji Hoon was silent for a moment, then shrugged.
"I'm... just a little busy," Ji Hoon replied with a faint smile, trying to hide something.
Soo Jin looked at him with a sharp gaze. "You can't go on like this, Ji Hoon. If there's a problem, we can talk about it. I'm your friend," Soo Jin said in a more serious tone.
Ji Hoon took a deep breath. He knew Soo Jin cared about him, but he didn't want to make her worry. "Actually, I work part-time as a courier, Soo Jin. I didn't want people to know, so I purposely skipped a few classes so I could deliver things," he said quietly.
Soo Jin was surprised to hear that. "You work part-time? Why didn't you tell me from the beginning? Why didn't you ask for help if you needed money?" Soo Jin asked, still surprised.
Ji Hoon was silent. "I just didn't want to trouble you, Soo Jin. I didn't want you to worry about me," he replied in a low voice.
Soo Jin was touched by Ji Hoon's confession. She didn't expect Ji Hoon to work so hard to be independent. "You don't have to do all that alone, Ji Hoon. I can help, we're friends," Soo Jin said as she put her hand on Ji Hoon's shoulder.
Ji Hoon smiled, a little relieved. "Thank you, Soo Jin. I'll do better."
From that day on, Soo Jin is determined to care more about Ji Hoon and no longer let him struggle alone. She started offering her help, even though Ji Hoon sometimes refused, but she knew he would eventually accept her help.
A few days after that conversation, Soo Jin saw Ji Hoon skipping class more and more often and realized how hard he was trying. However, even though Ji Hoon refused Soo Jin's offers of help, he started to change slowly. Ji Hoon starts to be more open about his job as a courier, even occasionally asking Soo Jin to help him deliver packages or just keep him company when he can't handle it all himself.
One afternoon, when they came home from school, Soo Jin saw Ji Hoon looking tired. His eyes were a little droopy, and he walked with a slightly shuffling step. Soo Jin, who was getting worried, approached him and said, "Ji Hoon, you look really tired. Why don't you rest first?"
Ji Hoon tried to smile, although his face clearly showed fatigue. "It's okay, Soo Jin. I just need a little time," he replied softly.
Soo Jin wasn't convinced and insisted, "Come on, you definitely need to rest. I can help you if you need anything."
Finally, Ji Hoon nodded and accepted Soo Jin's offer. They went to a nearby cafe and sat there to talk. Soo Jin ordered drinks for both of them, while Ji Hoon sat limply, still feeling exhausted.
"Soo Jin, I... don't know why I can't stop trying on my own. I don't want to bother anyone," Ji Hoon said in a low voice, almost a whisper.
Soo Jin looked at him, then said firmly, "Ji Hoon, you don't have to feel alone. You have friends, you have me, and I won't leave you. You don't have to bear everything alone."
Ji Hoon could only remain silent, feeling touched by Soo Jin's words. He knew that Soo Jin was sincere and cared about him, even though she often tried to solve everything herself.
"Soo Jin, I... I'll try to be more open, okay? But don't worry, I don't want to be a burden," Ji Hoon replied with a slight smile.
Soo Jin smiled back and replied, "We're friends. Friends support each other, right? So, there's no burden between us."
That day, Ji Hoon felt a little lighter. He knew he still had a lot to face, but at least, he no longer felt alone. Soo Jin had opened her heart to him, and that was the most precious thing to Ji Hoon right now.