#83. Commonalities of First Love (7)
The next day, after finishing breakfast, we headed to the market.
“There really is no such thing as a free lunch in this world…”
The motto of ‘One Night Away’: ‘All decisions through mini games!’ True to those words, even on the second day, as soon as we opened our eyes, we had to start with mini games to select ingredients for breakfast.
‘When I couldn’t even win a single arm wrestling match against the production crew, I was worried we’d have to starve like this.’
Whether it was because they were people who carried heavy cameras around like they were part of their bodies, or because they were seasoned veterans at these mini games, everyone had incredible grip strength.
Thanks to that, I received acorn jelly as a consolation prize. With eight mouths to feed and only managing to get a palm-sized piece of jelly, I couldn’t help but worry about various things.
Fortunately, the members who woke up shortly after came to my rescue. Na Jihan, who defeated the production crew one by one with his terrifying grip strength, won chicken as the main ingredient, changing the game completely. Soon after, Bae Dojin won various vegetables, and Lee Yuwon got the gochujang and red pepper flakes needed for cooking, allowing us to enjoy the luxury of making dakbokkeumtang.
But this time, such luck wasn’t allowed. It wasn’t something that could be shared with other members like accommodations or ingredients.
[Let’s help with market work and earn daily wages! What you can take back will be determined by how much you earn.]
I let out a deep sigh as I fiddled with the mission card.
According to the explanation, if we helped merchants with their work at the market, they would give us small tokens as daily wages. Depending on how many we earned, our mode of transportation back would be decided.
If we earned well, we could return by car like when we came. But if we were short on tokens, we’d have to compromise in order: express train, express bus first class, and regular train.
‘Anything but the train.’
A train ride of over four hours one way. Just thinking about cramping up in that rattling train car made my back and neck ache before even boarding.
With renewed determination, I wandered around the market looking for shops that needed help. The butcher shop owner gestured that he’d give me all his tokens if I helped trim meat, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Fortunately, Lee Yuwon took that spot.
“Hey there, pretty young man. Help me sell the side dishes I made today.”
The place I headed to was a side dish shop and the fruit and vegetable store next to it. The work involved offering taste samples of side dishes to passersby and organizing vegetables whenever there was time, so it wasn’t difficult.
“Three packs for 10,000 won. We just made some japchae – would you like to try it?”
“How much are the fruits?”
“That basket is 5,000 won, and the box is 30,000 won. Figs are in season now, so you should definitely take some figs. They’re delicious.”
“Oh my, how am I supposed to carry this heavy thing?”
“I’ll make handles for you. Shall we pick some out together?”
It turned out to be quite fun. Getting motivated, I started helping organize things and actively talking to passersby to boost sales.
“Oh my, you’re so diligent and good at this.”
“Pretty young man, what was it… are you a talent?”
“What talent, what talent. Kids these days don’t use that word.”
“That’s right. He’s an idol.”
“Ah, an idol!”
The shop owners giggled like schoolgirls and added:
“If I had a son like this, I’d have no more wishes!”
“That’s what I’m saying. If my son resembled even half of Seowoo, I wouldn’t have any worries.”
Crouched down dividing potatoes into boxes, I could only smile brightly instead of responding.
He’s like a son, just like a son, I’d love to adopt him as a son. I’d heard these words from passing elderly people more than thirty times.
But then, suddenly, a phrase that wasn’t in the usual repertoire was added.
“If I had a son-in-law like that, I’d have no more wishes.”
“Exactly. He’s so tall and handsome, really nice to look at.”
Son-in-law?
As I tilted my head in puzzlement, a shadow fell over me.
The identity of that ‘son-in-law candidate’ looking down at me was…
“Jihan.”
Na Jihan, wearing a large straw hat, looked down at me.
“Don’t lift heavy things. I’ll do it.”
“Is nagging the first thing you say as soon as you arrive?”
“You make me nag, constantly.”
He bent his waist and reached out to brush off the dirt on the bridge of my nose. I had rubbed my nose when I felt like sneezing while moving potatoes, and it must have gotten dirty then.
“You’re not even a puppy, what’s this?”
“What do you mean…”
Even though he’d already brushed it all off, he kept poking my cheeks playfully, making me ticklish until I finally burst out laughing.
“Wait just a little. I’m almost done.”
“Should I help?”
“It’s fine. This is my job. Did you already earn all your tokens?”
“Yeah. That’s why I came to help you.”
Since it was the biggest market in the area, there were quite a few shops. It must have been hard to find me right away. When I looked up at him with a questioning look about how he found me, his eyes curved pleasantly.
“I went around asking if anyone had seen a pretty kid helping with work.”
“…”
Before I could scold him for that, hands slipped under my armpits and I was lifted up. The shop owners’ attention focused on Na Jihan, who was brushing off the dirt from my clothes and hands as I stood there bewildered.
“What’s the relationship between you two?”
Na Jihan replied playfully:
“We’re inseparable.”
“Ah, you said you’re idols. Same group?”
“That’s right. We’re releasing a new song next month too.”
Na Jihan put his arm around my shoulder and pulled me close.
“This guy sings the best in our group.”
“Really? That’s amazing. Pretty face, so diligent, and good at singing too.”
After Na Jihan joined, the shop became even more lively. He lifted and moved heavy boxes effortlessly, and spoke warmly to people he was meeting for the first time, so everyone, young and old, seemed to like him.
‘Well, he has the kind of face that would be popular even just standing still.’
Good personality, good with his body, good at singing, and even diligent. As I organized side dish packs, I stared blankly at Na Jihan and then slightly frowned.
“It’s unfair…”
“What is?”
“Just… things.”
Meanwhile, the friendly ajummas approached Na Jihan and showered him with questions about how old he was this year, where his hometown was, what his ideal type was.
Na Jihan burst out laughing and waved his hands dismissively.
“You’re saying scary things! Ma’am, we’d be in big trouble if we dated. Not dating is our job, our job.”
“Where in this whole world is there such a job!”
“Exactly! Everyone says that but secretly makes eyes at each other behind the scenes!”
The ajumma who shouted added:
“You said you’re twenty-two this year? I have a twenty-six-year-old niece, so just look at her photo, okay? Just once. She just graduated and is doing some internship or something.”
“Come on.”
Na Jihan smiled with his eyes narrowed and pulled me even closer to him.
“Besides, I’m taken. This guy and I have been destined since birth.”
“What…”
“Isn’t that right?”
He added playfully:
“We’re fate, aren’t we?”
There was no way I could say no. Because that’s what I wanted too. That you and I are fate, so just like I only have you, you only have me too.
I secretly pursed my lips and thought: You can play around like this because you really have no feelings for me. Unlike Na Jihan, who was cheerful because he had no ulterior motives, I couldn’t be completely nonchalant – that was my flaw.
Anyway, I successfully earned my tokens. I also received a lot of gifts from the market vendors – fruits, dried goods, side dishes, vegetables, and such.
When we arrived at the parking lot, Na Jihan helped load the luggage. Since we were the first of our group to arrive, the van was completely empty inside.
“Good.”
Na Jihan, who settled into the seat next to me, let out a languid sigh.
“I wish every day could be like yesterday and today. It’s been so long since I’ve spent time this comfortably with you, without having to worry about anything.”
“What do you have to worry about?”
“Just various concerns, you know. Whether our friendship is okay staying like this, things like that.”
“Our friendship…”
I don’t know why those words made me feel so choked up. Even knowing it was a childish impulse, my lips moved on their own.
“It’s not friendship for me.”
Na Jihan turned to look at me. I turned my head too, and our gazes met in mid-air for a moment.
“…Na Jihan.”
I had definitely thought it was just an impulse, but once I started speaking, I realized one thing.
I had always wanted to say these words at least once.
“I like you.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
