Episode 1 Our Date, Fried Chicken and Tricking Her to Wiping Mouth

At a quiet café and co-working space, an ideal spot for productivity, the sound of gunfire from a survival game occasionally broke the silence.

A tall young girl lounged comfortably at her private table, fingers tapping rapidly on the screen with intense focus. Her eyes were locked onto the battle unfolding before her, completely oblivious to the presence of others.

Fortunately, Kunjaesol had chosen to rent a private seating area. Otherwise, Linda's table would have become the target of countless irritated stares.

"Lin, could you put on headphones, please?" Kunjaesol's voice was gentle, her gaze soft and pleading.

"Didn't bring them," Linda replied flatly, as if it were no big deal. Her lips moved just slightly before she returned her full concentration to the game, fingers tapping at the same relentless speed.

"Then… could you at least lower the volume? I can't focus on my work at all." Kunjaesol's tone remained sweet, laced with a hint of persuasion. If she couldn't concentrate, her work wouldn't get done, which meant their date tonight might be canceled.

She resisted the urge to sigh out loud. As much as the gunfire sounds were getting on her nerves, she didn't want to accidentally glare at this girl—the one she found herself falling for more each day.

Linda paused for a brief moment before reaching over to turn the game's volume down. Though her eyes never left the screen, even this small gesture was enough to make Kunjaesol smile.

"Thank you, my little troublemaker."

Kunjaesol leaned back in her chair, letting the surrounding noise fade into mere background sound. Now that her mind was a little calmer, at least she wouldn't have to endure the deafening game sounds while trying to work. Otherwise, she might have spent the whole day frustrated and in a bad mood.

But as she glanced at Linda—the tall, serious girl completely absorbed in her game—her heart softened just a little more.

She really was weak when it came to this girl, wasn't she?

One Year Ago…

Their first meeting took place at a university Open House event. Kunjaesol, a successful alumna, had been invited to share her experiences—both as a student and as a professional in her current career. In a way, the event was a clever PR strategy to attract new students, and she was one of its star speakers.

But it wasn't just her impressive resume that made her stand out. She was also the former faculty beauty queen of the Tourism Department, admired by both seniors and juniors alike. Not only was she intelligent and beautiful, but she also had an effortlessly charming presence—wherever she stood, she naturally drew attention.

And it was there, amidst the sea of high school students from various schools, that she first saw Linda.

The final-year high school student stood slightly apart from the others, as if she had unintentionally drifted away from her group. Her expression was serious, her eyes filled with hesitation and uncertainty.

She paced back and forth near the faculty building, stepping in and out as if debating where to go next. One hand occasionally scratched her head, alternating between that and flipping through the brochure she held. Yet, despite checking it repeatedly, she still seemed utterly lost.

Kunjaesol watched the scene with amusement.

It was obvious—this girl was an introvert. Probably the type who didn't dare ask for help but also refused to wander aimlessly. It was an adorable contradiction.

She wasn't sure why she found herself staring for so long. Maybe it was because Linda stood out from the rest of the crowd, or perhaps it was that mix of focus and confusion on her face that made Kunjaesol want to step in without even realizing it.

In the end, the ever-charming alumna, acting like the perfect host, took a step forward and gently tapped the girl's shoulder.

"Are you lost?" Kunjaesol asked, her voice bright and friendly.

Linda froze for a moment before looking up at her. Then, in a calm, even tone, she replied, "Uh… yeah. Which way is the IT building?"

Kunjaesol smiled instinctively.

This girl's voice was steady, free of the nervousness or excitement usually heard when speaking to a stranger. As she observed the slightly taller girl, she noticed an interesting contradiction. 

Though Linda's youthful face showed little emotion, her tightly gripped brochure told another story—one of silent uncertainty.

Interesting…

That single thought crossed her mind before she made her decision.

Extending a helping hand to the lost girl, Kunjaesol gave a simple yet clear explanation of how to get to the IT building. But when Linda still looked confused, she immediately realized—this girl wasn't going to make it there on her own.

And so, the kind-hearted former beauty queen took it upon herself to personally guide her.

It turned out that Linda had mistakenly wandered into the Tourism and Hospitality College building—a place that produced flight attendants, top-tier chefs, hotel staff, and service industry entrepreneurs. The IT building, where she actually wanted to go, was quite a distance away.

Kunjaesol tried to use her natural warmth and friendliness to her advantage, attempting to ease the silence between them. From their brief conversation, she only managed to learn that the girl's name was Linda and that she was about to graduate from high school.

But seeing Linda's reserved expression and her tendency to respond with short, clipped answers, Kunjaesol quickly realized that perhaps walking in silence would be the better approach.

Then, unexpectedly, Linda spoke up.

"The IT faculty… they can make games there, right?" Her voice was quiet, and she seemed slightly nervous about initiating a conversation with someone she barely knew.

"Hmm… I'm not sure, actually," Kunjaesol admitted honestly. "I graduated from the Tourism faculty, over in that building."

"Oh…" Linda dragged out the sound, a hint of disappointment in her tone. It was clear she had hoped for a more informative answer.

"If you really want to know, you could try asking one of the professors or seniors inside," Kunjaesol suggested, nodding toward the IT building. She didn't want Linda to feel too let down, so she pointed her in the direction of someone who might be able to help.

However, just as Kunjaesol was about to leave, Linda hesitated before speaking again.

"Uh… I think I got lost," she admitted, her voice quieter this time. "I tried calling my friends, but they said the teachers already took them back to school."

Kunjaesol raised an eyebrow, sensing the concern in Linda's expression.

"So… what should we do now?" she asked encouragingly, her tone gentle. She could see the worry in Linda's eyes, and for the first time, she truly realized—this girl wasn't just lost in directions. She seemed a little lost in general, unsure of what to do next.

Linda hesitated, then finally looked up at her with a small, hopeful gaze.

"Could you… maybe come inside with me?" she asked in a soft voice.

Kunjaesol blinked, momentarily taken aback. But then, she couldn't help but smile.

This girl, who had seemed so composed and distant at first, was actually just shy and struggling with social interactions—not aloof or indifferent as she had first assumed. And now, with her eyebrows slightly furrowed in a way that was oddly endearing, she looked like a nervous kitten.

Oh no, this is too cute.

Kunjaesol resisted the urge to clutch her chest dramatically.

With that, she made her decision. There was no way she could leave Linda alone now.

"Alright," she said with a warm smile. "Let's go in together."

The slender, kind-hearted woman led Linda around the exhibition, showing her various displays. Linda seemed genuinely interested in programming, her eyes lighting up every time she saw a cool piece of code or a neat project. Kunjaesol would have loved to keep walking with her, but she had an important lecture to give and had to let Linda explore on her own for a bit. She promised that as soon as she finished, she'd come back to keep her company.

Just as she was about to walk away, Linda grabbed the hem of her shirt, her eyes downcast with a hint of sadness. It was as though she was afraid of being left alone again, just like her friends had done before. Kunjaesol smiled softly, reassuring her by exchanging phone numbers. She told Linda to message her once she finished looking around, and that she'd meet her right away to take her back to school.

From that day on, the two exchanged simple greetings and messages every day. What started as a casual connection soon grew into something much more—leading them both to a deeper, more important place in each other's hearts.