After leaving the amusement park, Eunseo trudged home alone.

Even after getting off the bus, it wasn’t quite lunchtime yet. The cloudless blue sky and the brightly colored autumn leaves made the day exceptionally beautiful. Not wanting to go home on such a lovely day, Eunseo wandered around her neighborhood and found herself near her alma mater, Hangook Girls’ High School.

Peeking into the convenience store, she saw Naeun working alone at the counter.

“Hi, Naeun.”

As Eunseo entered, Naeun, who had been fooled last time, immediately became guarded.

“Why are you here again, ajumma? There’s no oppa today.”

“Why else would I come to a convenience store?”

After buying a few cans of beer, Eunseo sat on a bench in a nearby park and opened a can. The cold beer seemed to freeze her from the inside, yet her heavy heart remained unchanged.

‘Why do I feel so down?’

Was it because she came back alone on such a beautiful day? Or because she hadn’t even entered the amusement park, a place she’d never visited before?

While contemplating her murky mood, she finished her first can of beer.

Just as she was about to open a second can, she heard a voice overhead.

“Wow, an older ajumma drinking alone in a park during the day is really pathetic. I should make sure I never end up like that.”

Naeun was looking down at her, arms crossed, shaking her head.

“Why are you following me and picking a fight? Don’t you have work?”

“My shift just ended.”

Naeun nonchalantly sat next to Eunseo and reached into the bag to grab a beer can, but Eunseo immediately grabbed her wrist.

“Stop that. Where do you think you’re taking a beer from?”

“Seriously, you’re drinking alone and you’re being stingy over a 10,000-won four-pack?”

“It’s a no until I’m six feet under. Go get a soda from the vending machine.”

Eunseo handed her a 1,000-won bill, and Naeun grudgingly headed to the vending machine. Returning with a soda, Eunseo scooted over and said,

“Do you know? I’m your senior by several years from Hangook Girls’ High.”

“You’re bragging about being older?”

Naeun wasn’t impressed.

“So, what exactly is your relationship with oppa?”

Sighing, Eunseo tilted her beer can.

“Why are you so curious? Whatever our relationship is, it’s not like Seungju is going to end up with you.”

“Why not? Because he’s the president of Daewon Construction?”

Eunseo almost spat out her beer in surprise.

“How did you know that?”

Staring wide-eyed, Naeun shrugged.

“It’s obvious he wouldn’t be just a convenience store worker with that face. I thought he must have been a singer or actor, so I searched his name. Turned out he’s a businessman.”

It made sense; Seungju’s face would come up immediately with a search of his name.

“Have you told anyone about this?”

Eunseo quickly looked around and lowered her voice. Naeun shook her head.

“I didn’t. Seemed like there was a story behind it.”

Eunseo was relieved. Despite appearances, Naeun had some sense of discretion.

“Maybe you two eloped because his family opposed you?”

Amused by her wild imagination, Eunseo chuckled.

“We’re not in that kind of relationship.”

Naeun nodded as if she expected this answer.

“I thought so.”

“You agree too easily, don’t you?”

Eunseo was a bit offended, but Naeun scoffed.

“Have you seen yourself in the mirror? How would you match up with him?”

Perhaps she was right. Eunseo felt a bit dejected, then startled.

Why am I getting upset over this?

Naeun opened her soda can, took a sip, and then softened her tone.

“So, what’s the deal with the daytime drinking?”

Was she offering to listen to Eunseo’s troubles?

Eunseo hesitated, then began to speak, feeling like she was telling her troubles to a donkey’s ears.
“Hey, my best friend, she’s interested in this older guy I know, my brother’s friend.”

“And?”

“So, I went to the amusement park with them today. I was supposed to discreetly leave, letting them be together, but I ended up feeling oddly down after leaving.”

Naeun shrugged her shoulders.

“Ajumma, it sounds like you have feelings for that guy.”

Eunseo almost choked on her drink. Naeun backed away, grumbling, “Gross.”

“Me?”

Eunseo wiped her mouth, asking in disbelief. Naeun responded as if it was obvious.

“Of course. Why else would you be here wallowing in self-pity, drinking alone in the daytime?”

Eunseo pondered over this. No, that couldn’t be it. Seungju was just an eighteen-year-old, a cute younger brother…

No, Seungju was practically a proper adult.

Realizing this, Eunseo remembered something she had long forgotten.

Originally, Seungju was someone who made her heart flutter so much that she’d deliberately take a longer route to avoid him.

“I didn’t expect you to be so dense, ajumma. You don’t even recognize your own feelings.”

Naeun shook her head in disbelief, tongue clicking in disapproval.

“Well, good for you. Then you can try things out with that oppa, and leave our Seungju oppa alone.”