A Thought That Stayed
1063 Words
The afternoon sun filtered softly through the windows of
Ayan’s department, casting a warm glow over the quiet space.
Most students were either seated in small groups or scrolling
through their phones, waiting for the next activity of the day.
Ayan and Areum sat together in a corner, their usual spot.
There was comfort in that familiarity.
But today, Areum looked slightly restless.
She let out a sigh.
“I did something stupid,” she said suddenly.
Ayan looked up from her phone. “What happened?”
Areum leaned back in her seat, clearly still annoyed with
herself. “I made a mistake with a customer’s order. I forgot to
pack one guy’s food for the bike man.”
Ayan blinked. “How do you forget something like that?”
“I don’t even know,” Areum replied quickly. “I was just in a
rush. I think my mind wasn’t fully there.”
Ayan tilted her head slightly. “So how did you fix it?”
Areum exhaled. “I had to deliver it myself. The delivery guy
already had another order waiting.”
Ayan nodded slowly. “That makes sense.”
Areum paused for a second before continuing, her tone shifting slightly.
“It was a guy,” she said. “I just explained quickly and gave
him the food. But… he just kept staring at me without saying
anything.”
Ayan’s lips curved into a small smile. “Staring?”
“Yeah,” Areum nodded. “Then out of nowhere, he asked for
my name.”
Ayan laughed softly. “He asked for your name?”
Areum gave her a look. “Yes. It wasn’t a big deal, but still… it
was a bit random.”
She leaned forward slightly. “And you won’t believe the place
I went to.”
Ayan raised a brow. “Where?”
“There’s this estate,” Areum said, lowering her voice slightly.
“We’ve never heard of it before. It’s huge. Clean. Quiet.
Everything about it just screams money.”
Ayan listened closely now.
“I’ve heard students talk about something like that,” she said
slowly. “They say it’s where rich people’s children live, but I
don’t know where exactly it is either.”
Areum nodded. “Same. If I didn’t deliver that order myself, I
would’ve never known it even existed.”
A short silence followed between them.
Then Areum noticed something.
Ayan was smiling at her phone.
She narrowed her eyes slightly.
“And who exactly are you chatting with?” Areum asked.
Ayan looked up, still smiling faintly. “It’s the man I gave
directions to. Mr. Woo.”
Areum blinked. “Wait… he got your number?”
Ayan nodded casually. “Yeah. He asked, so I gave it to him.
It’s nothing serious.”
Areum leaned back. “Nothing serious… right.”
Then she glanced at her properly.
“How old is this man again?”
Ayan thought for a moment. “I’m not exactly sure… but he
should be in his 80s.”
There was a beat of silence.
Then—
“EIGHTIES?!” Areum almost raised her voice. “And what
exactly is funny about an 80-year-old man that has you smiling
at your phone like that?”
Ayan let out a soft laugh. “It’s just normal conversations. He’s
funny in a… grandfather way. Don’t think too much into it.”
Areum sighed, shaking her head slightly. “I trust you… but
still. Be careful.”
Ayan nodded gently. “I will.”
Then, after a pause, she added, “He said he wants to see me.”
Areum’s eyes widened slightly. “I knew it.”
Ayan quickly raised her hand. “But I didn’t agree. I can’t go.”
Areum relaxed a little.
“Good,” she said firmly. “Because everyone starts with ‘just
meeting’ and it never stays like that.”
Ayan smiled faintly. “Not everyone is the same, Areum.”
She looked down at her phone again.
“I trust him,” she added softly. “He behaves like a grandfather.
It doesn’t feel strange.”
Areum studied her for a moment, then sighed.
“You trust easily,” she said quietly. “Just… be careful.”
Ayan nodded once more.
But somewhere in the back of her mind—
The name Mr. Woo lingered longer than it should have.
Areum suddenly shifted in her seat, as if remembering
something important.
“Oh—have you done the assignment we’re supposed to submit
tomorrow?” she asked quickly.
Ayan nodded without hesitation. “Yes. I’ve done yours too.”
Areum’s eyes lit up. “Wait, really?”
Ayan smirked slightly. “Of course. I even changed the
handwriting so it won’t look obvious.”
That was all it took.
Areum immediately leaned in and wrapped her arms around
her.
“This is why I love you the most,” she said warmly.
Ayan let out a soft laugh, leaning slightly into the hug. “Yeah, I
know. You can’t do without me.”
Areum pulled back with a grin. “You’re not wrong.”
The two of them laughed together, the earlier conversation
fading into something lighter, more comfortable.
After a moment, Areum adjusted her seat and turned serious
again, pulling her notebook closer.
“Okay, explain it to me again,” she said. “I want to understand
it properly this time.”
Ayan raised a brow playfully. “Again?”
“Yes,” Areum insisted. “Don’t look at me like that.”
Ayan chuckled and shifted closer, pointing at the notes in her
book as she began to explain step by step.
Her voice was calm and patient, breaking everything down in a
way that made it easier to follow.
Areum listened closely this time—no distractions, no rushing.
For once, she actually focused.
Ayan noticed and nodded slightly as she continued explaining.
“Ah…” Areum murmured after a while, her expression
softening. “Now I get it.”
Ayan smiled faintly. “Good.”
Areum closed her notebook with satisfaction. “Finally.”
The atmosphere between them settled again—easy, familiar,
and warm.
But even as they laughed softly together again, the day didn’t
feel entirely ordinary.
Something about it—
Something small—
Still lingered quietly in the background.
- Writer
