A Name That Stayed
670 Words
Inside the apartment, the atmosphere was quiet and relaxed.
Water ran steadily in the bathroom as Euntak showered,
humming faintly under his breath. Steam filled the space,
muffling everything outside.
In the room, Jihoon lay comfortably on the bed, one arm
behind his head while his other hand scrolled lazily through his
phone.
Nothing unusual.
Just a normal afternoon.
Then—
A sound broke through the calm.
A ringing phone.
Jihoon glanced sideways.
“Bro, your phone is ringing,” he called out.
From the bathroom, Euntak’s voice echoed back. “Pick it.”
Jihoon sighed, shifting slightly before reaching for the phone
on the bedside table.
Unknown number.
He pressed answer.
“Hello?”
A female voice came through immediately.
“Hi, I’m the one delivering the food. I’m outside the gate.”
Jihoon paused for a second, then nodded even though she
couldn’t see him.
“Okay, we’ll be out,” he said.
He ended the call and tossed the phone back onto the bed.
He leaned toward the bathroom door.
“Yo, Euntak! The girl you ordered food from is outside.”
The sound of water continued for a moment.
Then—
“Alright… I’m coming,” Euntak replied.
Jihoon stood up and stretched slightly before walking out.
The evening air outside felt calm as he approached the gate.
And then he saw her.
Areum.
Standing there with the food bag in her hands.
For a moment, Jihoon didn’t speak.
He just looked.
Something about her presence held his attention in a way he
didn’t immediately understand.
But before he could say anything—
She spoke first.
“I’m really sorry the delivery is late,” Areum said quickly, her
tone polite but slightly rushed. “I thought I had packed all the
orders, but I missed yours. I promise this won’t happen again.
And I hope this won’t affect your decision to order from us
again.”
Jihoon didn’t respond immediately.
He was still watching her.
The way she spoke.
The way she stood.
Calm, but slightly anxious.
Human.
Real.
She handed him the food.
“Here is your food, sir.”
That snapped him back.
“Oh… thank you,” he said.
Areum gave a small bow, then turned to leave.
But before she could step away—
“Excuse me,” Jihoon called out.
She stopped and turned back.
There was a brief pause.
“What’s your name?” he asked.
Areum blinked, then smiled softly.
“My name is Areum.”
That smile stayed in the air a second longer than it should
have.
Jihoon nodded slightly.
And Areum ask him with a smile on her face
What’s your name
“I’m Jihoon.”
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Just a simple exchange.
A name.
A glance.
A memory forming without permission.
Then Areum gave a polite nod and walked away.
Jihoon stood there for a few seconds longer than necessary
before finally turning back inside.
The moment he stepped in, something in him changed.
“BRO!” he suddenly shouted.
Euntak, still dripping wet from the shower, rushed out
immediately, water trailing behind him.
“What’s going on?!” he demanded.
Jihoon turned to him, eyes wide with excitement.
“Can you believe it? The girl we ordered from… she’s the one
who delivered the food!”
Euntak frowned. “Which girl?”
Jihoon grabbed his arm, barely able to contain himself.
“The girl in pink,” he said quickly. “Her name is Areum.”
Euntak blinked.
“And?” he asked slowly.
Jihoon ignored him completely.
“She asked for my name,” he added, like it was the most
important part.
Then, without warning, he pulled Euntak into a tight hug.
“Thanks for being in the bathroom!”
Euntak froze.
Water dripped from his hair onto Jihoon’s clothes as Jihoon
continued celebrating like he had just won something life-
changing.
Euntak stared at him in silence.
Expression blank.
Then slowly—
“… You’re insane
- Writer
