Chapter 4 – The Days That Changed Everything
1163 Words
After that night under the stars, something quietly changed between Jin Woo and Ara.
Neither of them spoke about Jin Woo’s words again.
But both of them remembered.
From that day on, Jin Woo visited the market more often.
At first, he told himself it was only to buy food.
But deep down, he knew the truth.
He wanted to see Ara.
The market slowly became his favorite place in the town.
It was always full of life.
Merchants shouted about fresh vegetables. Children ran between stalls. The smell of grilled fish and sweet rice cakes filled the air.
And in the middle of it all was Ara’s small food stall.
She was always busy.
Sometimes she was serving customers.
Sometimes she was cooking soup.
Sometimes she was arguing with her younger brother, who always tried to steal food from the stall.
One afternoon, Jin Woo arrived while Ara was scolding the boy.
“Minho! If you eat one more rice cake, there will be nothing left to sell!”
The boy quickly stuffed the rice cake into his mouth.
“I’m just testing the taste,” he said with a full mouth.
Ara sighed in frustration.
“You test the taste every day!”
Jin Woo laughed softly from the side.
Ara turned and noticed him.
“Scholar Jin Woo!” she said.
Her tired face immediately brightened.
Minho looked at Jin Woo curiously.
“So this is the famous scholar?” he asked.
Ara frowned.
“Minho, be polite.”
But Minho grinned mischievously.
“My sister talks about you a lot.”
Ara’s face instantly turned red.
“I do not!”
Minho laughed and ran away before Ara could hit him.
Jin Woo tried to hide his smile.
Ara covered her face with both hands.
“This is embarrassing,” she muttered.
Jin Woo sat down near the stall.
“I think your brother is very honest.”
Ara groaned.
“Please don’t listen to him.”
Jin Woo looked at her gently.
“But I’m glad you talk about me.”
Ara froze for a second.
Then she quickly turned away and started preparing food.
“You must be hungry,” she said, changing the subject.
Jin Woo watched her quietly.
Ara always moved quickly and confidently while working.
She served customers with kindness.
She joked with children.
She helped elderly people carry their bags.
Even when she looked tired, she never stopped smiling.
Jin Woo felt something warm grow inside his chest.
One evening, the market was closing earlier than usual.
Dark clouds were gathering in the sky again.
Ara was packing the stall while Jin Woo helped carry baskets.
“You come here almost every day now,” Ara said.
Jin Woo nodded.
“I like the market.”
Ara raised an eyebrow.
“You like the market… or you like the food?”
Jin Woo pretended to think.
“The food is very good.”
Ara laughed softly.
“I knew it.”
They continued walking toward her home with the supplies.
The wind was getting stronger.
Leaves moved across the road.
“Your exam is coming soon, right?” Ara asked.
Jin Woo nodded slowly.
“Yes.”
“Are you nervous?”
“A little.”
Ara stopped walking.
Jin Woo turned to look at her.
She was staring at him seriously.
“You will pass,” she said firmly.
Jin Woo sighed.
“You always say that.”
“And I will keep saying it until it becomes true.”
Jin Woo looked at her quietly.
“Why do you believe in me so much?”
Ara thought for a moment before answering.
“Because you never stop trying.”
She continued walking.
“People who keep trying usually win in the end.”
Jin Woo followed her slowly.
Her words stayed in his mind the whole night.
Days passed.
Jin Woo studied harder than ever.
Late nights.
Early mornings.
Sometimes he slept only a few hours.
But every time he felt tired or discouraged, he remembered Ara’s voice.
You will pass.
One afternoon, Jin Woo arrived at the market with dark circles under his eyes.
Ara noticed immediately.
“You look terrible,” she said.
Jin Woo chuckled weakly.
“That is not very kind.”
Ara placed a bowl of soup in front of him.
“Eat first. Then complain.”
Jin Woo began eating slowly.
The warm soup helped him relax.
“You work too hard,” Ara said softly.
“I have to.”
Ara watched him carefully.
“You know… even if you fail once, you can try again.”
Jin Woo shook his head.
“I don’t want to waste more years.”
Ara leaned forward slightly.
“Then succeed.”
Jin Woo looked at her.
Ara smiled.
“Simple solution.”
Jin Woo laughed.
“You make everything sound easy.”
Ara shrugged.
“Life is already difficult. Thinking too much only makes it worse.”
For a moment, they both sat quietly.
The sun was beginning to set.
The market slowly became calmer.
Then suddenly—
A group of well-dressed men walked through the street.
Their clothes were expensive.
Their servants followed behind them.
Most people in the market stepped aside respectfully.
Ara lowered her voice.
“Officials from the capital,” she whispered.
Jin Woo looked at them carefully.
They were powerful people.
The kind of people who controlled the kingdom.
One of the men suddenly stopped walking.
His eyes moved across the market.
Then they stopped on Jin Woo.
The man frowned slightly.
“Are you a scholar?” he asked.
Jin Woo stood up respectfully.
“Yes.”
The official studied him carefully.
“You look familiar.”
Jin Woo stayed silent.
The man turned to one of his servants.
“Bring me the list.”
The servant quickly handed him a scroll.
The official opened it and scanned the names.
Then he looked at Jin Woo again.
“Jin Woo,” he said slowly.
Jin Woo’s heart skipped a beat.
“Yes, sir.”
The official nodded slightly.
“I have heard about you.”
Ara looked confused.
“Heard about him?” she whispered.
The official rolled the scroll closed.
“Your examination results will be very interesting.”
Jin Woo felt his chest tighten.
“What do you mean?”
But the official didn’t answer.
He simply smiled faintly.
Then he turned and walked away with his group.
The market slowly returned to normal.
But Jin Woo remained frozen.
Ara stepped closer.
“What was that about?” she asked.
Jin Woo shook his head slowly.
“I… don’t know.”
But deep inside, a strange feeling began to grow.
Someone important had noticed him.
And somehow…
That moment would soon change the course of his entire life.
Because far away in the royal palace…
Someone else was about to hear his name for the very first time.
- Writer
