Chapter 9: A Place That Felt Warm
1535 Words
Chapter 8: A Place That Felt Warm
By the time they finally left the amusement park, the night had already grown deep and quiet. The bright lights behind them slowly faded as they walked side by side down the street, both exhausted from the endless rides, games, and laughter that had filled the entire evening. The cool summer breeze brushed softly against Yevin’s face as she stretched her arms tiredly, letting out a long breath.
“Today was so fun,” she murmured with a smile that still carried excitement from everything that had happened.
So-jung glanced at her from beside him, his hands resting casually inside his pockets. “You say that now, but you were screaming your lungs out on the roller coaster.”
Yevin immediately turned toward him. “Because it was terrifying!”
“You almost broke my arm.”
“You held me first!”
“I was protecting you.”
“You were scared too.”
“I wasn’t.”
“You screamed.”
“I did not.”
Yevin laughed loudly at the offended expression on his face, and for a moment, So-jung simply looked at her quietly. The amusement park lights reflected faintly in her eyes, and the smile on her face seemed brighter than everything around them.
Without realizing it, he smiled too.
Before either of them could continue arguing, Yevin’s phone suddenly rang.
She looked down at the screen and immediately sighed softly. “It’s my mom.”
So-jung stayed quiet while she answered the call.
“Mom?”
“Yevin!” her mother’s voice came quickly from the other side. “Where are you? Since morning you disappeared completely. Are you planning to stay outside forever?”
Yevin laughed nervously. “Mom, I’m coming home.”
“You said that hours ago.”
“I know, I know.”
Her mother sighed dramatically. “Tomorrow is summer celebration preparation. We still have to go to the market early in the morning. There’s still so much to buy.”
Yevin nodded even though her mother could not see her. “I’ll come back early, I promise.”
Then, after hesitating for a second, she glanced toward So-jung who was quietly watching her nearby.
“Mom… can I bring a friend tomorrow?”
There was immediate silence on the other side before her mother spoke again, this time sounding far more interested.
“A friend?”
“Yes.”
“A male friend?”
“Mom!”
Her mother laughed loudly. “Alright, alright. Bring him if you want.”
Yevin closed her eyes briefly in embarrassment. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
The moment she ended the call, So-jung looked at her with clear amusement in his eyes.
“A male friend?” he repeated slowly.
Yevin glared at him immediately. “Don’t start.”
A small laugh escaped him. “Your mother sounds interesting.”
“She’s embarrassing.”
“I think I’ll like her.”
“You haven’t even met her yet.”
“I already know she likes me.”
Yevin scoffed and continued walking, though the faint redness on her face made So-jung smile to himself again.
Not long after, they finally reached the front of Yevin’s street. The neighborhood was peaceful compared to the loud excitement of the amusement park, and warm lights glowed softly from the nearby houses.
Yevin stopped walking and turned toward him slowly.
“Well… this is where I go.”
So-jung looked at her for a moment longer than necessary before nodding lightly. “And tomorrow?”
“You can come.”
“That easily?”
“Don’t make me change my mind.”
A soft grin appeared on his lips. “I’ll be there.”
Yevin shook her head helplessly before waving lightly and walking toward her house. So-jung remained standing there for a few seconds, watching until she safely entered inside before finally turning around.
The entire ride back home felt strangely quiet.
Not uncomfortable.
Just different.
His mind kept replaying everything from the amusement park—the way Yevin laughed during the games, the way she screamed during the roller coaster ride before grabbing onto him tightly, the way she looked at him afterward while pretending not to feel embarrassed.
By the time he returned home, the large house felt emptier than usual. Min-jae was gone, and the silence inside the mansion stretched endlessly.
So-jung loosened his jacket and dropped onto the couch tiredly, staring at the ceiling above him.
A small smile slowly appeared on his face without permission.
“…Cute,” he murmured quietly.
And somehow, for the first time in a very long while, he didn’t hate the thought staying inside his mind.
Later that night, after taking a shower and changing into comfortable clothes, he finally lay down on his bed. Sleep came easier this time. The exhaustion from the day slowly pulled him under, and somewhere between his fading thoughts and the quiet darkness of the room, the image of Yevin’s smile remained with him until he finally fell asleep.
Morning came quickly.
Sunlight poured softly into the room as So-jung stood in front of the mirror adjusting his clothes carefully for the third time.
He paused suddenly and stared at himself.
“…Why am I acting nervous?” he muttered.
Even he didn’t understand it.
After grabbing his phone, he immediately called Yevin.
She answered after a few rings, her voice still sleepy. “Hello?”
“I’m ready.”
There was silence for a second before she sighed. “It’s too early.”
“You invited me.”
“I regret it already.”
So-jung laughed softly. “Send me the address.”
“I already sent it yesterday.”
He checked his messages quickly before smiling awkwardly to himself. “…Right.”
“You really don’t pay attention.”
“I pay attention to important things.”
There was a small pause before Yevin spoke again, her tone quieter this time. “And I’m important?”
The question slipped out naturally, and immediately afterward, silence filled the line.
Then So-jung smiled slowly.
“I didn’t say you weren’t.”
Yevin instantly cleared her throat. “Just hurry up and come.”
She quickly ended the call before he could continue teasing her.
About an hour later, So-jung finally arrived outside Yevin’s house.
For someone who could walk into large company meetings without fear, standing outside her home suddenly made him strangely nervous.
He took a slow breath before knocking.
A few moments later, the door opened.
Yevin stood there wearing simple clothes, her hair slightly messy as though she had rushed downstairs after hearing the knock.
The moment she saw him standing there, she froze slightly before laughing.
“Why are you dressed like you’re attending a business conference?”
“I always dress well.”
“You look too serious.”
“You’re criticizing me already?”
“I’m helping you.”
Before So-jung could answer, another voice suddenly appeared from behind her.
“So this is the friend?”
Yevin immediately turned around in horror. “Mom!”
Her mother stepped forward excitedly, and the moment she saw So-jung properly, her eyes widened completely.
“Oh my goodness…”
So-jung straightened politely.
Her mother looked completely delighted.
“He’s so handsome!”
“Mom…” Yevin whispered in embarrassment.
“And so tall too!”
At that exact moment, Yevin’s father walked into the living room and stopped immediately after seeing So-jung standing near the doorway.
For a few seconds, he simply stared quietly before nodding slowly in approval.
“…Very handsome.”
Yevin almost covered her face completely.
“Can both of you stop?!”
But her parents completely ignored her.
“Come inside quickly!” her mother said warmly while pulling So-jung into the house like she had already known him for years.
The inside of the house felt warm and lively compared to the large quiet mansion he lived in. The scent of food filled the air while soft conversation and laughter naturally moved around the room.
For some reason, the atmosphere felt comforting.
Almost unfamiliar.
As they all sat together at the dining table later that morning, Yevin’s mother continued smiling suspiciously at the two of them while serving food.
“So-jung,” she began sweetly, “eat more.”
“Thank you,” he replied politely.
“You’re too handsome to eat this little.”
“Mom!”
Her father laughed quietly while Yevin nearly died from embarrassment beside him.
Throughout breakfast, So-jung found himself unconsciously glancing toward Yevin again and again. Sometimes she would be arguing with her mother, sometimes complaining about something small, and sometimes quietly eating while pretending not to notice him looking at her.
But every time she lifted her eyes, she caught him staring.
And every single time, So-jung calmly looked away like nothing happened.
Unfortunately for him, Yevin’s parents noticed everything.
Her mother smiled knowingly at her husband while her father hid his amusement behind his cup.
The two of them already looked at So-jung the way parents looked at someone they secretly hoped would stay in their daughter’s life forever.
- Writer
