DERANGER - SEULRENE

031

you are pushing your trolly around the supermarket when you pass by the snacks aisle. you don't usually stop there, knowing nothing is worth buying.

but your eyes glimpse a section filled with coloured cans you know your lover is particularly fond of.

so, you stop and think.

after a bit of contemplation, you put five long cans in your trolly. then you stare at your grocery, changing your mind last minute by putting two cans back in the aisle.

no. you won't allow her to eat this much unhealthy food in a week.

your phone then beeps. seulgi says she's inside. you tell her your location.

it was her graduation ceremony that morning. you let her spend some time alone with her mum and joy since you still have work to finish after the event.

you told them to have fun. seulgi promised she'd be back by dinner and requested that you prepare that special burger patty recipe you recently come up with. she loves it so much you had it for dinner for three days straight after the first time she tried it.

a few more seconds, and seulgi appears from the aisle.

"hey. you got everything in here?" she takes the trolly from you, eyeing the items. "am i only imagining things, or did you purposely put three cans of pringles in here?"

you chuckle. "that's the special dinner you requested for."

"oh. so, this is it? no cooking or anything?"

"yup. that's it."

"and i thought that the special dinner was you."

you slap her arm. "yah! i bought some ingre--"

"irene!"

you immediately turn at the call, eyes widening at the sight of your sister approaching.

"unni... w-what are you doing here?" you unconsciously place a hand over your heart.

seulgi looks at you, then at your sister.

jihye points at her trolly. "shopping. need to prepare for the retreat, remember? have you not been reading our group chats? i'm on leave now."

"ah. yeah. the retreat."

"were you two shopping together?" jihye looks at you and seulgi.

you immediately parted from seulgi after realising how you two are close.

"ah. no, unni. i was looking around when i saw her." you touch seulgi's arm. "by the way, this is my student--or, was my student--kang seulgi. and seulgi, this is my sister, jihye unni."

"it's a pleasure to meet you, doc." seulgi bows. you're quite amazed at how calm she seems. "i'm not sure if you remember, but you've given me a doctor's letter before to help me get back to my classes."

jihye's jaw drops. "oh. was that you?"

seulgi nods. "and i would like to take this chance to thank you for your help. i wouldn't have graduated today if it wasn't for you."

"really? wow. congratulations! glad to be of help!"

"thank you." seulgi gestures to the trolly. "i was shopping for some ingredients when i ran into professor bae. i'm glad i finally get to meet you too."

jihye smiles. "pleasure's all mine."

"i will always be grateful for what you've done." seulgi bows again. "if there's anything i can do to repay, let me know."