after a scandal, wooyoung, a defunct k-pop idol, runs away to his sister's hometown. he craves anonymity, yet his quiet routine is disrupted by a chance encounter- a local with a warm presence, who offers him a glimpse of a life beyond the spotlight...
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the field, which had been a flurry of activity and hardwork just a day before, was now transformed into a whimsical wonderland.
twinkling string lights were draped across the tall trees that bordered the field, casting a warm glow over the rows of wooden stalls, each one meticulously adorned with festive decorations. the air was thick with the aroma of chestnuts and spiced cider, their scents mingling with the sweet fragrance of freshly baked pastries.
wooyoung stood near the entrance, his breath forming soft clouds in the cold air as he took in the scene before him. the winter festival was more enchanting than he could have ever imagined. children darted between the stalls, their woollen scarves fluttering behind them as they laughed and played, their faces glowing with the flush of excitement. couples strolled hand in hand, and families gathered around the various attractions.
"woo!" a familiar voice called out, pulling him from his thoughts.
he turned to see san approaching with his usual exuberance, a wide grin lighting up his face. his hair was once again hidden beneath a black beanie, and he wore a black long coat, paired with simple jeans and a maroon shirt underneath.
in each hand, he held a steaming paper cup, the aroma of cocoa wafting from them. "got you something warm. it's freezing out here!"
wooyoung accepted the cup, feeling the warmth seep into his chilled fingers as he wrapped his hands around it. "thanks, san," he replied, his gaze sweeping over the field once more, taking everything in with a softened expression.
san glanced around, his eyes practically gleaming with excitement. "yeonjin really outdid herself this year, didn't she? the festival looks amazing. oh, and this is just a warning," san said, his voice filled with mock seriousness as he tossed his empty paper cup into a nearby recycling bin, "i'm going to be trying absolutely everything at the food stalls."
without waiting for a reply, he grabbed wooyoung's hand and began leading him toward the line of stalls. "so, what do we start with first?"
wooyoung hummed thoughtfully, his eyes scanning all the stalls. each one was manned by local high school students, college volunteers, and even some of the town's elders. his gaze landed on a stall near the centre.
"macarons," he decided. "it's been too long since i had those."
"good choice," san remarked, clasping his hands together with enthusiasm.
as they approached the stall, his eyes eagerly scanned the treats. the macaron display was a rainbow of colours, each shade hinting at the flavour within—pistachio green, raspberry pink, chocolate brown, and more, all neatly arranged.
wooyoung smiled to himself. the sight triggered a fond memory—back in high school, during the spring festival, a few students had sold macarons too, but only in a few simple flavours. it amazed him how something as small as a macaron had evolved with time, with new flavours being introduced along with the changes in his life.
