THE HIRED BOYFRIEND

18

The bus station was the same as it always was—crowded, loud, and a little too chaotic for my liking. People rushing in every direction, announcements blaring over the speakers, and the faint smell of street food lingering in the air. I'd been here plenty of times, so it didn't bother me much. But when I glanced over at Hyeyoon, standing just a few feet away, I could tell this wasn't her usual scene.

She stood there with her hands gripping the strap of her bag, her eyes darting around like she was trying to make sense of everything. There was a stiffness to the way she held herself, like she was out of place but trying hard not to show it. Her lips pressed together as she looked down at her phone, pretending to be occupied, but I could see the tension in her shoulders.

I cleared my throat and stepped closer. "Hey," I said, trying to ease the awkwardness. "You good?"

Her head snapped up, and she forced a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... didn't expect it to be so busy here." She glanced around again, her voice sounding casual, but there was an edge to it.

I nodded, though I knew this kind of busyness was normal for a station like this. "Yeah, it gets like this on weekends." I shifted my weight, feeling a little guilty. I hadn't even thought about the fact that Hyeyoon probably wasn't used to places like this.

"Bus is ready to board," I said, nodding toward the gate. I watched as she hesitated for a split second before following me.

We found our seats near the back of the bus, the faint hum of the engine vibrating beneath our feet. I tossed my backpack under the seat and settled in, used to the slightly cramped space, but Hyeyoon... She moved more slowly, her hands brushing over the armrests, as if she wasn't sure where to put them. She sat next to me, carefully adjusting her posture, like she didn't want to touch anything. It made me smile, just a little, seeing her trying to act normal when it was clear she was out of her element.

I could tell she wasn't used to this. The bus, the noise, the fact that the seats weren't exactly first-class. She shifted in her seat again, crossing her legs, then uncrossing them, as if she couldn't quite get comfortable. I leaned back, trying to give her some space.

It wasn't like she was complaining or anything. In fact, she was trying to act like it didn't bother her. But I could see her glancing around at the other passengers, then out the window, her fingers tapping lightly on her knee, betraying her nervousness. I wondered if this was the first time she'd ever taken a bus like this—probably was, considering how she'd grown up.

"Long ride, huh?" I said, trying to make conversation, though I wasn't sure if it'd help.

"Yeah," she replied, her voice softer than usual. She smiled at me, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "It's... an experience."

I chuckled under my breath. That was one way to put it. "It's not too bad. You'll get used to it."

She nodded, though she didn't look convinced.

As the bus pulled out of the station, I leaned my head against the window, letting the familiar motion of the ride settle in. It wasn't long before Hyeyoon's energy shifted. I noticed her fidgeting less, her body relaxing bit by bit as the ride continued. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw her eyelids drooping. She must've been tired.

Suddenly, her head tipped to the side, landing right on my shoulder.

My heart skipped a beat. I froze, unsure of what to do. Her perfume—something delicate and clean—filled the space between us, and for a moment, I was acutely aware of just how different we were. She, who lived in a world of comfort, and me, who was used to things like this—a bumpy bus ride, the noise of strangers all around. But here she was, leaning on me, her breath slow and steady as she drifted off.