our crossed paths | jww.

twenty.

On the morning of the premiere, Jiwoo's phone buzzed with a text notification. She glanced down at her phone to see Wonwoo's name lighting up the screen.

Jiwoo: What should I wear to the premiere?

It was an innocent question, but one she had been overthinking since the moment she agreed to go. This was her first "fan" event, and she had no idea what to expect or how to dress for the occasion.

She chewed her lip, waiting for Wonwoo's response.

Wonwoo: Anything you wear will look pretty.

Jiwoo frowned at her phone. That was sweet—but not helpful.

She rolled her eyes, imagining him smirking while typing that response. It wasn't enough to calm the slight panic bubbling up inside her. She stood in the middle of her apartment, scanning her closet.

Nothing she owned felt "formal" enough for a high-profile drama premiere. Casual work attire wasn't going to cut it.

After a moment of deliberation, she let out a resigned sigh.

There was only one person she knew who could fix this.

Her mother.

That's how Jiwoo found herself standing outside her huge family home, which she hasn't returned ever since Wonwoo came around. Jiwoo hesitated for a moment before stepping inside.

The familiar scent of her childhood home greeted her, along with the sound of her mother's voice calling out from the kitchen.

"Kang Jiwoo-ssi? Is that you?" Mrs. Kang, ever the gracious socialite, emerged with an air of elegance, already looking polished and put-together.

Her eyebrows raised slightly in surprise. "What brings you here in the middle of the day?"

"Hi Mrs. Kang. Why are you all so formal today?" Jiwoo replies, her tone formal just like her mother's.

"Just for fun? Now why are you here, you barely come home anymore and only come when something's wrong?" Mrs. Kang replied, switching up the tone back to normal.

Jiwoo hesitated, awkwardly shifting her weight from one foot to the other.

"Mom I need help... getting ready for the premiere tonight."

Mrs. Kang's eyes immediately lit up with interest. "The drama premiere? The one Wonwoo invited you to?"

Jiwoo sighed. She should have known her mother would focus on that detail.

"Yeah... I don't have anything suitable to wear, so I thought I'd come home and ask for some... advice."

"Well, well. It seems things are progressing nicely between you two." Mrs. Kang smiled knowingly, a glint in her eye.

"We're just getting to know each other, Mom. It's not that serious." Jiwoo waved her hands dismissively.

"Yet he's invited you to his premiere," Mrs. Kang noted, walking toward Jiwoo's bedroom, already rifling through Jiwoo's wardrobe. "Men don't invite just anyone to something like this."

Jiwoo groaned internally, but she let her mother continue.

"Oh dear have you even been wearing all of these dresses?"

"Not really mom. You know my default attire are hospital scrubs right," Jiwoo sarcastically replied.

"Gosh, all of these are so outdated,"

"You need to look stunning tonight for Wonwoo,"

"No mom I don't really want to be all glitz and glam-"