Today was Eon-jin's last exam. After weeks of studying and late nights, she was finally at the finish line. With the exams over, all that was left was to wait for the announcement of her graduation ceremony. It felt like a huge weight was lifted off her shoulders, and she was excited to finally have some time to relax. The idea of leaving university and starting a new chapter in her life was thrilling but also a little scary. For now, though, she wanted to enjoy this moment of freedom.
It had been a week since her aunt's birthday party, and during that time, her friendship with Tae-woong had grown more than she expected. They had been texting and talking almost every day, finding it easy to connect over their shared interests. Tae-woong had a way of making conversations light and fun, and his enthusiasm for their field of study was contagious. She also agreed to join him in the Architecture expo next week.
Meanwhile, Hyo-jin had been keeping a close eye on the growing friendship between her cousin and Tae-woong. During lunch one afternoon, she couldn't resist bringing it up.
"So, what do you think about Tae-woong?" Hyo-jin asked casually, though her tone suggested she was fishing for something more. She had noticed how often Eon-jin smiled at her phone these days.
"Tae-woong? He's nice. We get along well, probably because we're in the same course. It's easy to talk to him," Eon-jin replied with a shrug, trying not to make a big deal out of it.
"That's not what I mean," Hyo-jin said with a knowing smile. "I'm asking about him as a guy. You two seem to be getting close."
Eon-jin sighed loudly. "Here we go again... If you're trying to say there's something more between me and Tae-woong, stop it. We're just friends, okay?"
"But don't you think you'd make a good pair? You're both smart, kind, and obviously have great chemistry." Hyo-jin teased, her grin widening.
"Look, we're just friends." Eon-jin repeated firmly.
"For now," Hyo-jin shot back. "But what if he confesses to you one day? You can't deny that you're happier lately. I see the way you smile when you're talking to him. He's good for you, Eon-jin. Don't ignore that."
Eon-jin paused, her cousin's words making her think. It was true—she had been smiling more lately. Talking to Tae-woong felt easy, and his cheerful personality often brightened her day. For a moment, she let herself wonder if there could be something more. But then, the fear of overthinking stopped her.
"Maybe he does make me smile," Eon-jin admitted softly. "And yeah, he's a nice guy. But that doesn't mean he feels anything for me. He could just be friendly, and I don't want to assume anything. Let's just take things as they are. I don't want to overcomplicate things."
Hyo-jin leaned back in her chair, studying her cousin. "Fair enough," she said, though her playful tone was still there. "But just so you know, I think he's a great match for you. If something happens, I'll be the first one to cheer you on."
Eon-jin smiled faintly. "Thanks, Hyo-jin. But for now, let's not make this a big deal, okay?"
"Alright, alright," Hyo-jin said with a laugh. "I'll drop it—for now." But deep down, she couldn't help but hope that her cousin would let herself feel something more. To her, it was obvious that Tae-woong was slowly breaking down the walls Eon-jin had built around her heart. Whether Eon-jin realized it or not, there was something special happening between them.
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Eon-jin was busy helping her mother, Ji-ah, at their family restaurant. Even though Ji-ah kept insisting that her daughter should rest, Eon-jin was determined to help out. She didn't like seeing her mom do all the work, especially knowing how much effort her mother had put into raising her alone. Today, she was assigned to deliver food to the tables and clean up the used dishes.
