Anecdotes || KDrama AUs

halcyon ~ jaemi × daeho

Ship : Jaemi × Daeho

Drama : Mr.Plankton

---

Jaemi adjusted her tote bag and tightened her grip on her list, eyes sparkling with excitement. She had come to Busan to shop for her new cooking YouTube channel, a dream she'd nurtured ever since she could whip up her grandmother's kimchi stew blindfolded. The bustling streets were alive with chatter, neon signs, and the salty breeze of the nearby ocean. A perfect day for fresh beginnings.

But the universe had other plans.

As she turned the corner of a cozy bookstore-because why not grab a cookbook for inspiration-she collided with someone.
"Careful there," a familiar voice said.

Jaemi froze mid-apology. She blinked up into the sharp, playful eyes of Daeho, her high school ex. His hair was slightly tousled, and he still had that air of effortless confidence that used to both infuriate and captivate her.

"D-Daeho?" she stammered.
He grinned. "Jaemi. Small town cutie in the big city? Never thought I'd run into you here."

"I-uh-I'm shopping," she said, gesturing to her tote bag as if it explained everything.

"And you needed to crash into me to do it?" His tone was teasing, but his eyes softened. "What're you shopping for?"

"A cooking channel," she replied, finding her voice. "I'm starting one. On YouTube."

"A cooking channel?" He raised an eyebrow. "Let me guess, you're going to show everyone how to make perfect jjigae and call it Jaemi's Kitchen Chronicles?"

Her cheeks puffed indignantly. "It's Jaemi's Kitchen Journey. And you're wrong-I'll make more than jjigae. It's going to be an art."

He laughed, the sound rich and warm. "Sounds ambitious. Let me help."

"You? Help?" She folded her arms. "Last time you helped, you burnt toast and blamed it on the toaster."

"Hey, that toaster was faulty." He smirked. "But I've leveled up since high school. Come on, let me tag along. I'll even carry your bags. Consider it my apology for... whatever silly reason we broke up over."

"Tag along?" she asked, narrowing her eyes. "Why would I let you?"

"Because," he said with a casual shrug, "I'm witty, charming, and clearly the perfect person to judge your grocery cart aesthetics."

Against her better judgment-or perhaps because of the flutter in her stomach-she nodded. "Fine. But no snarky comments."

The Shopping Spree

They wove through colorful markets and shiny department stores, the air between them crackling with a mix of nostalgia and playful tension.

At a cookware shop, Daeho picked up a gleaming copper pan.
"Look at this. Perfect for flambé. Can you even flambé, Jaemi?"

"I don't need to flambé," she shot back. "My recipes don't involve unnecessary fire."

"Unnecessary fire? That's what people said about me back in high school."

She rolled her eyes but couldn't help laughing. "You're ridiculous."

At a spice stall, Jaemi picked up a jar of gochugaru.
"Essential," she said, adding it to her basket.
Daeho grabbed a jar of truffle oil. "This too. For when you want to impress people."

She frowned. "That's expensive and pretentious."
"And yet you're putting it in your basket."
"Only because I might need it for a special dish," she muttered.

"See? You're learning."

---

By lunchtime, they sat at a seaside cafe, their shopping bags piled beside them. Jaemi took a sip of her lemonade, stealing glances at Daeho as he stretched his legs out, looking annoyingly at ease.

"Do you ever stop talking?" she asked as he launched into a story about his college days.

"Not when I'm around you," he replied, leaning slightly forward. "Your reactions are too fun."

Jaemi tried to suppress her smile but failed. "You're insufferable."

"And yet you've spent the whole day with me. What does that say about you?"

"That I'm too kind for my own good," she quipped.

He laughed, then grew quieter. "You know... it's good to see you like this, Jaemi. Happier. Back in high school, I always thought you were holding yourself back."

The sudden sincerity in his voice made her heart skip a beat. "Maybe I was," she admitted. "But people change."

"Yeah," he said softly, holding her gaze. "They do."

The moment stretched, charged with unspoken words, before Jaemi cleared her throat and looked away. "We should get going. I still need an apron."

---

As the day ended, Daeho helped her load her bags into a taxi. The city lights reflected in his eyes as he leaned on the door.

"Let me know when your first video goes up," he said. "I'll be your number one fan. Or your harshest critic. Depends on my mood."

"More like my most annoying viewer," she replied, but her voice was softer now.

He grinned. "Guess I'll have to subscribe and find out."

The taxi pulled away, and Jaemi found herself glancing back through the window. Daeho stood there, hands in his pockets, watching her leave with that same boyish smirk that had once made her heart race.

As the car turned a corner, she felt a warmth in her chest. Maybe, just maybe, this wasn't the last chapter of their story.