Annyeongz One-shots

84. leeseo day ( Hard 2 )

After they agreed to rent the house, everything felt rushed yet strangely steady, like they were walking on fragile ground but refusing to look down. They spent the whole next day searching for the cheapest furniture they could find. Yujin compared prices on his phone, stepping into small second-hand shops and discount stores, calculating over and over in his head. He bought a simple dining table with two mismatched chairs, a narrow cabinet for the kitchen, a second-hand sofa with slightly worn fabric, and a small single bed for Leeseo. When he paid, he hesitated for a fraction of a second before confirming the transfer. It was part of his savings — money he had carefully kept for emergencies — but to him, this was an emergency. Wonyoung noticed the tightness in his jaw and gently squeezed his hand. She didn’t say thank you. She knew he didn’t want gratitude. He wanted stability.

While they were assembling the bed frame, wiping dust from corners, and folding the new bedsheets, Wonyoung suddenly paused and looked at the calendar on her phone. “Tomorrow is Leeseo’s birthday,” she said quietly. Yujin stopped tightening a screw and looked up. Nineteen. The word settled between them. Wonyoung suggested they prepare a surprise. He glanced at his banking app again and exhaled slowly. “I don’t have much left,” he admitted. She smiled softly. “She doesn’t need much. Just us.” In the end, they went to a small bakery and bought a strawberry cake — the flavor Leeseo always chose. It wasn’t large, and the decorations were simple, but it was fresh and sweet. Yujin paid with what remained of his cash, his fingers lingering for a moment before he handed it over.

After school, he picked Leeseo up as promised. She chatted about her classes on the way, unaware of anything unusual, until he turned into a different neighborhood. She frowned slightly but didn’t question him immediately. When he parked and stepped out, telling her to follow, she looked confused. They walked up the narrow stairs together. Yujin unlocked the door and pushed it open. The faint smell of cleaning solution still lingered. The living room was small but neat, sunlight touching the second-hand sofa and the simple table. Leeseo stepped inside slowly, her eyes scanning everything. When she noticed the slightly open door at the end of the hallway, she walked toward it. She pushed it open and froze. A small room, a single bed with clean sheets, a tiny desk near the window, her blanket folded carefully at the corner. She turned around slowly, her eyes already shining. “Is this… mine?” Yujin nodded once. That was all it took. She ran to them and wrapped her arms around both of them tightly, her voice breaking into laughter and tears at the same time. She didn’t complain about the size. She didn’t ask about anything else. She simply said, “It’s perfect.” Then she rolled up her sleeves and helped tidy up, sweeping the floor again even though it was already clean, arranging plates in the kitchen, folding clothes. They worked until their shoulders ached.

When night finally fell, exhaustion settled over all three of them. Leeseo lay on her new bed, smiling up at the ceiling. “Goodnight,” she said softly. “Goodnight,” Wonyoung replied from the hallway. Yujin stood there a second longer before switching off the light. For the first time, the silence felt safe.

At exactly midnight, Yujin’s eyes opened. The room was dark except for faint streetlight slipping through the curtains. He carefully slipped out of bed, moving slowly so the mattress wouldn’t creak. He went to the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, and took out the strawberry cake. He placed it gently on the small table and lit the candles one by one. The tiny flames flickered softly, casting warm shadows across the walls. He stared at them for a moment, then turned back to the bedroom.

Wonyoung was deeply asleep, her breathing slow and heavy from the day’s exhaustion. He knelt beside the bed and brushed her shoulder gently. “Baby,” he whispered. No response. He tried again, softer. Still nothing. He knew she had pushed herself too hard cleaning. Instead of shaking her, he slid carefully onto the bed and pulled her slowly into his arms. He held her close, one hand rubbing her back in slow circles. “Wake up,” he murmured against her hair, his voice warm and quiet. “We’re going to surprise Leeseo.” She stirred, her brows moving slightly before her eyes fluttered open. “Yujin?” she whispered sleepily. “I tried to wake you,” he said gently. She blinked and sat up a little, immediately apologizing. “Sorry… I didn’t notice.” He shook his head. “It’s okay.” She smiled faintly, then remembered. “The cake.” They both stood carefully. He let her carry the cake while he walked ahead and slowly opened Leeseo’s bedroom door.