NSTAR - 26

Hye-joo asked incredulously, her tone laced with disbelief.

“What’s so surprising? Is it really that shocking a question to ask if people in a relationship don’t go on dates?”

‘Yes, it’s not exactly a surprising question… but we’re not even in a relationship…’

She couldn’t say that, of course. Joo-eun’s lips moved silently as she struggled to figure out what to do.

After darting her eyes around for a moment, she finally managed to force out a response.

“Ah, I have volunteer work at the orphanage. We decided to meet briefly after work next week.”

“The orphanage is one thing, but what about Sunday? You don’t have anything planned then, right? Just meet for a little while. How are you supposed to enjoy dating if you don’t see each other on weekends?”

“Well… we see each other every day at work anyway…”

Joo-eun, who was terrible at lying, avoided eye contact and waved her hand dismissively, pretending to be nonchalant.

Seeing her awkwardness, Hye-joo frowned disapprovingly.

“What’s wrong? Did that guy upset you?”

“Upset me…?”

“Is he acting all high and mighty because he thinks he’s great?”

A flurry of thoughts raced through Joo-eun’s mind in an instant.

Should she pretend to sulk and agree?

But she didn’t want to tarnish the reputation of the director who was kindly playing the role of her fake boyfriend.

With a faint smile, she shook her head.

“He’s not like that.”

“Don’t trust men too much,” Hye-joo began, but then sighed. “Though, honestly, he seems so good that even I’m tempted to trust him. That scoundrel. You really know how to pick them.”

It’s not like I exactly picked him, though.

He just came at me head-on, without hesitation.

With that thought, Joo-eun stood up.

“Mom, you can’t sleep yet, right? I’ll wash up quickly and come back. Want to watch a drama together?”

“Hmm, let’s do that. Let’s vent some stress by watching a trashy drama and complaining.”

Watching over-the-top dramas and ranting about them together—

This was a cherished pastime they hadn’t been able to enjoy recently, given their frequent arguments about blind dates and marriage.

Joo-eun headed to her room after sternly instructing her mom not to start watching without her, and Hye-joo chuckled as she opened the fridge.

The beer she had prepared to drink with her daughter was chilling nicely.

I only meant to drink one can before bed…

But laughing and chatting with Mom led to beer and chicken—proper late-night snacks.

Thanks to that, Joo-eun trudged up the hill path with puffy eyes, still half-asleep.

“Ugh…!”

She hoisted the heavy bags in her hands with renewed effort.

Despite her mom’s nagging about taking a taxi because of the heavy load, she stubbornly took the subway to the orphanage.

The final stretch included a steep hill, making it nearly impossible without considerable mental fortitude.

“It’s fine. I’m almost there… It’s not about saving money. I didn’t take a taxi because I wanted to exercise. Yes, exercise.”

Every time she regretted not taking a taxi, Joo-eun muttered these words under her breath, clenching her teeth tightly.

“Sister!”

“Nuna!”

As soon as she entered the orphanage grounds, the children playing in the yard rushed over in a group.

Their cheerful faces leapt around her, instantly melting away the fatigue weighing down her shoulders.

“My sweeties! Have you been doing well?”

When she raised her arms, the shopping bags dangling from her hands swayed noisily.

“Wow! What’s all this?”

“Are these for the kids with birthdays today? So jealous!”

The excitement seemed more directed at the shopping bags than at her, causing Joo-eun’s eyes to narrow slightly.

“Don’t be jealous. I’ll get you something for your birthdays too.”

“No way! We’re jealous, so jealous!”

“If you’re jealous and take someone else’s gift, you’ll know what happens, right?”

“Yeah, we know. That kid won’t get a present later.”

Having heard countless lectures from her mom about the dynamics of power within the orphanage, Joo-eun never failed to remind the kids not to snatch gifts from others.

Of course, she didn’t expect all of them to listen, but she hoped her request would make a difference compared to saying nothing at all.

“Okay, let’s go.”

At her words, the children followed her in a swarm.

Inside the building, preparations for the birthday party were in full swing.

“Ah, Joo-eun! I told you to come around 10. Why are you here so early?”

One of the teachers who had known Joo-eun for a long time hurried over and took some of the bags from her.

“I came early to help. What kind of birthday celebration would it be if I showed up at 10 just to blow out candles?”

“Ho ho, you’ve got a point.”

“Hand me that dishcloth. I’ll wipe down the table.”

Joo-eun snatched the worn-out dishcloth from the teacher’s hand.

“You’re so full of energy, always helping out. Thank you.”

Who doesn’t love a compliment? Smiling brightly, Joo-eun energetically wiped down the large communal dining table where the birthday party would take place.

Next, she peeled fruit at lightning speed and arranged snacks neatly alongside them.

Efficiency was her hallmark—she believed in doing things well, but above all, doing them fast.

While the teacher stepped away for a moment,

Joo-eun had already completed the setup perfectly.

“What? You’re done already?”

“Just need to blow up some balloons, and we’re pretty much set.”

The teacher laughed weakly as she watched Joo-eun’s face turn red from blowing up balloons.

It was a laugh of admiration.

“I guess I should at least help with the balloons.”

“No, I can handle it...”

“Kids! Let’s blow up balloons!”

The teacher shouted toward the window, and the children came running with excited cries of “Wow!”

The stampede of children kicking up clouds of dust looked like an army charging in.

“This way, we’ll finish in under a minute, right?”

“Ah… of course.”

Joo-eun gave a thumbs-up and grinned.

Amidst the commotion, the joy of preparing together might even surpass the actual party itself.

Watching the memories the kids would take away from today was healing in itself.

Still, why did her hand keep fidgeting with the phone in her pocket?

Joo-eun had avoided Min-hyuk all day at the office and left without contacting him. Now, she found herself wondering why he hadn’t reached out.

He could have asked what she was doing this weekend…

Of course, she would have coldly rejected him anyway, but the lack of contact left her feeling strangely restless.

When had she begged him to stop pursuing her? And now she was curious because he hadn’t called?

She tried to scold herself, but staring at her silent phone, a soft sigh escaped involuntarily.

Hearing the sound, the teacher who had been helping her approached.

“I’ll finish up here. Go take your call.”

“Huh?”

Startled, Joo-eun’s head shot up.

“There’s someone waiting for your call, isn’t there? Go ahead.”

Ah… was it that obvious?

Embarrassed, Joo-eun awkwardly shook her head and forced a smile.

“No, no. There’s no call.”

“If there’s no call, just take a break. Hmm? Don’t sit too long or your butt will grow like mine. Go on.”

Her butt wasn’t exactly small to begin with…

Joo-eun was ushered out of the dining area.

When she tried to return, the teacher cheerfully closed the door, insisting she couldn’t come back for at least 30 minutes.

With no choice, Joo-eun wandered the hallway and turned her gaze to the scenery outside the orphanage windows.

It was breathtakingly beautiful.

“Maybe I’ll take a short walk?”

There was still about 30 minutes before the party started at 10.

Shoving her phone into her pocket, Joo-eun stepped outside.

Normally, she’d clean as soon as she arrived, play with the kids until she was exhausted, and leave without noticing the view. But today, every red and yellow flower caught her eye.

Had her mom seen this view when she grew up here?

Had she cried in that corner over there?

Every detail seemed meaningful. It felt like she could almost see her mom as a child.

Her mother, who had grown up happily in a middle-class family, suddenly lost her grandparents in an accident and was sent to this orphanage.

How much pain must that young child have felt while curled up crying, realizing nothing would change?

Thinking of her mom brought an unexpected sting to her nose.

She wished her mom could walk only on flower-lined paths from now on.

Still, paying off most of their debt was a huge relief for the two of them.

Their next goal was to save up for a sunny, twenty-pyeong rental apartment.

Yes, she needed to stay at DK Media for a long time and earn recognition.

To do that… there was absolutely no future with the director…

Just as she reaffirmed her resolve, her phone vibrated suddenly, startling her.

“Ha… you scared me.”

Pressing her chest, she stared blankly at her phone.

“…!”

Her eyes widened impossibly.

It was the number she had been waiting for all along.

Vvvv-vvvv—the vibration felt unusually intense today. Should she answer? Or not? Her trembling finger hovered uncertainly.

Her heart raced as conflicting desires clashed—wanting to stay at DK Media for a long time versus wanting to hear his voice.

‘Well… answering one call won’t get me fired from DK Media, right?’

She reached for the call button but hesitated.

‘Wait, is the green button for answering or the red one…?’

In her panic, everything felt confusing.

Which one was it again? Which button?

Even someone as sharp as Joo-eun occasionally had moments of absentmindedness, and this was one of those rare times.

Rare ditz mode activated.

What if the call disconnected before she figured it out? What should she do?

For some reason, she convinced herself that the important button must be red and pressed it firmly with her index finger.

Of course, the call…

Disconnected.

“Ah, no…!”

Flailing her limbs in panic, she cursed herself for messing up something so simple.

“Song Joo-eun, seriously… ugh, this is frustrating.”

What should she do? Should she call back? Explain that she hadn’t meant to hang up? That it was a misunderstanding?

But that would seem too random. Ugh… what to do?

The mere thought of calling him back made her swallow nervously.

At that moment—

“Did you just… hang up on my call?”

A low, menacing voice wrapped around her like a shiver.

Joo-eun tilted her head sideways.

‘Must be tired. I must’ve imagined it.’

There was no way his voice could be here. She shook her head slightly.

“So now you’re pretending you don’t know me?”

Another low murmur sent chills down her spine.

What was this? Was she hallucinating?

Frozen in place, she slowly turned around, her mouth dropping open.

“Gasp…!”

She clapped her hand over her mouth to stifle a scream, but the sound escaped anyway.

There stood Min-hyuk, dressed casually in a hoodie and sweatpants, his brow furrowed but his lips curved into a faint smile.

“You said you were annoyed, right?”

Joo-eun’s teary eyes fluttered as she shook her head gently.