It took her a long moment to even process what had just happened.
Winter pressed her palms against the tip of her nose, where he had poked, her eyelids trembling as she failed to speak.
“Why is your face so red? Are you sick?”
That’s not it, you idiot.
The man, oblivious, looked her over with concern, studying her flushed face in detail. His face drew closer again, and Winter instinctively stepped back, widening the space between them. With her brows knitted, she looked up at him and asked,
“Were you… rehearsing lines?”
“A jobless guy like me doesn’t rehearse.”
Muttering, he shoved both hands into his pockets and walked into her apartment as if it were the most natural thing.
Winter stood frozen before hastily following him. His face was small, but his shoulders were broad, giving him a sturdy frame. Each time he moved, the collar of his school uniform revealed a glimpse of his shoulder blades. Somehow, that looked… sexy.
Wait. Something about his outfit seemed off.
“Isn’t that… a school uniform? Why are you suddenly wearing that?”
He suddenly stopped walking and turned around. Winter, unable to react in time, bumped her forehead against his chest.
“Ow!”
“Drama queen.”
Unbothered, he grabbed her hand, pressed a shopping bag into it, and dropped onto the sofa. Then, noticing her still standing there awkwardly, he raised his brows.
“What are you doing? Go change and come back.”
“What is this?”
“A school uniform.”
“And why would I wear this?”
“You said you never got to eat tteokbokki back in school, remember?”
“…”
“So let’s pretend it’s back then.”
Her face wasn’t the same as back then. Putting on a uniform now wouldn’t make it feel like those days again. She almost said that—but then she remembered how effortlessly good he had looked in his uniform, and closed her mouth instead.
As he hummed some nameless tune, he leaned back against the sofa headrest and suddenly glanced over.
“Did you just wake up?”
Thinking back, all she had done was splash water on her face, brush her teeth, and then immediately sit at her computer.
Panicked, Winter darted to the mirror in the living room to check herself. She smoothed her messy hair with her fingers. That was when he spoke again.
“I asked because you look pretty.”
Winter froze stiff at his words. Scowling, she looked him up and down.
“…Did you eat something weird today?”
He only smiled, his eyes curving like crescent moons. Meeting those crescent eyes made her heart pound uncontrollably.
Damn it. Not again.
“This morning I steamed some dumplings, but I didn’t realize they were past the expiration date.”
…Never mind.
As if doused with cold water, Winter regained composure and retreated to her room with the shopping bag.
She emptied it onto her bed. Inside was a girl’s uniform matching the one he was wearing. She fingered the gray ribbon tied to the white blouse and gave a faint laugh. Her own high school uniform had never been this cute. In fact, she could barely remember it—she had dropped out less than a month after enrolling.
After a pause, she slipped her arms into the blouse. It felt a little snug, but school uniforms were supposed to fit tightly to look good.
“How did he even get the size exactly right?”
A soft tune escaped her lips before she realized she was humming. She caught herself—she was actually excited.
“Winter.”
“…”
“Want to go eat tteokbokki?”
If I’d had a normal school life, my friends would have called me like that.
Winter, let’s go to class.
Winter, let’s eat lunch.
Winter, see you tomorrow.
She had never had anyone to call her that way. In fact, because of the nickname “Tteoksoon” that followed her instead of her real name, hearing someone use her actual name so casually now made her blush.
“Winter.”
When his voice came again, her cheeks flushed like those of a seventeen-year-old girl.
__________⋆ 𖤓 ⊹₊˚࿔ ❄︎ᝰ.________
She thought he had just been joking. But not far from home, there really was a small tteokbokki shop that looked just like the ones you’d find near a school. The faded signboard and worn-down corners gave the place a warm, nostalgic charm.
Despite his claim that it was famous, the shop was nearly empty.
“Are you sure this is a ‘famous’ spot?”
“It’s a weekday morning. Of course it’s empty. Only bums like us would be wandering around at this hour.”
“Don’t lump me in with you. I was working before you dragged me out.”
“Fine. Only washed-up actors like me have the time to wander. Happy?”
“You milk one joke way too long.”
Still grumbling, he pulled off his cap and mask as they entered.
“Hello.”
“Oh my, you look like a celebrity. Haven’t I seen you somewhere before?”
“I get that a lot.”
Winter swallowed nervously as the shop owner looked him over. Why did he have to take the mask off?
“You really do have the face of a celebrity. Leave me a signature.”
Without hesitation, he scribbled one out.
“You’re still a student, though, aren’t you?”
“Yes, I—”
Smack!
The owner’s palm landed squarely on his back before he could finish.
“Skipping school, are you? Kids these days—”
Her hand swung again, but Winter quickly stepped in.
“No, no! We’re adults. Um… we’re just doing a school uniform date!”
“Oh, I see! My son skips class all the time too, so I get so frustrated.”
Chuckling, the woman stuck his autograph up on the wall, already filled with signatures from countless celebrities.
“Wow, Han Jiwoo’s autograph is here too.”
“You know Han Jiwoo? She’s from my agency.”
“She’s the nation’s first love! Really? Same agency? Could you get her autograph for me?”
Winter felt his sharp gaze and quickly retreated to their table. She asked in a low voice, frowning.
“That autograph… it was real?”
“Of course it was real. But why doesn’t anyone in this town recognize me? Hurts my pride a little.”
His face, however, was all smiles.
“People in the countryside don’t watch much TV. And if they do, they forget easily.”
“Then why don’t you watch TV?”
The unexpected question made her choke on her water.
“Cough—!”
“Hey, are you okay?”
He passed her a tissue, waiting until she stopped coughing.
“By the way, if you’re going to speak casually, then stick to it. Or if you’re going to be polite, stick to that. Pick one.”
“Which do you prefer?”
“Whichever’s easier for you.”
“Then… the one you like.”
His gentle tone made her forget both her question and her answer. She just blinked at him, heat rushing to her face.
What’s wrong with me lately? Why does my palm sweat and my forehead burn whenever I’m with him?
Thankfully, their food arrived, breaking the tension.
She was relieved. Not only did the atmosphere cool, but she didn’t have to explain that Choi Iji, the center and main vocalist of idol group ‘Cherry Red’, was her high school bully—the one who had ruined her school life. She refused to ruin the mood here.
While she was lost in thought, Eunwoo scooped some tteokbokki into her bowl.
“Eat. It’s so good, it’ll make you forget everything.”
Forget? If only you knew.
Winter stared at the steaming dish. She pictured Choi Iji’s face on the tteokbokki, stabbed it with her fork, and chewed furiously. Somehow, it really did make her feel better.
“Wow, this is delicious.”
She almost felt guilty for imagining Iji’s face just now.
“Told you.”
He finally tasted it himself, raising his brows in satisfaction. Watching him, Winter smirked.
Just then, the door opened and someone entered. Eunwoo quickly put on his cap and mask again.
He only got to eat one piece.
Winter glanced at him sympathetically. He gestured for her to keep eating, but she knew he must have come here wanting it too.
Being a celebrity looked exhausting. Not even able to eat tteokbokki in peace.
Winter stabbed another piece with her fork but then set it down. She leaned in and whispered, covering her mouth.
“Should we take it home?”
His eyes narrowed slightly as he met her gaze.
“Your place? Or mine?”
