Chapter 30: Yuamhwamyeong (3)

Part 7

“How about we start with a cap with a brim?”

“Out of nowhere?”

“I don’t want to attract unwanted attention while walking around. You’re planning to keep showing up on streams, right?”

Sanghyeon’s streams might actually get you recognized. Seongyoon wiped his mouth with a napkin, mumbling as he glanced around subtly. His fleeting looks and hushed tone had been noticeable for a while, so I didn’t bother following his gaze to scan the restaurant.

“You do stand out a bit.”

“Your hair color’s too eye-catching. Why blonde, of all things?”

“It’s not like I chose it.”

I vaguely recalled something about pigment cells causing the color change, explained to me shortly after I came to, but I saw no need to ramble about something I barely understood.

“…But it’s been fine so far, hasn’t it?”

“Maybe when you’re alone, but I don’t like getting stares from strangers.”

Come to think of it, my outings so far were just taxi rides to the hospital and quick trips to the fishcake shop ten minutes from home. If I’m going to be out and about like today, covering my face a bit might not be a bad idea.

“Sunglasses too?”

“Just covering your hair and eyes should do it. A cap with a brim ought to be enough.”

“How do I cover my hair?”

“Tie it up and tuck it under the cap.”

Part 8

We decided to pop into the nearest clothing store we saw, so shopping wrapped up in a bland five minutes. I thought clerks these days weren’t pushy, but Seongyoon insisted on waiting outside to avoid awkward comments. Seconds after stepping into the store, I grabbed a plain white cap with a simple design from the display.

Picking the cap was easier than dodging the clerk’s relentless compliments on my hair, face, and figure, paired with eager product recommendations. Maybe Seongyoon stayed outside to avoid exactly this.

– You didn’t ditch, right?

– Nah, still standing outside the shop.

I sent a text just in case, and a reply came back instantly. Knowing he could’ve wandered into a nearby café complaining about the heat, I was almost surprised, thinking, This guy?

“Come back anytime!”

“Haha… Sure, thanks.”

Is she that cheerful with every customer? If someone’s this bright all the time, they’d probably draw a crowd. With that thought, I tore off the tag, slapped the cap on my head, and left the store.

“…Whoa.”

Stepping out, I felt the shadow cast by the brim deepen over my face. I hadn’t thought much about it, but spring really is spring. The faint shade over my eyes made things feel cooler, and a small smile crept up. The weather was warm, just shy of sweaty—made me feel a bit bad for making Seongyoon run.

Lost in those thoughts, I spotted him tucked in the thin shade of the store’s wall, engrossed in his phone. Judging by his horizontal grip and twitching fingers, he was probably playing a mobile game.

“…Hmm.”

It’s risky—his phone could drop and shatter—but seeing him like that, who wouldn’t want to pull a prank? Sneak up quietly and yell Boo! or something. No real reason, just the urge to mess with him when the opportunity’s there.

Grinning, I pressed the cap down to keep it steady. It was a bit big, and pulling it snug dragged the brim over my eyebrows, half-blocking my view.

“…Looks good anyway.”

Taking a quiet breath, I crept toward him, phone still holding his attention. One step. Another. It wasn’t far, and in moments, I was just three or four steps away, unnoticed. This is gonna work. A strange mix of pride and satisfaction swelled, my smile growing wider.

Step by step. Four steps. Three. Two. One. I reached out—

“Boo!”

“Wah, what the—?!”

His phone flew into the air. I reflexively caught it, then saw Seongyoon’s stunned, open-mouthed face. Was the cap too low? Or the height difference? I couldn’t quite see his face.

“…Yoonseo?”

“…Pfft.”

He called my name in a dazed voice. I lifted the cap’s brim with one hand, passing his phone back with the other. His stiff hand took it, still shaken. As my view cleared with the lifted brim, I looked up to see his wide, blinking eyes, raw with surprise.

“Hehehe…”

“…Man, you little—”

“Hahaha!”

I couldn’t hold it in and burst into laughter.

It took a while for the sting from his knuckle tap on my head to fade. As he grumbled and cussed, he somehow produced a hair tie, pulling my hair up. This guy’s got a prim side, huh? I thought.

“How do you know how to tie hair?”

“Had a long-haired dog back in the day.”

Guess that explains it.

Part 9

“Karaoke’s been a while, huh.”

“Come to think of it, can’t you sing all those songs you had to lower the key for in their original key now?”

“Doesn’t adjusting vocal range make tough songs just as hard?”

“No high note can beat my super soprano tone.”

“Have you even sung since leaving the hospital?”

“This is my first time.”

“Then where’s that confidence coming from?”

Ignoring Seongyoon’s exasperated sigh, I tossed the cap aside and started punching numbers into the remote. I didn’t memorize song codes, but there were plenty I’d always wanted to sing properly.

“…Wow, you look like a cutesy high school girl, but your song choices are straight out of a 30-something uncle.”

“Shut it. My heart, my choice.”

I finished a song and passed the remote. Teasing his twangy English pronunciation on a pop song, I took the remote back, sang another.

“Viewers keep asking for a song. Think this is good enough?”

“…Eh, it’s decent, I guess.”

The song queue dwindled. We giggled over goofy picks or anime songs, but he never commented on my singing.

Part 10

Bowling, where my weak arms sent the ball wobbling. Table tennis, where my stamina forced breaks every five points. A PC bang where my unchanged—or worse—physicality earned me a scolding. We hopped from one fun spot to another, and before I knew it, the sun was setting. It was fun, genuinely. The embarrassingly sappy thought swirled in my head.

“Had fun?”

“…Eh, it was alright.”

“Alright, my foot. You were bouncing around the ping-pong table, then panting like crazy.”

“It wasn’t that bad. I was tired ‘cause I’m weak, not ‘cause I was hyped.”

I glared at him, lifting the cap’s brim slightly. The deep shadow hid his expression. He’d thrown the comment expecting a retort, but an awkward silence followed.

For a moment, only the city’s growing nighttime buzz and our footsteps echoed between us. As the sun set, the once-warm breeze cooled.

“…Next time, let’s get everyone together. Two’s kinda boring.”

What did he mean? Just that two people aren’t as fun? Or something deeper?

“Yeah.”

Pushing down overthinking, I answered quickly. It was fun, enjoyable. That’s enough.

“Need a ride home?”

“I can walk.”

“No matter how weak you are, you won’t collapse on the way home.”

“…Now that you mention it, I’m a bit worried. Taxi?”