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chapter 8
The next day, Yoona read and reread the message she had written. She worried that her feelings of apology might not come across to Youngwon.
She wanted to apologize in person, but she had to rush to the café right after school today. After work, she still had to pack the remaining moving boxes, leaving no time to spare. After going over the message about ten times, Yoona carefully reviewed it one last time and hit the send button.
[Thank you so much for yesterday, Youngwon. But I don’t really remember what happened after the senior left… I know I gave you my address and you got me home by taxi, but if I made any mistakes, I apologize. I’m always indebted to you. I’m sorry. If you have a free day, I’d like to treat you to a meal.]
“…Ha…”
To be honest, she thought she might have babbled nonsense in the taxi, asking Youngwon things like, “Why did you come to my house?” But that part was too embarrassing to include. She couldn’t even remember his reaction. Honestly, she wasn’t even sure if it was a taxi at all.
‘I guess I really can’t handle alcohol.’
Regretting her modest tolerance, Yoona entered the classroom. Since it was a major class, many of her classmates whom she had seen at the freshman welcome party were already seated.
Perhaps because they had gotten closer yesterday, most of them were chatting in small groups. A few nodded at Yoona, but it was clear she wasn’t being invited into any group. A strange sense of awkwardness settled over her.
“…”
She hadn’t had a chance to get close to her classmates, and after drinking with upperclassmen she rarely saw—and then that incident—there was no one to greet warmly.
Looking gloomy, Yoona sat in an empty seat, fidgeting with her phone, when a reply from Youngwon arrived.
[You didn’t make any mistakes, so don’t worry about it.]
The short, businesslike sentence felt unusually cold today. Yoona wondered whether she should reply when something suddenly caught her eye: a keyring with the mascot of Gusan County, a ginseng character. It was the one she had attached to her eco-bag.
Startled, she checked her bag strap and looked up at the person. It was one of the girls she had seen at the freshman welcome party.
“I didn’t even realize I dropped it. Thank you.”
“You’re from Gusan, right?”
“…Huh?”
A very familiar dialect suddenly hit her ears. It had been so long that Yoona was momentarily stunned, but the girl continued.
“I’m from Nansan.”
Her hometown, right next to Gusan.
“…Wow! Nice to meet you! You came from a big city!”
Yoona’s expression, previously blank, began to brighten noticeably. The classmate giggled.
“Well, calling it a big city is a bit embarrassing… it’s just more bustling than Gusan. That place is pure countryside, isn’t it?”
Yoona awkwardly agreed, and the girl asked if the seat next to her was free. Yoona quickly moved her pens aside and nodded.
While her classmate settled in, Yoona secretly observed her. The face was familiar, but she couldn’t remember the name.
Still, since the girl had kindly taken the seat next to her, Yoona mustered the courage to speak.
“Um… excuse me, but what’s your name? Yesterday, when we were saying goodbye, I don’t think I noticed anyone from the same region as me…”
“Oh, back then I kept the dialect out since it was a formal setting. I’m Seo-yeon An.”
“I see! I’m Han Yoona.”
“Ah, got it. I’ll remember, pretty sister. Gusan really produced a beauty.”
“…Haha.”
It reminded Yoona of what the village grandmothers used to say whenever she ran around the town. Her nose tingled slightly, and she let out a small laugh.
Once she had organized her belongings, Seo-yeon asked:
“By the way, do you purposely not use dialect? I can use it too if I want. I’m fluent in two languages, you see.”
Seo-yeon spoke half in a local Chungcheong dialect and half in perfect Seoul speech. The Chungcheong accent isn’t very strong, so even merchants catering to tourists sometimes spoke this way.
But Yoona’s Seoul-style speech was a product of strict education. Hesitating slightly, she replied:
“No… my brother used to scold me if I spoke in dialect.”
“Oh? Why?”
“Um… he said I’d be looked down upon if I didn’t use standard Korean.”
Yoona tried to phrase it gently and laughed a little awkwardly. Her older brother was very conscious of appearances. Having a rural background was a source of complex for him, and he never spoke in dialect himself.
His long-term goal was to marry off his naturally pretty younger sister to a suitable family to repay debts he had incurred. So Yoona was strictly controlled from the very beginning to avoid using dialect.
Seo-yeon, unaware of Yoona’s situation, nodded solemnly as if she understood.
“First impressions are important. Strike first, win first.”
“But… I can speak it. I grew up with it.”
“Wow? This sister is amazing.”
They both laughed. Seo-yeon tapped Yoona on the shoulder and said:
“Talk comfortably, sister.”
“I’ll do the same if you talk comfortably first.”
“Sure, let’s drop the formalities.”
“Alright.”
Their laughter echoed. Perhaps because of the shared regional background, Yoona, who usually used formal speech with strangers, quickly switched to casual speech. Seo-yeon had a natural talent for opening people up.
As Yoona chatted with Seo-yeon, the professor entered. Both quickly straightened up.
Yoona opened her newly purchased notebook, while Seo-yeon pulled out a tablet PC. Most students had either a tablet or a laptop, more so than in general courses.
‘Should I have brought my laptop too?’
Yoona thought of the laptop she had proudly purchased with her café earnings. Seo-yeon wrote something on her tablet and slid it toward Yoona. Her eyes followed the screen.
[What’s your number? I like strong, confident sisters.]
Seo-yeon smiled as she handed her phone to Yoona. A delighted expression spread across Yoona’s face. Exchanging numbers! She felt the thrill of finally making a friend.
‘Do I really seem that strong?’
She tilted her head slightly, but no matter. Yoona carefully entered the numbers.
After school, Yoona went straight to the café for work, looking over an applicant’s resume. The last of the four applicants scheduled for today had arrived. Her expression darkened.
“…You can’t work weekends?”
“I have other commitments.”
“Okay… so you’re available to start next week?”
“Yes.”
After confirming a few more details, Yoona offered the applicant her homemade apple syrup lemonade, prepared for all the candidates.
“Thank you for coming. I’ll contact you as soon as possible.”
“I heard your apple syrup is delicious. Thank you.”
The applicant bowed politely with a bright expression. The compliment made Yoona feel proud, especially since the apples came from the village chief, who had always shown her kindness.
When the last applicant left, the café door closed. Business hours had ended.
“Ha…”
Yoona slumped back into her seat.
Thanks to the effective ad on Dingdong Market that Youngwon had recommended, she had attracted more applicants than expected. But the worries hadn’t ended.
The biggest problem was wages. She had anticipated it, but facing it in reality felt overwhelming. Even if she allowed one day off on the weekend and worked herself on the other, weekdays required staff for essential group assignments.
Considering everything, she could only hire part-time workers for up to three months. After that, the vacation period would begin, and she could manage.
“Alright, I can work full-time during the break…”
As she held her throbbing head, the doorbell she had installed rang. Raising her eyes, Yoona saw a familiar person.
“Youngwon…?”
It was Youngwon, hesitating at the door. Why was he standing like that? Yoona could only blink in surprise.
