TBE 17

chapter 17

The menu was yeonpotang (octopus hotpot) made with spring-season webfoot octopus. Generously topped with abalone and water parsley, its appetizing appearance drew gasps of admiration from all around.

“Wow, unnie! Even Dae Jang Geum would rise from her grave for this!”

“Boss! My eyes are rolling back in my head! Just how many talents do you even have?”

The two fussed noisily, and Yeongwon, sitting beside them, was just as astonished. It was the kind of dish he never would have imagined anyone making at home.

But the food didn’t stop there—beef bulgogi, seasoned dolnamul, and small pancakes made with shepherd’s purse came out as well. Fragrant, savory aromas filled the air.

Switching on the burner, Yoona smiled.
“I thought we might not get many chances to eat seasonal dishes. I don’t have fancy tableware or placemats, so it might not look great… but I hope it tastes good.”

Because she had brought out every last dish she and Yeongwon owned, the tableware was all mismatched. Normally she didn’t care when eating alone, but serving guests so informally made her a little self-conscious.

Her cooking skills had been sharpened unintentionally while living with a picky-eating father-in-law and husband. She had always enjoyed cooking with her stepmother, but it wasn’t until she married her ex-husband that she reached the point of noticing the tiniest differences. Caring for her in-laws, who lived in the same apartment building, she’d been stuck running two households—every day was a battle in the kitchen.

Still, to people who didn’t even know what a placemat was, such things hardly mattered. Chopsticks began moving quickly.

In the middle of all this, Yoona shyly pulled something out from a paper bag she had set under the table.
“And this… I thought it might go well, so I bought it.”

It was a bottle of clear, elegant cheongju (rice wine). The reaction was enthusiastic.

She had only studied food-and-drink pairings because her ex-husband and father-in-law liked drinking with meals. But Yoona had found it interesting, experimenting until she discovered combinations she liked.

And seeing her friends enjoy it too filled her with pride. It wasn’t much—just enough for two cups each—but that was perfect. Each time a dish was emptied, happiness welled up in Yoona’s chest. She had long forgotten the joy of seeing someone relish food she had made with care.

“I think I’ll have to work at your house from now on, unnie, just to get fed. This is phenomenal.”

“Is it good?”

As she asked, Yoona stole a glance at Yeongwon. He, as usual, offered no particular evaluation, but his rice bowl was already nearly empty. Biting down on her lips, Yoona tried to suppress the silly grin that threatened to spread across her face.

When the lively meal full of compliments finally ended, Yoona was guided to the sofa while the others handled the cleanup.

She looked down at the tumbler in her hand, filled with blue sports drink. The coffee capsules at home had run out, and since she didn’t even have tea, Yeongwon had just brought her whatever was available. Every last cup had been used, so the tumbler was the only container left. Somehow, it felt so much like Yeongwon that Yoona let out a silent laugh.

Once the cleanup was done, the four went outside. Gitae had insisted on treating them to dessert.

They headed toward a café near the officetel complex, but being Sunday, it was packed. They couldn’t exactly go to Yoona’s café after all the cooking she’d just done, so they grabbed take-out drinks at a random place instead.

Drinks in hand, they decided to stroll around since the weather was nice. The area was full of officetels and villas, so there weren’t many shops to look at.

Still, clusters of golden forsythia were in full bloom, and magnolias in sunny spots had burst open, filling the air with fragrance. It was the scenery of spring in full swing.

Thanks to Seyeon and Gitae, conversation never stopped among the wandering four. Before they knew it, they had drifted close to the town center, where bars and chain restaurants began appearing.

What caught Seyeon’s eye was a claw machine arcade.
“Time to show off my old skills. Shall we, seniors?”

“I’ll stake you some money, boss.”

“I’ve always wanted to try!”

Gitae looked confident, and Yoona was visibly delighted. Because of her excitement, even the usually frugal Yeongwon decided it wasn’t a waste of money. The four bustled into the arcade.

Inside were not only stuffed animals but various prize machines. Gitae headed straight for the most expensive one, while Seyeon, with an expert’s eye, selected a keyring claw machine. Yoona naturally followed her.

“I don’t know how to play this. Can I watch you first? Teach me.”

Glancing at the tall figure standing quietly behind Yoona, Seyeon chuckled as she asked,
“And why’d you follow us in here, Senior Yeongwon?”

“…This is my first time trying it too.”

“Riiight, if you say so.”

Seyeon snickered and inserted a card—₩5,000 for three tries. The machine lit up with a dazzling glow.

Within three attempts, Seyeon snagged a hamster keyring. Holding it up proudly, she made Yoona clap her hands.
“It’s so cute! You’re amazing. Is it usually this easy?”

“You’ll see. You learn by doing.”

“Then I’ll definitely win one and replace mine.”

“Good idea. A freshman’s bag shouldn’t have a ginseng keychain, seriously.”

Next was Yoona. She slid her card in solemnly, and the machine whirred to life. Seyeon even picked out a good target and coached her step by step, but three tries weren’t nearly enough. The plushies were wrapped in plastic, making them hard to grab.

“…But Seyeon got one so easily…”

Deflated, Yoona did the math in her head. It was cheaper to just pay ₩10,000 and buy a keyring she liked than to try twice more.
“I think I’ll stop here…”

It was a rational decision, but not a happy one. Looking dejected, she stepped aside, leaving it Yeongwon’s turn.

“….”

He hadn’t really intended to play. But when Yoona looked up at him with such disappointment, he somehow felt he had to. He inserted his card.

Something had caught his eye earlier anyway—a brown rabbit plushie with a white heart-shaped patch of fur on its belly. It reminded him of Yoona. The position wasn’t great, but surely it wouldn’t take more than ₩15,000 at most.

Surprisingly, it didn’t take long to bring the plush to the top. After just two tries, the rabbit tumbled into a better spot, making Yoona cheer as if it were her own victory.
“Wow, see? You really are good at everything! Just one more good grab and it might come out!”

But that’s where the trouble began. The third try failed. Another three tries just nudged the rabbit sideways. Its position grew worse and worse.

“….”

Yeongwon’s expression darkened. His gaze, heavy and black, refused to leave the rabbit. Wordlessly, he swiped his card again.

“…You’re really going again?”

Yoona began watching him nervously, but in the blink of an eye another ₩5,000 vanished. He didn’t even bother taking the card out anymore, just kept playing—always aiming at the same brown rabbit.

The fire in him filled the group with tense silence. The machine’s endless, obnoxious jingle droned on, almost memorized by now. Unable to stand it, Seyeon muttered under her breath,
“At this rate you’ll just scratch the rabbit’s back till morning.”

“….”

But those words only seemed to provoke him further. Frost seemed to radiate from around Yeongwon.

Finally, even Gitae, who had already wasted tens of thousands of won, wandered over and looked at him in disbelief.
“You haven’t won a single thing… Yeongwon, you’re still—?”

“G-Gitae…”

Yoona quickly pressed a finger to her lips and shook her head. Thankfully, Yeongwon seemed deaf to a loser’s words.

Time dragged on. At last, Yeongwon’s grim determination bore fruit. With a clatter, the rabbit dropped into the prize chute. The three others erupted at once.

“Y-Yeongwon, that’s amazing! It’s so cute!”

“Creepy bastard! You looked possessed, but you did it!”

“An ₩80,000 keyring! Worth every won!”

Holding the plush, Yeongwon stared at it with oddly empty eyes. He knew he had a competitive streak, but realizing how easily he’d fallen for a strategy designed to exploit people like him left him hollow.

Still, it wasn’t a total loss. As his expression softened slightly, Yoona jumped in.
“Y-Yeongwon, you don’t have a keyring on your backpack, right? You should hang it there. Or somewhere else, at least…”

She only said it because after spending so much money, it would be too heartbreaking to just toss it aside. But Yeongwon didn’t respond.

“….”

His gaze shifted from the rabbit—straight to Yoona.