Eun-soo decided to start her Saturday with a workout to clear her groggy mind.
She pulled on a ribbed, seamless sports bra and matching high-waisted leggings that hugged her tall, athletic frame perfectly.
Standing before the mirror, she gathered her long hair into a high ponytail and grabbed her earphones.
She stepped out of her penthouse and into the elevator, heading down toward the "Blue Box Gym" located on the 20th floor.
The elevator descended smoothly until it came to a sudden stop on the 35th floor.
The doors slid open, and Eun-soo froze as a familiar man and a small boy stepped inside.
It was Jin-woo and Hajun, both dressed in casual athletic gear.
Jin-woo didn't notice her at first; he was looking down at Hajun with a mock-serious expression.
"Hajun, we are late again because of you," Jin-woo said with a sigh.
"I always tell you to sleep early, even on weekends, so you can enjoy the morning... why don't you listen?"
Hajun held his head down, listening to his uncle's lecture, until he spotted a pair of familiar sneakers.
His eyes traveled up, and his face instantly brightened when he realized it was his favorite teacher.
"Teacher Eun-soo!" he cried out happily, running toward her and wrapping his arms around her legs.
Eun-soo was surprised to see them, but she immediately knelt down and pulled Hajun into a warm hug.
She looked up at Jin-woo and gave a small, defensive smile for the boy.
"Mr. Jin-woo, children love to stay up late on weekends," she said gently. "It's okay for him to have a little fun."
Jin-woo looked at her, momentarily stunned by how different she looked in her fitted gym clothes compared to her soft teacher outfits.
"I suppose," he admitted, clearing his throat. "But if he ruins his sleep schedule now, Monday morning will be a disaster."
Eun-soo patted Hajun's shoulder and whispered, "You should listen to your dad, okay? No more late nights."
Hajun nodded vigorously, making a pinky promise right there in the elevator.
As the lift continued to drop, Eun-soo looked at Jin-woo, who was dressed in a simple black t-shirt and track pants.
"Mr. Jin-woo... do you live in this building?" she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"I do," he replied, looking equally surprised. "Do you live here as well?"
"Yes, on the 80th floor," she whispered, realizing they had been neighbors all this time.
A heavy, quiet silence fell over the small space as they realized how small the world really was.
Seeking to break the tension, Jin-woo looked at her and spoke without thinking.
"You look very pretty in that outfit, Miss Eun-soo," he said, his voice sincere and steady.
Eun-soo felt her face flush a deep shade of pink, the sudden compliment making her heart race.
The rest of the ride became incredibly awkward, with both of them staring at the floor numbers as they waited for the doors to open.