The night was quiet.
Jisoo unlocked the door of her small apartment and stepped inside, dropping her bag with a tired sigh.
"Finally…"
Her body ached.
After school… she went straight to her part-time job.
Again.
She looked at the unpaid bills on the table.
"I'll manage…" she whispered.
She always did.
Alone.
The next morning—
Jisoo rushed out of her apartment.
"I'm late, I'm late—"
She turned the corner—
And bumped into someone.
"Again?!" she shouted.
Kevin looked down at her.
"…You?"
Jisoo blinked.
"You live here?!"
Kevin frowned slightly.
"Yes."
Jisoo pointed at her building.
"I live here too!"
There was a small silence.
Then—
"You're loud even in the morning," Kevin said.
Jisoo crossed her arms.
"And you're still annoying.
Kevin noticed something.
"Why are you running this early?"
Jisoo hesitated.
"…None of your business."
Kevin didn't push.
"School doesn't start for another hour."
Jisoo looked away.
"I have work."
Kevin paused.
"…Work?"
Before he could ask more—
"I'm late!" Jisoo said quickly and ran off.
Kevin stood there, watching her.
"…Work?" he repeated softly.
That evening—
Kevin walked into a small café.
"Black coffee," he said.
As he waited—
His eyes stopped
Behind the counter—
Jisoo.
She froze when she saw him.
"You?!"
Kevin looked around.
"…You work here?"
Jisoo quickly grabbed a tray.
"No, I'm just here for fun."
Kevin raised an eyebrow.
Jisoo sighed.
"Fine. Yes, I work here."
Kevin looked at her properly.
For the first time—
He noticed.
Her tired eyes.
Her forced smile.
You're a scholarship student," he said.
Jisoo froze.
"…How do you know?"
"You answered every question in class," he replied.
"People like you don't just 'work for fun'."
Jisoo stayed quiet.
Then said lightly—
"Well, now you know. Happy?"
At that moment—
A rude customer called out:
"Hey! Hurry up!"
Jisoo quickly turned.
"I'm coming!"
She rushed—
But the tray slipped from her hand.
"Ah—!"
Before it could fall—
Kevin caught it.
Again.
Jisoo looked at him, surprised.
"…You're everywhere."
Kevin placed the tray back.
"You're careless everywhere."
Jisoo rolled her eyes.
"Thanks."
The customer complained again.
Jisoo hurried away.
Kevin watched her quietly.
Later—
As Jisoo stepped outside after her shift—
She saw Kevin leaning against the wall.
"…Why are you here?"
Kevin looked at her.
"You forgot your bag."
He handed it to her.
Jisoo blinked.
"Oh…"
"…Thanks."
They stood there awkwardly.
Then Kevin said—
"You shouldn't overwork."
Jisoo laughed softly.
"And you shouldn't interfere."
Kevin's voice was calm.
"You looked exhausted."
Jisoo's smile faded slightly.
"…I'm used to it."
There was a pause.
Kevin looked away.
"…Same."
Jisoo looked at him.
For a second—
She saw something different.
Not cold.
Not rude.
Just… tired.
"Goodnight," Kevin said and walked away
Jisoo stood there.
Holding her bag.
Thinking.
👉 Maybe…
He wasn't just an annoying boy.