Chapter Text
Sundays shouldn't be universally hated. Who would even hate Sundays?
After all, it's a day for uninterrupted study sessions or getting lost in a good book without feeling obligated to do any adult responsibility. However, this particular Sunday afternoon was proving less than ideal for Seulgi, who was trying to focus in her usual quiet corner of a small, cozy café just outside her campus.
Her mind had finally started to click after wading through countless articles open in her browser. She had even managed to flawlessly draft an introduction for her microeconomics essay when someone abruptly plopped down in the empty seat across from her. Before Seulgi could even ask about the intrusion, the newcomer—a strikingly attractive woman, Seulgi noticed—launched into what could only be described as complete and utter nonsense.
“Hi, I’m sorry I’m late!” The woman exclaimed.
First, Seulgi had no recollection of scheduling any appointments. Second, she didn't recognize this stranger at all. A very strange one. Seulgi wondered if the woman had perhaps hit her head. But she continued talking, seemingly oblivious to Seulgi's confusion.
“My dad’s holding me back at the hospital,” the woman sighed dramatically. Seulgi still had no idea what she was talking about. “I know right, he should stop being so nosy.” She began to seriously consider the possibility that this woman—who, Seulgi had to admit, looked quite good in a plain black hoodie and baggy jeans—might be genuinely sick in the head for real. Perhaps it’s better to start packing up her stuff.
“Oh, hi Miyeon!” The woman suddenly chirped, her voice shifting noticeably. Seulgi realized the woman was looking past her shoulder. Almost immediately, another person appeared next to Seulgi. Looking to her side, Seulgi recognized her as someone who often worked behind the counter and in the kitchen of the café. She was gorgeous. “I didn’t know you’re here too?”
Seulgi turned her attention back to the weird intruder. Her facial expression seemed entirely artificial, and yet Seulgi couldn’t help but admire her control. The subtle micro-expressions around the woman’s brows were incredibly expressive. What an interesting actress she would make, Seulgi thought. At least if she’s not disrupting her almost perfectly fine Sunday, again.
The posh woman nodded at Seulgi, offering a small smile, probably recognized her as the café’s regular. She then turned her attention to the woman in the hoodie. “Jaeyi,” she said, “Fancy meeting you here, though I didn’t expect to see you.”
Now assuming the girl across her was called Jaeyi or something, Seulgi shifted her gaze back to her, just in time to hear Jaeyi’s next, utterly baffling words. “Oh, yeah, I’m having a study date—”
What.
And where, exactly, was this date?
“—here,” Jaeyi finished her sentence.
Seulgi’s right eyebrow twitched. She was now quite certain this girl was out of her mind.
“It’s my first time here, though. Didn’t know we’d bump into each other,” Jaeyi added, and Seulgi finally noticed the girl’s long, jet-black hair cascading down her shoulders like a waterfall.
A small laugh, borderline scoff escaped the woman beside Seulgi. “Yeah, I own the place. Anyway, see you around then, perhaps on the weekend as well? If your study dates continue,” she added, a hint of amusement in her voice.
She nodded briefly at Seulgi before returning behind the counter, moving a little further away, and surely Seulgi was out of earshot.
Slumping back in her seat, Jaeyi looked directly at Seulgi, a smirk slowly blooming across her face that immediately began to irk the latter. “Hi, stranger. Thanks for the help,” she whispered.
Seulgi, feeling like her precious Sunday was being systematically ruined, simply replied, “Who?”
Jaeyi shrugged. “You,” the smirk remained firmly in place, threatening to crack Seulgi’s carefully maintained neutral expression into a scoff.
“But you are the stranger,” Seulgi pointed out, “a rather strange one at that.”
“Well, that’s why we call them strangers,” Jaeyi nodded nonchalantly. Then, as if remembering something crucial, she added, “Right, we couldn’t have a date if you don’t know my name. My name is—”
“I’ve heard, Jaeyi.”
Jaeyi looked pleased when Seulgi said her name, much to Seulgi’s dismay. The smirk widened, revealing her damned white, perfect teeth. “It sounds perfect coming from you,” she whispered, her voice laced with something Seulgi couldn’t quite place.
What sane person would say that to a complete stranger after barely exchanging two words? Seulgi wondered.
Then again, this person didn’t seem like a normal being either, Seulgi thought. She didn’t have time to entertain her much longer, this essay was demanding enough. “Can you leave now?” She asked, her tone brooking no argument.
Strangely, Jaeyi looked more intrigued by the request. “Of course not,” she replied, smiling. “The study date has just begun. I can’t leave now, or Miyeon won’t believe me, and my dad will force me into that arranged marriage again next weekend. So, no.”
“None of my business,” Seulgi retorted, her eyes already back on her laptop screen, fingers flying across the keyboard like it’s due (because it was).
“Come on, at least tell me your name,” Jaeyi persisted, undeterred. “It’s a very fine afternoon for a study date, even if my date doesn't know it yet,” she rambled on, as if such rambling were second nature. She didn’t even seem offended by Seulgi’s complete lack of response. “So, what are you studying? Judging by the impressive stack of papers, it must be something mind-numbing.”
“And it must be something that has absolutely nothing to do with you,” Seulgi replied, not looking up.
Jaeyi rested her chin on her palm, observing Seulgi with a small, persistent smile plastered on her—unfortunately—pretty face. Seulgi's dismissive behavior clearly wasn't doing anything. “You know, you’re really bad at small talk. Is that why you’re always alone?” Jaeyi tried to push it.
“I’m alone because I like it, unlike some people,” Seulgi gazed up for a brief second. “I don’t need to bother strangers to feel validated.”
Jaeyi’s smile grew even wider. “I like tough nerds.” And instead of stopping, she peered at Seulgi's notes, trying to decipher the text.
“Economics?” Jaeyi’s voice now held a hint of genuine interest. “Predicting the unpredictable? Sounds fascinating. No wonder your face looks like Samsung’s annual report.”
God forbid, what must she do to make this girl leave? Seulgi continued typing, her eyes resolutely fixed on her laptop screen. “Go away.”
“See, that's the problem with economists. No sense of humor. You guys are all about supply and demand, but what about supply and delight?” Jaeyi narrowed her eyes with a glint. “I'm supplying the delight, you're demanding... well, you're not demanding anything. Actually, you seem remarkably undemanding.” Jaeyi nodded to herself, as if she’d just cracked some complex equation she barely understood.
With a long, weary sigh, Seulgi finally looked up from her screen. “Wrong,” she corrected. “I am demanding that you leave. My supply of patience is extremely low.”
Hearing this, Jaeyi gasped dramatically. Seulgi could see the barely contained smirk threatening to break through.
“Oh, no! A scarcity!” Jaeyi exclaimed. “Quick, call an economist. Wait, you are an economist. Fix yourself quick!”
Exhaled once again, Seulgi knew this conversation was only further delaying the completion of her essay, a task that was starting to feel increasingly like wishful thinking. “You know,” she said, her voice dry, “I’m starting to understand why your dad wants to marry you off.”
“Hey! Don’t bring my family into this!” Jaeyi protested, though she seemed more amused than offended. “This is a purely academic discussion. A meeting of great minds. Your mind certainly looks very focused. Is it as focused as your face looks uninterested?”
Finally closing her laptop and gathering her papers, Seulgi met Jaeyi’s eyes.
“Fuck off.”
As if it were impossible for her to become any more insane, Jaeyi’s smile widened, her eyes growing big and bright. Seulgi, against her better judgment, found herself noticing Jaeyi’s pointed nose, and the faint dusting of freckles scattered around it. But before her mind could betray her sanity, she quickly gathered her belongings and shoved them into her bag.
“You—” Jaeyi chocked out.
Seulgi glanced at her one last time, meeting Jaeyi’s now unfocused gaze—a stark contrast to her previous confident demeanor. But Seulgi didn’t dwell on it. She simply turned and walked away.
“That—” Jaeyi began again, her voice trailing off.
Seulgi, who was too far gone, missed the starstruck stare. And she failed to notice the lingering gaze as she pushed through the café’s glass door and stepped out into the bustling street.
“That…
is the love of my life.”
***
It took Jaeyi all of three seconds to realize she hadn’t even gotten the name of the love of her life. She rushed outside, ignoring Miyeon’s questioning look. She scanned the street, turning her head in every direction until she spotted the back of a petite figure. The girl was wearing a crisp white button-up shirt and jeans, her hair pulled back into a low ponytail.
God, it just dawned on her how incredibly attractive this utterly uninterested economics major was.
Jaeyi quickened her pace, her steps turning into a near run as the girl disappeared around a corner. Fearing she would lose her, Jaeyi sprinted, finally catching up and grasping the girl’s right wrist. The petite woman turned; her eyebrows raised in surprise—the most emotion Jaeyi had seen on her pretty little face.
“Wait, sorry,” Jaeyi said, slightly breathless. “At least tell me your name?”
Looking unimpressed, the girl sighed. “And why would I give you my name?”
She’s very calculating, Jaeyi realized. She even probably running some kind of economic calculation in her head right now. Jaeyi knew she had to offer a compelling reason, something with demonstrable economic value.
“So, when I run into you again,” Jaeyi began, “I could get you a coffee with your name written right on the cup. A free cup of coffee means you can save up to 7,000 won! And when the barista gets your name right, you can get your coffee up to 10% faster, with a lower probability of getting a bad mood because someone misspelled your name! How does that sound?”
Jaeyi looked at her expectantly, her eyes perhaps a little too hopeful for someone who barely hoped some wishes during the church visits.
“I don’t mind getting my name wrong on my cup,” the girl replied, pulling her hand free from Jaeyi’s grasp. “And I hope we never meet again.” She took a step back before turning around fully, adding, “It’s Seulgi.”
Jaeyi watched her go, her gaze lingering even after Seulgi disappeared around the corner at the intersection.
She tilted her head back to the sky. It was supposed to be just another boring Sunday. She hated Sundays. But the wide smile plastered across her face told her otherwise.
Closing her eyes, she felt the wind on her skin and began to laugh lowly.
“A little bit tough… I love her already,” Jaeyi whispered, a touch of wonder in her voice.
Seulgi.
Her walk home was filled with a single, repeating thought. Seulgi. Jaeyi found herself silently testing the name on her tongue, adoring the way it sounded.
Seulgi.
Seulgi.