“You didn’t want to see me?”

Maru looked at her, who was hesitating. He grinned when he saw that she licked her lips wondering about what to say. Actually, he was aware that it was her being considerate of him that they didn’t meet recently.

“Looks like I was the only one who wanted to meet.”

“No, that’s not it.”

“Then you wanted to see me?”

“Do I really have to say it?”

“That’s right.”

“Fine, I wanted to see you. Satisfied?”

Seeing her pout, Maru nodded his head. The place they were in was filled with the smell of pizza. It was the pizza restaurant they visited before. Right now, she was slicing a piece of pizza with cherry tomatoes and basil on top, and was putting it on a plate.

“Here.”

Maru received the pizza that she cut for him. The glistening surface made it look delicious. He took a bite before looking in front of him. She was eating her pizza with a happy face. She looked like a rabbit when she was chewing. Thinking back, a lot of her actions reminded Maru of rabbits. That was also why he gifted her a ring that was shaped like a rabbit.

“Wasn’t there a rabbit in one of your nicknames?”

“Didn’t you know that already?” She spoke as she showed off the ring she was wearing.

“Rather than that, how could you call all of a sudden and tell me to meet you? What were you going to do if I had acting club practice?”

“Who was the one that said there was no practice this Saturday when I called on Thursday?”

“...Did I tell you that?”

“I thought that was your way of indirectly threatening me that we should meet. It wasn’t?”

She turned her head away slightly and made a strange smile.

“It’s dark already.”

“It’s past seven.”

Maru looked outside as well. Lights were starting to appear from parts of buildings that were darkening due to the dusk. Various colored signs drove the darkness back, and people were walking in the brightened streets. Most of them were students. There were also some young couples. The next block over should have some salarymen wearing suits. After all, that block was filled with bars and restaurants that sold alcohol.

At that moment, she, who was looking outside, flinched for a moment before turning her head around to the table. Maru wondered what was going on and looked at the place where she was looking. There were girls wearing the same uniform as her outside the restaurant. They were staring his way and they started whispering among themselves before entering the restaurant.

“I knew it!”

The girls shouted as soon as they came in. She raised her head and laughed awkwardly. It seemed that they were her friends.

“What. You told me you had something to do, and it was a date?”

“Uhm… yeah.”

She smiled in embarrassment. Maru waved at the girls that looked at him.

“I’m right. It’s the boy from back then.”

“Wow.”

Did these girls know him? Maru tilted his head. Her friends started giggling and started talking about the event that happened at the Center of Culture and Art in Ansan. He did remember shouting at her that he would go to her. Now that he thought about it, it embarrassed him to no end.

“Hey hey. Let’s get going. We can’t disturb them. Bunbun[1], see you tomorrow. See you later too, Mr. Boyfriend.”

Her friends then disappeared in an instant. Maru covered his mouth and chuckled. She also smiled.

“Your nickname is Bunbun?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s cute. I should call you that too.”

“Please don’t.”

Although she was saying that, her eyes were smiling. She didn’t seem to hate it that much. Thanks to her witty friends, their time together did not get reduced. It was a thankful thing.

“Oh right. I heard you went to a shoot suddenly today. What happened to that?”

“I did well.”

“An extra this time as well?”

“No, a minor role this time. I don’t know the specifics, but I might go there a few times more.”

“Really? Congratulations.”

She put down her fork and leaned forward. She rejoiced like it was her own matter. Maru thought that this was why he couldn’t help but fall for her.

“You have lines too?”

“A few.”

“That’s good. Ah, I want to try shooting a drama too. It sounds fun.”

She looked upwards and smiled. It seemed that she was imagining what it would be like at the scene. Maru watched her for a while before speaking.

“If you want to go to a drama set, do you want to try a part-time job for a supplementary role?”

“Can I?”

“I’m not entirely sure, but I can ask a guy that works there.”

“Then, yes. I want to try.”

“But are you okay with that? You have acting club activities.”

“I can miss a day or two. It’s not that strict.”

“Then I’ll try asking. It’s not a surefire method, so don’t expect too much.”

“No, I’m going to expect a lot.”

“I guess I shouldn’t have said that. Wait a sec then.”

“You’re going to ask right now?”

“Since we’re at it, why not?”

Maru called Woojoo. Thankfully, Woojoo was on break and didn’t have any problems with having a call right now.

“A friend of mine wants to try the supplementary role part time job. If it’s not too much, can I ask how to apply for one?”

-If it’s like that, then sure, I can do that. I received some help from you as well.

Since he was willingly helping him out, Maru didn’t see a reason to refuse. He asked whether there were any roles for a girl that was held within the capital and the surrounding regions.

-I can ask the leader and he’ll probably reply immediately, so I’ll get back to you soon. But a friend of yours, huh. Does she do acting as well?

“Yes. She’s good.”

-Then I’ll tell the leader just that. I’ll get back to you.

“Sorry for bothering you.”

-I’m paying my debt, so you don’t have to be.

He hung up and looked at her. Her eyes were filled with expectation. Maru felt that he would have to look into other methods of getting her the part time job if this wasn’t possible. He didn’t want to see her disappointed.

After finishing their meal, they went to the café next door. There was a buy-one-get-one-free event for Americano coffee for students only. They entered the crowd of students and ordered two cups of coffee. For some reason, she ordered an Americano as well.

“I thought you didn’t like bitter stuff.”

“But this one’s free.”

She took out some money from her wallet with a smile. Maru put back the credit card he was fiddling in his hand into his wallet.

“Maru, you should really save up on money. It looks like you’re splurging whenever I meet you.”

“Well, I guess I should. If I think about the marriage expenses, furniture, and even the honeymoon, I guess I indeed should save up. Is a monthly lease better than a jeonse[2]? What do you think?”

“Isn’t a jeonse better?”

“....”

She nonchalantly replied and sucked on the straw. Maru was planning to tease her, but since her reaction was so smooth, it made him flustered instead. She looked at him in the eyes before giggling.

“What? You look disappointed.”

After saying that, she frowned. She opened the lid and poured a lot of syrup inside. She really couldn’t eat bitter things.

“It’s not tasty.”

“I told you you should’ve gone with your usual menu.”

They took the coffee and left the café. The evening winds were quite chilly, and the warmth emanating from where they were holding hands felt quite good. Maru held her hand and walked along the streets.

“I have something to buy.”

She walked ahead of him. The place she arrived at was a local dollar store. They had a variety of products ranging from cosmetics to kitchenware. This place was filled with students as well. On the entrance were the words ‘Fee of 100 times the price if anyone gets caught stealing’.

“What are you going to buy?”

She didn’t say anything and walked up to the place where cosmetics were lined up. In this place where Maru didn’t even know any of the brands, she picked a few facemasks that were displayed on one side. Maru didn’t know what it was, but he could understand the words ‘skin calming’.

She picked up five of them before walking towards the counter. While she paid for those things, Maru had a glimpse of her wallet. It was completely empty.

“Give me your bag.”

Maru watched as she stuffed the facemasks into his bag.

“You’re giving them to me?”

“Good skin is crucial for both actors and actresses.”

“I don’t need these things.”

“You should start managing your skin when you’re still young.”

Why was it that she reminded him of his grandma that stuffed his hand with a 5,000 won bill when he visited her with his family, saying that he should keep it a secret from his mom? After putting them inside the bag, she smiled with a sense of achievement. Was this something to rejoice about? At that moment, Woojoo gave him a call.

-The leader says we need one for Youth Generation, how about it? As for clothes, just casual clothes are fine. For now, she only needs to do crowd scenes, but she might get more if her acting skills are up to par. I think it’s quite okay since it’s the same drama. The date is next Sunday, and the meeting time is 6 in the morning.

“Please wait a moment.”

Maru looked at her. Although she would say that she was fully grown up, in Maru’s eyes, she was still a child. He would be much at ease if he could be with her rather than having her by herself.

“There’s a spot in Youth Generation, do you wanna try? It’s next Sunday and the meeting time is 6 in the morning.”

“I do, I do,” she spoke as she closed her face against his.

She was close. It also seemed like she smelled of baby powder. Maru pushed on her forehead with his index finger as he spoke,

“Yes, hyung. She says she’ll do it.”

-Really? Then I’ll tell the leader about it, so that friend of yours needs to message the number I’m about to send you now. She has to send whether she’s participating or not on the day itself, so don’t forget.

“Alright. Thanks.”

-You’re welcome. Also, see you on set. I think I’m going to be going there for the foreseeable while.

“Okay, see you then.”

He hung up and told her that the schedule was set. She rejoiced like a little child. Maru told her the number that Woojoo sent him. She quickly inputted the number into her phone before sending a text message right away.

“So, we’re shooting together then?”

Hearing those words, Maru flinched. He was not one of the main characters, so there was no way he was required to show up to every shoot.

“You might have to go by yourself.”

“Ah, okay.”

She looked slightly disappointed. Maru pondered for a brief moment. Next Sunday. Today was the 24th of July, and the preliminaries for the acting competition was the 8th of August. He would probably have to practice on Sunday. Maru thought about that for a moment before speaking.

“Let’s go together on Sunday.”

“But you said you might not have a shoot that day.”

“I’ll just be your manager for the day.”

“Can you do that?”

“Is there a reason I can’t do that?”

“How about practice?”

“I can take a day off too.”

“Really?”

She looked slightly down. It seemed that she was worried. Maru reached out and grabbed her cheek and twisted it slightly before letting go. She pouted before stroking her cheek against his hand.

“Let’s go. It’s getting late.”

Although the acting club and its members were important, they weren’t as important compared to her. Also, he wasn’t in a bad condition where taking a day off would have him worried. If he didn’t have such confidence, he wouldn’t even be thinking about getting the grand prize in the first place.

She didn’t say anything for a while, but after that, she said that she looked forward to it with her unique relaxing smile. Maru also nodded.

They waited at the bus stop briefly until the bus headed for her house came.

“Get on then.”

“Yeah, I’m off.”

She tagged her transportation card. The bus slowly started driving. She waved her hand through one of the back windows of the bus. Maru also waved at her.

“Rather than that, she likes jeonse better, huh.”

And it would be better if they lived in Seoul as well. A jeonse in Seoul… Maru heaved a deep sigh. Although the 300 million won in his bank account was a large sum of money. It was pitiful compared to the real estate prices of Seoul. Also, since he wanted to present his daughter with the best possible things, it seemed that he had to start saving up money very strictly.

“Am I going too far?”

Maru looked at the bus that had her in it. What would he do if there came a day when she came up to him and said that she liked someone else better? Maru pondered about that for a moment before grinning. He had thought about that problem numerous times in the past, but there was only one conclusion: he had to become a man she could never give up on. It was that simple.

A bus arrived. It was the bus to his house. Maru took out his MP3 player from his bag before getting on the bus. He put his earphones on and started enjoying some music.

Just then,

“...Wait.”

Maru stared outside the window. He could see a boy and a girl walking together on the streets. Both of them were people he knew. The problem was that he knew them too well.

Maru stroked his chin before taking out his phone. Then he made a call. Of the walking duo, the girl stopped and answered her phone. That was proof enough.

-What?

Bada replied in a picky voice. My dear sister, I’m watching you right now.

“Where are you?”

-Why do you ask?

“I just wanted you to buy some snacks when you come home.”

-Gosh, please stop asking me for that stuff.

“Credit card.”

-...What shall I bring you, my dear brother?

“Something with chocolate on it. It would be better if it tasted like love.”

-What the heck are you saying.

“Hey, hand the phone over to Dowook who’s standing there like a complete idiot. Also, if you came all the way here because you didn’t want to be caught, I’d like to tell you that that’s not necessary.”

At that moment, Bada hung up. Maru saw her frantically scanning her surroundings. The bus that stopped because of a red light, started driving again and Maru could no longer see the two. He then messaged Dowook.

-Hang out healthily, okay? Healthily.

He got a reply immediately.

-I was kidnapped.

Oh, really now?

Bada had a rather reckless side of her just like her mother. If she took after her father a little more, she would’ve become a more cautious and earnest girl….

Maru smiled and closed his phone. Since this matter concerned the two of them, it was up to those two to decide what they did. It was up to them to go out after all. As for marriage, though… that required a detailed examination with a microscope.

At that moment, he got another message.

-You’re so dead. DEAD!

It was from Bada.

She was one scary sister alright. She paid back his graces with revenge. Maru thought that the first thing he had to do after going home was to lock his door.

[1] Rabbit -> Bunny -> Bun -> Bunbun… Original is 토순이. I’m open to suggestions

[2] Wikipedia for more info. Basically, another method of getting a residence that is somewhat unique to Korea.