* * * *

“Hmm, this one or this one,” Bada said as she happily contemplated between the snacks, eventually choosing the chocolate flavored snack.

Bada shrunk back from the sudden gust of cold evening wind as she walked out of the convenience store, with her snack and Maru’s ice cream cone in hand. As she was telling herself to quickly get back home, she saw a figure across the street walking with his sleek bicycle.

“Oh!” Bada involuntarily shouted.

She didn’t know him well, but she recognized his face. Dowook stared at Bada for a while before realizing who she was.

He let out an “Ah” himself.

“You’re Maru’s sister, right?”

“Yes, and you’re brother’s friend, Dowook, right?”

“Yeah.”

She recalled being saved by Dowook and the awe-inspiring roundhouse kick he gave that weirdo bully in Myungdong. Bada recalled this older brother’s full name, Kang Dowook. Maru told her to hurry and go home that eventful day, so she never had the chance to thank Dowook personally.

“Thank you for your help that day.”

“No worries. I wanted to give him a piece of my mind anyways.”

“Do you live nearby?” Bada asked.

“No. I came to meet a friend.”

“My brother?”

“No.” He kept his answers short. It was awkward enough for Dowook to be receiving thanks, so he wanted to end the conversation as soon as possible.

“I’ll see you around.”

“Oh, okay,” Bada responded in surprise as Dowook passed by with his bicycle in tow. Bada felt that Dowook’s personality was as cold as the sharpness of his eyes.

Just as Bada started to head home, she looked...