At the Snack Shop – A Taste of Mystery

Soo-ah looked between her uncles, Seojin and Jinwoo, a mischievous glint in her eyes. The tension in the principal’s office had barely faded, yet here they were, standing in the school hallway, casually throwing remarks at each other.

Jinwoo sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Soo-ah, why is it that every time I see you, you’re either in trouble or causing trouble?”

Soo-ah crossed her arms, smirking. “I don’t cause trouble. Trouble finds me.”

Seojin burst into laughter. “That’s my niece! Always at the center of the action.”

Jinwoo shot him a glare. “And you… you just barged into a school meeting with a fake USB? What if the principal had actually checked?”

Seojin shrugged, completely unfazed. “Please. I read the room. The moment I saw the panic on the principal’s face, I knew he didn’t have the guts to question me.”

Soo-ah chuckled. “Uncle Seojin, you should’ve been a con artist instead of a businessman.”

Seojin grinned. “A genius has many talents.”

Jinwoo sighed dramatically. “Unbelievable.”

Soo-ah tilted her head, eyeing her uncle curiously. “But seriously, Uncle Jinwoo, why are you here? Don’t you have a date?”

Seojin smirked knowingly while Jinwoo stiffened slightly. He cleared his throat. “I was… in the area.”

Soo-ah raised an eyebrow. “In the area? Near a high school? Sounds suspicious.”

Seojin clapped Jinwoo on the back. “Don’t worry, Soo-ah. He’s just bad at admitting things. The truth is—”

Jinwoo shot him a warning look, his jaw tightening. “Don’t.”

Seojin just grinned wider. “He’s been restless since morning, checking his phone every five minutes, waiting for a certain someone to message him back.”

Soo-ah’s eyes widened. “Wait… Uncle, do you have a crush?”

Jinwoo groaned, covering his face. “Why am I still standing here?”

Soo-ah gasped dramatically. “Oh my god, you do! Who is she? Do I know her?”

Jinwoo grabbed Seojin’s collar, dragging him a few steps away. “If you say one more word, I swear—”

Seojin laughed, raising his hands in surrender. “Relax, relax! I won’t ruin your little love story.”

Soo-ah, still grinning, stepped forward. “Uncle Jinwoo, you have to tell me now. Come on, who is she? Is she pretty? Smart? Do I approve?”

Jinwoo sighed. “It’s none of your business.”

Seojin smirked. “She might make it her business.”

Jinwoo shot him a glare before turning back to Soo-ah. “Stop getting involved in things you don’t understand.”

Soo-ah pouted. “Fine. But I’ll find out eventually.”

Jinwoo groaned. “Why does my entire family enjoy meddling in my life?”

Seojin chuckled. “Because it’s fun.”

Soo-ah giggled. “And entertaining.”

Jinwoo smirked as he looked down at Soo-ah, his amusement evident. “Oh, really? Keep teasing me, and I might just stop buying you tteokbokki. I know you’ve been skipping lunch just to snack. Should I tell your dad? I bet he’d love to have a word with you about that.”

Soo-ah gasped dramatically, clutching her chest as if he had just delivered a fatal blow.

“Nooo! Uncle, you wouldn’t betray me like that! Besides, I’m not the only one who’s addicted to Kim Sooyi’s cooking, am I? You’re the one who introduced me to her snack shop! You even sneak away from work just to come here. If anyone’s getting scolded first, it’s definitely you!”

Jinwoo narrowed his eyes at her, but before he could respond, Soo-ah suddenly paused and glanced around.

“Wait… where’s Uncle Seojin? Wasn’t he just here?”

Jinwoo followed her gaze, then shrugged. “He’s probably still dealing with the principal. Messy business.”

Just then, his stomach let out a loud growl, breaking the momentary silence. Soo-ah immediately burst into laughter, pointing at him.

“Ah-ha! See? After all that talk, you’re hungry too! Let’s go to the snack shop, Uncle! I’m starving!”

Jinwoo sighed, but he couldn’t deny the hunger gnawing at him. “Alright, alright. Let’s get something from Sooyi’s place. But don’t blame me when you’re too full for dinner later.”

The two made their way to Sooyi’s Snack Shop, one of the busiest food spots in town. The small yet inviting storefront was packed, a long line of customers eagerly waiting for their orders. The air was filled with the rich, savory scent of tteokbokki, sizzling fish cakes, and crispy kimbap. The aroma alone was enough to make anyone’s mouth water.

As they stood in line, Soo-ah leaned toward Jinwoo with a teasing grin.

“Uncle, you always rave about this place, and now we’re here again. Be honest—you’re obsessed with her food, aren’t you?”

Jinwoo smirked, making no effort to deny it. His gaze wandered toward the kitchen, hoping to catch a glimpse of the elusive Kim Sooyi—the woman whose cooking had captivated the entire town. Every time he visited, she was always in the back, diligently working behind the scenes. Despite his frequent visits, he had never actually seen her face.

“It’s not just me,” Jinwoo replied, glancing at the growing line. “Her cooking isn’t just food—it’s an experience. Look at this crowd. People don’t wait this long just for snacks.”

Soo-ah nodded in agreement, inhaling deeply. “You’re right! It’s like there’s some kind of magic in everything she makes. But still… you always try to catch a glimpse of her, don’t you? Admit it—you’re curious about the woman behind the food.”

Jinwoo let out a soft chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. “Maybe I am. You think I shouldn’t be?”

Soo-ah giggled. “I think you should be. What if she’s not just an amazing cook? What if she’s really cool too?”

Before Jinwoo could respond, Sooyi’s father greeted them warmly from behind the counter.

“Ah, welcome back! You’re here early today,” the elderly man said, his eyes crinkling with a kind smile. “How have you been, Soo-ah?”

“I’m great, Grandpa! The usual order, please,” Soo-ah said cheerfully.

Sooyi’s father chuckled. “Coming right up.”

As they waited, Jinwoo subtly tried to get a look into the kitchen. He could see a figure moving swiftly, hair neatly tied back, hands expertly working over the sizzling pans. Even from a distance, there was something mesmerizing about her. Though her back was turned, she had an air of quiet confidence, a presence that was hard to ignore.

Jinwoo (to himself): So that’s her… the woman who creates magic in the kitchen.

Before he could dwell on the thought, Sooyi’s father handed over their neatly packed food. Jinwoo accepted it with a nod, but there was a slight hint of disappointment—once again, he had missed his chance to see the face behind the legend.

Jinwoo: “Guess it wasn’t meant to be today.”

They left the shop and climbed into the car, where Soo-ah immediately opened the containers, her eyes lighting up with excitement.

“Yum! This is going to be amazing!” she exclaimed.

The first bite was blissful. The perfect blend of spice, sweetness, and texture melted in their mouths. There was something deeply personal about the way Kim Sooyi cooked—every dish carried an unspoken warmth, as if she poured her very soul into it.

Jinwoo took another bite, lost in thought.

Soo-ah (smirking): “See, Uncle? Even you can’t resist! You’re as obsessed as I am!”

Jinwoo let out a laugh, shaking his head. “Yeah, yeah. I guess you’re right. Her food… it’s something else.”

Soo-ah leaned in mischievously. “Who knows? Maybe next time you’ll finally meet her properly.”

Jinwoo scoffed but didn’t argue.

Jinwoo (to himself): Next time… maybe next time.

As they drove off, the scent of Sooyi’s cooking still clung to their clothes, and Jinwoo couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t the last time he’d find himself drawn to her snack shop. The mystery of Kim Sooyi had already taken root in his mind, and the more he tasted her food, the more he wanted to uncover the woman behind it.

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