Noodles

It was past midnight at Piang Piang Convenience Store. The road outside was empty, and the chill in the air made the night feel even lonelier.

A woman in her late twenties stepped out of the store, stretching and yawning.

“I’m so tired! Because of that Min-jun, I have to do the night shift again,” she muttered, rubbing her eyes.

Just then, she noticed a man sitting outside, slouched and obviously drunk.

“Who’s that…?” she whispered.

The man suddenly mumbled, “Lee… Na-ra… I hate you!”

Startled, she took a step closer. “Hello, Mr.? Are you okay?”

But the man shook his head and waved his hands clumsily.

“No! I don’t want to marry her! I hate that Lee Na-ra!”

She sighed. “Oh, God. Who’s that pitiful Lee Na-ra? Hello, mister? Who are you? What are you even doing here?”

“You… you ask too many questions,” he slurred.

“It’s freezing outside! Come inside before you pass out completely,” she said, helping him to his feet. He leaned on her shoulder as she guided him into the store.

“Please… hide me here,” he whispered. “If they can’t find me… my wedding will be cancelled…”

Her brows furrowed. “You came here alone?”

He glared at her tiredly, clearly annoyed with her constant questions. She quickly zipped her lips.

Just then, his phone rang. She quickly pulled it from his coat pocket and answered.

"Hello, Dong-hyun! Where are you?? Your parents are searching for you!" a man’s voice shouted.

"Hello?!" she replied.

"M..may I know who's this? This is Mr. Dong-hyun's mobile right?" he asked.

"You're right! This guy is sitting in our store! Pls come and get him! He's completely drunken!" Kang Ji-woo said firmly.

"What?? Okay tell me the address!"

She told him the location and hung up. By the time she turned back, Dong-hyun had already dozed off on the chair.

"He dozed off? Alright! At least he shut his mouth now!" she sighed, sitting beside him.

She leaned in, studying his face.

"He's looking so good! His eyelashes are also beautiful!" she whispered, admiring him.

Shaking her head, she reminded herself about work. She went to arrange the shelves, glancing at the door now and then, waiting for Chuang to arrive.

After some time, she came back to check on him—just as he woke up, blinking around in confusion.

"Where am I?" he mumbled.

"In a convenience store!" she replied flatly.

"What?? What I'm doing here?"

"I should have asked that to you!" she said, folding her arms.

He froze, unable to answer.

"Are you alright now? You're completely drunken!" she asked.

"Oh… I'm fine. But having headache!" he muttered, pressing his forehead.

"Let me give you hangover drink!" she said and went to prepare. A few minutes later she returned with the drink. He gulped it down.

"Thanks!" he said quietly.

"No problem!" she replied.

"Did anyone saw me?" he asked nervously.

Checking his phone, his eyes widened. “It’s 2?”

“Yes. Two in the morning. No one’s here except you and me.”

"Okay..!"

"Your mobile phone kept ringing before. I answered the call and spoke with a person! He said he will be here soon. I guess he is on the way to pick up you!" she explained.

"What??" he screamed and snatched his phone. After checking, he sighed. "Thank God! You spoke with my secretary!"

"Did you thought that is Lee Na-ra?" she teased with a smirk.

"No! I thought it was my father!"

"Oh!"

"Wait! How did you know her?" he questioned.

"You only said! Few minutes before. Before dozing off!"

"Shit!!"

"Don't worry! I don't tell anyone!" she assured.

"There is no problem even if you tell others what I spoke about her!"

"Wow! So you scared of your father?" she teased again.

"Miss! I not scared of my father! I'm going to get married soon. If he heard a woman voice in the call it will be problem!" he explained.

"I understood! But.. if you don't like her, then don't marry her!" she said boldly.

He looked at her quietly, then sighed. "Everything was decided. Nothing I can change now!"

"Yeah! Life will be never in the way we want. So go with the flow!" she said.

He frowned. "What do you mean?"

She leaned against the counter. “Accept it. If you can’t change your fate, change yourself. Who knows? Maybe one day, life will surprise you.”

He gave a bitter laugh. “In my dreams.”

“Suit yourself,” she said. “By the way, have you had dinner?”

"Fine! Let's have noodles!" she said cheerfully and went to prepare. Soon she served two bowls.

He hesitated. “I shouldn’t—”

“I already paid for it. So eat,” she insisted.

As they slurped, he suddenly choked, his face turning red.

“This is way too spicy!” he cried.

“What? You can’t even handle this?” she laughed. “It’s barely spicy!”

“How do people eat this fire?!” he groaned, gulping water.

“Then give it to me!” she reached over.

But he shook his head stubbornly. “No… but.. it’s delicious.” He kept eating, coughing between bites.

She laughed so hard she nearly dropped her chopsticks. “You’re starving and dramatic at the same time!”

He gave her a small smile. For the first time that night, the tension in his face softened.

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