• Xiaoting •

Today's the death anniversary of my parents.

I was now standing in front of the floor to ceiling windows of Namsan Tower in Seoul, South Korea. I was wearing layers of garments to battle the cold, with a cashmere sweater on top, white fur coat and black ponte pants with casual black ankle boots.

It was almost half past six in the afternoon but the tower was still filled with families, kids, friends and couples. As much as I love the quiet, the noise from around me almost lulled me to sleep.

I'm okay. Everything's okay.

I was alone and I needed this time for myself, to get through another year of trying to survive.

It was a risk to be alone in a crowded place for someone like me, but I have always been on incognito when the year comes around this time. The media would probably go wild if they knew I was not supposedly 'meditating on my private Island somewhere in Finland'.

A sigh left my mask-covered mouth. Despite spending hours here, I never really want to leave this place. It was only my second day here and I'm already dreading the time I have to face work again. I may love the work I do and the money I make, but work is still work. There's no sugarcoating it that it's not always fun and daisies.

I finally turned my back on the amazing view to head back down. As I waited for the elevator to open, I noted that I was probably the only one leaving.

With a view like that, who would want to leave? My responsible but annoying self, that's who.

When the elevator doors finally opened, I stepped in when everyone left the small space and immediately pressed the down button. Just when the doors were about to close, a hand holding some kind of drink reached out. As I was standing in the middle of the elevator and in front of the doors, I was directly hit by the warm coffee that spilled from the stranger's cup. I felt the liquid seeping through the layers of my clothes. I stepped back as the doors opened back up again.

I was angry to say the least. I didn't bother looking at the culprit as I removed my mask that also became a victim of the coffee splashing. I took my handkerchief from my purse and began wiping the front of my sweater. When I saw that my coat was also stained, my frown grew deeper.

"Oh no! I am so, so sorry, Miss. It was an accident, I swear! It was just that I run when I saw that the doors were about to close! I-I think I forgot that I was actually holding my coffee on my right hand but then– Oh no! Are you alright!? I don't think the coffee was too hot anymore but you might be hurt–"

I looked up and glared at the woman. That might have scared her because she immediately stopped talking. The darn woman was speaking Korean and despite studying the language because of my occupation, I still had a hard time understanding them when people are talking too fast.

Now that I was able to look at her, she was obviously flustered. She was quite shorter than me. She was also wearing a mask and... Shades? Inside a building?

"Zhùkôu. (Shut up.)" I spoke up.

After a few minutes of glaring at each other, albeit one-sidedly because the woman seemed dazed?

The woman aggressively removed her sunglasses, then widened her eyes and pointed a finger at me. Rude. I glared further at her.

"Yah! I was trying to apologize! Why would you tell someone apologizing to shut up!? Do you have manners!?"

I lifted an eyebrow when she actually understood Chinese. However, I was still angry. Very much.

"Bùyào dà hǎn dà jiào de, wǒ yòu bùshì lóngzi. (Stop shouting, I'm not deaf.)"

I raised an eyebrow as if challenging her when I saw her stomping her feet.

"I– You're the one who has a stinky breath!"

I was already fuming at this point, but despite that I kept a stoic face. She spilled a drink on me, kept shouting as if we were meters apart and now she's insulting me? Preposterous.

"Yòuzhì. (Childish.)" I was about to press the ground button again. "Nǐ jìnqù háishì bù jìnqù?" (Are you getting on or not?)

"Yah! I'm not childish!" The woman glared. I waited precisely three seconds before realizing that she was not moving from the entrance of the elevator doors.

Taking that as a no to my previous question, I pushed her lightly to signify that I was closing the doors.

Her eyes widened at my action before squinting into a ferocious glare. Well as ferocious as she could because it was the most non-threatening glare I received in my life. I didn't even push her that hard.

"You don't even own this building!"

She didn't take a step forward so I guess she really didn't want to ride the elevator anymore. I finally pressed a button to close the doors.

I let out a smirk when I saw a glimpse of her turning around and stomp her feet. I shook my head and muttered, "Childish."

It was funny actually. My anger diminished when I saw that I was able to anger her as much as I did.

When I finally arrived on the ground floor, I rushed towards the restroom. I splashed some water on my face. I guess it was a good thing that I wore a black cashmere underneath.

I heard a stall opening but I didn't pay it any mind. I removed my coat and just used it to wipe my face and hands. It was stained anyway, it would be useless to clean it right now. I draped the coat on my arms and looked at the mirror before noticing a girl staring at me.

I turned my head to look at her. The girl earily looked like Shiro but also not.

The girl simple smiled, showing her bunny teeth. "Hello, unnie~"

"... Do I know you?" I asked her in Korean.

"No~ I just thought that you looked really pretty." I stopped the small smile tugging my lips at her honesty. "Thank you. You're adorable yourself."

Upon saying that, she took a tissue from the dispenser beside her and stepped closer toward me. I stepped back and raised my eyebrow at her.

"Pretty unnie, the way you stepped back honestly hurts me." The girl pouted.

I let a small smile grace my lips. "If a stranger suddenly invades your personal space, you would also feel cautious. No matter how cute they are."

The bunny smile returned to her face. "Point taken. And since you called me cute, I'll forgive you~ I was just going to wipe the corner of your forehead since there's still some water there~"

The girl may look like my strict personal assistant, but she had the vibes of my close younger cousin. Adorably unfiltered personalities.

I nodded. I wouldn't usually allow anyone I just met to act like this towards me, but the girl was too pure for me to reject her.

I even bent my knees a little for her to comfortably wipe my forehead. After doing so, she smiled again and said. "I noticed that you aren't wearing your coat. It's too cold, will you be alright?"

I nod my head. "It got stained."

She cocked her head to the side. "You could still wear it though?"

"With a stain? My stylist would take my head if she saw me in the tabloids like that."

The girl laughed. "You're funny. But you really are beautiful, are you a model?" I shook my head no in reply.

"Oh you could take my jacket!" The girl began removing her padded down jacket before I could answer her.

"No. You'll need it more." I said quickly. "It's okay! I've been telling my unnie to buy me clothes, this is a great opportunity for me to use it!"

Her outfit underneath revealed a denim jacket and a sky blue hoodie. She then started removing her denim jacket.

"But–" She suddenly stomped her feet and I suddenly remember that coffee girl I met earlier. I smiled at the likeness of the situation. "Please just take it. Knowing that you would go out in a mere sweater while it's freezing cold outside is making me feel guilty."

"Don't be. Besides, my car is just a few seconds walk from where I parked."

"If you won't take it for yourself, then please take it for me! I told you, I needed an alibi to make my unnie buy me clothes."

When she finally removed her denim jacket, she pushed the clothing into my arms before putting back on her padded jacket. The girl was persistent, I'll give her that.

I sighed. "Thank you. Then, give me your name and phone number. Whether your unnie buys you clothes or not, I'll buy you something you want in exchange for this."

The girl's smile grew bigger if that was even possible. "Okay, pretty unnie~ Try on my jacket first. I will just go outside to find my unnie."

I nodded in agreement. "Bye, pretty unnie.~"

She got out the restroom first while I put on the jacket. It was baggy on her so it fit just right on me. After staring a few seconds at my reflection, I shook my head in disbelief at the two polar opposite meetings I had today.

Draping my stained coat on my arm, I finally walked out the restroom. I expected a little smiling bunny in my line of sight, but even after assessing the whole place and waiting for a few more minutes, I realized I've been played.

Remembering that the obviously younger girl already said goodbye before leaving the restroom, I smiled. That cheeky brat. It was obvious she didn't want me to return the favor.

I will leave it to fate's design for us to meet again. I will never forget this favor.

I started walking towards the exit. The cold wind almost knocked me off my feet so I immediately buried my hands in the jacket's pockets. I speed-walked towards my car.

When I finally got inside the vehicle, I quickly turned on the heater and reached for my cellphone to text my cousin.

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Shen Youngeun

Where are you right now?

🦊: in ur heart~~💗💞💕💖

Tell me or you won't get that thing you've been asking me.

🦊: HAKDHSHDH IM IN HONG KONG 4 OUR E-SPORT TOURNA
🦊: WILL U RLLY BUY ME A BATTLE PASS, UNNIE????🥺👉👈

If you start typing like a normal person, then yes.

🦊: not to sound ungrateful, but why all of a sudden??🥰🤔

Just 'cause.

🦊: ok
🦊: that explains exactly everything completely
🦊: hmph. whatever, unnie~
🦊: maybe u met your soulmate?🧐
🦊: *you
🦊: only people in love are kind enough to gift someone something like a good old battle pass

As if. Do you still want that battle pass or not?

🦊: OF COURSE KEKEKEKEKE I LOVE YOU UNNIE~💕

👍

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I rolled my eyes at Youngeun's question. Just because I wanted to somehow spend some money all of a sudden, that means I met someone? As if.

My mind brought me back to the easily angered woman childishly stomping her feet in defiance. If Youngeun rather asked if I met a a kid in a woman's body, I would have undoubtedly said yes.