By Zephyria 
==
“…….”
If I do this every day, will it eventually start to feel natural? Riding in a car driven by a chauffeur, no longer having to struggle to make money, simply choosing to do whatever I want… is that how I’ll end up living?
‘And I’d like you to quit your job at the convenience store immediately. If it’s difficult to quit right away, let me know. I’ll send someone to settle things without any noise.’
Since he had decided to move back home, he knew he had to quit his part-time job. However, because the store was a special place to him, he wanted to ask the CEO for understanding and wrap things up properly himself, rather than through someone else.
‘Alright. Then you handle the resignation, but in return, come home today. I’ll send a car for when your shift ends. Your room is all ready, and I can have someone move your things tomorrow, so just bring yourself first. I think I’ll only be at ease once you’re home.’
Hearing the worry in the voice, Eun-won obediently agreed. He hadn’t fully prepared himself mentally, but since he didn’t know when that preparation would ever be complete, he decided to simply follow his father’s pace.
“…….”
Then, after class, I’ll go to the library to do my assignment… then go to the convenience store and have a quick dinner…. The CEO said he’d be in early today, so I can talk to him, clear out my locker, and then leave.
In truth, it was a day no different from any other, yet for some reason, his mind felt incredibly restless. Finding himself facing a flurry of emotions as he thought about the future, Eun-won shook his head to scatter the thoughts.
“Class is over. What are you thinking about so hard?”
“…….”
“Hey, Seo Eun-won. Hey!”
Startled by the sudden voice piercing through his thoughts, Eun-won turned his head to look at Yoon Ji-woon sitting next to him. Yoon Ji-woon, who was putting a tablet into his bag, pointed forward. Turning back, Eun-won saw the professor leaving the classroom. He couldn’t even remember how he’d listened to the lecture, but it seemed it was already over.
“Something up?”
“Huh? Oh, no.”
Yoon Ji-woon laughed as if Eun-won’s flat reaction was boring, zipped up his bag, and grabbed Eun-won’s shoulder.
“Hey, seriously, not today too? Can’t you just skip your part-time job for just one day? The others said to bring you along today. We’re going to that new izakaya, come with us, okay?”
“Ah… today is a bit difficult, but I’ll go from next time. I’m quitting my job now.”
“Really? Hey, that’s great! Then Kim Do-gyeol’s birthday is next week and we’re planning to drink, so let’s go together.”
“Is that okay? I’m not close with Kim Do-gyeol… we’ve barely spoken….”
“You can get close once you’re there. They’re curious about you too. You’re definitely coming next week, right?”
“Yeah….”
College life was very different from middle and high school. Back then, even if he worked a part-time job after school, he spent all day in one classroom with the same people, making it easy to make close friends. College, however, was quite difficult.
To get close to people gathered from all over the place with nothing in common, one had to put in effort, but Eun-won lacked both the leisure and the boldness for that. Furthermore, after his mother left, he learned that the more heart he gave, the sadder it was when parting, which made him hesitant to open up and often left him wandering alone.
The person who had first approached him, struck up a conversation, and became his friend by eating together whenever their schedules aligned was Ji-woon. Eun-won smiled as he watched Ji-woon secure promise after promise that he would definitely come along next week.
The thought that he might finally experience something called ‘leisure,’ something he had never known, made him feel strangely excited.
* * *
Cha Se-jin, who had spent the entire day waiting for the sun to set, entered the alleyway of the convenience store as darkness descended. He drove right into the middle of the road beneath the glowing convenience store sign, just as he had yesterday, and checked his face in the rearview mirror before stepping out.
Though his face was always perfect without needing a check, he wanted to show at least some sincerity in checking his appearance before going to see his future ‘Darling.’
Stepping out of the car, Cha Se-jin immediately opened the door and walked inside. Perhaps because he was aware that Eun-won was inside today, unlike yesterday, the sweet scent of milk he had smelled the day before mingled with the characteristic convenience store smell the moment he opened the door.
As he breathed deeply, letting the scent penetrate deep into his body, the aroma—like warm milk drenched in sugar—descended to his lower abdomen, creating a strange tugging sensation. Usually, he detested sweet things, but strangely, he didn’t dislike this. No, it wasn’t just that he didn’t dislike it; instinctively, the tips of his fingers and tongue felt sweet.
“Welcome—”
“Welcome.”
Cha Se-jin completed the greeting for Eun-won, who had trailed off after recognizing him, and approached the counter. It was a scent so subtle that an average Alpha wouldn’t notice, but as a rare Dominant, he could feel the soft scent grow slightly thicker.
“Seeing you again, you really are my type.”
“Excuse me?”
“Yeah, your face.”
“…….”
“You know it too. How your face looks.”
Even the expression filled with wariness and displeasure was excessively beautiful. He wondered if it was necessary to make a person this beautiful. It was clear that an excessive amount of effort had gone into creating him, much like how he himself had been crafted.
“…Please let me know if there is something you need.”
“How old are you?”
When he asked a completely different, very personal question instead of an answer, the wariness on the face became even more distinct.
He could have easily found out if he wanted to, but Cha Se-jin had intentionally avoided looking up Eun-won’s information. He thought it would be more fun to find out in person, and it turned out to be an excellent choice.
“Hmm….”
Guessing the age just by looking at Eun-won’s face was quite difficult. Looking at him, he seemed to be around a high schooler. But that couldn’t be right. There was no way they would have presented a high schooler as his arranged marriage partner, and even if they had, his parents would have shut it down immediately.
“You’re not a middle schooler, are you?”
“I’m not.”
“You are a high schooler, then?”
“I’m not.”
Eun-won, who had no intention of answering personal questions, reflexively answered ‘no’ when the unexpected words ‘middle schooler’ and ‘high schooler’ came up.
“Then how old? Twenty? No, that’s too big a gap between us. Hmm, twenty-three? No. You don’t look like that. Be honest. You’re seventeen, aren’t you?”
“I’m not a high schooler.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Eh, then you must be a middle schooler. You look exactly fifteen.”
Eun-won was genuinely flabbergasted by the assertion that he was a middle schooler. He had seen people perceive him as slightly younger than he was, but no one had ever asked if he was a middle schooler. He was so speechless with absurdity that he couldn’t even find words.
“I’m not.”
“Then tell me, how old.”
“…Twenty.”
“Wow, damn…. You’re eight years younger than me.”
Having finally extracted the age while teasing Eun-won, Cha Se-jin tilted his head as if troubled. He had suspected he would be very young by looking at his face, but confirming it properly was indeed a bit disconcerting.
Marrying a kid who was wearing a school uniform and attending school until a few months ago…. Recalling the things he had been doing a few months ago, Cha Se-jin let out a short breath. He wondered if he should really go through with this marriage.
“College student?”
“…….”
“Which school do you go to?”
“…….”
“Do you have a partner?”
“…Customer. Please… stop asking such personal questions. And if you aren’t going to buy anything….”
“Ah, sorry. Right, this is a convenience store. I’ll go get something to buy.”
Unfazed by Eun-won’s words, Cha Se-jin grinned and walked toward the back of the store, picked up several bottles of wine from a shelf, and brought them to the counter.
“What’s the most expensive thing sold in this convenience store?”
“…….”
“I’m not asking to joke around; I’m genuinely curious.”
“…A limited-edition liquor. There’s one bottle in stock, and that’s the most expensive one.”
“Give me that.”
“…Excuse me?”
“I said I’ll buy it.”
Eun-won hesitated, slightly flustered by the sudden shift from asking for the most expensive item to abruptly buying it. Buying it was one thing, but he didn’t feel great about the fact that this happened right after he told him to leave if he wasn’t going to buy anything while continuing with personal questions.
“Where is it?”
“Ah…. It’s in the back, so I have to go get it…. Are you really going to purchase it?”
“Yeah, I’m really buying it. Give it to me.”
“…Yes. One moment, please.”
In large convenience stores in downtown areas or those with high foot traffic, limited-edition alcohols more expensive than this would sell out the moment they arrived, but this place was different.
Still, they couldn’t avoid having any promotions, so a bottle of liquor costing over 500,000 won had arrived as a promotional item last Christmas. However, months had passed, and not only had it not sold, but no one had even shown interest in it.
Since it was a promotional item, it had been displayed, but after several near-misses of being broken by people moving around the narrow store, the CEO had eventually moved the expensive liquor to the warehouse. Recalling the CEO’s words, Eun-won picked up the liquor box from the warehouse shelf and returned to the counter.