Day Six. 4:44 PM.
The atmosphere in the apartment was unusually… calm.
Too calm.
So calm that Bokki the cat had taken to peeking around corners like he expected something to explode.
Min-Jae was standing in front of the mirror, adjusting his collar.
"Okay. Collared shirt? Too try-hard?"
Soo-Min, lounging on the couch with cucumber slices over her eyes, answered lazily:
"You look like a waiter who's about to get fired."
"Thank you for your emotional support."
"Anytime. Who's the unlucky girl, anyway?"
"Her name is Yuna. We met in my Economics class. She likes dogs, spreadsheets, and sarcasm."
"Sounds like she already has two things in common with you."
Min-Jae frowned. "Two?"
"She likes dogs and sarcasm. You are a dog."
---
Scene 1: The Pre-Date Chaos
Soo-Min threw a clean jacket at him.
"Wear this instead. The one you picked smells like desperation."
Min-Jae sniffed the collar. She wasn't wrong.
He changed quickly and looked at himself.
"How do I look?"
"Like someone who borrowed style from someone with actual taste. You're welcome."
"You're being unusually helpful."
She paused.
"Don't make it weird. It's just… if she dumps you in the middle of the meal, at least let her dump someone who looks okay."
He stared.
She quickly added, "Also, if you ruin this date, don't come back here and cry all over my ramen."
---
Scene 2: Meanwhile, at the Restaurant…
The date started great.
Yuna was charming, smart, and actually laughed at Min-Jae's terrible impressions of their professors.
He tried to ignore the waiter who kept refilling his water every three seconds like he was dehydrated from heartbreak.
Things were going well until...
Min-Jae saw something.
Or rather, someone.
At the table across the restaurant.
Wearing a hoodie.
With sunglasses.
Holding a menu upside down.
It was Soo-Min.
"WHAT. THE. ACTUAL."
Yuna raised an eyebrow. "You okay?"
"Excuse me one second."
Min-Jae got up, marched across the restaurant, and yanked down the sunglasses.
"WHY ARE YOU HERE?!"
Soo-Min sipped water through a straw.
"Just making sure you don't choke on your own awkwardness. Also, they have good kimchi pancakes."
"You followed me?!"
"Technically, I arrived before you."
"You're insane."
"Says the guy who wore socks with pineapples on a date."
---
Scene 3: Date Crashed, Dignity Trashed
Back at the table, Yuna was trying very hard not to laugh.
"So… friend of yours?"
Min-Jae sighed. "Roommate. Eternal enemy. Occasional parasite."
Soo-Min casually waved from across the restaurant.
Yuna smiled. "She's got great timing."
"You mean terrible timing."
Yuna leaned in. "Actually, I like how protective she is. It's kind of… sweet."
Min-Jae looked confused. "You… do?"
"Yeah. Reminds me of how my brother used to act when he was being nosy."
"Oh, so not sweet. Just mildly stalkerish."
They both laughed.
Soo-Min, from her table, texted Min-Jae:
> "You're welcome. She's into you. Don't screw it up."
Min-Jae replied:
> "YOU. ARE. INSANE."
She responded:
> "Says the guy whose fly is still down."
He checked. It was.
He died inside.
---
Scene 4: The Spy Cam Revelation
That night, they returned home.
Min-Jae slammed the door.
"You stalked my date. You ruined my dignity. You embarrassed me in public!"
"Yeah, but she still wants a second date. So you're welcome."
Bokki meowed in agreement. Or perhaps judgment.
Just then, a knock came at the door.
It was their neighbor, Mr. Han from 502.
"Hey, I think this belongs to you."
He handed them a small object.
A hidden camera.
"What the hell—?"
Mr. Han scratched his head. "I accidentally dropped it through the ceiling vent while cleaning. I swear I wasn't spying."
Min-Jae: "Wait. Are you saying… you saw… us?"
Mr. Han turned red. "It was a few minutes! I heard arguing, and Bokki meowing, and I got invested! It's like a drama!"
Soo-Min: "How long has this been going on?"
Mr. Han: "Just a week. We even have a betting pool!"
Min-Jae: "WHAT?!"
Mr. Han whispered: "You're the fan favorites."
He scurried away.
---
Scene 5: Late-Night Truce
They sat on the couch again.
Min-Jae: "So, we're unknowingly starring in a drama watched by our neighbors."
Soo-Min: "And now your love life has a fan base."
Min-Jae sighed. "You do realize we're not normal, right?"
She leaned back.
"Normal is boring. Besides, when we move out, the building will probably hold a funeral for our entertainment value."
"They'll play reruns on the security cam footage."
They both laughed.
Bokki jumped up, wearing a headband with tiny hearts.
"Did you… dress him again?"
Soo-Min smirked. "He likes it."
Bokki glared. He did not.
---
End of Chapter 7