As we stepped out of the clothing store, Ivy still hugging her Smol blob bear plush, then... my stomach growled. Loudly.
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Ivy blinked up at me. "Ahjussi… was that your tummy?"
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"…No. It was the floor."
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She grinned. "Liar. You're hungry."
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I sighed, looking around. "Fine. Food court. Let's go before I starve to death."
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The smell hit first—fried chicken, noodles, kimchi, pork ribs stew, barbecue, etc etc, and way too many people.
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Ivy's eyes went wide as we entered the food court. "It smells so good!"
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She spun slowly, overwhelmed by all the stalls and signs. "What's that one? What's that one??"
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"That's… chicken," I said, pointing at the stall with a cartoon drumstick mascot.
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She gasped like I'd revealed a hidden treasure. "Chicken…?"
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"Yeah. You eat it."
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She tugged at my sleeve immediately. "I want that one! That one, Ahjussi!"
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I was in the mood for jokbal but.
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I sighed ordering two plates one spicy, one not.
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We sat near the corner, the big sunfish sitting proudly on the empty chair beside us like a third guest.
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Ivy stared at the food for a second, hesitant.
Then she took a bite.
And froze.
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Her eyes lit up like fireworks. "It's… crunchy! And warm! And—and—"
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I watched her struggle for words as she chewed like her life depended on it.
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"Slow down. You'll choke."
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"But it's so good!" she said between bites, already reaching for another piece. "It's the best thing ever!"
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I leaned back in my chair, arms crossed. "Glad to know fried chicken changed your life."
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She beamed, grease on her cheeks. "You should try it too!"
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"I've had chicken before, Ivy. Tons"
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"Not like this!"
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I sighed, took a bite from my own plate and okay, maybe it was good.
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Maybe.
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For a few minutes, neither of us said anything just the sound of munching, chatter, and mall music echoing from above.
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Then Ivy looked up, her voice softer. "Ahjussi… this is my favorite day."
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I froze mid-bite and looked at her.
"...Because of the chicken—Right?" I asked, trying to sound casual.
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She smiled, shaking her head. "Because you're here."
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I stared at her for a second. Then looked away, pretending to focus on my food.
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"…You've got sauce on your face," I muttered.
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She laughed. "Then clean it, Dad."
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"Don't push it."
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But this time, I didn't sigh.
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I leaned back, finishing the last piece while Ivy was still half way through hers, crumbs on her sleeves and happiness all over her face.
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"Drink?" I asked, glancing at the menu board.
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She nodded eagerly. "Yes! The bubbly one!"
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I raised a brow. "You mean soda."
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"Yeah! That!" she said, holding up her cup as I stood. "Make it the red one!"
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"Cherry? You sure? That stuff tastes like medicine."
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"I like medicine!" she said proudly.
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"Of course you do."
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I went to the counter, ordered two drinks, and came back with the cups in my hands. I slid one across the table.
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Ivy took a sip and her face lit up like she'd just been blessed by heaven itself. "It's fizzy! And sweet! And my tongue's dancing!"
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"Congratulations," I said dryly, sipping mine. "You've discovered sugar."
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She giggled. "Can I have yours too?"
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"No."
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"Half?"
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"No."
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"one fourth?"
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"Just say quarter."
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"Quarter?"
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I stared at her. She grinned wider.
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"…Fine," I said, handing her the cup. "Just don't drink all of it."
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"Yay!"
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A few minutes passed in peace just us, food, noise, and the faint glow of the mall lights.
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If I didn't know better, I'd almost call it normal... I looked at her.
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Ivy still nibbling on her last piece when I noticed her eyes glimmer with that same spark of discovery she'd had all day.
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She licked her fingers, sighing happily. "Ahjussi… chicken is the best."
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I leaned, my chin on my hand. "That's just the basic kind."
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Her head shot up. "There's more?"
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"Yeah," I said, suppressing a smirk. "You haven't even tried Korean fried chicken yet."
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Her jaw dropped. "There's… another kind of chicken?"
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"There's a better kind of chicken."
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She gasped like I'd told her there was another world beyond the clouds... Well they said there is.
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"Where!?" She said loudly.
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I pointed toward the far end of the food court, where a sign read — Seoul Bites — Authentic Korean Fried Chicken.
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"Wanna try?" I asked.
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She didn't even answer. She was already halfway to the stall, the Smol bear plush bouncing under her arm.
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I sighed, taking the massive sunfish and tucking it on my arm, following behind. "I swear, one day She'll sprint straight into another dimension for food."
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When we got there, the smell hit us — sweet soy, garlic, and spicy sauce that could probably melt metal.
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Ivy stood on her toes to peek at the display. "Ahjussi! They're shiny!"
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"That's the glaze," I said. "You'll see."
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We ordered a small box of spicy and soy-garlic mix.
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When she took her first bite, her entire body froze. Then her eyes widened.
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"Ahjussi… it's… it's—"
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"Crunchy?" I guessed.
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"Heavenly!" she yelled, cheeks puffed as she chewed. "It's crunchy, sweet, and spicy at the same time!!!"
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Heads turned at us immediately. People at nearby tables looked up, some startled, others smiling?, a few even chuckling.
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I didn't even flinch. Just leaned back, sipping my drink.
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"Wo—ah" I said casually.
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Ivy kept chewing happily, oblivious to the stares. "It's so crunchy, sweet and spicy at the same time!!!"
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"Congratulations," I said, smirking. "You've achieved chicken enlightenment."
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She pointed her drumsticks at me, puffed cheeks and all. "If I ever get rich, I'll buy this every day!"
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"Then I hope your wallet's made of gold."
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She giggled — bright, full, and so carefree it softened the hum of the crowd around us.
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For a moment, everything was perfect almost too perfect...
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Then ivy slowed down halfway through her bite. Her smile faltered.
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"…Ahjussi."
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I looked at her. "What's wrong? Did you burn your tongue?"
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She shook her head. Her lip trembled a little. "No… it's just…"
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Her small hands gripped the edge of the table. "Thank you."
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I blinked. "For what?"
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"For… for picking me up yesterday." Her voice cracked soft, raw. "It was so cold there. I thought no one would ever find me."
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She sniffled, then wiped her face with her sleeve. "And now there's chicken. And some tasty drinks. And this massive place with lights… and you."
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(Massive.. ma—massive... What's another type of massiv? It's lowwww kidding I'm genuinely crying Writing this... But you aren't... Because of this A/N. Right?)
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Before I could say anything, she slid off her chair and ran around the table her arms wrapping around me hugging me tight.
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Her head buried into my shirt, her voice muffled. "Thank you, Ahjussi…"
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I froze, one hand still holding my cup.
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"…You're getting grease on my shirt," I muttered quietly.
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She laughed through her tears, still clinging tighter. "Don't care."
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I sighed. But my hand slowly came up, resting on her head for just a second.
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"…Eat before it gets cold," I said...
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Her muffled voice came back, shaky but happy. "Yes, Dad."
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I didn't correct her this time.
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we left the food court after Ivy wiped her face, her eyes a little red but her smile back again.
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Outside, the mall had already slipped into evening the air cooler, lights softer, the sky washed in that faint orange gray of Seoul.
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Ivy hummed quietly beside me, hugging her bear plush against her chest. The sunfish swung from my arm like a tired companion. (Get it?)
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For once, everything felt… peaceful.
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We passed a few blocks in silence until a familiar glow caught my eye a CU store at the corner, its sign buzzing faintly in purple-green light.
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That's when I saw her.
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Standing just outside the store.
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A woman in a flowing white dress, the fabric catching the streetlight like mist. A wide ribbon hat shaded her face, and a disposable mask covered the rest but her posture, the way she stood slightly off balance, as if caught between worlds…
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It was impossible to mistake.
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I stopped walking.
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Ivy looked up at me. "Ahjussi?"
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But I barely heard her.
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My gaze stayed fixed on the woman by the store, who now turned ever so slightly enough for the light to hit her eyes.
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Cold. Familiar. Beautiful...?
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My throat tightened.
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"…Vesper?"
The name slipped out before I could stop it.
Her head tilted, slow, deliberate.
And for a second, I could swear she smiled beneath that mask.
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.(About the Like the EVERYTHINGS TOO PERFECT ALMOST TOO PERFECT dialogue there... I was DOING A 50/50 with my mind if I should just suddenly Pop some dark story or make it dark like suddenly a earthquake. Or Just keep I wholesome.... Well you know what I Picked lol)
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