First Pour

“No, I mean, it’s not that I’m glad something like this happened to Injun-ssi…”

“Thank you.”

“Uh… yes.”

His “thank you” sounded especially sweet.

His lingering gaze made me feel awkward—I didn’t know where to put myself.

I bit my lips for no reason and slipped out of the narrow space between the buildings like I was escaping.

“Hurry and go.

Ah, make sure to look around carefully!”

“Yes.

Go in safely.

I’ll tell my manager hyung about today, so don’t worry.”

“Yes!

Good luck with the shoot!”

I bowed quickly and turned around right away.

My slow steps didn’t want to detach easily.

I don’t know how much regret was loaded into each one.

Should I try suggesting a date?

Or is it okay to contact him starting today?

Even though I was looking ahead, all my attention was focused behind me.

Then.

“Sonagi-ssi.”

He called my name.

A very soft voice caught my ankle.

As if I’d been waiting for it, I quickly turned around.

The distance between us was exactly the number of steps I’d taken.

Seo Injun hadn’t moved from his spot.

So… he watched my entire back view dripping with regret?

Somehow embarrassing.

I forced a smile to hide any sign of panic.

But even that acting didn’t last long.

“Do you have time tomorrow?”

“…Yes?”

“It’s nothing else—I wanted to treat you to a meal as thanks for today.”

Seo Injun asked first?

And he’s the one suggesting we meet?

I froze stiff on the spot, blankly staring.

As if proving this wasn’t a dream, Seo Injun quietly waited for my answer.

When I only blinked and couldn’t reply right away, he stroked the back of his neck.

“If you’re busy with streaming, it can’t be helped…”

I hurriedly waved both hands and answered energetically.

“No!

I have tons of time!

I’m super free!

I’ll completely clear tomorrow!”

Ah.

I only needed to say one thing—why did I add the rest?

I overreacted and only caught myself late.

I gave an awkward smile and scratched my cheek.

Then Seo Injun, who had been blinking for a while, let out a small laugh.

That Seo Injun laughed out loud for the first time.

With his head slightly bowed as he laughed, the world felt brighter.

Really.

“Then I’ll contact you.”

His voice still carried traces of laughter as he said goodbye, then turned and walked away.

This time, I just stared at his back.

Even after his figure disappeared, I couldn’t move.

His smile and low laugh kept replaying in my mind.

I stiffly turned my body like an unoiled machine and happened to meet my face reflected in a glass window.

It was red and ripe like a pomegranate.

I patted my cheeks and let out a groan.

Did Seo Injun see this face too?

No way.

He better not have.

“Uuh, why am I like this…”

Because anyone could see this is an excited expression.

I came back from shopping at the mart and turned on a stream for the first time in a while.

Viewers flooded in faster than usual.

I hadn’t said anything yet, but the chat was filled with crying emoticons.

They must have worried a lot—I deliberately raised my voice a tone.

“Everyone, it’s been a while.”

[▶ Jangma ya ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ I’ve been waiting only for you…]

[▶ I almost became your ex…]

[▶ Hyung, where did you abandon me and go….?]

“Sorry.

I took a rare break.

Can you hear my voice well?”

[▶ ㅠㅠㅠ I can hear it well ㅠ I love you..]

[▶ Even a karaoke mic is fine.. just stream please..]

Their unusually gentle reactions made me laugh softly.

No matter what, it seems I have to keep streaming.

I missed the fans who liked me even without knowing my face during the break.

“I’ll continue streaming regularly from now on.

Thank you for worrying.”

[▶ ㅜㅜㅜ I was so worried thinking something happened..]

[▶ ㅠㅠㅠ Even 10 minutes a day is fine, please stream]

They kept saying what I wanted to hear and just cried—it touched a corner of my heart.

I suddenly felt emotional, pouted my lips, then tapped my cheeks to snap out of it.

Then the one comment I’d been waiting for came up.

[▶ Jangma nim, but the photo is still circulating—are you okay? ㅜㅁㅜ]

I couldn’t avoid mentioning that day.

Some said it was just one eye visible—why the fuss.

But thanks to that incident, I thought a lot.

I can’t stop it, and I can’t erase everyone’s memory of seeing my face.

So I decided to be thankful to those who still like me after seeing it.

“Ah!

That’s okay.

You worried a lot~ but above all, you all saying I’m cute gave me a little confidence.

Hehe, if I ever get real courage later, I’ll consider cam streaming without the mask too.”

[▶ Cute!!!!!! You said cute!!!!!!!!]

[▶ It was cute to the point of feeling a bit betrayed ㅠㅠ.. like a hamster..]

[▶ Cam stream good or not good, no pressure]

They’re really all good people.

I felt emotional again.

Swallowed dry and shook my head.

[▶ What happened with Seo Injun after that??]

[▶ The chemistry was so good ㅠㅠㅠㅠ]

Seeing Seo Injun’s name immediately blocked my words.

My ears felt hot for some reason—an illusion probably.

“If we get another chance, we decided to collab again.

Then for real!

Re!al!

No mistakes!”

[▶ Mistakes are fine… my bank account is yours..]

[▶ ㅠㅠㅠㅠ Please collab every day ㅠㅠ That became my favorite video ㅠㅠ]

“Anyway re~ally thank you.”

The chat became a sea of tears once more.

They always tease and laugh at me, but they cherish me just as much.

I looked at them cutely, then threw in another topic to shift the mood.

Since it’s a rare live today, I prepared a light game to chat calmly with fans.

Turned on a cute-designed game and stood up briefly from my seat.

“Watch the opening!

Grabbing water!”

Held empty water cup, one hand habitually gripped phone.

Seeing fans’ reactions cleared my anxious mind.

Bright smile on mouth pouring water—right then a text arrived.

Drank a sip, skillfully unlocked pattern with thumb.

Seeing the sender, slowly set the cup down.

[Tomorrow around 8 PM okay?]

Heart thumped heavily.

Just one text—yet excitedly without integrity.

Pure joy at thought of meeting him again.

Immediate good reply sent, returned to computer.

Why voice so excited—viewers asked.

Dodging “nothing” how hard.

Seo Injun busy not watching stream fact—relief.

He asked what I want to eat.

Truth with Seo Injun eat anything fine.

Street stalls any enter good, common instant good too.

But can’t say that—’Eat what Injun-ssi likes!’ replied.

Long no reply—he sent one restaurant name.

Nothing think immediate good replied, excited mind slept.

Next day.

Rare no alarm early eyes opened.

Afternoon promise—morning planned video edit.

But progress none.

Not elementary picnic—full excited work hand not catch.

Ended computer off, early prepare start.

Fashion show like clothes laid out, mirror front stood.

Fan sign this feeling perhaps.

Even this one-on-one fan meet.

Smile kept leaking—couldn’t help.

Prepare done—then searched restaurant name.

Taxi 20 min enough distance.

What menu delicious—looked photos.

But wow.

Name Japanese—thought Japanese restaurant, but izakaya.

Straight him first promise suggest drink—not expected.

Originally like drink—no refuse reason.

Rather drink enter awkward mood disappear perhaps.

Sun gradual set—contacted departing, boarded taxi.

Before saw his billboard passed, arrived izakaya front.

Seo Injun not come yet seem—store front phone fiddled waited.

Few minutes not—someone approach presence felt.

Head up—sure him.

“Sorry late.

Waited long?”

“Just arrived.”

Seo Injun long strides approach, removed black mask.

Clear revealed beauty once surprised, noisy yet uniquely well-heard voice again surprised.

Somehow several times see—still not familiar.

2nd floor store up looked—he quite flustered.

Follow head up—anyone see not food store but bar-like interior visible.

“Acquaintance recommended quiet place… never thought izakaya.”

Then understood why he suggested izakaya.

Small sigh—Seo Injun side face watched, mouth tight shut.

Inside hard confession only.

Truth I knew but didn’t say.

Sorry, thought.

“Izakaya uncomfortable perhaps?”

“Uh, no!

I like alcohol!”

“Then just enter?”

“Yes!”

Unintended drinking gathering formed.

Somehow Seo Injun tense seem.

Me tense—everything look that probably.

Izakaya quiet.

Strange Japanese-Korean mix but atmosphere good too.

Inside dark thanks—gaze worry not needed.

Corner seat guided, waiter menu looked.

No, truth menu not—sneaky watched Seo Injun.

Menu scanning eyes too elegant—Hermann Hesse book together reading feel.

“What eat?”

“Uh… nabe seem delicious.”

“Then this okay?”

Long index tip pointed pot dish and alcohol together set.

Said I like alcohol—probably that.

Came izakaya must drink law not.

Sneaky checked Seo Injun eyes.

“Alcohol okay?”

“Yes?”

“No, um… tomorrow schedule if troublesome perhaps.”

His expression subtle became.

Slight narrowed brows—nerves focused.

Drink troublesome or tomorrow schedule troublesome—don’t know.

…Perhaps can’t drink?