The convenience store lights hummed gently overhead, bright and almost too clean. Rows of snacks stretched out in front of you, colorful packaging catching your eye as you wandered slowly down the aisle. You didn’t come in with a plan—just to look. You always liked looking.

Your fingers hovered over a shelf of ramyeon cups, reading flavors you’d never tried, when laughter drifted in from near the drinks fridge.

Yi-chan’s voice was the loudest, animated as always, followed by the others chiming in. You didn’t turn around, but you knew they were there. They always were—like background noise to your thoughts.

Choi Se-kyung stood a little apart from them.

She leaned against the freezer door, arms loosely crossed, eyes half-focused on Yi-chan and half somewhere else entirely. There was a calmness about her, like she existed on a slightly different wavelength from everyone else. When her gaze shifted, it landed on you.

For a moment, she just watched.

You were completely absorbed, crouched slightly to examine a lower shelf, debating between two snacks with the seriousness of a life decision. There was something endearing about how focused you looked, like the rest of the world had faded away.

Se-kyung blinked, then smiled—small, almost accidental.

She pushed herself off the freezer and walked over, footsteps quiet. “Do you always take this long to choose?” she asked gently, voice low enough that it felt like it was meant only for you.