The cold air bit at your skin as you stepped out onto the empty street, the silence around you mirroring the emptiness you felt inside. All you could think about was how, with every passing day, that million won you needed was slipping further and further out of reach. Sure, you could apply for a third job, but the thought of working yourself to the bone until you collapsed didn't exactly sound appealing.

Maybe, just maybe, the universe would have some mercy on you. Maybe it would send ten million won falling from the sky, landing at your doorstep. You let out a small, bitter laugh at the absurdity of it. In your dreams.

Your shoulders slumped in defeat, and you found yourself drawn to a nearby bench, not quite ready to face whatever awaits you back at home. The air felt colder than usual tonight, sharper, as if it were deliberately reminding you of how small and insignificant your worries seemed in the grand scheme of things. Without thinking, you pulled your jacket tighter around your frame, the fabric offering only minimal comfort against the biting chill.

You glanced down at the pavement, feeling an overwhelming sense of helplessness. Your financial situation was spiraling, and no matter how hard you tried to plan or budget, it never seemed like enough. Your rent alone was 600,000 won every month, and you needed another million to cover Ppang's medical bills. That dog had been with you for years, and now, with his health failing, you couldn't just let him suffer.

You had asked your older brother for help. His response were "That dog is more than a decade old anyways. Let him die, there’s no point in taking care of him." You had never been more disgusted by his words. What a jerk, you thought bitterly. No wonder he doesn't have any girls yet. A surge of anger swelled in your chest. You wanted nothing more than to punch him hard, to knock that smug look off his face. But it wasn’t like you could do that—not when he was halfway across the country. But the next time you saw him, oh, you’d make sure he regretted every word.

As for your parents, well, they have their own problems. You couldn’t bring yourself to worry them with Ppang’s illness, not when they loved him so much. Telling them the truth would break their hearts, and you couldn’t bear to see that. So, for now, it was up to you. But the weight of it was unbearable.

What the hell am I supposed to do?

You were pulled from your spiraling thoughts by the sound of someone sitting down beside you. You looked up, confused for a moment, until you saw a woman with short black hair and a piercing on her mouth and nose. She wore a sleek black leather jacket and matching black jeans.

"This seat isn't taken right?" Her voice was smooth, laced with a casual tone that made you glance at her with a hint of suspicion.

You were taken aback for a moment, unsure of how to respond. "Uh... no," You said curtly, your gaze flicking back to the ground, trying your best not to stare at her like some kind of creep.

She hummed softly, almost as if she wasn’t really paying attention to your discomfort. She crossed her legs, pulling a pack of cigarettes from her pocket. Great, you thought. Did she even notice the ‘no smoking’ sign right over there?

"Hey, you look a little down. What’s wrong?" Her voice, soft yet direct, caught your attention again. You could feel her eyes on you, analyzing your face, trying to peel back the layers of your facade.

You shifted uncomfortably, already regretting the encounter. "It’s... none of your business," You muttered, your tone sharper than you intended. The moment the words left your mouth, you felt a pang of guilt. What's wrong with you? Why are you being such a jerk? She’s just trying to help, and you’re acting like a complete idiot.

She raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a small, amused smile. "Why so feisty?" She teased, a playful note in her voice. You didn’t reply. Instead, you found yourself staring at the pavement again, the weight of your thoughts pressing heavily on your chest.

The woman fell silent for a moment, her eyes darting over your face as if searching for something. Then, with a tilt of her head, she spoke again, her voice softer this time. "You know, you look familiar. I think I’ve seen you around before."

You blinked, confused by her words. "Uh... really?" You asked, still unsure of where this conversation was heading.

"Mhm," she nodded thoughtfully, her gaze roaming over you once more. "Where are you currently studying at?" She asked, her voice tinged with curiosity, though it almost felt like an interrogation.

"Ah, uh..." You hesitated, debating whether you should answer her question. Did it really matter if she knew? Well, whatever. It's not like she's going to show up at your college and try to murder you or something.

"Seoul National University." You finally said, forcing yourself to meet her gaze. You hoped— prayed, even— that your answer wouldn’t lead to anything strange.

Her eyes widened in surprise before she burst into laughter. "Seriously? No way! I go there too. Small world, huh?" she exclaimed, leaning back slightly as if to take in the coincidence.

Relief washed over you at her words. At least she’s not some random stranger with sinister intentions, you thought.

"So, what year are you? Freshman?" She asked, tilting her head. You nodded in response.

"Ah, I see. I’m a junior," She said, smiling warmly. "What’s your name?"

"Y/N." You replied, glancing at her as she exhaled a plume of smoke. The faint smell of tobacco mixed with the cool air around you.

Her eyes flickered with recognition as she put her fingers to her chin. "Y/N... wait, I think I’ve heard that name before. Hmm..." She paused, her lips quirking into a mischievous grin. "Oh, yeah! You’re the girl who made in the news a while back, right? Something about almost drowning in shallow water?" [A/N: dont ask me how thats possible idk either]

Your cheeks burned with embarrassment as the memory resurfaced. For everyones sake, that was a year ago! Gosh, why can't they try to forget the past? You worked hard to improve your swimming skills since then, but it seemed the world just couldn’t let you live it down.

"Please don’t remind me of that..." you muttered, burying your face in your hands. The heat of your blush crept up to your ears, and you refused to meet her amused gaze.

She chuckled softly, clearly entertained by your reaction. "Relax, it’s okay. It happens to the best of us," She said, her voice soothing. Then, with a sudden shift in tone, she added, "How about I treat you to a bar? What do you say?"

You blinked, caught off guard by the suggestion. A bar? You've never been to one before. Sure, you've sipped soju once or twice, but that was the extent of your drinking experience.

"I... don’t know," You admitted nervously. "I don’t drink much."

She smirked, an air of playfulness lighting up her face. "That’s perfect then. All the more reason to try it out. C'mon," She said, standing up and extending a hand toward you.

You stared at her outstretched hand, your mind racing. Was this really a good idea? You barely knew her, and bars weren’t exactly your comfort zone.

Sensing your hesitation, she added with a sly grin, "Don’t worry. I promise I won’t take advantage of you when you’re drunk." Her teasing tone was disarming, yet her words held an undertone of sincerity.

After a few moments of silence, you took a deep breath. Maybe she was right. Maybe you do need a break from all the stress you've been dealing with lately.

"Okay." You said, placing your hand in hers. You rose from your seat, smoothing out your clothes before stepping forward. The two of you starts to walk towards the nearby bar, the cold air still lingering.

"By the way," She added suddenly, as she glanced at you with a small, almost shy smile that lit up her features. "My name's Se-mi."

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A/N: this is too early to ask but how are you guys liking this so far? hehe.