“I’m going to have lunch with my friends,” Yoonho said before Angel could reply. Then his gaze shifted to her. “Oh, and Angel—when shall we meet? For the workout plan?”
“Ugh, right,” Angel groaned. “We need to get it done before the deadline.”
“Then, since we have that class tomorrow,” Yoonho suggested, “shall we talk about it after class?”
“And I have to buy you lunch,” she reminded him.
“Great. Then see you tomorrow in class, Angel.”
“Yes!” she replied brightly.
“See you next time, Joowon!” Yoonho added with his usual politeness, before dashing off toward his friends.
“Yeah. Let’s have lunch or dinner next time,” Joowon called back with a small wave.
As always, Yoonho disappeared in his quick, effortless way, leaving behind a sense of warmth. Angel couldn’t help but sigh dreamily. “Aww, he’s so nice and gentle!”
Joowon raised an eyebrow. “By the way, what is a workout plan?”
“Oh,” Angel said, turning back to him. “I’m taking a class with him, and we’re in the same group.”
“Is it a general lecture?”
“Yes. It’s a class that requires us to improve our InBody scores.”
Joowon tilted his head. “I’ve never heard of that lecture before. It must be new.”
“Yeah, it’s great!” Angel beamed. “And Yoonho and I have the highest and lowest score in the class.”
Joowon blinked, then gave a slow smile. “Oh, wow…”
Angel smirked, leaning in as if to challenge him. “Who do you think scored the highest, and who scored the lowest?”
He looked at her knowingly. “You also know the answer is so obvious, right?”
“Argh, Joowon! Why don’t you just pretend for one second that you’re confused…?” Angel groaned.
“Let’s go. We need to eat,” he replied curtly.
“Hmph.”
With that, Joowon strode ahead, leaving Angel to puff her cheeks and follow him reluctantly.
At the Campus Café
After lunch, the two of them found themselves in a cozy café tucked into the corner of campus. The smell of roasted beans wrapped around them as they stepped inside.
“You treated me to lunch, so I’ll buy you coffee,” Angel said, fishing out her wallet.
“That’s okay. What do you want to drink?”
“I said I’m buying this.”
“If you don’t tell me, I’m just going to order my coffee.”
“...Ice latte,” Angel muttered, pouting. “I wanna try the salmon special next time! Maybe I’ll go there with Jiyoon.”
“Yeah,” Joowon nodded, resting his arm on the table. “That food there was good.”
They chatted idly as they waited, the quiet buzz of the café filling in the spaces between their words.
Clink.
The bell above the door jingled. Instinctively, Angel turned toward the entrance. The moment her eyes landed on the newcomer, her body froze.
“Yikes!” she hissed under her breath.
The guy who walked in—the last person she ever wanted to see—was him. The jerk who had stabbed her in the back during her first semester.
Memories came rushing back like a bad aftertaste: his smile that had once seemed so sweet, the way he’d showered her with compliments, making her believe he was just one step away from confessing. And then—one humiliating morning—he had loudly announced in class that he was dating another girl from their project team.
Angel’s stomach twisted. That bastard… He had played her and that poor girl at the same time, and now he walked in as if he owned the place. She hadn’t seen him since, and she had assumed he’d graduated long ago. What was he still doing here?
Joowon noticed the sudden change in her face. His eyes narrowed slightly, his voice low.
“Are you all right…?”
Angel swallowed. “Someone I didn’t want to bump into came in here...”
“Who is it?” Joowon’s eyes flicked toward the café entrance.
Angel shot a quick glance at the guy, then quickly turned back.
“Why don’t you want to bump into him?” Joowon asked again, his voice even, though his gaze sharpened with curiosity.
Angel hesitated. Should she tell him? Wouldn’t it sound petty? Or worse—like she still cared?
As if sensing her hesitation, Joowon leaned back. “If you don’t wish to tell me, that’s fine.”
Angel fiddled with her straw before finally blurting out, “Umm… Joowon,”
“Yes?”
“Even if it’s before officially going out together, it’s still bad to flirt with someone else, right? Cheating on someone is bad, isn’t it?”
“It is bad,” he replied without even a breath of hesitation.
Angel let out a small sigh. “Yes, right. It is really bad. That’s what he did to me.”
Joowon’s jaw tightened slightly. “…He’s the bad one. Really.”
Angel gave a faint smile. “But I’m actually relieved that he did it before we were officially dating. If he did that after becoming my boyfriend, it would’ve felt…” She trailed off, pressing her lips together.
“You’re right,” Joowon said. His tone was steady, but his eyes were distant. “It’s good that you didn’t get to be his girlfriend.”
Oh no… Angel’s stomach sank as realization hit her. Joowon’s ex… she dumped him after cheating on him. Geez, Angel, why would you bring this up? Stupid, stupid!
She glanced at him nervously. He was silent for a while, his gaze lowered as though stuck somewhere far away.
Then, finally, he spoke. His voice was quiet, almost as if speaking to himself.
“It would have been okay if it wasn’t the second time.”
Angel blinked. “What?”
“Nothing.”
He curved his lips into something that looked like a smile, but she knew instantly—it wasn’t real.
Her chest ached. That’s not a smile… it’s just a mask.
“Joowon…” she murmured softly, guilt gnawing at her. “I remember hearing that before… I was so sorry for yesterday.”
Joowon’s gaze softened, though his voice remained calm. “That’s all right.”
Angel hesitated, her lips parting as if to say something—Oh, right… he…—but the words faltered on her tongue.
Joowon glanced at his watch. “It’s already two. Shall we go?”
“Huh? Yes!” She scrambled to gather her things, the moment slipping away before she could make it up to him. "Argh… why couldn’t I say something better?"
They stepped out onto the campus path, the afternoon air warm and lazily drifting with the scent of cut grass.
“You’re going to your college building, right?” Joowon asked.
“Yes. I think it’s in the opposite direction to where you’re going.”
“Right.”
She slowed, clutching the strap of her bag. “Thank you for the lunch today.”
And then, gathering the courage that pressed against her chest, she added, “Joowon… let’s drink beer at the bench again.”
The corner of his mouth twitched. “So that you can ask me to treat you to lunch again?”
She pouted. “Beer’s on me.”
His answer came quickly, simple as always. “Okay.”
Angel exhaled in relief. “Goodbye then. We might be late to class.”
“See you later.”
Joowon walked away with his usual steady pace, not once glancing back. Angel watched the line of his shoulders until he disappeared into the crowd.
Her stomach sank. "That… must have something to do with his ex-girlfriend. She shook her head quickly. Whatever. I have to go to lecture now."
No matter how curious she was, it was something she could never ask.
The next day, Health and Strength was about to end. The professor’s voice faded beneath the shuffle of notebooks and the faint hum of the air conditioner. Angel sat with her chin in her hand, her notes untouched, her mind wandering yet again.
When she glanced to the side, Jiyoon was already staring at her—smiling like she knew something.
Angel groaned softly. “You’re doing that again.”
“Enjoy your lunch with that hot guy~” Jiyoon sang, leaning across the desk with a grin that spelled nothing but mischief.
Angel narrowed her eyes. “That’s one heck of a suspicious smile.”
“Look at my Angel,” Jiyoon teased, tapping her pencil against the desk. “Having lunch with Joowon yesterday, and today—”
“It’s just lunch! Lunch!” Angel hissed, trying to wave her off. “We’re making a workout plan after lunch.”
Jiyoon raised her hands innocently. “I didn’t say anything! Anyway, I’ll have lunch with Jungmin and Sunhee today.”
“Okay. I’m sorry, Jiyoon. Let’s have something delicious tomorrow, my treat.”
Before Jiyoon could retort, the professor’s voice cut through the room. “Let’s call it a day. And a reminder—don’t forget to bring your workout schedules next week.”
Angel stretched in relief. “Aww, great. He let us off thirty minutes earlier.”
“Told you,” Jiyoon said, packing her books. “His class is awesome, just like everyone says.”
The room filled with the sound of chairs scraping back and students filing out. Angel was just slipping her notebook into her bag when she noticed Yoonho standing up from a few rows behind. He moved toward her with the same casual pace as always, but it still made her heart skip.
Before he reached them, Jiyoon leaned close, whispering with a sly smirk. “I’ll tell everyone you’re having lunch with a young hot guy. Have a great time~ And I won’t be surprised if you end up at his house by mistake!” She winked and waved as she darted off.
“Gosh, Jiyoon!” Angel hissed, her face burning. “Yoonho might hear that—”
Too late.
“Angel,” Yoonho’s low voice interrupted her thoughts. He stopped at her desk, glancing briefly at the empty chair beside her. “Your friend is going?”
“Yeah,” Angel muttered, hurriedly zipping her bag. “She’s having lunch with other friends today.” She straightened up, forcing a casual smile. “So… what shall we eat? Do you want anything in particular?”
“I’m fine with anything,” he replied, slipping his phone out of his pocket.
Angel crossed her arms. “Just choose one thing. One menu you want right now.”
Yoonho’s lips curved slightly as he scrolled through his phone. “Hmm… uh, I’ll have to answer this call, Angel.”
“Oh—yes, take it.” She nodded quickly, even as her chest fluttered with a mix of disappointment and relief.
Yoonho checked the caller ID, his expression shifting before he quickly tapped the answer button.
“Yes, Grandma,” he said softly.
Angel blinked. "Grandma?"
“Ah… so the switch doesn’t work, right? Hmm… yes. Then I’ll go check it right now.” His voice held calm patience, but when he ended the call, unease shadowed his face.
“Um, Angel…” He looked at her apologetically, scratching the back of his neck. “I’m really, really sorry…”
Angel tilted her head. “Yeah? Is there a problem?”
“I think I’ll have to go to the apartment for a while.”
“The apartment? Now?”
He nodded, hesitating as if guilty to drag her along. “It’s because…”
By the time they reached the apartment corridor, Angel understood what “because” meant.
“Oopsy-daisy,” an elderly woman exclaimed as she opened the door for them. “I didn’t know it would work if I changed that. I wanted to boil water, but the stove wouldn’t work.”
Yoonho crouched beside the gas stove, calm and steady, as though he’d done this many times. “I changed the battery, so it will work well now.”
Angel stood nearby, watching as the tension left his shoulders once the stove flickered back to life. She felt something soften inside her chest.
The old woman beamed at him, her wrinkled face lit with gratitude. “Thank you, Yoonho. You came all the way back from school because of this? I’m so sorry, dear.”
“It’s fine,” Yoonho assured, giving her one of his quiet smiles. “I’m really okay, so if you have any problem in the future, you must call me, Grandma.”
“What a sweet young man.” The woman’s gaze flicked past him and landed on Angel. A mischievous sparkle entered her eyes. “And who’s this lovely young lady over here? Is she your girlfriend?”
Heat shot straight up Angel’s neck. Her eyes widened, and she shook her hands in denial.
“N-no!” Yoonho stammered at the exact same time, his ears turning red. “She’s not my girlfriend, she is—”
Yoonho’s mouth opened, but no words came out. He looked helplessly between Angel and the old woman, clearly scrambling for an explanation.
Angel, unable to bear the awkward silence, stepped forward with a polite smile.
“Good afternoon! I take the same class with him in college. And I live upstairs, too.”
“Oh, really?” The old lady’s eyes widened in pleasant surprise. “I’ve never seen you before. You are so pretty, dear. You two look so handsome and pretty when you are standing together like that. Ho-ho.”
Angel flushed and bowed slightly. “Thank you.”
“Okay, goodbye. Listen to your professor, and study hard.”
“Yes,” Yoonho replied, bowing respectfully as the granny shuffled back inside.
When the door closed, silence lingered for a beat. Yoonho turned to Angel with guilt written across his face.
“Angel, I’m so sorry. You came here because of me.”
“It’s okay,” she said quickly, waving her hands. “So you were helping the granny since you came here?”
Yoonho nodded, scratching the back of his neck. “Yes. She sometimes sends me an SOS like this. She lives alone, and I was quite worried… so I gave her my number.”
Angel stared at him. Her heart felt like it was swelling in her chest. How can a person be… like this? Like an angel from heaven? If there were a contest for 'living the most good and virtuous life,' she was certain Yoonho would win without even trying.
“It’d be quite late if we go back to campus and eat around there, right?” Yoonho asked, pulling her back from her thoughts.
“Right… Shall we grab something to eat here, then go back to college?”
He hesitated, then glanced at her. “Umm… Do you, by chance, like fried rice with omelette?”
“Fried rice with omelette?” she repeated, blinking.
At Yoonho’s Room
This was… sudden. Too sudden! One moment she was standing in the corridor, and the next she was in his apartment, watching his tall, broad-shouldered frame moving confidently in the small kitchen.
Angel perched stiffly at the edge of a chair, her eyes glued to his back. She's never been to a guy’s place before… except Chanwoo’s, but that was with his whole family. This—this doesn’t count the same. Right?
The faint sound of oil sizzling filled the air, carrying the savory aroma of fried rice. Yoonho moved with quiet ease, stirring, flipping, then carefully sliding the omelette over the golden rice mound.
Finally, he turned with a triumphant grin.
“Here it is!”
Yoonho set the steaming plate in front of her, the golden omelette glistening under the light.
“Wow!” Angel gasped, eyes widening. “It looks fabulous…”
He scratched his cheek sheepishly. “I’ve made it only once, so I’m quite worried… Try it, Angel.”
“Thank you!” She picked up her spoon eagerly.
“I’m so eager to hear your comment,” he said with a boyish grin.
At his cute prodding, Angel scooped up a spoonful of omelette rice and put it in her mouth. Her eyes instantly lit up.
“What…?! It’s soooo delicious!”
“Really? Is it really delicious?” Yoonho leaned closer, watching her reaction with almost childlike anticipation. “On a scale of five points, how much?”
“Mmmm… mmm…” she pretended to think, dragging it out with puffed cheeks. “…Ten!”
His shoulders relaxed, relief washing over his face. “That’s great. I was worried it wouldn’t taste good.”
“Oh, no. That wouldn’t have happened,” she reassured, then laughed lightly. “You know, I can’t cook at all. You should try it too, quick! It’s so delicious.”
“Okay.” He obediently took a bite.
Angel, still smiling, suddenly felt his gaze lingering on her. His eyes, warm and intent, made her spoon freeze midair. She looked up nervously.
“…Why?”
Yoonho didn’t flinch. “I think it tastes better because I’m with you.”
Her heart skipped. She hurriedly took another spoonful, trying to cover her fluster. “…Yes. It’s kind of lonely when you eat alone.”
“Then,” he said softly, “let’s have another lunch or dinner together soon. I’ll learn how to cook another menu.”
Angel laughed nervously. “You sure about that? I’m really good at eating, although I can’t cook.”
Yoonho’s lips curved. “That’s fine. My ideal type of girl is… someone who eats well.”
The words sank in, slow and heavy. Angel nearly choked on her rice. His… ideal type? W-why does that sound like—like a confession?!
Her face heated, and she put her spoon down, fidgeting. “Wh-what should I say…?” she muttered under her breath.
Angel wasn’t tolerant of that high level of sweetness. Her cheeks were burning, so she quickly dropped her head, pretending to focus on her rice. Anything to escape Yoonho’s warm gaze.
Just then, her phone lit up.
“Huh? It’s Chanwoo.”
She glanced at Yoonho nervously, then pressed accept.
“Yoonho, I’ll have to answer the call…”
“Okay,” he said simply, but his chopsticks paused midair.
Angel turned slightly away. “Chanwoo! What’s up?”
“Where are you? At school?” his familiar voice asked.
“Nope.”
“You don’t have any class today?”
“Nope.”
“Then where are you? Did you just skip class today?”
Angel puffed her cheeks. “No! I’m having lunch at home. I’m going back to college soon.”
“Ah, is that so? Then do you have time for a while? I’ve got some free time before practice. I’ll go to your place now.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh… But actually, I’m not home.”
“…Hmm? You just said you were home.”
“Not my home,” she corrected quickly, fumbling with her spoon. “I’m downstairs. At my friend’s.”
A beat of silence on the line. Then—
“You’re having lunch at that guy’s house?”
Angel froze. “Yeah… it happened somehow.”
Chanwoo didn’t speak right away. The silence stretched, heavy and uncomfortable, until his voice finally came through—lower, sharper.
“You must’ve gotten close to him. I’m surprised you’re having lunch at his house.”
Angel swallowed. She could suddenly feel the heavy air even through the phone, his disapproval pressing against her chest.
“So…” Chanwoo’s voice came again, quieter now. “…you can’t see me today?”
Angel felt a sting of guilt after ending the call. Chanwoo’s voice had been calm, almost casual, but she couldn’t shake the heaviness in her chest. Words could so easily hide feelings over the phone. Hide irritation. Hide jealousy. Hide truths.
She knew it too well—she did the same with her mom all the time. A polite tone, a careful lie, just enough to keep worry away.
It bothered her. Enough that she put her spoon down and sat in silence.
Yoonho noticed right away. He leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp with concern.
“Angel, did you hear that? The police came to our apartment last week.”
She blinked. “The police?”
“Yes. I don’t know what that was about, but they came at night.”
Angel’s breath caught. “Well, I think… that must’ve been when they came to my house.”
“What?!” His chair scraped as he straightened, eyes wide. “Did anything happen?”
Her lips pressed together. Then slowly, haltingly, she told him everything—about the drunk man, the pounding at the door, the fear that had seized her, and the police arriving after her desperate call.
Yoonho listened without interrupting, his expression darkening with every detail. By the end, his jaw was clenched, his voice low.
“So… the drunk man came there at night, and…”
Angel forced a small smile, trying to soften it. “But the police came very quick, so it turned out well.”
Yoonho’s gaze held hers. Unmoving. Heavy.
“Angel.”
She tilted her head. “…Yes?”
“If something like that ever happens again, and the house owner doesn’t answer your call…” His voice was firm now, almost commanding. “…call me. It doesn’t matter whether it’s late or not.”
Yoonho’s face looked so serious that Angel could only nod.
“Okay.”
Before she realized it, her hand had lifted, brushing gently through his hair.
“You’re so nice. I feel that whenever I talk with you.”
Yoonho blinked, the corners of his lips tugging upward.
“Hmm… If a person is too nice, he’ll get manipulated by others a lot.”
“But still, I like nice people.”
“…I like nice people, too.”
Then, almost without thinking, his hand mirrored hers—lightly brushing against her hair. The gesture was small, fleeting, but it made Angel’s heart thump.
She swallowed a smile. “Oh… That’s perfect, Yoonho.”
“Right?” He grinned, boyish and proud.
Argh! He’s so cute! Even when he’s sooo big. Maybe it’s the warm omelette rice, or maybe it’s his warm smile—but today’s lunchtime felt strangely comfortable. Cozy, even.
They returned to campus, sitting side by side as they organized their notes.
“So, we’ll submit like this, right?” Yoonho asked, scanning the scribbled workout plan.
“Yes. The professor said he’ll revise it and give feedback. Oh, it didn’t take that much time.”
“I’ll make a template on MS Word and type in what we discussed today.”
“Huh? I can do that.”
Yoonho gave her a small smile. “It’s okay. We wrote it on my notepad.”
“Umm… okay. Because I don’t refuse twice,” Angel replied, raising her brows as if warning him playfully.
“Yes. Don’t ever refuse, Angel,” he said, almost too seriously for such a simple thing. Then, as if remembering something, he added, “Oh, and I have to go to the administration office before my lecture, so…”
“Is that so? Then shall we leave now?”
“Yes. Then, see you next week at class, Angel.”
“Right. Hurry, you might be late,” she told him, waving him off as he strode away.
The moment he disappeared into the crowd, Angel whipped out her phone, ready to call Jiyoon. But before she could even tap her contacts, a notification popped up on her screen.
A message from Jiyoon.
"Angel, enjoyed your lunch with the young hottie? ^^"
"Angel groaned, typing back: Yeah it was greeeat =_="
Almost instantly, another message came. "Hehehe > < Heyyy, do you have time this Friday?"
"Friday? Why? I don’t have any plans," she replied.
"Jungmin and Sunhee wanna hang out."
Angel grinned. "Ooooh, I’m in."
"We’re partying all night long. Is that okay for u? You started living alone. Should be fine, right?"
Her eyes widened. "All night long?"
…And then it hit her. Yes. This is exactly the reason Angel started living alone. To enjoy her freedom.
She furiously typed: "Yes yes yes yes!!!"
"Geez sooo happy for you," Jiyoon texted back. "Finally! Partying and drinking with Angel…!!! I’ll tell the girls you’re coming. We’re at the student center lobby! Come here :3"
"I’ll go there now!!! This Friday, hmm?"
"That’s great," Jiyoon confirmed.
Her heart felt like it was bouncing in her chest. On that day, she would finally get to know what freedom really was.
Three days later
At her room, Angel stood in front of her mirror, her excitement barely contained.
“TGIF!!!” she shouted, arms spread wide to the ceiling.
Today, for the first time in her life—she was going to stay out overnight.
Friday night finally arrived—the night Angel had been waiting for. Her first real taste of freedom.
“Maybe we should start getting prepared,” Jiyoon said, clapping her hands together like a general leading troops into battle.
“Right!” Angel chimed back, practically bouncing.
The two of them stood shoulder to shoulder in front of the mirror, leaning close to fix their makeup. Lip tint, eyeliner, a touch of shimmer—Angel’s hands trembled slightly, but not because of the mascara wand. No, her whole body buzzed with excitement.
“So Jungmin and Sunhee will be there at ten, right?” Angel asked, checking her reflection again.
“They’ll come after their part-time jobs are over,” Jiyoon said, blotting her lipstick with practiced ease.
Finally, after twenty years of curfews and rules, Angel was going to party overnight. A milestone. A declaration of independence.
But Jiyoon’s voice cut through her fantasy. “By the way, did you tell your mother you’ll be staying out tonight?”
“Ugh.” Angel froze mid-brushstroke.
Jiyoon snorted. “Your mother is really strict.”
Of course she knew. Jiyoon had been Angel’s closest friend since the very first week of college. She’d seen firsthand the texts, the check-ins, the way Angel’s mother could sniff out a lie faster than a detective.
“I… don’t have an alibi yet,” Angel admitted, staring at her reflection as if the mirror might cough up a solution.
“So you told us you could make it before getting permission, hmm?” Jiyoon teased, her smirk reflected right beside Angel’s guilty expression.
Angel leaned back against her chair, a small sigh slipping out. “I thought I could get away with it since I’m living alone now…”