Jeon.J's car moved smoothly through the quiet night streets. The city lights slipped past the windows like blurred streaks of gold.
Minji sat in the front passenger seat, calm but thoughtful, while in the back seat, Sophia, Hana, and Ruhi were squeezed together, their moods visibly heavy.
Minji slightly turned her upper body toward the back, her eyes meeting theirs through the mirror.
"Tomorrow, we're leaving too," she said casually but firmly. "Make sure all of you keep your bags ready."
Hana frowned immediately."Why are we leaving?" she asked.
"Zoya is going. We're her friends. We should be looking after each other." Minji said.
"But she could stay," Ruhi added quietly.
"I told her clearly, right in front of you," Minji replied. "But she didn't agree."
The three girls' faces dropped at once.
Minji glanced at them through the rearview mirror."Now fix your moods. We'll come back again."
She paused, then continued, more gently,"But later, maybe the TBS people won't be free. Right now, they are free. We can spend time with them and enjoy a little. Let Zoya go. It's just two days. After Easter, we'll come back. Zoya will still be here." Ruhi sighed.
Minji thought for a moment."Alright, let's do one thing. We'll talk to Zoya again. If she agrees this time, we'll stay. Otherwise… we'll all leave together without saying anything."
She checked the mirror again. The three girls were still sulking.
"Don't you remember what happened with her on Christmas?" Minji said softly. "We were all with her then. I don't know why she's like this. She came so far for her education, but there's a strange fear inside her. She panics over the smallest things."
Ruhi shook her head.
"I don't think she runs away or gets scared. The way she stands confidently in front of Teahun—full competition." jeon.j said strangely
Hana nodded. "We were surprised too. She's so easygoing here. Seeing her like that made us happy. And honestly… this was only the second time we saw her talk so much."
"Second time?" Sophia asked, startled. "When was the first?"
Hana laughed. "Don't you remember? When we asked her for something for Bamson, the way she handed over her favourite biscuit and snacks, then immediately said, 'No more. I'm not giving my favorite snacks to a dog.'"
Everyone burst out laughing.
"And whenever we left Bamson with her in the dorm," Hana continued, amused, "the way she would lecture her nephew: 'Go, don't move from your place. Don't even make him shake. And don't look at me like that.'"
The laughter grew louder.
Jeon.J, who had been quietly driving, stiffened slightly."Nephew?" he asked. "She called Bamson her nephew?"
Sophia nodded."She used to call him a dog at first. We told her to say 'Bamson,' and she said, 'Oh, he's your idol's son. So that makes him all of your nephews. I'll call him that.'"
Jeon.J smiled faintly but then fell silent.
If Bamson is their nephew…Then what are you to them, Zoya? The thought settled somewhere deep in his chest.
"Where did you disappear?" Minji asked, lightly tapping his arm.
"Nowhere," he replied quickly. "Tell me—what biscuits and snacks did she feed Bamson? I'll buy them. You can give them to her."
"You can't buy those," Minji said.
"Why not?"
"When she came here, she brought them from her home. Two days later, the Bamson incident happened. Whatever was left, she fed him."
"We didn't feed him," Ruhi laughed. "We forced her to feed him."
Jeon.J exhaled."Then tell me if there's anything else she likes here. Or let's check the Pakistani–Indian super stores nearby. Maybe we'll find them there."
"We don't even remember which snacks they were," Hana admitted.
"Give me one minute," Jeon.J said, pulling out his phone.
"Jia," he said into the call, "where are the Indian and Pakistani super stores?"
"Itaewon, Hyehwa, and near Dongdaemun," came the reply.
"That's fine."
He hung up and dialed again. Everyone watched silently.
"Teahun, I'm sending you the location. Come there."
Another call.
"Kim Joon, I'm sending the location. Come there."
Kim Joon's sleepy voice came through."Jeon.J, we're tired. Aren't you tired yet from roaming around?"
"Alright, you go. We're coming. Teahun will be with me. Will you all go to your own homes?" Jeon.J asked.
"I don't know," Yomin's voice came faintly. "I didn't ask anyone." Maybe Jinhun's home.
"Okay. Reach safely. We'll come after dropping Minji."
Jeon.J ended the call and looked at Minji. "We're heading to the Indian/Pakistani super store in Itaewon." Tell her to pick her favourite snacks and biscuits. I'll pay. I don't want Bamson to owe her anything."
Minji stared at him."And what does she get out of it, Jeon.J? Her name is Zoya."
He shrugged."Is saying a name really necessary when you understand the point?"
"She'll be happy today," Hana smiled. "Buying her favourite things."
"I hope we find them here," Ruhi added. "She couldn't find them in Busan."
Jeon.J bit his lip slightly."Buy anything. Just let the damage Bamson caused be repaid."
"You're taking this too seriously," Minji said. "She only says these things to tease us."
"I still don't want it." Jeon.J added.
"Ufff," Minji muttered.
"We should talk to Zoya now," Hana said to Minji. "Otherwise, she'll reach home and start packing."
"We'll see," Minji replied.
By then, they had reached the location. Teahun's car and Yomin's car were already there.
"I thought you weren't coming," Jeon.J said to Kim Joon as they stepped out.
"The one whose house we were going to was with Teahun," Kim Joon replied, glancing at him.
"So we called them here. We'll go together," Yomin added.
They all headed toward the superstore. It was 1 a.m., and the crowd was thin.
Masks went on. Woolen caps were pulled low.
"Teahun, put on your black glasses too," Minjo teased, fully awake now.
Teahun shot Zoya a look, as if saying this is all because of you.Zoya struggled to suppress a smile, shrugged lightly, and walked ahead with Minji.
"Why did you bring us here?" Zoya asked Minji quietly. "I'm getting late. I still need to pack. I won't get enough sleep."
"If we tell you, you'll be surprised," Hana said, laughing.
"What do you mean?" Zoya asked, confused.
"When Jeon.J found out that during Bamson's missing days he ate your favourite snacks and biscuits," Ruhi explained carefully, "he brought us here and said you should check if you find them. Or buy something else. He just wants to repay the favor."
Zoya looked sharply toward Jeon.J, who was entering with the others.
"Why did you bring us here at this hour?" Yomin asked. "Suddenly remembered groceries?"
Jeon.J stopped and spoke loudly on purpose,"Someone fed Bamson two packs of biscuits and snacks. I'm here to repay that."
Everyone froze. Minji's group laughed. Zoya stared at Jeon.J seriously. He avoided her gaze. Yomin laughed, understanding immediately.
"Come on, Zoya," Yomin said. "Go find your favorite things."
Teahun shot Yomin a look."How do you know?"
"I heard it from Zoya while talking," Yomin replied.
Jeon.J glanced coldly at Zoya. She looked away.
"We'll buy too," Jinhun said. "If you're paying, pay for us as well."
Jeon.J walked off without replying.
"Silence means yes," someone joked.
Everyone started shopping.
Zoya quietly browsed the shelves when Yomin asked,"Did you find your favorite?"
She shook her head.
"Let's search together."
"No," she smiled faintly. "I'm not even looking. I'm just waiting for everyone to finish so we can go home. I need to pack."
She glanced at Jeon.J standing far behind. Their eyes met briefly. She turned away.
"Buy something," Yomin laughed. "Otherwise, we won't be able to pay our bills because of you."
"Very clever," Zoya laughed. "I'll just buy tea ingredients. I haven't had tea since I came seoul."
She picked up powdered milk and tea powder.
"What kind of tea do you miss so much?" Yomin asked.
"Our country's favorite drink," she replied brightly.
"Will you let us taste it?"
"Why not? If you like it. But I'm leaving tomorrow. It's late."
"Hmmm… we'll see."
At the counter, everyone lined up. One by one, bills were paid. People left.
In the end, only Jeon.J and Zoya remained.
The cashier scanned the items and reached for Jeon.J's card—but Zoya separated her items.
"My bill is separate."
Jeon.J glared at her.
She handed her card to the cashier anyway.
"What is this?" Jeon.J whispered angrily into her ear.It was the first time they spoke directly.And it wasn't pleasant.
"I'll pay for my own things," Zoya replied softly, her voice trembling slightly. She was genuinely afraid of his anger.
"Stop this," he said coldly.
The cashier stared, trying to recognize him. In Korea, recognizing a TBS face wasn't hard.
"I don't want to buy anything. Thank you," Zoya said suddenly and walked out.
Outside, the car arrangements had changed.
Hana, Ruhi, and Teahun, Jinhun were in his car.Minji and Sophia were in Jeon.J's.
Zoya turned toward Teahun's car, but Hana stopped her."Sit with Minji."
"Why should I?" Zoya snapped. "I came in this car."
"What happened?" Minji asked from glass.
"I don't want to sit there."
"Oh, Zoya wants to go with me," Teahun teased Zoya. "She'll miss me."
Zoya shot Teahun a glare and moved toward Minji's car.
Jeon.J arrived as she opened the back door and sat.
He handed Minji a bag."Some items were left at the counter. I paid for them. Check whose they are."
He looked at Zoya through the mirror.
She was staring out the window—at Teahun—who sat in his car, teasing her with a grin.
To be continued...
Regards
ZK💌