The store was unusually quiet that evening. No Goblin Coupon Gang marching around in sequined uniforms, no shady customers casing the ramen aisle, no adventurers barging in with blood still dripping on the floor. Just me, Mirae and the faint hum of the fridges.
Which would've been fine, except Mirae was leaning over the counter, staring at me.
Not casually.
Not absentmindedly.
No.
Staring.
Like she'd been waiting for me to say something for the last five minutes.
I pretended to read the stock sheet again, even though I hadn't written anything down.
"So, uh... how's the restaurant side doing?"
"Busy" she said softly. Then, after a pause: "...Why are you avoiding eye contact?"
"I'm not" I lied, immediately looking down so hard I nearly snapped my own neck.
The memory of our last "date" came crashing back. The awkward walk. The goblins tailing us. The exploding soup. And then... the part where I spit coffee directly into her face when she asked me. Smoothest move of my entire life.
"Look" I blurted, "about the other night..."
She tilted her head. "What about it?"
"I. uh... I didn't mean to, uh, you know, set the resturant on fire."
Mirae just blinked at me. Then she smiled, small but genuine.
"You apologized and I didn't mind."
I stared. "...You didn't mind? You looked like you were going to set me on fire."
"…"
"...I was just surprised" she added quickly.
Silence.
I coughed, almost choking on my own tongue. "...Right. Good talk."
The silence stretched long enough that Spicy, curled up in a snack basket nearby, lifted his head and said in his four-year-old voice:
"Awk… ward."
"Not helping" I muttered.
Mirae giggled, an actual giggle, which I'd never heard from her before.
"You're terrible at this."
"Yes, I am. Which is why..." My palms were sweating. My voice cracked.
"Would you... maybe... want to go out again? Properly? I promise not to weaponize bread this time."
Mirae's eyes widened. Then she smiled again, brighter this time, almost mischievous.
"Are you asking me on a second date, Hanseok?"
"...Maybe. Depending on your answer."
"Well..." She pretended to think, tapping her chin with one finger. "Yes."
My heart did a weird flip. Relief, panic, and sheer disbelief all tangled together.
"...Really?"
"Really."
Spicy burped a tiny flame that singed the register and muttered:
"Kiss, kiss."
We both ignored him.
As Mirae went back to the restaurant side, humming to herself, I leaned against the counter and let out a shaky breath.
She still liked me. After all my awkwardness, after the coffee incident, after the goblins chanting "manager's got a girlfriend" in the middle of the resturant, she still said yes.
For the first time in weeks, I actually smiled to myself.
Maybe things were finally looking up.
Maybe I wasn't going to screw it up.
Yeah, no, that was wishful thinking.