The sunlight leaked gently through the thin curtains, casting a golden hue across the shared bedroom. The warmth stirred Jeong Ju first. He groaned softly, turning to the side.
"Ugh… whose leg is this?" he mumbled, squinting at the limb slung over his waist.
"Hey, Miju—move your leg, man. It's heavy."
From the other side came a muffled voice. "Bro, that's not my leg. Mine's on my side. Yours is probably heavier than mine anyway."
Jeong Ju blinked.
Wait—this wasn't Miju's leg. This one was slender. Smooth. Definitely not Miju's.
He froze.
At the same moment, Kim Miju sat up groggily, rubbing his eyes. His gaze fell on the girl sandwiched between them, hair messy, breathing soft in deep sleep.
"…What the hell?" he whispered.
Both of them sat upright now, staring in disbelief at the sleeping girl nestled between them like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Jeong Ju's voice broke the silence.
"Do you know her?"
"No! Do you?"
They both shook their heads.
Lee Jey Hu stirred lightly, mumbling something incoherent, and pulled the blanket tighter. She didn't wake up—still caught in the dizziness from last night, lost in the unfamiliar warmth.
Miju leaned closer. "She's kinda cute, though."
Jeong Ju smacked his arm. "Dude! That's not the point!"
They sat there, frozen for a second.
Then—
"Okay… what the hell happened last night?"
They both stared for a second longer before scrambling for their phones. Miju dialed the landlord.
"Hello? Sir, why is there a girl in our room? Did you mess up the bookings?"
The owner's groggy voice came from the other end.
"Oh, her? She already paid for a full month. It's just one month. Deal with it."
Miju barked,
"We're two guys! You gave our room to a girl!"
The landlord yawned. "She looked desperate, and we didn't have any singles left. She's just crashing until her apartment's ready. It's temporary. She won't bother you."
Jeong Ju pinched the bridge of his nose.
"This is ridiculous."
"If you want a refund, I can find you a doghouse instead," the landlord added flatly before hanging up.
Silence.
Jeong Ju muttered,
"Let's just go. We have to open the café."
Miju groaned.
"And talk to her when she wakes up. This is going to be a disaster."
The two got dressed, glancing one last time at the stranger snuggled up in their shared bed, still deep in sleep.
Miju, tying his apron:
"Why do I feel like our lives just got way more complicated?"
Jeong Ju:
"Because they did."
The sunlight poured through the half-drawn curtains, falling gently over her face. Lee Jey Hu groaned, rubbing her temples. Her head was spinning lightly—like she had slept through a storm. She sat up, squinting at the unfamiliar walls, the strange ceiling, the room that was definitely not hers.
"Where... am I?" she muttered.
Her heart skipped. She wasn't at home. Not in her father's mansion. And definitely not anywhere she recognized.
Last night blurred in her mind. She remembered drinking water, dazed footsteps, and a warm bed that welcomed her before her body gave in. She rubbed her face, trying to piece it together.
She got up slowly, found her bag at the foot of the bed, and freshened up in the attached bathroom. Her reflection looked a little worn out, but her spirit? Still burning.
Throwing on a white shirt and denim jeans, she stepped outside the room. The house was empty—quiet, but strangely cozy. The kind of place that had a story in every corner.
She walked out onto the street, letting the cool air of Busan hit her skin. A few steps away, a small wooden sign caught her eye:
"Café Memories"
Warm lights glowed from the inside. Drawn by instinct—or maybe hunger—she headed in.
And then she froze.
Behind the counter, two boys were working in perfect sync. One was wiping glasses, the other arranging fresh croissants in the display. Both wore crisp white t-shirts, tucked into neat brown pants, layered with light brown aprons tied carefully around their waists. The look was simple, effortless—and yet, strangely attractive.
The boy with slightly tousled hair and a sharp jawline glanced up. His eyes, clear and calm, locked with hers. Miju.
The other one, a bit taller with a softer gaze and neatly brushed hair, followed his friend's stare. Jeong Ju.
Lee Jey Hi stood still at the door.
And for a moment, the world paused.
Lee Jey-Hi stepped inside the café, the soft chime above the door ringing out. Her eyes swept over the warm interior until they landed on two familiar figures behind the counter.
Miju froze mid-step, eyes wide in disbelief. He leaned toward Jeong-Ju and whispered sharply, "She's our roommate! What is she doing here?"
Jeong-Ju, trying to keep his expression calm, muttered back, "Forget it. Let's just deal with it for now."
Putting on his usual calm face, Jeong-Ju stepped forward. "Welcome. What would you like to order, ma'am?"
Lee Jey-Hu raised an eyebrow slightly at the formality. "You .
Mi-Joo blinked. "What?"
She smiled, amused. "I mean, you can recommend me something."
Jeong-Ju gave a small chuckle, nodding. "Blueberry cake and coffee it is."
She nodded confidently and walked toward a table near the front window. Sitting down gracefully, she crossed her legs and rested her chin in her hand, eyes drifting to the counter—where the two boys worked silently, yet clearly aware of her gaze.
The air between them thickened with unspoken questions.
Miju placed the plate of blueberry cake and coffee on the counter. "Ms. Lee," he called out politely, scanning the café, "your order is ready."
But the window seat where she had been sitting was now empty.
Miju frowned. "Where did she—?"
Before he could finish, joeng ju, said . "Just leave it there. She's probably still around."
The moment hung quietly, until the front door swung open again—this time not with a chime, but a presence.
Everyone turned.
There she stood. Lee Jey-Hu.
Her dark hair slightly tousled from the morning breeze, she held two vibrant flowers—one red, one white—gently in her hands. Sunlight spilled in behind her, casting her silhouette in a glowing frame.
She walked forward with confidence, her heels softly clicking against the tiled floor. As she reached the counter, both Mi-Joo and Jeong-Ju froze, their eyes wide, unsure what to expect.
"I like you," she said, her voice clear and calm. "Would you like to date me?"
Gasps and murmurs spread quietly among the few customers inside.
The two boys looked at each other in disbelief, completely caught off guard.
Then, with a soft smile, she picked up her coffee and cake, set the two flowers on the counter—one in front of each boy—and added casually, "You can give me your answer after I finish this."
With that, she turned, walked to her seat, and took the first sip of her coffee, looking completely unfazed.
(To be continued)