"Haa..."
I came out of the bustling cafe and moved to a quiet park.
I'd gone to the cafe not to buy coffee, but just to sit somewhere cool and rest.
There was also the gift card to use, though.
Anyway, drinking warm hazelnut coffee outdoors like this was not part of the plan.
"Hot... so hot..."
The sun was blazing down.
Sitting on a park bench, sipping hot coffee on a day like this.
I let out a short sigh and slurped it down.
The sweet, bitter taste slid across my tongue and down my throat.
Perfect flavor... except for the one problem: it was way too damn hot.
"This is insane."
Heat against heat? What a joke.
Someone could actually die like this.
The sunlight was unbearable, so I wandered the park for a while before settling on a bench in the shade.
"Ah... that's better..."
The air wasn't especially humid, so the shade made a real difference—definitely cooler.
My hands were warm from the coffee, though.
A cool morning breeze and a warm cup of coffee.
If that sounded luxurious, well, it was.
At least to the office worker staring down at me from the window across the street, it probably looked pretty damn luxurious.
Anyway.
"Nice."
I felt drowsy, pleasantly relaxed.
Sleep tugging at me gently.
So I just closed my eyes for a bit.
With them shut, I could feel the breeze rustling my hair even more vividly as it swept past.
I hadn't grown it out on purpose—it had just gotten long on its own.
It felt a little awkward, but the wind brushing through it wasn't half bad.
The breeze shook the leaves overhead, filling my ears with a soft rustle.
Should I come out every morning?
This serene vibe was so nice, I suddenly wanted to make it a daily thing.
Might've even found a spot better than the cafe.
No prying eyes, no random confessions.
I had nothing planned for mornings anyway—maybe rent nearby and make walks a routine.
This must be what personal space feels like.
Lost in random thoughts, another cool gust blew in.
I sipped my coffee happily, facing into it.
"Ah, hot!"
Eyes closed, I'd taken a bigger gulp than I meant to.
Luckily no spill, but my tongue was stinging like hell.
I'd left the lid off to cool it faster, and this was the disaster I got.
I rubbed my numb tongue against the roof of my mouth and set the cup aside.
Better wait till it cools more.
Hands free now, I pulled my phone from my pocket.
Time check: just past 10 a.m.
"Still a ways till lunch."
At least two hours left.
Car pickup was even later—could be 3 p.m. if delayed.
"...Spending the whole day here like some unemployed bum might look kinda off, huh?"
The park was empty now, but lunch hour would fill it with office workers like me, soaking up their leisure time.
Rest was crucial for salarymen.
And blank, thoughtless downtime? Even more vital.
Anyway, phone in hand, I tapped away, pondering my next stop.
Too awkward for real estate now.
No car for grocery shopping either.
"Hmm..."
They say those who've spent money know how to spend it well.
I'd barely spent any, so who knew.
What do rich people do to kill time like this?
Internet was made for moments like these.
I searched eagerly for solo stuff I could do without feeling burdened.
PC bang? What kinda lame idea is that... Board game cafe's no good alone. Shopping? Could try on other clothes while I'm out. But can't head there right now.
Nothing clicked.
Money in pocket or not, I kept circling back to old habits.
"Haa..."
The saying popped back up, drawing out a long sigh.
Then, out of nowhere.
[Romantic Comedy – Wife Manipulation Team Re-Release]
The ad headline stabbed right into my eyes.
Movie theater.
Perfect—no unwanted attention, time flies by.
"Why didn't I think of that?"
I slurped the now-cooled coffee and hurried off to the nearest theater.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Man, it had been years since I'd set foot in a theater.
Last movie was right after college graduation—way too long ago.
Back then, matinees were the only affordable option.
Now? I bought a full-price ticket, no discounts needed, and grabbed a popcorn-cola combo to boot.
Popcorn in one hand.
Cola in the other.
Already felt satisfying.
"She a celebrity?"
"Dunno, never seen her."
"Yo, you see her just now?"
Sitting in the lobby, scrolling my phone, snippets of chatter drifted over.
Didn't think it was about me, so I munched my long-overdue popcorn and kept staring at the screen.
Roof of my mouth's all raw—popcorn stings like crazy.
The coffee aftermath made every bite scrape painfully.
Should've just gotten cola.
Then again, two-hour-plus runtime without popcorn? Felt wrong.
Who knew.
Should've skipped the cafe altogether.
Conclusion: coffee's fault. Thud thud thud.
Struggling through the popcorn, someone suddenly approached.
"Um..."
Chewing away, I glanced over.
And there it was again.
Again?
A guy, phone out, friends snickering behind him.
"Could you add me on Instar... please?!"
I swallowed hard and muttered softly.
"I don't have an account..."
His friends started chuckling at the rejection.
"Sorry, kid doesn't know his place..."
"Hey, thought your mug had a shot?"
The group vanished in a flash, trading jabs.
I scratched my cheek awkwardly, watching them go.
Do women really get hit on this much?
I was a woman now, but didn't quite get it from that side.
Of course, the mirror didn't lie—I was stunning.
Even old me, Choi Min-hoo, would've gawked at Choi Yeon-bi for ages.
So it wasn't that surprising.
Still, something felt... off.
Not bad, just... weird somehow.
"Customers watching 'Wife Manipulation Team,' please proceed this way."
Whatever.
Time for the movie.
Heart fluttering a bit, arms full of popcorn, I headed in.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The movie was way more fun than I'd expected.
'Wife Manipulation Team'—the kind of smash hit where saying "everyone saw it" wasn't hyperbole.
Title sounded like trashy drama bait, but the story had real depth, which fueled the hype.
And as a rom-com? Hilariously over-the-top.
The dated gags were a tad cringy, sure.
But overall? Solid.
My situation right now? Not so much.
"Bathroom... bathroom..."
Sudden urge hit near the end—didn't wanna bail mid-movie, so I clenched through it. Agony.
Coffee plus cola chug? Inevitable.
Should've sipped less...
Spilled milk.
No amount of regret conjures a toilet.
So I hustled, legs in motion.
Usually right on the way out...
Legs crossed tight as possible, I hunted desperately.
Managed as a guy; now? Impossible.
Teeth gritted, finally spotted one.
"Ah, there it is."
Dashed in quick.
Empty stall—training pants slid down easy, plopped down.
"Whoa... close call."
Thought I was done for.
Women have it rougher holding it in, huh.
How would I even know, not like I'm a real girl.
Unfair as hell—I scowled for no reason.
"Yo, think that girl from earlier's got no Instar?"
"Prolly no account worth sharing with you."
Laughter erupted.
Wait.
Men's room? Shit, I walked right in?
Urgency overrode brains—pure instinct.
As long as no one clocks me...
Bad plan, but too late now.
Best case: slip out unnoticed.
"Seriously, thought she was a celeb on sight. Training gear all baggy, still stole every glance."
"And you confess instantly?"
"Wasn't a confess—just wanna build somethin'."
"Ugh, you're nuts—move it."
Next stall clunked—someone entering.
"Gross as hell."
"Never know. Fortune favors the bold, right?"
"Grandpa wisdom? Then why'd the other dudes just stare, no moves?"
"Other guys were checkin' her out?"
"You blind?"
For real?
I found myself glued to their convo.
Me, drawing that much attention?
Face heating up for no good reason.
The chat kept rolling after that.
My bit was done—shifted to movie gripes, friend drama, karaoke then new bar tonight.
These guys never shut up.
Sat on the throne so long my back ached.
Then—phone buzzed loud.
"Eek!"
Startled yelp slipped out.
Outside went dead silent.
Too loud?
They notice a chick in here?
"Yo, you comin' out or what?"
"Dropped it all. Wipin' now."
"You freak—didn't need details."
Whew. Brushing it off.
Screen: dealer number.
Mashed end call, fired off a text.
[Customer, vehicle prep complete. Contacting for explanation and simple paperwork. Please share your ETA.]
[20 mins.]
[Confirmed.]
The car.
Finally, my first car in life.