Avoiding the searing hot sun, people started to descend one by one on the escalator into the underground.
Among the crowd, Na-me muttered to herself about how it was a bit too hot for April while walking through the underground passage.
Her long hair, braided into two strands, was now almost touching the floor.
With a beauty that could rival a child model and a unique hairstyle, the girl waiting alone for the subway caught the attention of passersby, but Na-me remained unfazed, focusing solely on her phone screen.
After opening the map app and memorizing the station she had to get off and the exit, she squeezed into an empty corner of the subway.
The subway started moving quietly without any rattling noises and swiftly reached the next station.
As if it wasn’t time for her to get off yet, Na-me closed her eyes and quietly let the white noise wash over her, easing the lingering fatigue.
[The train will depart soon.]
Even with the announcement, the subway doors did not close. Since it was a transfer station, many passengers were coming in and out.
People were snatching up the empty seats one by one, and soon someone sat next to Na-me.
“Hey…”
Na-me opened her eyes at the voice of a young man, clearly looking distressed. He was pointing to Na-me’s empty seat.
“Sorry.”
“No, thanks.”
Na-me confidently curled her hair into her arms, occupying the adjacent seat.
The young man, nearly bursting into laughter at her doll-like cuteness, hastily sat down and placed his belongings on the floor to avoid losing his spot.
With the white noise as a backdrop, Na-me was about to doze off again when suddenly an unwelcome guest from the next section interrupted her plans.
“Hey, you bastards! Get lost, you idiots!”
An old man, disheveled and sporting an unkempt beard, shouted as he pushed through the crowd in tattered clothes that looked like they had been thrown together.
The subway riders averted their gazes, grimacing as if they were trying to avoid any contact.
“What’s up? Is he crazy?”
“Shhh, just ignore him.”
The man, staggering as if he had been drinking, looked around before hurling more insults at those staring at him.
Just when it seemed he would pass without incident, he locked eyes with Na-me and halted.
“What are you looking at, you brat? You think I’m funny? I’ll pluck your eyes out!”
“…”
“You’re one of those spies sent to watch me, huh? I should capture all you pathetic spies—”
“Hey, mister! What are you doing to a kid? Just leave already before I report you!”
The young man beside Na-me suddenly stood up to confront the threatening man.
“You little punks…!”
“If you keep it up, I won’t just sit back either.”
The old man raised his arm, perhaps intending to hit, but the young man swiftly grabbed his wrist. As the young man’s grip tightened, the old man’s body began to tremble.
Swoosh—
Amid the commotion, the files the young man was holding fell to the ground and scattered everywhere.
What seemed like a quick scuffle resulted in people internally cheering for the young man, who was too large of a figure for the old man to challenge.
“Seriously, Line 2 has all sorts of villains. Hey kid, are you okay?”
While Na-me was picking up the scattered files, she gathered them neatly and returned them to him.
“Yeah, thank you.”
“Oh, you didn’t have to pick those up, but really, thanks! I wonder if he even has a proper name tag.”
“Are you going to protest…?”
“Oh, this?”
The young man looked sheepishly at one of the files whose cover was exposed.
“It’s nothing serious. To put it simply, I ordered my favorite food, but the restaurant didn’t make it right. So I’m going to let them know we’re all upset about it. Have you heard of the game Wagal? You probably don’t know it yet since you’re still young?”
“I know it. I know it well.”
“Oh, you do? This is actually my first time going out for something like this, so I’m a little nervous. I don’t know if the script I hurriedly prepared is good enough…”
“In the end, I think showing your true feelings is what’s important, right?”
“Huh?”
“You said you like that game, right? I think if you just speak honestly, you’ll do great. I have to get off here, so I’ll be going. Good luck!”
“Oh…! Thank you, friend!”
The subway came to a stop and while it jerked a little during the sudden braking, the people adjusted without a hitch.
As the subway doors opened, hundreds of people flowed out, and then hundreds more flowed in.
Even though it was the same space, it felt like a different world full of new faces, but a plumply dressed woman raised her hand to call out to the seated young man, transforming the atmosphere back to familiarity.
“Ah! I found the 7-2 car properly! Hi there! I wonder if the main event went well? You didn’t stay up all night, did you?”
“Don’t even get me started. I was seriously thinking about just jumping off until a moment ago.”
“Hahaha. What about now?”
“I got pumped up because a super cute little kid cheered me on! Did you not see her on your way here? She looked about first grade?”
“Hmmm… I was too busy staring at my phone.”
“Oh, you should have seen her, it was like seeing a celebrity! What if she really was a child actress? The way she talked was so sharp and composed. I should have asked for her autograph.”
“Yeah, getting an autograph won’t matter if you don’t watch any movies or dramas. Let’s just fangirl over our cute Na-me together.”
“That girl was way cuter, I’m telling you!”
In that moment, the young man lamented his lack of expression, patting his chest in frustration.
“Ah, you probably don’t know because you watch NoName live broadcasts only, but the main avatar is also unbelievably cute, you know? What if NoName is cuter, though? Shall we bet?”
“It’s just an avatar after all. What I saw was a real person! You can’t compare like that.”
“Someone who lives longer in virtual reality tends to be quite particular…”
“What?”
“Anyway, I’ll show you. Don’t sit there, come over and have a look.”
“But there’s still a while before the station…”
*
“I can’t have come to the wrong place.”
Seo Maru had clearly sent the location for ‘Gamgol Cafe.’
But what he found were only empty buildings and cement bags.
After circling the building, she realized that the café had recently relocated.
But somehow, she couldn’t find any info on where it had moved, as if the wind had carried it away, leaving her in a predicament.
Deciding she couldn’t just stand there and wait for Seo Maru’s message, she resolved to walk again.
“Excuse me, miss, sir.”
I stopped a passing couple and showed them my phone.
“To get to Gamgol Cafe, where do I need to go? It seems to have relocated, but it’s not showing up on the map.”
“Oh my…! Wait a second, where did Gamgol Cafe go again… Do you remember, honey?”
“No, I heard they were remodeling, but when did they move?”
“Didn’t the owner tell us last time? Let’s give Sunwoo a call. Hurry, call him!”
“Kim Sunwoo? Oh, Park Sunwoo? Right, I went with them.”
“Could you wait a moment, friend? I’ll ask my friend right now!”
The girl seemed thrilled that I had called her ‘sister’ and clapped her hands, diligently helping me with my request.
As the connection rang, the three of us were awkwardly standing in the sun.
“Friend, what’s your name?”
While the young man was on the call, the girl in the long black skirt crouched down to ask me.
“I’m Na-me.”
“Wow, that’s such a pretty name! How old are you, Na-me?”
“I’ll turn eight soon.”
“Oooh, you’re eight and you came here all by yourself? Where do you live?”
“Not far. Just about two or three stations away.”
“You’re amazing, Na-me! You can ride the subway alone.”
“Is he not answering? Should I call Yubom? Na-me, could you wait just a bit?”
Since it seemed quicker than waiting for Seo Maru to call me, I nodded slightly.
The girl was staring at me with a bright smile, as if she found joy in the attention.
“Wow, your eyelashes are really long. Right, oppa?”
“Na-me, this lady thinks you’re super pretty.”
“Ahahaha…”
“Are you tired of hearing you’re pretty because you hear it so often?”
“Can’t you tell just by looking? I bet Na-me is really popular! Do you have a boyfriend?”
“I don’t have a boyfriend.”
“Why? I think there would be lots of boys who like Na-me.”
“Well, that’s a bit…”
“Kwaaah! What do I do? You’re too cute!”
Fortunately, the couple’s enthusiasm didn’t last long.
I received the location information she gave me via phone and bowed my head in gratitude.
It turned out it wasn’t far at all and was just located on the next block.
There were only apartments under construction around, all looking the same, making it feel like I was navigating a maze as I walked.
[Gamgol Cafe]
I finally opened the door to the café, and the cool air conditioning breezed over my forehead, cooling the beads of sweat that had gathered.
“Welcome!”
“Hello.”
I greeted the cheerful young woman at the counter and settled into a corner.
Even though I had tried to lighten my load as much as possible since I wasn’t feeling well, my shoulders were still stiff.
I placed my bag on the adjacent chair and took out my files and various capsule recording memories to set neatly on the table.
At that moment, I received a message from Seo Maru.
[Right, Gamgol Cafe isn’t updated on the map right now, so the location might be different! I’ll take a picture and send it right away. I’ll probably arrive in 5 minutes!]
He sure was fast.
Regardless, I took out paper and a pen from the file folder and arranged everything in perfect lighting at the perfect angle.
[V-tube Joint Business Contract]
“Would you like to order?”
The attendant looking down at me seemed unusually high. The menu board was even higher.
I leaned forward and craned my neck to finally see the entire menu at a glance.
After agonizing over my options, I finally placed my order to the smiling attendant.
“Please give me a caramel frappuccino with whole java chips added. A lot of espresso whip, and I’d also like mocha syrup and caramel drizzle. I’ll order more when my friends arrive.”
“Ah, yes! Okay—please wait a moment!”
“Take your time. No rush.”
On days like this, I craved something sweet. But honestly, it’s the same any day, really.
