"What happened? You're all red," Lexi asked, eyeing me curiously as we walked toward another coffee shop.

"I met him again, the man I was telling you about. His name is Ryu," I said, still feeling the lingering excitement.

"Did you see his face this time?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Unfortunately, no," I replied, feeling a bit disappointed. "But we talked, and... he seems to know Kim Ryu, I think." My thoughts drifted back to the mysterious man who always kept his face hidden behind a mask.

Lexi waved a hand in front of my face, breaking my trance. "Hey, brush these thoughts aside! I'm hungry again, and it's only 9:30. What can we eat?" she asked, clearly more focused on her stomach.

I laughed, appreciating her ability to switch gears so quickly. "Let's see... maybe some waffles or tteokbokki?" I suggested, trying to think of something satisfying for a mid-morning craving.

We entered a cozy little coffee shop, the scent of fresh coffee and cream hanging in the air, making my stomach grumble even more. The warm atmosphere felt like a gentle hug, with soft lighting and vintage décor adding to its charm.

"Sit here and trust my order," Lexi said confidently as she walked up to the counter. I smiled and took a seat in one of the cushioned chairs by the window, letting myself sink into its comfort.

While waiting, I pulled out my phone and started browsing through my emails. The gentle hum of the café, the soft clinking of cups, and the chatter of other customers created a soothing backdrop as I scrolled through my inbox. It was the perfect moment of calm after the whirlwind morning I'd had.

Lexi POV

"Two caramel macchiatos with almond milk, two Nutella Oreo-flavored doughnuts, and two cups of spicy Jin ramyun," I said cheerfully, placing the order.

"Thank you for your order. Kindly follow the line over there, your order number is 33022," the girl behind the counter replied with a friendly smile.

"Thank you," I said as I followed the short line. Thankfully, it wasn't crowded, and soon enough, a voice called out, "Order 33022!"

Before I could grab our order, another hand accidentally reached for it and started walking away with it.

"Hey! Hello! Excuse me!" I shouted after the guy, but he had earbuds in and wasn't hearing a thing. Annoyed, I followed him outside with our order in hand, realizing it was a mistake. Just as I was catching up, I glanced at the giant screen displaying Jay Park's face in an advertisement, completely distracted, and bumped straight into the guy. 

"Are you okay? Oh sh*t..." I gasped, looking up to see a young man, maybe three years younger than me, his white shirt now stained with mint leaves and sprinkles from the doughnuts.

I couldn't help it—I burst out laughing. He looked at me, clearly annoyed. And then, before I could react, he pulled me into a hug, smearing my clothes with his own mess.

"Laugh now," he muttered, his voice dripping with annoyance, as we both stood there, stained and ridiculous.

I kept giggling, though, unable to stop. The whole situation was too absurd.

"Can you stop it now?" the young man muttered, clearly annoyed. I immediately went quiet, realizing how embarrassing the whole situation was.

"You took my order, and you forgot your change at the counter," I said, holding up his now-messy food as evidence.

He glanced at the ruined order and then back at me with a smirk. "Well, since you spilled mine already, I'm taking yours. And keep the change to buy yourself the same order," he said, walking off toward a car as if he hadn't just been covered in food.

"You are such a brat!" I shouted after him, my frustration clear in my voice.

"Serves you right!" he yelled back, not even turning around, his voice filled with smug satisfaction as he disappeared into the car.

Before I could shout another reply at the guy, my phone rang, snapping me out of the moment.

"Where are you, Lexi?" Sian's voice sounded slightly worried.

"Plan changed," I said, trying to keep my voice casual despite the chaotic incident. "Let's go to the market. I'm already outside."

"Okay, I'll meet you there," Sian replied, and with that, I turned away from the coffee shop drama, eager to leave the messy encounter behind and focus on the rest of the day.

I was heading toward a clothing shop when suddenly a man appeared right in front of me. He was strikingly handsome, with a well-sculpted face, and he wore a perfectly tailored suit that highlighted his muscular build. He looked more like a bodybuilder than someone casually strolling through the street.

"How can I help you?" I asked, confused by his sudden presence.

"This parcel is for you," he said, handing me a small package. "Have a nice day," he added with a brief wave before turning back to his jeep.

"Wait, what? Who are you?" I called after him, but before my words could reach him, his engine roared to life. He disappeared into the busy roads, leaving me standing there with the mysterious parcel in hand.

I found myself standing in front of a sewing shop, still holding the mysterious parcel. I opened the door and stepped inside, greeted by the scent of fabric and thread.

"Excuse me," I said to the lady behind the counter, "Do you mind if I change here? My shirt was ruined because of a... brat."

"Of course, dear," she replied kindly, gesturing toward a small changing area in the back.

Curious, I slowly unwrapped the parcel, and to my surprise, inside was a white shirt with a little duck saying "Hello!" printed on the front. I laughed to myself—it was undeniably cute, but clearly designed for a child. Still, I slipped it on, and to my surprise, the XS size actually fit me perfectly.

As I stepped out, the shop lady chuckled. "Your t-shirt is adorable!" she said, clearly amused by the playful design.

"Thank you," I replied, half-embarrassed but smiling nonetheless. The shirt may have been unexpected, but somehow it suited the lightheartedness of the day.

Sian messaged me that her feet were still hurting, so I found myself grocery shopping alone in the bustling markets of South Korea. Halmoenim Kang was planning to host a dinner tonight, and I needed to be quick.

I made my way through the market stalls, picking up fresh vegetables—radish, bean sprouts, carrots, sweet potatoes, baby corn, and various herbs. I also bought a variety of meats: chicken thighs, duck, and silken tofu, along with some fruits like blueberries, peaches, and yellow kiwis.

By the time I finished, my hands were aching from carrying the heavy bags, and my stomach was growling. The weight of everything made me realize just how much I had bought. Now, all I could think about was finding something to eat to recharge before heading back.