The morning felt different.
Maybe it was because today was a holiday.
For once, Choi Yoon didn't have to follow her usual busy schedule.
But even though it was a day off, a small part of her missed the cheerful voices of the children she taught and the familiar feeling of being in the dance studio.
She stood in front of the mirror, looking at herself.
Today, she decided to dress a little differently.
She wore a simple yet elegant long dress that flowed softly around her figure. The color was gentle and matched her calm personality. Her hair was neatly styled, a few soft strands falling naturally around her face, making her look more graceful than usual.
The dress wasn't something that demanded attention.
It was just simple.
But somehow, it made her look warmer and softer than usual.
A small smile appeared on her face.
Maybe a peaceful day like this wasn't so bad after all.
A few minutes later, she grabbed her bag and left to meet her best friend at the park.
The moment she arrived, she saw her friend sitting on the bench with two coffees.
"You are late," her friend said dramatically.
Yoon looked at her.
"Five minutes."
"Five minutes is enough for someone to lose hope in humanity."
Yoon laughed.
"You are so dramatic."
Her friend handed her the coffee.
"Drink. We need energy for today's mission."
Yoon raised an eyebrow.
"Mission?"
Her friend nodded
seriously.
"Finding your fake husband."
Yoon almost choked on her coffee.
"Can you say that a little more normally?"
"Why? It's true."
They both laughed.
Yesterday, they had discussed the idea.
A contract marriage.
A marriage with rules.
No feelings. No expectations. Just a deal.
It sounded ridiculous, but for their own reasons, it was the easiest solution.
The only problem was finding the right person.
"And we still think finding a gay guy is the safest option?" Yoon asked.
Her friend nodded.Of course. Someone who understands the situation and won't create unnecessary problems."
"But where are we even going to find someone like that?"
"Technology."
Her friend proudly opened her phone.
"Today, we become detectives."
For the next thirty minutes, they searched through different apps and communities.
But nothing worked.
Some people were suspicious.
Some didn't reply.
Some were completely different from what they were looking for.
Finally, Yoon sighed.
"This is impossible."
Her friend dropped her phone.
"Maybe fate doesn't want you to get married."
Yoon smiled.
"Maybe fate is just enjoying watching us struggle."
After walking around for a while, they decided to go to a nearby cafe.
They ordered their drinks and sat at a corner table.
The cafe was peaceful.
Neither of them noticed the man behind the counter.
He was dressed differently.
A simple cafe uniform.
A gentle expression.
A warm smile.
Nothing like the person he truly was.
No one would have recognized him.
The man quietly worked, but his attention was never far from her.
Every time he passed their table, he heard pieces of their conversation.
Fake marriage.
Contract.
Finding someone.
And every time, he acted like he heard nothing.
Like it was just another conversation.
Until finally, he placed their drinks down and hesitated.
"I'm sorry."
Both girls looked up.
The man smiled politely.
"I didn't mean to interrupt… but I accidentally heard your conversation."
Yoon looked surprised.
"How much did you hear?"
"Enough to know that you are looking for someone."
Her friend immediately became cautious.
"And why are you telling us this?"
The man calmly looked at them.
"Because maybe I can help."
Yoon blinked.
"You?"
He nodded.
"I know it sounds strange."
A small smile appeared on his face.
"But I was actually looking for something similar."
Her friend narrowed her eyes.
"Similar?"
"Someone who needs a situation like this."
Yoon looked at him carefully.
"Why would you trust two strangers?"
The man smiled softly.
"Maybe because sometimes strangers are the people who change our lives."
His words sounded simple.
But something about them felt strange.
After a small discussion, they realized their situation was surprisingly similar.
They talked about the rules.
The expectations.
The boundaries.
Slowly, the conversation became easier.
Before leaving, her friend looked at Yoon.
"Well… this is better than all those apps."
Yoon laughed.
"Don't decide so quickly."
The man smiled.
"How about we discuss everything properly?"
They exchanged numbers.
"We can meet again tomorrow," he suggested.
Yoon nodded.
"Okay. Tomorrow after work."
"same cafe"
He nod.
Then they left the cafe, Yoon and her friend walked away, still discussing the unbelievable coincidence.
Neither of them noticed the man standing near the window, watching her disappear.
His gentle smile slowly faded.
The calm stranger.
The innocent expression.
The kind voice.
It was all just a mask.
He watched her walk away with the same expression of someone who had finally found something he had been searching for years.
His fingers lightly touched the phone in his pocket, where a few hidden memories of her already existed.
A quiet, almost dangerous smile appeared on his lips.
Then he whispered her name like a prayer.
"Yoon"
"My Yoon"
His eyes never left her.
"After all these years… you still don't know how long I've been waiting for you, my precious yoon✨
