“Suddenly… I miss him so much.”

The hand, which had lost its energy, turned off the TV. Thirty minutes later, the last thing her tired eyes looked at was her phone. Maybe she checked it just in case. But as expected, it seemed like he hadn’t read it yet.

“Hye-yoon, come on. If you’re lucky, you might hear his voice tomorrow.”

In the end, she closed her heavy eyes.

1 AM. Among Jiho’s schedules, the only regular thing was the commuting time. Living with sleeping at 2 and waking up at 5 for three weeks already. Perhaps starting tomorrow, the day will be even more hectic with the movie release.

The warm eyes, pressed by fatigue, were warm. Nevertheless, she barely opened her eyes and brightened her phone. This was also a regular behavior that had continued for three weeks. Checking Hye-yoon’s message as soon as she got in the car. Well, it would probably be a message that came a long time ago.

[What should I do when my boyfriend is happily laughing with another girl? Should I hit him with my fist when I see him later? (9:50 PM)]

“Yeah… I hope we meet and hit each other soon.”
“I hope we meet and hit each other? Well… I didn’t know it was that kind of preference.”

A voice weakened by drowsiness clashed with a startled voice inside the car. It was Bonggi’s reaction that raised suspicions when Jiho chuckled and nodded slightly.

Jiho carefully examined the short words from Hye-yoon. As a woman who tightly held emotions even in consonants and vowels, just looking at her made him smile. As he observed, his thumb always lingered above Hye-yoon’s contact.

He hesitated every time and endured each time.

It was because he now knew Hye-yoon’s working style well. The time when her work always ended was the time when Hye-yoon had the deepest sleep. You should sleep well to draw a warm fairy tale the next day. He nodded his head with a lonely sigh.

At that moment, while waiting at the signal, Bonggi picked up his phone. When Bonggi put down the phone, a new message flashed on Jiho’s phone screen.

“What is it?”

“Just found an interesting interview. Take a look.”

Bonggi let out a hearty laughter. With tired eyes like mine, what could be so interesting? Jiho checked Bonggi’s message with a wry smile. And as soon as he saw the title of the interview, his eyebrows twitched.

The title that included the names of a man heard occasionally and a woman living in every moment.

[Regular Heon’s Tipsy Talk: “Fell in Love with Jang Hye-yoon at the Bookstore at a Glance.”]

It was an interview article title of a famous male actor. Jiho’s tongue pricked deep into his cheek. Since he hadn’t read the article yet, a bitter taste spread in his mouth. Bonggi seemed to have expected that and snorted through his nostrils. The corners of his mouth even rose slightly.

“Today you looked so tired, so instead of ginseng, I’m giving you this. Reading it might give you energy.”

“Wow, that’s mean.”

Jiho glared at Bonggi examining himself in the rearview mirror. But he quickly lowered his gaze.

Now there was something more interesting. After clicking on the title, he immediately scrolled down the article. He knew well that the most provocative content was usually placed at the very bottom.

Information about Hye-yoon was almost at the end of the article. It seemed to be a question about her ideal type.

[…I also have a fantasy about a woman who reads books. That fantasy became a reality when I met Jang Hye-yoon. I saw her at the bookstore three times, and all three times, she was reading a book alone. So every time I go to the bookstore, I get excited. Wonder if I can see her today too.]

“Wow… the bookstore seems like a scary place.”

“How is it? Your eyes are wide open, right? Woke up completely. When there’s no energy, there’s nothing but anger, right?”

“True.”

While driving, Bonggi also glanced at the rearview mirror, as if it was too good to miss. ‘Jung Kyu-hun is doing well in dramas these days. He’s handsome, not too burdensome.’ He even added words gently touching him. Like Jiho, Bonggi was also changing little by little, becoming more playful.

Jiho reopened Hye-yoon’s message window a while ago. Just as Bonggi said, his eyes were wide open, completely awake, and his fingers were following her message on their own.
“What should I do if my girlfriend unknowingly shakes the hearts of other men? Should we live together when we meet later? (1:13 AM)”

Even after sending it, he couldn’t help but laugh, but there was no regret. Afterward, he returned to the article and read the remaining stories, specifically those related to Hye-yoon.

“…You are much more beautiful in person. So people at the bookstore might not recognize you. I often think about it. I think I should try talking to you if we happen to meet today. But it’s strange. Whenever I have such thoughts, you’re not there that day.”

As he read more, his face stiffened. It wasn’t because of the excitement similar to that of a male actor. After reading it a couple of times, it was because of the words that touched his heart.

“I saw her at the bookstore three times, and all three times, she was reading a book alone.” In such a sentence, the word ‘alone.’

Alone.

These two letters pierced his chest like thorns. As Hye-yoon’s last voice came to mind not long ago, the wounded areas stung.

“Wow, you must have thought a lot alone. So, what did you do after going to the bookstore?”

“Yeah. I had plans with Minju in the evening… Minju’s boyfriend came to pick her up in front of the company. So I canceled the appointment and came home.”

“Ah… so you spent the whole day alone.”

Even in that conversation, the word ‘alone’ had come up several times. It was repeated once again from her, trying to comfort her bitter voice.

“Kukkuk. It’s okay. I’m used to being alone because I’m an only child.”

Thinking back, she seemed too strong, and he felt too sorry. Jiho pressed on, asking her. Swallowing a deep sigh, she quickly sent sincere words instead.

“I suddenly miss you so much. (1:20 AM)”

Before going to sleep, her whispered words echoed the same feelings. Another heartfelt message was added there.

“Sleep well. I love you. (1:20 AM)”

Jiho closed his heavy eyes. In the darkened vision, the image of Hye-yoon reading a book alone in the bookstore emerged.

The words “I love you” were becoming more and more apologetic.