O L D  F R I E N D | 오랜 친구

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"Sir, Mr. Radcliffe has arrived at the airport and is on his way here."

"Fine, treat him and his staff with the utmost care and—" His words faltered as his eyes locked on you. You, too, felt recognition surge within you as you studied him.

He adjusted his glasses and asked, "Aren't you Song Y/N?"

You parted your lips, about to respond, when he interrupted. "I'm Namjoon! Kim Namjoon, from Yonsei University!"

A rush of memories flooded your mind. Kim Namjoon—the only son of a famous business couple, the former CEO of Kim Enterprises, and a standout student at Yonsei, where you also graduated. He was the ‘topper’ of your class, the brightest among the freshers, and always had that distinctive look—undercut hair, designer glasses, full lips, and a stare that seemed to pierce right through you. He had grown into quite the handsome, professional man, no longer the nerdy kid you once knew. It was hard to forget his popularity.

"Oh, I remember you, Joonie," you chuckled.

He smiled, his dimples deepening, and for a moment, you could almost see the shy college kid beneath the confident exterior. "I can still picture the days when you ruled the university. The goddess of Yonsei. But now, I see you’ve become even more graceful. Where are those colored lenses?"

"They're gone. It’s been months," you said with a grin.

"Mmm, but you’re still the same beautiful queen, just more... refined," he teased. "Is everything okay at home?"

"Yes, everything's fine. But hey, you’ve changed too. No more thick-framed glasses? I bet there are more girls swooning over you now," you joked.

"Aish, don’t remind me of the drama from back then," he sighed, though a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "We lost touch after the farewell, haven’t heard from you since."

"Nope, I hardly have anyone’s number now, after my phone got wiped," you shrugged.

"Ah, I see. So, what brings you here? Are you here to meet someone?"

You hesitated, pondering whether to mention the job. If I tell him I’m here for work, he’ll probably find me something else, but I don’t want to involve money between friends.

"Umm, Y/N, am I allowed to ask you this?" he raised an eyebrow, and you flinched.

"Oh, no, I’m just passing by. I think I need to head out now. See ya!" you quickly excused yourself.

"Sure. Remember, if you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to call," he said, handing you a card. "This has everything you might need."

"Thanks, Joon. Bye!" you waved and backed away, but after a few steps, you turned to glance over your shoulder. He was nowhere in sight. You sighed, realizing how lucky you were for not filling out the agreement papers yet. Who knew the Namjoon you once chatted with in the campus cafeteria was the same guy standing before you now?

---

After your evening shift at the restaurant, you returned home and sank into the couch, your arms stretching toward your toes as you freed your feet from the leather confines of your shoes. You relaxed back into the soft cushions, but the faint glow of light seeping from your grandma’s room caught your attention.

"Isn’t she in bed yet?" you muttered as you stood up and made your way to the door. Grasping the golden knob, you twisted it open.

Your grandma sat up in bed, a book in her hands. Her glasses reflected your image as she smiled warmly. "Y/N, my sweet princess, come here."

You grinned, stepping closer and plopping down beside her. She gently caressed your cheek with her palm, her touch full of affection. "Why didn’t you make your bed this morning?"

"Oops, I completely forgot! Wait... you went to my room?" you raised an eyebrow, surprised.

"I did. I just wanted to check in since you're no less messy than your father. Like father, like daughter," she teased.

You pouted playfully, "That’s rude."

She chuckled in her gravelly voice. "Well, blame your father for those messy genes."

You giggled, "Granny, your jokes will always be precious." After a moment, you sighed. "Oh, granny, I found an envelope this morning. A strange one, addressed to me."

"A strange envelope?" Her interest piqued immediately.

You recounted the entire story, from the mysterious package to the odd encounter with Namjoon. When you finished, your grandma let out a thoughtful sigh. "Perhaps someone wants to help you. I don’t sense any malice in it."

"You think someone dropped it intentionally?"

"It’s possible. After all, it was addressed to you. Now, what you do with it is up to you."

You thought for a moment before nodding. "Alright. Thanks, granny. Good night!" You kissed her cheek and hurried off to your room.

As you lay down to sleep, your mind kept circling the same question: Who could be so generous? It wasn’t Wonho, nor the newspaper guy, or anyone I know. Who would do this for me? Your eyelids grew heavy, and soon you drifted into a deep sleep.

---

It was just past 2 AM when the quiet of the night was broken by a sudden noise from the kitchen. Your eyes shot open at the sound, a prickling sensation running up your spine. The entire neighborhood had embraced the stillness of the night—the moonlit roads, the navy-blue trees, the peaceful water ripples. But now, an unexpected sound interrupted the calm.

You shot upright in bed, your senses alert, trying to pinpoint the source of the noise.

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Heya mah lovely sugarbeans!!! How are y'all?? I'm back with another part! Please shower some love^^