Chapter 16

Observing the aftermath he had stirred up, Joon couldn't help but facepalm in his mind. "Did I go overboard?" he pondered. Scanning the area, he searched for any prying security cameras. "Lucky break, no cameras in this alley. If I got caught, I'd be in a world of trouble."

Relieved by the absence of security, Joon sighed. "Why did I do that? Was it some weird sympathy or just that thug almost ruining Dayun's side dishes for me? Hmm, maybe both?" Joon wrestled with the reasons behind his outburst, trying to make sense of it all.

Having a mental breakthrough, he slowly distanced himself from the scene. The distant wails of ambulance sirens signaled help for the beaten thugs. As he arrived home after a few minutes of contemplative walking, a realization struck him. "Wait, where are my groceries and the clothes I bought?"

Entering his home, Joon recalled leaving his purchases at Mr. Yu's place. Facepalming again, he muttered, "I forgot it at Mr. Yu's." Realizing the inconvenience, especially in the middle of the night, he decided to retrieve them tomorrow. After settling on that, he unpacked and stored Dayun's side dishes in the fridge before calling it a night.

Joon was in the midst of a peaceful slumber when an insistent ringing at his door shattered the tranquility. Understandably annoyed at the disturbance, he flung his pillow aside in frustration, his eyes squinting and his face contorted in a frown. Grumpily, he ambled towards the video intercom, preparing to unleash a stream of vexed words for the intrusion on his rest.

Upon reaching the intercom and glimpsing the person on the other side, Joon abruptly opened his eyes wider, shedding any traces of sleepiness and irritation. He hastily assessed his appearance, tidying himself up to present a fully awake demeanor. With purposeful strides, he approached the door, gripped the handle, and swung it open.

"Mr. Yu, Good Morning! Why so early?" Joon greeted as though his sleep had not been disrupted moments ago. Mr. Yu donned in his work uniform, and held Joon's forgotten belongings, mercifully not too heavy.

"I brought the things you left at my place yesterday," Mr. Yu explained. Joon, now holding his grocery and clothes with gratitude, bowed deeply in thanks. Mr. Yu went on to share how he tracked Joon down, explaining that he inquired with someone in the apartment who knew where Joon lived. While unconventional, Mr. Yu reassured him of his well-meaning intentions, emphasizing that he was returning the tenant's belongings.

Soon after, Mr. Yu bid Joon farewell as he headed to work. Joon, in response, also said his goodbyes and once again bowed in gratitude for Mr. Yu's effort in returning his forgotten belongings. Once Mr. Yu left, Joon closed the door with his hands full. Setting the groceries on the table, he proceeded to the closet to organize his new clothes before starting to cook breakfast.

Joon enjoyed his meal, with Dayun's side dishes enhancing the flavors. After eating and washing the dishes, he pondered how to spend his ample free time. Should he hit the gym, or perhaps venture outside for a cup of coffee? Opting for a stroll around the city, Joon dressed in his new clothes, and checked himself in the mirror, satisfied that they weren't too tight. He ventured outside and walked along the bustling streets, filled with students and young adults occupying most of the stalls.

After a few minutes, Joon decided to enter a coffee shop to order a drink. Inside, only a few customers lingered as he waited in line. Meanwhile, a conversation unfolded between two men discussing Cha Seoha's recent performance. Joon, eavesdropping on their discussion, couldn't help but think, "Cha Seoha, that's the first time I've heard that name since coming here."

Continuing to listen in, he overheard one person pointing out a woman sitting alone outside who resembled Cha Seoha. Another quickly dismissed the idea, arguing that Cha Seoha wouldn't be at a local coffee shop. The man, accepting this, concluded that the woman was likely just a look-alike or a fan trying to emulate Cha Seoha's style.

Joon received his coffee and scanned for an available chair and table. Opting for the fresh air and sunlight, he stepped outside, where he noticed the person the others had mistaken for a Cha Seoha lookalike. Upon closer inspection, he furrowed his brows in confusion. "Could it really be her? What a coincidence. I'll test it by calling her name," he thought.

Approaching her, Joon decided to find out whether she was Cha Seoha or not. As he neared, he spoke in a low, manly voice only audible to her. "Ms. Cha Seoha." The woman turned back to face Joon. "It's really her," he confirmed, feeling a sudden unease about his approach. "Wait, this is something a stalker would do. I must look like a creep here," Joon realized, acknowledging his misjudgment.

Meanwhile, Seoha, who had gone to great lengths to disguise herself with a mask, sunglasses, and a cap, was surprised that someone had seen through her efforts. She observed Joon, carrying his coffee, his appearance resembling that of a well-built idol. Quickly understanding the potential discomfort he might have caused, Joon tried to explain himself, hoping to mend any misunderstanding. Amused by Joon's change in demeanor, Seoha pulled down her mask, revealing part of her face, and reassured him that it was okay. Joon sighed in relief, his mind dripping with sweat over the unintentional awkwardness he had created.

Joon hesitated for a moment before asking her, "Can I join you?" In response, she nodded. Joon carefully placed his coffee on the table and settled down, facing her. Seoha, maintaining some level of anonymity with her mask, pulled it back over her face.

To Joon's surprise, he found himself lost in thought, sipping his coffee without initiating any conversation. Observing the silence between them, Seoha crossed her arms, growing displeased. She had assumed Joon, seemingly a fan, would bombard her with questions about herself.

On the other hand, Joon grappled with how to start a conversation. As he pondered, Seoha took the lead, breaking the silence. "How did you feel about my performance in the drama yesterday?" she inquired. Joon caught off guard and unable to admit he hadn't watched any of her dramas, concocted a response based on the snippets he overheard in the coffee shop.

"I was genuinely delighted. Your performance was breathtaking, and I'm thoroughly impressed by what I've seen," he lied with a straight face, sprinkling in compliments despite being clueless about the actual content. Seoha, pleased with the fan-like response, smiled beneath her mask.

As they continued to converse, Seoha bombarded Joon with questions about her past work, and he did his best to maintain the facade, acting like her biggest fan. Unintentionally, a lot of Pretense + began to pop up in his notifications. Time passed, and Joon couldn't even finish his coffee due to Seoha's unrelenting barrage of questions. The interrogation only ceased when her phone rang.

Interrupted mid-sentence, Seoha glanced at her phone and discovered that her next schedule was starting soon. She informed Joon of her imminent departure, who felt a wave of relief. He wished her well, grateful that the situation had come to an end.

She then surprised Joon by asking for a paper and pen to sign an autograph. Joon, caught off guard once again, quipped, "Do you think I always carry a pen and paper for autographs?" He explained that he didn't have them with him. Undeterred, Seoha then requested Joon's phone. Hesitant and unsure of her intentions, Joon pondered whether to comply.

Observing Joon's reluctance, Seoha was perplexed by his actions. In her experience, fans typically handed over their phones eagerly for a quick selfie. She tried to convince Joon, explaining why he should let her use his phone. Joon, realizing he might be overly cautious, finally surrendered his phone to her.

Approaching Joon, Seoha posed alongside him for a picture, capturing several shots with different poses. After a brief photoshoot, she handed the phone back to Joon, concluding the unexpected encounter. With a wave, she bid farewell to her fan. Joon, still processing the whirlwind of events in such a short time, contemplated the unusual encounter.

As Seoha gracefully exited the scene, leaving Joon with a mix of bewilderment and amusement, he couldn't help but reflect on the unexpected turn of events. The encounter with the disguised celebrity had added a dash of unpredictability to his day. As Joon pocketed his phone, now graced with Seoha's impromptu photos, he chuckled at the surreal nature of the encounter. He savored the last sip of his coffee, gently placing the empty cup on the table. Rising from his seat, he strolled away, the warm hues of the sunset casting a captivating glow behind him.