⋆  connections

— "safe and sound" is taken!

"year 4, class 1."
type: ex-best friend.
preferences: female, 23+, someone who went to high school in seoul.
genre: drama, angst, friendship.
inspo: 5 centimeters per second, weak class hero 1, the glory.
notes: drama+++, angst+++, consider plot with caution (!).

— you and goya were such opposites, it's hard to believe you two were ever best friends. you were golden-retriever energy, she was black cat energy. you lived your youth easy-going and lax; having fun, enjoying it. goya spent it studying, attending extra curricular activities, tutoring. despite it all, the two of you had an inseparable friendship. until, goya starts growing more distant with you... you try to maintain your friendship with her, but goya becomes more unavailable. the one time you need her comfort, she fails you, ghosting you. but knowing your friend's worth, you forgive her, until you find out that she had your boyfriend cheat on you with her. 6 years later, goya appears in your life again, at the ramen shop.

save your love, and take mine from me.
⤷ type: jiho's past one-sided crush.
⤷ requirements: female, 27+,
⤷ genre: angst, romance, friendship.

jiho watches you go through a toxic relationship with your boyfriend. you often confide in her, talking about how you don't understand why you bother with men, but you're straight, and jiho knows that.

all she could do is stare at you longingly as you look at pictures of your boyfriend, asking her how you could fix him.

+ inspo: https://youtu.be/xRPyeNt5Wdg?si=nM9KoOqO9HPL_4M8

safe and sound.
⤷ connection type: exes (either previously dating or engaged), emotional hostages (to each other)
⤷ preferences: male, 26+
⤷ genre: angst, drama, romance
a relationship that deteriorated over months, possibly a year due to many unresolved misunderstandings and differences between them. you and jiho started as enemies, but those strong emotions of mutual hate unexpectedly bloomed into a romance that was unlike any other you have experienced before. the breakup was disastrous and left both parties hating each other more than they did when they first met.

unfortunately, they have gotten so comfortable with each other throughout their relationship that their emotional connection transcends the hatred and the breakup, and every so often, they would still seek each other out for emotional support after the split. though no longer together officially, you and jiho remain as a safe haven for each other, but that shelter has a lock on the outside that neither could unlock from the inside. it’s confusing, suffocating, and torturous. the ghosts of their pasts continue to haunt them with no route for escape.

note: this is not endgame! i tend to not plan endgames and would rather ride the wave and see things play out for my character first. this connection is very flexible!
+ inspo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67oBykAKUuk

not you again.
⤷ connection: jiho's most dreaded customer
⤷ requirements: none.
⤷ genre: slice of life, comedy, but if you wanted the beef to be deep then it could be drama.

jiho has no idea how you managed to snag her number, but it was all for one thing: to bring back a special that jiho put out one year ago. since then, it never came back and now, desperation has made you take matters into your own hands.

it was time to bring back your favorite ramen by force. you resort to constantly annoying her with texts, voicemails, and even calling jiho to come to the front (by lying that there is something wrong with the ramen) to make her listen to your pleas.

' Golden '

Relationship: Close Friend/Sibling
Preferred Age/Gender: 22-30/Any
Description: This is Noelle’s rock, someone she trusts deeply and leans on when the weight of her job becomes too much. They’ve known each other for years, and though their schedules don’t always align, they try and make time to meet at the ramen shop, catching up on life over bowls of warm broth. They offer Noelle a safe space to vent, relax, and simply be herself, reminding her to take care of herself as much as she cares for others.

' Late Night Talking '

Relationship: Work Friend.
Preferred Age/Gender: Any.
Description: A fellow nurse, doctor, or er staff member who shares the same shifts as Noelle. They occasionally join her at the ramen shop to unwind after work, sharing stories about their toughest cases and darkest humor that only those in their field would understand. They act as a supportive presence, often encouraging Noelle to take better care of herself and trying to pull her out of her shell she has developed.

' Sweet Creature '

Relationship: Friendly Acquaintance
Preferred Age/Gender: Any.
Description: They’re a familiar face Noelle often sees at the ramen shop during her late-night visits. Over time, they will strike up a quiet understanding, sharing occasional conversations about life, work, or just the comfort of ramen.