@โงห b. joohyun Hearing the fondness in joohyun's voice and the sweet nickname she had for momo, close friends always ended up calling her that — it brought a sense of peace and tranquility to her system. She felt at ease with the older woman as her features soften and she emits a long, slow breath. "I just... I don't wish for you to feel obligated to explain things you rather not get into.. although, it'll be nice to hear what happened, you disappeared without a trace.... nowhere to be found Joo..... I've missed you...."
Her lips are automatically pursing out into a semi-pout, acting like the petulant younger woman she is. She couldn't help it as she felt a sense of loss when joohyun did disappear from her life. She looked up at the older and she was frankly, her ride or die no matter what. Observant as ever, her dark orbs flicked over to the picture sitting on the woman's desk as she eye the little kid there next to her friend as a brow raises curiously. "Is that.... why?" Momo couldn't think of another reason, a much better reason as to why the older woman would need to escape that lifestyle.
It makes total sense to her as she shakes her head and flashes a warm yet tired smile. "Shhh, it's fine baejoo, no worries there mm? It's not even messy, you're overthinking it and pessimistic as usual ma'am." Waving off her hand, the woman looked around the antic store in awe before emitting a deep breath, "have you been fairing well at least? Are you safe? No one's been pestering you I hope? You got out fully, yes?"
@โงห b. joohyun After sitting in the meeting almost half the day, Jaejoong could finally step away from the office and take a breather from all the business matters and walk around the building and might even enjoy some sunshine before dives back into work again. He got back to his office which was on the 6th floor of the building, slowly moving up to the said floor in the elevator before stepping out and back to his office. Letting out a deep and long sigh as he looked out of the window, seeing the sun was only half way in the sky he grabs his phone and jacket before exited his room.
The experienced designer was a little hungry after being in the meeting almost the whole morning, so food was the first thing he could think of after leaving the building. Jaejoong wandered around the block to find what he could eat for a light brunch, just as he was walking around the corner of the street, he spotted a small store that was selling souvenirs and antiques; but what captured his attention was the name of the store. ‘ Joobae’s Souvenirs and Antiques’. He peeked inside the store to see who could be the owner of this small yet delicate shop, that’s when the second wave of shock came rushing as the face of the owner behind the counter was in his sight. He thought to himself, there was no way that was his ex-lover who he hadn’t see for years. The emotions and the feeling just hit him really hard because he really wanted to see her, but at the same time he didn’t want to disturb her from work and having a peaceful life after their broke up.
Jaejoong was torn between greeting her or just leave her be, but the rational side won the war as he pushed the door open to the shop before he walked in. The sight in front of him just made him realized how much he missed her all these years, looking around the shop as he remembered that one of her dreams was to own a little shop like this. He was happy when Joohyun achieved her dream that she had years ago, she was focusing on helping other customers so he was just walking around and tried not to disturb her work because he remembers how much she hated being interrupted from her tasks.
Standing near the window, Jaejoong was admiring Joohyun working, her smile was something he cherished so much, and that beautiful face was someone he loved for so long. He was drowning in his own thoughts when his phone rang in a quiet store like this, he immediately took out his phone to check what it was, that’s when she looked at his direction and spotted Jaejoong. He clumsily shut off his phone as he felt embarrassed and nervous when everyone was looking at him, but the person that gave him the most pressure was Joohyun who was staring at him from the counter. “Sorry... I didn’t mean for that to happen...” Trying his hardest to explained what just happen as he looked at Joohyun when their eyes locked with each other.
As the atmosphere in the shop changed due to his mistake, he walked to the counter with a apologetic smile on his face as he gently bows to everyone in the store before looking back at Joohyun.” I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean for that to happen.” He bowed his head one more time as he moved to the corner of the store as he waits for Joohyun to finish with all the customers, scratching his head a little at the embarrassing moment that happen before. It was the first time in years since he felt this way, the last time that ever happen was when he got drunk and went to Joohyun’s place to beg for forgiveness because of his stupidity for breaking up with her.
Jaejoong walked to the counter once more after all the customers left the shop, he chuckled softly at his ex-lover before clearing his throat.” Joo... long time no see, h... how have you been?” He asked nervously while looking down at the countertop instead of Joohyun, both of his hands are getting sweaty as he still felt nervous when spend time alone with the woman in front of him.” This is a nice shop, I’m glad that you achieved your dream. “ Not knowing what else to talk about with her, he was just too nervous to even think at this point.
@โงห h. momo Joohyun blinked as the other greeted, her best friend who came all the way from Japan now visiting her shop in Haepung. She didn't hesitate and hugged Momo, she knew she had to explain why she disappeared from their lives because she found out she was pregnant. "You don't have to say hi and go away, Momoring." She smiled at her, "It was my fault I didn't show up for years." Joohyun put down her broom and dusted her clothes a bit.
"Come now, let us talk by my office. I can prepare you some tea." She pulled her friend inside the counter and into Joohyun's small office, her shop was small but can manage to have an office of her own. Once inside, her office was bombarded with lots of papers and documents, some were photocopied as the antiques she is selling are very invaluable that it needs original files of how it was obtained. "I'm sorry for the mess, it's always like this." She chuckled sheepishly before she went over to a small electric kettle to brew some of her favorite jasmine tea.
@โงห b. joohyun dongmin instinctively reached for his sleeve to wipe it clean, but her words, like a mischievous sprite, caught him off guard once more. joohyun, with her uncanny ability to pinpoint his weaknesses, had struck again. a sudden, unceremonious sneeze erupted from the duster, startling the quiet shop. dongmin was about to voice his annoyance at his noona when a small figure caught his eye. iseul, joohyun's daughter, had entered the shop. the girl, a miniature version of her mother, radiated the same warmth and charm.
as joohyun's voice softened and brightened in the presence of her daughter, a sense of warmth spread through dongmin's heart. he stood behind the counter, observing the endearing interaction between the mother and daughter. he couldn't help but listen as iseul excitedly recounted tales of paper planes to her mother until the little one's attention was directed to him. "uncle dongmin here is about to be the cashier right here, though," he threw joohyun a teasing grin as he pretended sweeping the already squeaky clean counter with the duster before waving at iseul behind the counter. "hi, iseul. it's very nice to meet you!"
it wasn't something that momo really looked forward to doing - albeit there was that trepidatious excitement. she wanted to reunite badly with joohyun, but the deep sense of hesitancy was keeping momo from entering the woman's shop. it has been a couple of weeks now that momo has been watching and looking on at the way the woman grew from the last time they met back in japan. heck - the young woman had a kid too?! momo can't recall ever knowing about that, she can't help but wonder if this was a new development, one that she missed out on. it caused her to frown a little as she taps at the door once walking in. there's no iseul there, and she have her connections in finding out things when needing to find out. so she knew the woman's kid's name.
"hello, unnie." she whispers with a small smile, head tipping to the side as her eyes sparkle in delight and she tried to not step too close, too quickly. wanting joohyun to take her time as she walked in carefully, making sure to shut the door behind her. the little chime from the bell atop dinging in the silence of the room - save for both women's bated breath as they breathed in and out. "how have you been? i- I didn't come to give you any headache or troubles, I just... i wanted to say hi and check in, it's been a while and you just disappeared, without a trace." the younger woman was a bit heartbroken by this, losing her best friend out of the blue like that - no warning, no goodbyes, nothing. it was a knock to her gut and heart because she wanted to be of importance enough to her as she felt for the older. she wanted to matter or at least somehow see if it wasn't too stressful on joohyun - if she could possibly have some form of an explanation.
@โงห l. dongmin Seeing the other jumped over the counter she eagerly just polished this morning, Joohyun sighed. "You're staining my polished counter." In a swift move, she disarmed Dongmin by twisting his wrist holding the duster and she took it from him before playfully dusting his face with it, "You're still the same old boy I used to tease back then." She looked at him with a grin on her face.
She was going to hold him off when she suddenly heard the bell chime from the door opened and it was Iseul coming back home with a backpack behind her, "Eomma! I'm home!" She greeted as she went to the counter and saw her mother with a male stranger over the counter. Joohyun's smile widely at her daughter as she rushed towards her daughter and hugged her very tightly, "Iseul-ah~ My beautiful daughter! How was school?" Joohyun greeted her daughter, the mood around the shop shifted into the lighter side. "It was fine, Eomma! Teacher Cha wants to make us some paper planes and then we can fly it over the room!" The young girl giggled happily before looking at Dongmin, "Is that our new cashier, Eomma?" She asked Joohyun which the woman shook her head. "No, silly! That's your... Uncle Dongmin! He paid me a visit today." She smiled widely.
@โงห b. joohyun dongmin's eyes widened in surprise as the pebble skimmed past his fingers. a smirk crept across his face as he realized she distracted him with a gentle reprimand. "well played, noona," he chuckled, "but don't you think it's a bit unfair to hide behind the counter?" with a playful leap, dongmin jumped over the counter closing the distance between both of them, his eyes scanning the counter for any hidden weapons. "i see you've got something up your sleeve. bad noona," he teased, tapping her forehead lightly with the wooden handle of a duster.
@โงห l. dongmin When the other wanted a sparring challenge, Joohyun sighed and puts her both hands on her hips, silently getting some pebbles used for the aquarium under the counter. "Come on, Dongmin-ah, you're not a kid anymore." She said then smirking before flicking a small pebble with precision towards the other's hand. The sparring is on.
@โงห b. joohyun dongmin listened intently to joohyun's story about the city, nodding along as he completely agreed with her. he much preferred the peaceful seaside town to the bustling, polluted metropolis. the stunning scenery alone was enough to make it a better place to live.
"yeah, he'd definitely do that to me too," dongmin chuckled, his gaze fixed on joohyun as she meticulously packed the statue. the way she handled it with such care and attention spoke volumes about her loving her current job.
he took the paper bag from her hand and gently set it aside. "when it's necessary, huh? i hope you can still spar with me like old times, noona." he grinned in mischief, a spark of challenge in his eyes. grabbing a rainbow-colored feather duster from the counter. he pointed the wooden handle at joohyun, as if silently challenging her to a playful fight.
@โงห h. momo Another morning is finally here, Joohyun opens her shop with Iseul, her smile is as infectious as she is a happy virus. Her face resembles that of her mother, she asked her if she could play now with their neighbor's kid and Joohyun allowed her before Iseul gleefully ran to the nearby house just two houses away.
Once Iseul went inside their neighbor's house, she knew she is safe. Joohyun then took a broom and she starts sweeping the porch of her shop, for a few moments, she heard footsteps coming from afar and she thought it was a customer as she greeted while her eyes are still on the broom. "We've just opened, please come in and--" But as she looked up, she froze and she saw the face of her once best friend.
@โงห l. dongmin Joohyun looked at him before nodding, "Yes, cards are allowed." She said before taking the black card and plugged it in a card machine where she starts typing the price of the antique in the screen. "City of Seoul was choking the life out of me." Joohyun told the other, "Haepung is where I could give my daughter a better life than Seoul." She muttered before looking at the other and sighed.
She couldn't help but to smile a little hearing about their mentor still looking out for them, "When he sees me after a few years, he might put a bullet on my head, I tell you that." She joked a bit before taking out his card from the machine and placed the antique in a bubble wrap and then in a box before she placed them in a paper bag for extra protection.
"The old man taught me something in life." She gently slides the paper bag towards the other, "Always hide in plain sight, they do not look for the ordinary." Joohyun told him before doing some cleaning inside her counter. "I missed fighting but I can only do it when it is necessary."
@โงห b. joohyun dongmin chuckled, raising his hands in a gesture of surrender. "i didn't even know it's your shop, noona," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice. "pretty subtle, hiding out here in haepung." he paused, then asked, "can i pay it with my card?" placing a card on the counter, he waited for her response.
after a moment, he shrugged. "i don't know, noona. i left him a year ago, and he was probably still looking for his best students. unless you want to meet him again?" he couldn't help but grin at the thought of the old man's reaction to seeing irene again.
dongmin glanced around the antique shop, taking in the unique items and the quiet atmosphere. he wondered how the former hit woman had managed to transition from her former life to running this quaint little shop. "so, this is your new life, huh?" he asked, his voice filled with curiosity. "a far cry from the old days. do you miss fighting?"
@โงห l. dongmin Joohyun looked at the other with disbelief, being a 'retired' hitwoman starts to make her life different. Well, until her fellow colleague spots her in her shop. "I am only being cautious, just like before." She said before she holster her gun back to her hip, then she looked at the direction to where her photo of her and Iseul together in a frame. "I paid a nanny to pick her up from school while working here." Joohyun went back to the counter and she starts to scan the barcode under the antique statue Dongmin had picked up. "Living in Haepung, I thought I would get away with anything. But here you are, walking to my shop." She said and typed the value of the statue in the cash register, "That's โฉ 90,000." She looked at him.
"How is the old man doing?" She asked him about their teacher, "I bet he is still worried that I disappeared for five years." Joohyun added and looked at him.
@โงห b. joohyun nodding to her explanation as dongmin looked at the statue that he was holding only put it on the counter just as she instructed. as he placed it gently on the counter, a huff escaped his lips. had she truly forgotten their shared language, the subtle nuances and hidden meanings they'd learned from their teacher? five years away, could she have truly lost her edge? a sudden shift in the room's atmosphere shattered his thoughts. the shop was plunged into darkness as heavy curtains concealed the natural light that is coming into the shop and a gun aimed at him, the smiley face was all gone to cold and expressionless just like in the past.
the corner of his lips curved into a mirthful smirk as he never let go of the statue, using the statue to casually averted the gun's aim, away from his head. "eyy, no one hired me, noona. never thought i could meet you here and i suppose this is your way of saying 'i missed you'?" he leaned his arm against the counter as his eyes scanning the shop. "nice place you've got here. and is that your little one?" he asked, gesturing towards the framed portrait with his chin. "should i pick her up at the kindergarten?" dongmin added with a playful tone.
@โงห l. dongmin She looked at the antique he's holding on his other hand, he seems to want to engage with a conversation. Joohyun smiled at her young partner, "Ah, the one you're holding is very intricate antique! It is the miniature statue of Shiva from Indian Mythology, it was shift 2 years ago before it came to my shop. No one really likes that figure because of how it looks." She explained before she went over the counter, "Would you mind putting it down on the counter?"
Then with a swift move, she clicked something from under the counter to cover the windows before drawing out her small pistol from her hip and points it on him. Her warm and cheerful expression quickly changed into a cold and deadly one just as she was once a contract assassin.
"Did someone paid you to get rid of me?" She asked him coldly while her gun is pointing towards the younger hitman.
@โงห b. joohyun dongmin's gaze, a keen observer, swept across irene's face, searching for any flicker of recognition, any subtle shift in her expression. he wondered if she had truly forgotten about their past, about their shared training days and the bond they had forged. perhaps, he mused, she didn't recall any of it. a soft smile played on his lips as he carefully placed the small dragon statue on the counter, a silent reminder of their shared history.
with a practiced ease, he turned to check the surroundings. good, no one. his hand resting lightly on the cool surface of the counter. then, his fingers began to dance, tapping out a rhythmic pattern, a secret language known only to a select few. a soft hum escaped his lips, a melodic accompaniment to his silent conversation. his fingers, nimble and precise, conveyed a message:
‘remember me, noona? he had been looking for you after you left without any news.’
a spark ignited in his eyes, a mix of excitement and disbelief. he couldn't quite believe that she was here, standing before him, in this very moment. after she had vanished without a trace, her burdensome tasks had been unceremoniously dumped on him. physically exhausted and emotionally drained, he had no one to confide in. he buried his feelings deep down within himself.
@โงห l. dongmin It has only been a week since her shop had to close down due to the renovation in some parts, but now it is opened for people to purchase things her shop can offer. Unfortunately, she can't pick-up Iseul from school due to her shop understaffed, she needs to keep her shop running every day for people and tourists in Haepung. But she knows her daughter will understand.
Joohyun coughed as she dusted off another set of boxes that holds priceless antiques, it was shipped last year but she never opened it because of the dust in her shop. She needed to fill the shop again with antiques once people will come to buy some that was displayed in the window.
She heard the bell rang from the counter before she dusted off her clothes before she greets the customer, "I'm coming!" However, she never expected a customer with a familiar face. Eunwoo. But she knew she had to not react quickly, this reunion might get her overjoyed or in trouble. So she smiled and acted like she doesn't know him, "Well well! A new customer! Haepung must have been full of newcomers in this season." She greeted, also preparing a small handgun from her side.
@โงห b. joohyun dongmin, a man of simple pleasures, found solace in the rhythm of his footsteps as he wandered the familiar streets. clad in his usual attire of worn-out joggers and a well-fitted athletic shirt, he was a testament to his daily jogs along the sun-kissed beach. however, his routine took an unexpected turn today. a quaint antique shop, joobae's antiques and souvenirs shop, piquing his curiosity. as a curious passerby, dongmin couldn't resist the allure of the unknown treasures that might lie within as he also needed something to decorate his nearly empty studio apartment.
with a hesitant step, he pushed open the creaky door, and the scent of aged paper and polished wood filled his senses. the shop was a treasure trove of forgotten relics, each item whispering tales of bygone eras. as he wandered through the narrow aisles, his eyes were drawn to small bronze statues. a particular statue, depicting a mythical creature with intricate details, captivated him. its form was contorted in mid-flight, exuding power and mystery.
a surge of desire coursed through him. he wanted to own this piece of history, to hold the magic of the past in his hands. with a newfound purpose, he approached the counter, ready to make the purchase. as he rang the bell, a woman emerged, her face was so familiar from his past. a woman who had shared his journey under the same mentor. irene.
