Chapter 144: Seo Ji Woo in Seoul, Part 3

Seo Ji-woo had lived her entire 19 years almost exclusively on Ulleungdo. S

he doubted she had spent even 100 days off the island. This extended stay in Seoul, over a month, was a novel experience.

Firstly…

“Hayooooon…”

“Mm…”

“Hayooooon…”

Waking up next to Min Hayoon every morning was new.

The only thing next to her in her bed at home was a large shark plushie.

Waking up to her beautiful friend’s face felt novel.

After getting used to sharing a bed, she even started poking Hayoon’s cheeks to wake her up.

“Ugh, Ji-woo…”

“You’re awake?”

“Yeah… I’m going to shower. You can rest…”

“Okay!”

Hayoon would then head to the bathroom.

Unlike Seo Ji-woo, who was about to embark on a month-long school absence, Hayoon had to attend her Seoul high school regularly.

After Hayoon left for the shower…

–Azure Sea is
amazing. I listen to it every day.
–Her voice is incredible. Who wouldn’t love a husky voice singing a love song?
–Honestly, her voice is hot. Tomboy vibes.
└Hehehe.

Seo Ji-woo checked the comments on her “Azure Sea” YouTube video, which was steadily gaining views.

Perhaps because it was her first original song, she felt a strong attachment to it.

While the lyrics were about love, the song also embodied her longing to leave Ulleungdo and experience the wider world.

She had poured her heart into the song, deeply immersed in its meaning, which further strengthened her connection to it.

“I hope this song does well too…”

She hoped her fans would enjoy her latest song as much as she did. Just then…

“Haaa…”

Hayoon rushed into the room, her chest bouncing, grabbed her bra, and quickly put it on. She then grabbed a pair of panties and put them on, her lower body still bare.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa!”

“What’s wrong?”

“I-I can see everything…!”

“We’ve bathed together so many times, and you’re still shy?”

“I-is ‘shy’ the right word here?”

“Isn’t it? Anyway…”

Seo Ji-woo, flustered, made a surprisingly astute observation.

Hayoon, unfazed, started dressing.

First, her top, then her blouse and skirt, and finally her stockings.

Ready for school, she sat at her desk and plugged in her hairdryer.

The dryer whirred to life, and Hayoon began drying her hair.

Seo Ji-woo, watching from behind, unconsciously sniffed the air.

‘Coffee…’

The scent of Hayoon’s new coffee-infused shampoo.

‘Vanilla…’

Then vanilla.

The scent of Hayoon’s body wash, carried by the warm air, tickled Seo Ji-woo’s nose.

It was the same body wash she used. The combined scent, like a café latte, filled the room.

‘Eek…’

Suddenly embarrassed, Seo Ji-woo buried her face in her knees.

She hadn’t thought much of it before, but sitting behind Hayoon while she dried her hair had sparked strange thoughts.

Mortified, she wanted to disappear.

The sound of the hairdryer filled the room for a while, then…

“I have to go. I’ll miss the bus.”

“Already? It’s only 7 AM.”

“Yeah, school isn’t far, but I need to leave early to avoid rush hour traffic. I’ll go ahead. Ask Mom for breakfast when she wakes up.”

“You’re not eating breakfast?”

“Nope. Better to be early for school than late. There’s a convenience store near school, so it’s fine.”

As Hayoon turned off the hairdryer and got up to leave, Seo Ji-woo handed her her bag from under the bed.

Hayoon, however, was firm.

She disliked deviations from her routine.

She insisted on leaving, despite Seo Ji-woo’s protests.

Seo Ji-woo, hiding her disappointment, saw Hayoon off at the door.

“Have a good day. Bye.”

“You too, Ji-woo. Get some rest. You have recording today.”

“Okay.”

After Hayoon left, Seo Ji-woo watched the door close, then a thought occurred to her.

“Huh… that felt… like a married couple.”

She giggled and went back to Hayoon’s room.

Utterly shameless, she planned to laze in bed, scrolling through her phone, until Yoon Suhee woke up and made her breakfast.

That morning, Yoon Suhee made breakfast for Seo Ji-woo and sat at the table, observing her.

“Hmm…”

Her slightly tanned skin suggested an active lifestyle.

Growing up on Ulleungdo likely involved a lot of outdoor activities.

‘She’s pretty, but…’

She didn’t have a typical model’s physique.

“Ji-woo.”

“Yes?”

“Hayoon isn’t making you take any weird photos, is she?”

“No, not really.”

“Good…”

Yoon Suhee was concerned about the number of attractive young women around Hayoon.

She seemed to have collected a group of exceptionally pretty girls, and the recent cosplay photoshoot with Choi Arin, involving highly suggestive outfits, had been particularly alarming.

“Don’t wear anything weird just because Hayoon asks you to, okay?”

“Okay, I guess…?”

She had done it once, and would probably do it again if asked, but… Yoon Suhee, still worried, advised her to be discerning and not blindly follow Hayoon’s instructions.

‘Hmm…’

Seo Ji-woo didn’t fully understand.

Hayoon was her friend, and she was providing her with work, so shouldn’t she do as she was asked? And the “weird clothes” probably referred to the cosplay…

‘If Hayoon wants to do it, I’ll do it.’

She decided not to overthink it.

It was easier to just go with the flow and do whatever Hayoon wanted.

She smiled and nodded at Yoon Suhee’s advice, letting it go in one ear and out the other.

It was a rather audacious move, but…

“Good, good. I’m glad you’re enjoying the food. Want me to peel you a persimmon?”

“Wow, thank you!”

Fortune favors the bold.

Oblivious to Seo Ji-woo’s inner thoughts, Yoon Suhee happily peeled a persimmon for her.

Seo Ji-woo smiled and ate it.

In the afternoon, Seo Ji-woo got ready, changing into light blue jeans, a white t-shirt, and a chestnut brown fleece jacket borrowed from Hayoon, since outerwear wasn’t affected by chest size.

She then left the apartment and navigated the city streets.

“Let’s see, to get to Yongsan Internet High School…”

She followed the directions on her phone’s map app, heading towards the bus stop.

Hayoon had offered a taxi, but Seo Ji-woo preferred the bus.

“This is it.”

She found the bus stop without much difficulty, got on the bus, and got off at the front gate of Yongsan Internet High School.

She watched the students exiting the school, then…

“Hayooooon!”

“Oh, Ji-woo, you’re here?”

“Yeah.”

She ran and hugged Hayoon, who looked tired.

“I’ll call a taxi. Let’s go straight to the recording studio.”

“Okay!”

It was time for the first recording session for her second original song.

Unlike the previous session, they weren’t rushing to finish in a day or two.

Today was just for getting a feel for the song.