episode_0005

A drama that is currently gaining popularity, featuring a girl with autism spectrum disorder who becomes a judge and makes judgments on people.

The peculiar judge, Lee Young.

Intrigued by the drama she happened to see, she started watching it regularly.

-This case is interesting! It’s like my favorite whale problem.

The leading actor’s melodious tone, along with precise diction, captivated her ears.

“Oh… so cute….”

-Swish

At that moment, feeling a pressure on her chest, she lowered her gaze, realizing that, due to her intense focus, her chest had touched his arm.

He seemed to have felt it too, as he jerked back in surprise, and their eyes met.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s okay… haha. It could happen.”

Then, they both focused on the drama again.

She managed to endure about 20 minutes in a somewhat awkward position.

Perhaps due to her bent posture, the weight of her chest shifted forward, causing her shoulders to stiffen.

“Phew!”

As she stretched and raised her arms while placing her hands behind her back, a groan escaped her involuntarily.

“Ah, refreshing. Oh, thank you. Thanks to you, I resolved the discomfort I was feeling.”

The man, whose face seemed to have reddened, replied without meeting her eyes.

“Haha, no problem. Thanks to you, I also enjoyed it. It’s more enjoyable to watch with someone than alone.”

“Is that so? Oh well. I used to find it a bit boring watching alone all the time, but as the teacher said, it’s not bad to feel this way. Hehe.”

“Oh, if you’re not busy, would you like to chat for a bit? It’s fate after all.”

After briefly considering his schedule and remembering that there was nothing urgent, she nodded.

“Yes, I’m fine with it.”

Since her laptop was off and she couldn’t work anyway, chatting for a while wouldn’t hurt. Besides, none of her friends or children were the type to watch dramas, so she didn’t have anyone to talk to about them. It worked out well this time.

She went to her table, tidied up, picked up her things, and completely joined him at his table.

“Ah, should we start with self-introductions? This is who I am.”

Taking out a business card from the inner pocket of his coat, the man handed her one.

-Drama writer Lee Young-woo

“Wow, you’re a writer? That’s amazing.”

“Haha, just in name. I don’t have any major works to boast about.”

There were mostly people in similar industries around me, and especially those in the arts and content-related fields were even rarer.

Moreover, being a drama writer somehow seemed cool. While watching dramas frequently, I occasionally thought about trying to write such works myself, and here was someone who actually did it.

“But it’s still impressive. I don’t know anyone around me working in this field, so it’s really fascinating. I really enjoy your dramas and watch them often.”

Expressing admiration, she flipped the business card over, seeing his detailed background written on it.

Although they may not have been huge hits, I remembered a few works that had a calm and lyrical atmosphere, which I found charming. I never expected to meet the writer in person.

“Oh, this work? And this one too! I really enjoyed watching these.”

While they may not have been massive successes, I remembered them for their gentle and poetic atmospheres. I didn’t expect to meet the writer in person.

“Oh, really? Haha, it’s nice to hear that. I rarely meet people who have seen my works around me, so this is a pleasant encounter.”

Feeling excited, I poured out what I liked about his works and he shared background information, reasons for certain choices, and behind-the-scenes stories. We got lost in conversation without realizing how time flew by.

-Gulp gulp

“Ah, I’m really enjoying this. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a conversation like this.”

Already on my third refill of the drink, I replenished the moisture in my dry mouth with each sip.

“Thanks to you, Do-yeon, I had a rare enjoyable time. Hahaha.”

Author Lee Young-woo replied with his characteristic dandy smile.

Jeong Do-yeon. Originally my name was Jeong Do-hyun, but at Da-yeong’s suggestion that maintaining my original name seemed awkward given my changed appearance, I changed it to a similar name.

“Oh, no. Oh, by the way, if it’s not too much trouble, could we meet again sometime?”

Even though we just met today, why not? It’s about having friends in middle age.

Although calling 39 middle-aged may be somewhat ambiguous, making new friends or maintaining existing relationships can be challenging at our age. It’s just adapting to the given environment and facing the wearing away of days.

In other words, at our age, it’s more about preserving existing relationships than forming new ones.

That’s why this new connection felt so awkward and welcoming.

“Of course. Um… I seem to have this kind of leisure once a week, how about you, Do-yeon?”

“Oh, well… I’m currently on leave due to personal reasons, but I plan to return to work soon. Until then, I come here every day to work or something. However, once I return to work, daytime might be difficult, right? Oh, are weekends okay?”

“Yes, that’s fine with me. Making friends who get along so well is rare and something to be grateful for at our age.”

“That’s true. Oh, excuse me, but may I ask how old you are, author?”

He appeared to be in his mid-thirties, but his choice of words suggested more experience, so I asked just in case.

“As for me? I’m turning 40 this year. I was born in ’81. How about you, Do-yeon?”

“Oh, you’re a year older than me. I was born in ’82, the Year of the Dog.”

At our age, it’s natural to attach our zodiac sign after stating our age.

“Huh? But you clearly look like you’re in your twenties…?”

“Oh, come on, author. Even you don’t look like you’re over your mid-thirties.”

While I suffer from TS syndrome, which has actually made me physically younger, he seems to have aged naturally. So I thought that compared to me, author Lee Young-woo seemed a bit more pretentious.

“Thank you for saying that, but wow… you really don’t look your age.”

“Haha. Even though I look like a middle or high school student, I have a son and a daughter.”

His slightly stiff expression softened quickly.

“I see. Actually, I have two sons, and they often fight. I wish they would get along better.”

“You must worry a lot. Fortunately, in our house, our eldest daughter takes good care of her younger siblings.”

“That must be nice. I assume your husband has established a good hierarchy.”

Establishing hierarchy in the household is usually the father’s role, so his question was valid. The only issue is who my husband is.

“Haha… Well, yes.”

As I gave a vague answer, he seemed to sense something and quickly returned to the topic of children.

After chatting for about 30 minutes, we left the cafe together.

“I really enjoyed today. Thanks to you. You might have been quite surprised at first, so I want to apologize again.”

If a stranger suddenly approaches and suggests watching a drama together, it can be off-putting, but he graciously accepted, showing he was truly a gentleman.

“Don’t worry. I also had a good time thanks to you.”

“Please take care, and I’ll make sure to contact you next time.”

“Haha, I’ll wait for your contact.”

With that farewell, as I was about to return to the apartment, it seemed like the writer Lee Young-woo was heading in the same direction.

At first, our greetings faded into awkwardness, so we both slightly bowed our heads and ended up not saying much. But as we continued, it felt like we were heading in the same direction, so I asked first.

“By any chance, do you live…?”

“Oh, I live in the Hasol 2nd Apartment ahead.”

What? We live in the same apartment?

“Really?”

“Hahaha, me too.”

“Hoohoo, this fate seems quite fateful. Being residents of the same apartment. Haha.”

“That’s right. Nice to meet you.”

“Well, since you’re going anyway, let’s just go together.”

Saying that, the writer Lee Young-woo naturally stuck by my side.

I also thought it was less boring to walk with him than alone, so I matched his pace as we walked back to the apartment.

“So, at that time, you were…”

As I turned to talk to him, suddenly my weight shifted forward. As I took a step forward, something caught my foot. It turned out to be a sidewalk block protruding unevenly.

“Oops!”

At that moment of leaning forward, something solid hit my chest, supporting my body.

“Oh, are you okay?”

Fortunately, before I fell, it seemed like Lee Young-woo had caught me.

“T-Thank you.”

Thanking him for catching me before things got worse, I tried to stand up.

“Oh… Mom!”

A familiar voice could be heard from somewhere.

When I turned my head towards the sound, there was Dae-young standing there, looking extremely flustered and angry.

“Oh, Dae-young?”

It was time for her to go home, but I didn’t expect to run into her on the street like this.

But why does Dae-young look so angry?

Following Dae-young’s gaze, what I saw was my chest.

And now, my arms were wrapped around it, slightly emphasizing the bust.

Moreover, the posture was a bit… like that.

If a stranger saw it, it would look like Lee Young-woo was giving me a back hug.

No, come to think of it, it was a back hug.

My dad, who had turned into a woman, was hugging a man on the street.

That must be how it looked to Dae-young.

Hmm, she might get mad. No, I need to fix this quickly…

“Oh, no. Dae-young. It’s not like that.”

Usually, when someone says “It’s not like that,” it’s mostly true.

Even as I said it, I felt resentful of this situation I had gotten myself into.

And finally, Dae-young’s lips parted.

“Is this the mister? The bean soup mister!”

In an instant, Lee Young-woo had become the bean soup mister.