episode_0047

The chances of running into the person who took a photo for you by chance twice in a row—what could that probability be?

There were over ten restaurants near the beach, and as I walked here, cafes lined up every ten meters, slightly exaggerated.

It was too dramatic to attribute it to mere coincidence.

Especially…

Her nonchalant demeanor upon seeing me made me doubt my own eyes.

“Let’s sit together!”

It seemed like she knew I would come.

‘…Could it be Ma Yeon-seo again?’

For a moment, I thought it might be a spy sent by Ma Yeon-seo.

Upon careful consideration, it seemed unlikely.

Judging by appearances, it wasn’t that she was trailing me, but rather, it looked like I was following her.

I must have appeared suspicious.

“…Seeing me again?”

Concealing my wariness, I approached her cautiously with a tray and greeted her.

In response, she smiled brightly and gestured towards the seat opposite her.

“Sit here. This is a lucky spot.”

“Is it okay, though?”

“Yes, it’s fine. It seemed a bit awkward sitting alone.”

Watching her cheerful demeanor, I discreetly glanced at her tray while receiving her kindness.

‘She seems to have been sitting here for quite a while.’

With about half of her drink left and only dessert scraps remaining, I estimated she had been sitting for at least 10 minutes.

Did she come here right after finishing her meal?

‘Who could she be?’

As I scrutinized her, I cautiously brought up the topic I had calculated earlier.

“Why did you pay for mine earlier?”

She blinked her large eyes and casually replied, “Just because.”

“Um…?”

“Just because I wanted to.”

Perplexed by her look as if questioning what the problem was, I momentarily lost my words, then pulled out my phone.

“Alright. Let me transfer money to you. Give me your account details.”

“Oh, it’s okay.”

“No, it’s not okay for me.”

“I’m fine, really.”

Politely refusing the money, she insisted. If only I had carried some cash as usual, this wouldn’t have happened.

After a brief eye-locking battle with her, I reluctantly sighed and tentatively spoke up with a new speculation.

“…Do you know me by any chance?”

Given my somewhat recognizable face nationwide, it wouldn’t be strange if she recognized me.

“Well, a little?”

Sure enough, she readily admitted to knowing me.

She, too, was occasionally a ‘fan’ of the person she saw.

‘Well, that explains it.’

Sighing quietly, I thought maybe I should at least give her an autograph instead of money.

“You appeared in my ‘fortune.’”

“?”

Contrary to my expectations, she began saying something entirely different.

“I mentioned it earlier. You’re quite significant.”

With a shameless expression, she claimed that she had drawn a fortune telling her she would encounter a being named ‘me.’

“I was a bit confused when you took my picture, but I recognized you at the noodle shop.”

In short, our meeting today was inevitable.

Regardless of our thoughts, we were destined to run into each other without intending to.

‘Is she kidding?’

There’s a limit to absurdity.

I couldn’t help but show my incredulous reaction.

“Do you expect me to believe that?”

“It’s normal not to believe. That’s just how fortunes work.”

Shrugging as if suspicion was familiar to her, she sipped her drink and rested her massive chest on the table.

“Ah, as promised, shall I read your fortune?”

“The amazing one you just mentioned?”

“That requires some preparation. Let me just lightly read your fortune. What’s your name?”

Naturally, she picked up her phone as if to take a note and subtly asked for my name.

“Seems like something big is happening.”

Taken aback by the unexpected situation, I decided to reveal my name with a mindset of ‘let it be.’

“I’m Kang Yuchan.”

“Kang Yuchan. And your date of birth?”

Taking down the personal information, she peered intently at her phone.

The fortune-teller claim wasn’t a lie. With a serious expression, she concentrated while keeping her lips sealed, looking slightly different.

“Hmm…”

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s absolutely terrible.”

“What’s so bad?”

“Just kidding.”

She casually placed her phone on the table, showing me.

There, an app titled ‘Fortune Telling Secrets’ was open.

It’s an app that interprets when you input your name and date of birth.

“Can we rely on experts for this kind of thing?”

“It’s not about relying, it’s about using it.”

She emphasized that what matters is not the app’s output but the ‘fortune telling’ used as its basis.

“This predicts major fortunes that come every ten years, right? Your fortunes change in 10-year intervals since you were 5.”

“……”

“Especially at 5 and 15, there were significant changes, and after that, things have been pretty stable.”

I remember being quite sick at 5 and starting to date Mayeonseo at 15.

In that sense, it wasn’t entirely wrong to say that fortunes change.

“From fifteen onwards, money overflowed around you. The horoscope just brims with wealth for you.”

It was true that there was a lot of money around me.

Mayeonseo, Hanyerwon, everyone around me always had money.

Even now, thanks to Mayeonseo, I’ve gained wealth beyond what I could ever dream of in my lifetime.

…Not really my money though.

Anyway, as the fortune telling unfolded smoothly, I found myself getting gradually interested without even realizing it.

I felt like I understood why women go to get their fortunes told.

“Is there anything else you’re curious about? Love luck, money, that sort of thing.”

“Love luck.”

Without hesitation, I inquired about my love fortune.

“Hmm. Love luck.”

She picked up her phone again, gazing intently at the screen.

“You have great luck with women.”

She then praised my future spouse extensively.

“You’ll probably get married soon. Your spouse will greatly appreciate your virtues. This is the best among marriage fortunes.”

“And can you tell me about this future spouse?”

“Well, it’s hard to pinpoint… But I can say for sure they won’t be younger than you.”

Neither Mayeonseo nor Hanyerwon are younger.

‘Sounds vague.’

I briefly harbored some hope, but it didn’t really help in the crucial aspects…

“Hmm.”

As she continued to scrutinize her phone, she suddenly asked about my current relationship.

“Do you have a girlfriend right now?”

“…Yes.”

“There’s a strong chance of pregnancy on the woman’s side this month or next. Very high.”

“Pregnancy?”

I was skeptical.

“Since it’s almost certain, if you don’t plan for it, be careful to avoid it.”

She added that even if the horoscope doesn’t match 100%, being aware of it can change things, whether for better or worse.

Whether it’s good or bad.

‘My girlfriend pregnant…?’

It’s a given that the risk of pregnancy has always been there since we started dating.

But given the current situation, it sounded a bit ominous.

There’s a little over a month left until my wedding with Mayeonseo.

Seeing no mention of it yet, it seems like a scheme to persuade me into marriage right before the wedding.

If pregnancy gets involved in that persuasion…?

‘!!!’

A chill ran down my spine.

“Anything else you’re curious about?”

“…No, I’m fine.”

Having glimpsed a foreboding future, I absentmindedly twirled the straw, trying to organize my thoughts.

On the opposite side, she sat quietly, as if it didn’t matter, absently fiddling with her phone.

And so, as they each spent their time in silence in that spot.

“Oh. I should go now.”

Having suddenly finished her drink, she began to gather her things.

“Leaving?”

“Yes. I need to leave right now to catch my bus.”

It seemed like she had planned a day trip from the start and had already bought her bus ticket.

‘Come to think of it, I haven’t even asked for her name yet.’

It was only then that I realized I knew nothing about her.

“…I feel a bit awkward asking now, but what’s your name?”

I didn’t particularly want to get closer to her or get her contact information.

I just wanted to know her name.

“I was wondering when you’d ask.”

With a charming smile as if she had been waiting, she picked up her bag and tray and said,

“I’m Yuna. Written with the character ‘辛,’ so it’s Shin Yuna.”

Shin Yuna.

“Well then, see you next time?”

Finally revealing her name, she vanished unexpectedly, anticipating the next encounter.

…She was a mysterious woman in many ways.

*

After parting ways with Shin Yuna, I sat a little longer at the cafe before booking a nearby motel room.

“Is there accommodation available?”

“Did you make a reservation?”

“No.”

I hadn’t intentionally searched for it, but it was a nice place with good soundproofing and clean facilities, perfect for a change of mood.

‘…Should I go see the sea a bit more.’

Feeling reluctant to stay cooped up in the room, I bought some beer from a convenience store nearby and settled on the beach near my lodging.

The once blue sea was now being tinted by the sunset glow.

‘…If you fully realize it, you can avoid it….’

The conversation with Shin Yuna came to mind.

She had said that fate was not absolute and could be changed by one’s will.

Ultimately, it was a statement that anyone could relate to: that one’s life is made by their own choices.

So, it resonated with me even more.

‘Yes. That’s right. My life is mine to live.’

My life belongs to me.

Not Ma Yeon-seo, not Han Rye-won, not anyone else, but solely mine, Kang Yoo-chan’s life.

Thinking this way brought a sense of peace to my mind.

At the same time, the time I had spent fretting and worrying alone seemed somewhat comical.

‘Let’s give it a try.’

I am responsible for my life.

With that firm resolve, I downed the beer, exhaled a refreshing breath, and gazed out at the sea.

As the sunset faded, the beautiful sea was gradually shrouded in darkness.

‘Beautiful.’

It seemed much more beautiful than before.

Me [ On my way home. ]

Enjoying some time alone after a long while, I boarded the bus the next morning straight to Seoul as planned.

It was different from the hurried boarding of the bus the day before.

‘My destiny is mine to pioneer.’

Realizing that I shouldn’t succumb to the current situation by chance, I decided it was time to settle things with Ma Yeon-seo.

Even if there was a chance of marrying her.

I would rather walk into the wedding venue on my own terms.

Me [ When are you coming home? ]

So, without hesitation, I declared war to Ma Yeon-seo.

Me [ Heard you’re secretly preparing for a wedding. ]

Me [ Let’s talk. ]

It’s time for me to live for myself.