DOHYUN KANG
Dohyun stepped out of the taxi and onto the bustling Hongdae sidewalk. It was Friday night, and the lively streets would be the perfect place to disappear for a while. Performers were busking with growing crowds of young people—the ideal cover.

But knowing Madam, Dohyun figured she’d have guards posted at every major spot. He tugged his hoodie lower over his hat and slipped through the throngs, keeping his head down.

As he weaved through the crowd, two high school girls in uniform strolled right into his path, giggling and not paying attention. Before he could dodge, one of them bumped into him, and her phone slipped from her hands, clattering to the ground.

Dohyun bent down, scooped it up, and handed it back to her. “Lucky it’s not broken.”

Wide-eyed, the girl froze, her mouth slightly ajar as she stared up at him.

Dohyun raised an eyebrow, offering her a small smile as he gently placed the phone in her hand and waved before moving on.

Behind him, the girls squealed. “Was that oppa famous? He was so tall and handsome!”

“And did you see his hands? So big!”

“He probably has a girlfriend, right?”

BOMI KIM
Bomi flicked a 500-won coin into the air, catching it deftly in her palm. “Coin karaoke after a chicken feast? Yes, please!”

Jenny had warned her about the crowds, but Bomi hadn’t expected Hongdae to be this packed. The streets were crawling with high schoolers, and she had to push through the sardine of people just to get a glimpse of where she was going.

“It’s so crowded, I can barely see KoKo’s,” she grumbled, exasperated. “There better not be a line.”

Spotting a narrow gap in the crowd, she slipped through, finally able to breathe again. With a relieved sigh, she resumed her mission—KoKo’s Chicken was calling her name.

As Bomi walked, she noticed two giggling girls with flushed cheeks, one of them swooning at her phone as if it was a precious talisman and they walked right into her.

The girl with the phone glared up at Bomi. “Unnie, you cracked my screen!” she accused, puffing her bangs up in irritation.

Bomi raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. “Hey, kiddo. Watch where you’re going.”

“‘Kiddo’? You should pay for my phone! You’re the one who ran into me!” the girl whined, stomping her foot.

Cute. Does this kiddo really think she’s scary?

Her friend, who had been silent, pushed up her glasses and took one look at the steely grin creeping across Bomi’s face. She shuddered. “Unnie, we’re really sorry. We’ll be careful from now on!” she said, pulling the complaining girl by the arm.

“Hey! What are you—”

“Trust me. Let’s just go,” the glasses girl whispered urgently.

The two girls scurried away, the more stubborn one shooting Bomi a resentful glance. Bomi just waved and mouthed, kiddo, before turning on her heel.

Her stomach growled loudly, and she picked up the pace, practically jogging to KoKo’s. Thankfully, the line wasn’t long, and in no time, she was holding a glorious box of chicken in her hands like a prized trophy.

“Chicken, check! Now, coin karaoke! I hope they’ve got that new Blvckpink song,” she hummed, flipping her coin in the air again as she exited the restaurant.

DOHYUN & BOMI
Dohyun scanned the street, knowing his friend’s apartment was nearby—close enough to KoKo’s Chicken that the delicious aroma would drift through the windows. His friend was studying in America, so the apartment was empty, which made it a perfect hideout.

As he approached the red neon sign of KoKo’s, he noticed a man loitering by the entrance of the apartment building. The man wasn’t in the usual formal uniform of the guards, but his stiff posture gave him away.

Dohyun dropped his head, trying to walk casually. He hasn’t spotted me yet, he thought, but I can’t risk acting suspicious.

Just then, a girl burst out of KoKo’s, swinging a box of chicken in one hand and flipping coins in the other.

It’s her.

The girl from the hospital, Gomi Kim. Her hair was up now, and she was grinning ear to ear. But Dohyun recognized her instantly. I guess the news at this hospital wasn’t too serious.

Her sudden shout about being the “best Blink ever” caught the guard’s attention, and Dohyun saw his chance. He crossed the distance between them in a few long strides, slinging an arm around Gomi’s shoulders and steered her away.

“Hey!” she protested. “Who do you think you are?”

Dohyun winced at her sharp tone but leaned in close. “Help me out, just this once,” he whispered.

Time seemed to slow as Bomi’s coins slipped from her hand, clinking on the ground. One by one, her thoughts caught up with the situation.

Clink. My coins are falling.
Clink. Someone’s hand is on my face.
Clink. My body won’t move.
Clink. What is this warm feeling on my lips…?

Dohyun saw the guard look away, distracted by a phone call, and pulled back from the kiss. He crouched down, gathering up the scattered coins.

Who carries this many 500-won coins around? He chuckled to himself.

Bomi, meanwhile, was frozen in place, her eyes unfocused, her mind racing.

“I’m really sorry,” Dohyun said, handing the coins back. “I swear I’ll make it up to you.” Then, without waiting for a response, he hurried off toward the apartment.

Make it up to me? Bomi blinked, her brain catching up. Did he just kiss me and… leave? Does he think I’m some kind of escort?

Fury boiled up inside her. “HEY! BASTARD!” she yelled.

Dohyun stopped and turned, just in time to see the fire blazing in her eyes.

“Take this, you pervert!” Bomi hurled one of her coins straight at his face.

Dohyun barely caught it before it hit him between the eyes. He shivered. That would’ve hurt if it hit.

“I’m really sorry!” he called back. “I’ll make it up to you next time. And… I’ll keep Mr. 500-won for now.” With that, he dashed into the apartment.

Bomi stomped forward, ready to give chase, but froze mid-step. Crunch.

Looking down at her crushed box of chicken, her heart sank. “NOOOOO! My chicken…” she wailed in anger, glaring in the direction Dohyun had disappeared. “That bastard’s dead the next time I see him.”