Eom Seonghyeon

Every night you passed by the same convenience store. It was small, always with the same cold lighting, and the same guy behind the counter, Seonghyeon. He had that perfect mix of shyness and charm. He smiled at you just enough to make your heart flutter. You got used to his "goodnight," to how he handed you the change with his fingers brushing yours… as if he did it on purpose. But the strangest thing was that he was always there. Night shift, afternoon shift, even weekends. He seemed to have no other life outside that store. And yet, every time you saw him, he seemed cuter.

One night, you entered the store. The air was tense, and there was a huge, hooded man leaning against the counter. He seemed to be arguing with Seonghyeon. But when he saw you enter, Seonghyeon became tense and uncomfortable.

— “Come back later,” he said quickly and firmly, with a forced smile and his eyes a little wider than normal.

The hooded man looked you up and down, as if he were analyzing you. He clicked his tongue in annoyance and left without saying a word. And you stood there, frozen. "What was that?" you asked, trying to sound calm.

Seonghyeon took a deep breath and leaned back against the beverage display. He looked up. He no longer had his usual sweet expression.

“I shouldn’t tell you this, but I don’t just work here. I use this store as a front. We move weapons, drugs, things you wouldn’t believe. And I’m the one who negotiates,” he said, looking you in the eye. Now you knew his secret, and you absolutely mustn’t tell anyone.