The television mounted above the restaurant counter suddenly blasted with energy as the news anchor's voice filled the room.
"The legendary idol group Eclipse is finally returning! After a three-year hiatus following that tragic incident, the group is officially back—and stronger than ever. They'll be celebrating their comeback with an exclusive concert this Friday in Seoul! Fans are already flooding ticket sites, and seats are disappearing fast. If you want to witness Eclipse's long-awaited return, grab your tickets now before they're gone!"
The screen flashed images of the four remaining members—Taeyong, Kai, Seoyeon, and Jisoo—their comeback teaser lighting up the broadcast while crowds of screaming fans outside the venue waved banners and lightsticks.
Below the TV, Chaeyoung let out a long, miserable groan. "Ahhh… unbelievable…"
She leaned heavily against the table she had been wiping for the past ten minutes, her shoulders slumped in defeat as she dragged the damp cloth across the polished wood. The plain black apron tied around her waist felt heavier than usual today.
"Those tickets cost a fortune," she muttered under her breath, frustration leaking into her voice. "There's no way I'll ever afford one… not with this job."
Across from her, Hyunwoo, her coworker, calmly stacked clean plates as if the world's most anticipated concert announcement meant absolutely nothing to him. "I'm sure you can gather enough money before Friday," he said casually, glancing at the television again. "You still have a few days. And if you want… I could help you pay for one."
Chaeyoung's head snapped up immediately.
"No!" she shot back so quickly that a nearby customer turned their head. "Absolutely not. Eclipse is finally coming back after all these years, and if I'm going to that concert, I'm buying the ticket myself."
Hyunwoo raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by her sudden burst of determination. "The tickets aren't that expensive."
Chaeyoung stared at him, her face completely flat. "Yeah," she said slowly, crossing her arms. "That's easy for you to say, Chaebol prince. Remind me again why someone like you even works here?"
Hyunwoo merely shrugged, completely unbothered.
Chaeyoung groaned again, dragging the cloth across the table with renewed force.
"At this rate I'll have to take on a second job if I want to afford that ticket."
"Sure," Hyunwoo replied dryly. "And ruin your entire class schedule while you're at it."
Chaeyoung shot him a glare sharp enough to cut glass.
Before either of them could continue the argument—
The restaurant door suddenly burst open.
A loud shriek of excitement exploded into the quiet room.
"I GOT ONE!"
Customers turned immediately as Eunha rushed inside, nearly tripping over the entrance mat, her phone clutched tightly in her hand as if it were the most precious treasure in the world.
"I GOT A TICKET!" she yelled again, practically vibrating with excitement.
Hyunwoo sighed and rubbed his temple.
"Shhh. Lower your voice," he muttered. "You're in a restaurant. People are staring."
Eunha waved him off dramatically.
"Oh please, don't be such a party pooper," she said, barely containing her excitement. "Do you even understand what this means? I'm finally going to see my Kai again."
The way she said his name carried the dreamy reverence of someone speaking about a legend.
Her excitement suddenly paused when she turned toward Chaeyoung.
"Well?" Eunha asked, tilting her head. "Did you get your ticket yet?"
Chaeyoung froze.
Then slowly sighed.
"…No. Not yet."
At that exact moment, the television above them suddenly cut back to the news broadcast.
The anchor's voice rang out sharply across the restaurant.
"Breaking update—tickets for the Eclipse comeback concert this Friday have officially SOLD OUT. I repeat, the concert is completely sold out."
Silence fell over the small restaurant corner where the three stood.
Eunha slowly turned.
Hyunwoo slowly turned.
Both of them looked at Chaeyoung at the exact same time.
Chaeyoung stood there completely frozen, the cleaning cloth hanging loosely in her hand. "…Sold out?" she repeated quietly.
Her heart sank straight to the floor.
Chaeyoung's shoulders shook slightly, her eyes glistening as if she were on the verge of tears. Hyunwoo let out a long, exasperated sigh and walked toward her, hands in his pockets, his expression half-amused, half-annoyed.
"Don't tell me you're actually about to cry," he muttered, leaning casually against the counter. "Seriously… what's so special about watching a bunch of boys with makeup dance and sing for a few hours?"
Chaeyoung sniffed, biting her lip, trying to steady herself. Hyunwoo sighed again, this time deeper, and reached into his pocket. With a deliberate flick, he pulled out a plain white envelope and held it out.
"Here," he said simply.
Chaeyoung's eyes widened, disbelief written across her face. Her voice barely rose above a whisper. "Y-you… got me a ticket?"
"Yeah," Hyunwoo replied, shrugging, his cheeks faintly pink. "I know how hard you've been working extra shifts just to get one. Figured I'd save you the stress if the tickets sold out. Consider it… a thank-you. For all those evening shifts you covered for me."
Chaeyoung's hands trembled as she reached for the envelope, almost afraid it might vanish if she blinked. Slowly, reverently, she took it into her hands, then looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with emotion.
"Thank you," she said softly, her voice trembling.
Hyunwoo quickly looked away, scratching the back of his neck, a faint blush creeping across his face. "Yeah, yeah… you're welcome," he mumbled, clearly flustered.
Eunha, never one to miss a moment, sidled up beside him, whispering teasingly, "Someone's all red up."
Hyunwoo shoved her lightly. "Shut up! It's not what you think!"
They bickered quietly while Chaeyoung clutched the envelope, her gaze fixed on it like it was the most precious thing in the world. A small, soft smile tugged at her lips as she slid it into the pocket of her apron.
Then, as if remembering herself, she suddenly looked up at Hyunwoo. "Wait… what about you? Did you get a ticket too?"
Hyunwoo's eyes flicked away, the blush returning. He tried to act casual, crossing his arms. "Yeah… of course I did. I mean… I haven't seen Seoyeon in three years. I should probably go, you know… just say hi."
Eunha smirked knowingly. "Ah, so someone is a fan."
"I'm not a fan!" Hyunwoo shot back, waving his hands defensively. "I just… it's been a while. First concert in three years. That's all."
"Oh, is that so?" Eunha teased, grinning as she gave him a playful nudge.
Their banter continued, light and teasing, until a sharp voice cut through the restaurant.
"Hey! Am I paying you two to argue or to work?"
Hyunwoo and Chaeyoung snapped back to attention, exchanging quick glances before returning to their tasks. Eunha waved them goodbye with a mischievous grin and headed out the door.
Chaeyoung's fingers lingered on the envelope tucked safely into her apron pocket. She let out a small, almost imperceptible sigh and smiled softly, a quiet joy settling over her as the restaurant's mundane noises faded into the background.