Day Seven. Saturday Morning.
A poster appeared in the elevator:
> 🎉 "Seoul Skyline Festival!" – This Saturday!
Dress up, come downstairs, and enjoy free food, fireworks, and fun neighborly bonding! 🎆🎈
Min-Jae stared at it. Soo-Min, beside him, wore a suspicious expression.
"Fun neighborly bonding sounds like forced friendship with side dishes."
"There will be tteokbokki. I'm sold."
"There will also be karaoke. I'm staying in."
But when the elevator dinged and Mrs. Park from 501 cheerily shouted, "Can't wait to see our cutest couple at the festival!", they had no choice.
---
Scene 1: Festival Chaos
The building's rooftop had been transformed.
Colorful lights. Long buffet tables. Booths with snacks. Loud music. And suspicious children holding water balloons with the intent to murder.
Min-Jae wore a hoodie that said "Not a Couple."
Soo-Min wore a matching one that read, "Definitely Not."
"We look like we're protesting our own existence," Min-Jae muttered.
"Better than being photographed into the building's monthly newsletter again."
As they tried to sneak toward the food table, a familiar voice rang out.
"There they are!"
It was Mr. Han with a camera.
"Quick! Pose for 'Roommate of the Year' entry!"
They froze.
Then, unironically, posed by making peace signs with Bokki (in a bowtie) between them.
---
Scene 2: Water Balloon Armageddon
Soo-Min had one mission: grab food, sit quietly, avoid karaoke ambushes.
But she never expected betrayal.
"Water balloon fight is starting!" a kid yelled. "Min-Jae's team vs. Soo-Min's team!"
"EXCUSE ME?!"
Children surrounded them like tiny mafia members with balloons.
Mrs. Park handed them each a bucket.
"Win this, and you get a mystery prize!"
They looked at each other.
Min-Jae: "Truce?"
Soo-Min: "No mercy."
The rooftop erupted into chaos.
Min-Jae dodged behind a grill. Soo-Min launched a triple attack. One balloon burst on his head. He screamed like a dramatic K-drama lead.
"My HAIR!"
"What hair?!"
She got hit next — right in the back. She slipped and fell onto a soaked towel.
Min-Jae ran over. "You okay?!"
She glared. "I'm fine. But your aim still sucks."
"That wasn't me! It was the six-year-old sniper over there."
---
Scene 3: The Almost Kiss
As the balloon war ended, the sunset turned the sky golden.
They stood near the edge of the rooftop, drying off. Their clothes clung to them. Soo-Min's bangs drooped sadly. Min-Jae's hoodie was soaked into a weird lopsided cape.
"You look like a wet chicken," Soo-Min said.
"You look like a drowned Pikachu."
"Rude. But fair."
A silence fell between them.
Min-Jae looked over.
"Hey… thanks for not, you know, avoiding me today."
"You mean after last week when you broke my last clean mug and blamed the cat?"
"That too."
She smirked.
"It's not so bad. Being your accidental partner in crime."
He laughed softly.
Their eyes met.
Then… slowly… they leaned just a little closer.
Closer.
Almost—
"WHOOO! FIREWORKS!!!"
BOOM! 💥
A firework exploded directly overhead.
They jumped apart like guilty teenagers.
"I-I was just checking your… eye. It had an eyelash."
"Yeah! You were… pointing. With your face."
Bokki meowed like he'd seen everything.
---
Scene 4: The Prize
Mrs. Park handed them a mysterious envelope.
"For winning best water balloon showdown."
Inside: a voucher for a free couples massage.
They stared at it.
"You want to… burn it?" Soo-Min asked.
"Or sell it for ramen?"
"Done."
They both nodded.
Then ripped it in half and high-fived.
---
Scene 5: Back Home
Soaked, slightly blushing, and starving, they returned to the apartment.
"Dinner?"
"You're cooking."
"You trust me again?"
"Not really. But I'm tired."
As Min-Jae fried eggs and rice, Soo-Min sat on the floor and leaned against the counter.
"Today was… kind of fun."
"Kind of?"
"Okay. Mostly. Except the balloon that went up my sleeve."
He chuckled. "You scream like a cat seeing a cucumber."
She smiled.
He paused, looking over at her.
But said nothing.
And neither did she.
But Bokki knew.
And the neighbors? Oh, they definitely knew.
---
End of Chapter 8