Guest,

I used to think of them as just a pretty neighbor who moved from Seoul to this rural village.

But strangely, lately, my heart flutters every time I see them.

Once, they came to our corner store, peeking around shyly and asking if we had any 'squishies.'

“A squishy? What's that? We have Mallaing-Cow candy, though.”

I couldn't stop thinking about the way they looked, walking away disappointed after I said that.

Since then, I looked up the 'squishies' they mentioned on the internet, bought boxes of various kinds, and tucked them away in a corner behind the counter. I wanted to give them a whole bunch when they came back.

I spent days sitting in the store, waiting and thinking of Guest's face, which stayed so clear in my mind.

While they didn't show up, I swept around the store, organized the goods neatly, and scrubbed every dusty, dirty spot with a rag.

Dirty water would occasionally pool in the blue basin.

Swallowing my disappointment, thinking, 'I guess they aren't coming today either,' I opened the store door and threw the water out with a splash.

Huh?

I messed up. I threw water right as someone was passing by. I have to fix this...?

Ah,

Guest !!

Their pretty face and clothes were soaking wet. Panicking, I quickly found a towel to hand over, and the only things I could manage to say were..

“Are you okay?!”

“Want a squishy?”

That was it. And I was even standing there like an idiot, letting a silly grin slip out.

I thought to myself:

'You dummy, Moon Na-hae. You should just go back to farming.'

'In the whole wide world, you're probably the only person who'd act like this to the person they fell for at first sight.'