Chaeyoung was lying on her back while staring at the ceiling. She took a quick glance to the digital clock that was hanging on the freshly painted walls. It was 2:30 am. She had been lying in bed, trying to fall asleep, for nearly 5 hours now. Chaeyoung looked over to the bed opposite hers. Nayeon was sound asleep.

Wait. Come to think of it, she hadn’t seen her roommate change sleeping positions or even moved a single inch ever since they had switched off the lights at 10 pm. Worried that her roommate might have died in her sleep, Chaeyoung got out of bed and walked over to the older girl. After steadying her hand, she placed her index finger right below Nayeon’s nostrils to check if the girl was still breathing. Relief washed over her when she felt warm air hitting her finger. Well, good to know that at least her roommate is alive and still breathing.

Chaeyoung glanced at the clock again. It was now 2:40 am. Wow. Did she really just spend 10 minutes checking to see if her roommate is still alive? The insomniac was about to make her way back to her bed when her stomach rumbled. Out of instinct, she quickly clutched her stomach. Worried her roommate might have woken up from the loud noise; she turned her head to check on Nayeon. The squirtle look-a-like was still sound asleep.

The young girl gently patted her stomach as though to tame the wild monster.

“Hang in there buddy. I’ll get the food to you soon.” She whispered to her stomach.

The two roommates had only had fried chicken for dinner since they were both too tired to cook. Well, not like they could cook anything besides instant noodles to begin with but hush, no one needs to know about that. Not wanting to create any more noise, Chaeyoung made her way out of the room.

With small and quiet steps, she made her way to the kitchen. Thankfully she didn’t stub a toe while making her way to the kitchen in the dark. Eager to fill her stomach, she opened the cupboard to grab one of those cup noodles that had attempted to taste like kimchi soup. To her disappointment, the cupboard was void of cup noodles. Heck, it was practically empty.

Then it hit Chaeyoung, she has yet to go grocery shopping after feeding the wild beasts called Momo and Jungyeon. The couple were sharing the apartment with Nayeon and her. However, Momo and Jungyeon had moved in a day before them but the couple had been kind enough to help Nayeon and her move.

To repay their kindness and to celebrate the freedom of finally living away from their parents, the girls had ordered fried chicken and Chinese takeout but of course Momo and Jungyeon couldn’t stop whining about how long the delivery was going to take. Annoyed with their constant whining, Nayeon had cooked for them each a bowl of instant noodles that Chaeyoung had kept as her private stash.

“Looks like I have to go out and get some food.” The girl said out loud to herself.

It was snowing outside and it was probably below 0°C but for the sake of her stomach and her craving for instant noodles, she would brave the cold weather. Making her way back to her shared room, she quietly changed into more appropriate attire and made sure she had her wallet, phone and earphones.

After checking that she had brought along her essentials, she went out of the room and headed straight to the door. She put on her boots and left the apartment. As she made her way to the elevator, she realized she had no idea if there was even a convenience store nearby that was open at this hour. She took out her phone and did a quick search. Her bestfriend, Google, pointed out that there was a 7-11 just around the corner of her new apartment complex.

Not wanting to freeze to death, the teenager jogged towards the store. Of course she deeply regretted that decision after almost slipping on the slippery pavement twice (see what I did there ;)). Finally she spotted the ridiculous green, orange and red 7-11 sign. Her stomach rumbled once again and almost immediately she clutched her stomach.

With a huff (and a puff), she pushed open the doors to heaven, I mean, 7-11. The store was of a pretty decent size although if compared to the convenience store in her hometown, it would have been considered a joke. Size aside, food is now essential as her stomach once again rumbled. As though attracted by an invisible magnet, the teenager’s feet were brought to the instant noodles section. Her eyes lit up and she couldn’t help the smile that was slowly creeping onto her face.

Right in front of her were rows and rows of instant noodles. Soup based, non-soup, spicy, non-spicy, weird flavours, local brands, foreign brands, you name it, and this 7-11 has it. Chaeyoung was tempted to get one of each kind but she wasn’t a glutton and for goodness sake, it’s already 3 am, she didn’t want to wake up with a swollen face.

However, on this cold winter night, the 17 year old was craving for something spicy and hot to warm herself up. She was now looking for her favourite brand of instant noodles, Shin Ramyun. Much to her dismay, this 7-11 had all the other brands but not Shin Ramyun.

“What kind of 7-11 doesn’t sell Shin Ramyun??” Chaeyoung asked aloud. She had scanned through the rows twice and yet, no sign of her favourite ramen. Unhappy, Chaeyoung stamp her feet on the floor. One would have thought she was a 10 year old throwing a tantrum if they hadn’t known her age.

“Umm miss?” A soft voice was heard. Chaeyoung thought her anger had caused her to hallucinate but when she turned around to where she assume was the source of the voice, the sight of a frowning redhead greeted her.

“What?” Chaeyoung snapped. She knew it was rude but seriously, she hadn’t had proper sleep since last night, she’s hungry and for goodness sake, this stupid store didn’t have her favourite brand of instant noodles.

“Can I help you?” The redhead asked.

Chaeyoung noticed her that the girl was wearing a red shirt with a small 7-11 logo pinned on it. Right below the logo was a nametag and “MINA” was written on it. So Mina works here. “Yes. Do you guys have Shin Ramyun?”

“Ahh. Shin Ramyun? It’s usually here. I think my colleague must have forgotten to stock up.” The redhead tried to explain.

“WHAT???” Chaeyoung yelled causing Mina to flinch but before she could explain that there’s probably more in the storeroom, she was cut off. “WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOUR COLLEAGUE FORGOT?? SHIN RAMYUN IS SO POPULAR! IT’S THE BEST SELLER!! HOW COULD YOU FORGET ABOUT SUCH A LEGENDARY BRAND??”

Mina was honestly speechless. She was going to assume that the shorter girl in front of her was drunk but she looked too young to drink. Maybe she had a rough day? Keeping her usual calm composure, Mina explained, “I can bring you some from the storeroom if you want.”

Hearing this, Chaeyoung almost instantly calmed down. Her fiery eyes were softening. “You would do that?” Chaeyoung asked in a tone so sweet, Mina was worried she could attract ants.

“Um, uh. Yeah. Sure. I mean that’s my job anyway.” Mina was starting to wonder if the girl was a bipolar or has a split personality. Chaeyoung then hurriedly shooed Mina off to get her beloved instant noodles.

*

When Mina came back with 10 bowls of Shin Ramyun, she was surprised to see the customer already at the payment counter. Not wanting the younger girl to wait any longer, Mina decided that she could just stock up after she had settled this customer. The cashier however did not expect the customer to be buying more ingredients to add into her bowl of instant noodles.

“I don’t mean to be rude but are you sure you want to add all that into your bowl? I don’t think they will fit.” The cashier asked before scanning the items her customer had presented.

“Yeah don’t worry. I’ll make it fit.” Chaeyoung shrugged.

“If you say so.” Mina began to scan the items. 1 bowl of Shin Ramyun, 2 hard-boiled eggs, 1 packet of kimchi, a slice of processed cheese and a packet of freeze dried squid that Mina didn’t even know existed.

“That would be 8000 won.” Chaeyoung eagerly handed her money and before Mina could return her change or even ask her if she needed a bag, the teenager had already grabbed all her items and made her way to a table that was attached to a wall in the store.

Like a professional, Chaeyoung quickly ripped open the bowl’s lid, adder her eggs, freeze dried squid and emptied the pack of kimchi into the bowl. She then made her way to the hot water dispenser and poured the scalding hot water into her bowl. With careful steps (so as to not spill her precious soup), she made her way to the table and placed the slice of cheese on the lid. She then waited patiently for her noodles to cook.

Mina, who was still frozen in her spot, took quite awhile to fully comprehend what had just happened. When she had snapped out of it, she brought the change that she was suppose to return to her customer.

“Hey, you forgot your change.” Mina placed the change on the table next to Chaeyoung.

“Ahh. Thank you,” Chaeyoung looked at the nametag once again, “Mina-ssi.” She offered the redhead a smile.

“No worries.” Mina was about to go back to the cash counter when she felt a hand grabbing her wrist. She turned around, knowing who it was.

“I would like to apologize for my rude behaviour earlier on. I’m really hungry.” Chaeyoung unknowingly had her lower lips jutted out slightly; a sight too adorable for Mina’s poor heart.

Mina cleared a little, suddenly feeling parched. “It’s fine. It’s the first time to happen to me but I guess that’s better than the drunk ahjussi yesterday.”

Chaeyoung giggled and Mina thought it was the cutest thing she has ever heard.

“It’s unfair that you know my name and I don’t know yours.”

“My mom said to not talk to strangers.” Chaeyoung tried to joke.

“Technically you had already yelled at me and you know my name so I’m not really a stranger.”

“You’re still a stranger to me.”

“Oh really?” Mina quirked her eyebrow, “Then what should I do to not be a stranger to you?”

“Have a meal with me.” 

HAAAAAAAI 

So um, I know it's a little short but this is actually Version A of this story.

I had unknowingly came up with 2 different plots for one story and I got seriously confused myself. 

I didn't want the plots to go to waste so I decided to write 2 different versions of Instant Noodles. 

The first half of both stories are actually exactly the same, the difference in plots only happens after Chaeyoung gets her hands on the instant noodle. 

Version A is kinda like a "teaser"/drabble thing. So yeah. Lemme know what you think and maybe I can make some changes before updating Version B. 

I'm still craving for instant noodles. T_T

Also, this is ing hilarious HAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHHAHA