The sunlight came through the large window and brightened the inside of the snack shop. Do Young was sitting in her usual seat while Yong Guk was standing behind the counter like how he always have.

That night had seemed like a distant memory when in fact, it had only been a week or so since then. Everything had returned back to normal but there was something that Do Young had been noticing.

Even if it wasn’t obvious, there was something different. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it but it was like the whole air of the shop was lighter and comforting. She didn’t know if Yong Guk felt the same way but she definitely did.

“You’re back to eating that bad stuff.” Yong Guk quickly points out as the young girl in front of him munches on the candy bar. “I thought you said change was good.” The change didn’t even last for more than week before she returned to her habits again. But, Yong Guk should have known that she couldn’t keep it up.  

“It is. Today is my cheat day.” Do Young responds blankly as she focuses on her homework. From time to time, Do Young would find herself looking up from her work and glancing secretly at Yong Guk. She was starting to notice the brighter expression he has been starting to show instead of his usual frown and she found herself smiling at the thought. She looks back down at her work on the counter.

On the other hand, Yong Guk takes out the remnants of the magazine he managed to save from the waste basket. He tried to straighten out the crimpled pages, smoothing the edges out on the countertop. Hearing the noise, Do Young looks up to see what it was.

“When are you going to recycle that?” He had said that he would a week ago and he still has it. At this rate, Do Young was starting to wonder if he ever will get rid of it. She had said so many times before that those things don’t work, yet he insists on keeping it around.

“Why would I?” He answers, his attention still on trying to flatten out the pages. He had managed to staple it together again but it still looked like it’s been through a lot. Well, there’s no way to return it to how it used to be. “This magazine had helped me a lot.”

“That helped you?” Do Young couldn’t help but blurt at the ridiculousness of his words. “That was what helped you?” It wasn’t her? It wasn’t the time when she consoled him like, every single day but that stupid useless magazine did? Sometimes Do Young wonders about Yong Guk’s reasoning’s. “You’re amazing.” She eventually comments, each word coated in sarcasm.

“What do you have against it?” He asks her, amused by her words.

“Nothing. I’m only stating facts.” Do Young quickly retorts. “But, I guess it’s not too bad.” She quietly confesses after a minute. “It at least gave you some hope right?” It was because of that magazine that she knew Yong Guk wanted to get better.

Yong Guk nods his head gently and sighs. “It caused me to think if it was even possible to feel better.” Even though that’s what he said, he still believed that it was all due to Do Young. If the magazine gave him hope, then it was actually Do Young that encouraged him to move on.

“Well, I guess there’s some use to it then.” Do Young replies carelessly.

He laughs at her words but nonetheless, continued to try his utmost best to salvage the pages. “Waaa, this magazine is really what’s amazing.” He adds with awe. Seeing how pointless this conversation was, Do Young returns her attention back on her homework. Yong Guk peers at her, having fun teasing her. “What are you going to do, now that you’re 18?”

She sighs but doesn’t look up from her task. “I’m going to do what I do every day.” There wasn’t much change to her daily life and it didn’t matter that she was a year older. “You sound like my friend at school.” Even though she was the last to turn 18, Haemi continues to bug her about it. She didn’t see what was so great about it. And Haemi experienced it herself, so why was she interrogating Do Young?

“So you do have friends.” He acted like he was surprise and she gives him a look. “What does she say?”

“She asks me things like that. ‘How does it feel?’ or ‘isn’t it nice?” I don’t get it. It’s still feels the same.” Do Young honestly mumbles. She didn’t get what the whole big deal was. The way she viewed things didn’t change, she didn’t grow any taller, or become any less oblivious – so basically it proves her point.

He nods his head. Seeing how Do Young’s personality is like, he wasn’t at all surprise by how she was acting. It would be stranger if Do Young showed an excited behavior instead. And there was a part of him that understood where she was coming from. Even though Yong Guk was older, it was Do Young that helped him see the light instead. What was actually important was the experiences you went through and how you handled it as a person – age had nothing to do with it and it simply wasn’t a factor.

“And how are you?” Do Young decides to switch the subject from her to Yong Guk.

“Today I went to see her.” Lately, Yong Guk found himself opening up to Do Young more and more. This time, he didn’t feel like he had to hold himself back and without even trying, he openly discussed things with her. And maybe it was the fact that he had someone to talk to that he didn’t feel so suffocated.

Do Young stops writing at the mention but quickly gets back to her task. “How was it?”

Yong Guk had always feared going to see Ji Eun, fearing that he would breakdown if he saw her grave. But now, he was able to meet her again with a lighter heart. “Still hurts.” Yong Guk casually responds. “But, not as painful.” Though it was a certain pain that he could handle and be okay.

Do Young didn’t even know that her shoulders were tensed until she felt herself relax after he spoke. She was glad that Yong Guk was slowly moving on. It was a long way coming but it still makes her relieved that he was trying his best. “I’m sure she’s smiling down at you right now.” Do Young wonders how Yong Guk’s wife felt, seeing her husband so torn about their past. But now, Ji Eun can definitely rest easy seeing the progress Yong Guk has made.

Yong Guk hums an agreement and nods his head. “Thanks, Do Young.”

“Why are you thanking me, it’s all your own effort.” Do Young humbly replies. She only spoke words and said everything she felt but Yong Guk was the one that actually did it all. He made it possible for himself.   

He smiles at her answer. “I now understand why you’re named ‘Do Young’.”

Do Young looks up with curiosity. “But I’ve already told you why.” She blankly interjects. She had told him dozens of times. He was definitely choosing to ignore her when she speaks, she concludes.

He laughs seeing disbelief written all over her face. “I think your mom knew what kind of person you were going to be.” It was only now that Yong Guk noticed it. Despite how Do Young seemed like, Yong Guk now only knew the truth behind it. She was so bright and positive even when she was faced with such hardships. When it was all dark for Yong Guk, like the sun, Do Young provided the light at the end of the tunnel for him. Just like what her name meant, Do Young was the sunlight in his life. And Mrs. Kim couldn’t have picked a better name for her daughter.

Do Young listened to his simple reasoning. “She named me ‘Do Young’ because she knew what kind of person I was going to be….?” She inhaled a deep breath. She thought that if she said it to herself, she would feel less confused but nope, she was lost in his reasoning. If people were puzzled by her behavior, she wonders how they would react meeting Yong Guk. “Your words are starting to become cryptic.”

“They’re starting to sound like you.” Yong Guk retorts. Man, did it feel good to finally stump the very person that always used to stump him with her puzzling words.

Regardless, Do Young could see this change in Yong Guk and for once, she knew it was for the better. “I have a lot of hopes for you.” She says softly and crosses her arms on the counter.

“I hope not too many.” He jokes, but at the same time ready to listen to whatever words that may leave her lips.

“Well, then we should take it step by step right?” Do Young asks blankly. “Are you going to get a magazine to teach you that too?”

He chuckles at her remark. “That’s a very good idea.” He watches as she gives him a look like she has given up on him. “I hope these magazines have weekly subscriptions.” Yong Guk looks down at the torn magazine in thought. After a few minutes, he looks up to see Do Young once again focusing on her homework. “You know, Do Young. I think your dad would be really proud if he saw you now.” He says gently.

Do Young stops her movements before a small smile pulled at the corner of her lips. “I would hope so.” She hopes that like how Yong Guk’s wife was smiling down at him, her dad would be doing the same. Maybe he was happy right now, seeing how her mom and her are able to live so well.

Even though she didn’t show it, Yong Guk was sure she was happy hearing that. And he was glad that he received a chance to meet someone like her. As corny it may sound but it was like God heard his prayers. Yong Guk wanted to be saved and someone was sent to him to do just that. He had experienced the pain for so long that he knew it wouldn’t disappear overnight but for once, he actually felt like he could do it. He felt like he had the power to finally overcome everything that had been holding him down.

And Yong Guk concluded that, as long as Do Young was around, anything was possible.

Yong Guk looks at Do Young and mindlessly, he spoke the familiar words. “You’re really interesting.”

“You’ve said that before.” Do Young sighs.

Despite Yong Guk’s hesitation, Do Young didn’t have any doubts of his capability to finally achieve the happiness he wanted. It is true that she had many hopes for him but more or less, she wanted him to realize it on his own.

She hopes that he will only go up from here. For someone who had already reached the lowest of the lows, there was no other lower point he could possibly go. She hopes that instead of forgetting his wife, Do Young hopes he instead remembers the more beautiful and happier memories of their time together. Like how Do Young smiles and enjoys looking at the charm her father left her, she wanted Yong Guk to look at things that reminded him of his wife with better thoughts than sad ones. She hopes that he will smile when he does instead of cry.

And most of all she hopes that one day, that pain in his chest will finally fade and fully heal

Do Young always meant her words, even if others weren’t aware.

But for some reason, she knew Yong Guk wasn’t like the others. She knew that finally her words had reached him and he can finally say that even though it may seem impossible, things are never what they seem. 

Whoop whoop! All done! I hope you all enjoyed this story and the message it brought! No hardships are impossible to overcome!

Now then, if you somehow liked my writing LOL feel free to check out my other stories. I do look forward to adding to the 'Number 7' series, so look out for another installment :D

Thank you all for the subs, votes, and comments. I really do appreciate them all <3