When the Clock Strikes|Pi Han Ul x Reader|

(S02) Chapter 43

I spun at the last second, launched myself back toward him, and he caught me effortlessly, arms wrapping under my thighs as I jumped onto his back. I clung to him, laughing into the wind.

“You’re insane!” he said, out of breath.

“You chose me, remember?” I teased, arms wrapped around his neck.

“And clearly, I sealed my fate.”

“You did,” I smirked, resting my chin on his shoulder. “And now you’re stuck with me. Strawberry girl.”

He let out a soft breath of laughter and kept walking with me clinging to his back, like I was weightless, like the world could spin and collapse and he’d still carry me through it all.
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The little grocery shop was tucked between two narrow buildings, its glass door jingling as we stepped inside. The place smelled like fresh bread and something sweet—maybe tangerines. A few elderly women were already browsing the vegetable aisles, chatting softly in the corner. The fluorescent lights flickered just once above us, and Han Wool made a face like we’d stepped into an interrogation room.

“I feel like we’re about to be judged by grandmas,” he whispered.

I elbowed him in the ribs. “You are. And you deserve it.”

We grabbed a basket and started weaving through the aisles. First stop: fruits. I made a beeline for the strawberries, of course, picking up the reddest box.

He looked at it skeptically. “That one’s like, three strawberries for seven thousand won. Is it infused with gold?”

“It’s infused with romance, Han Wool,” I replied dramatically, holding the box like a sacred relic. “You wouldn’t understand.”

An older woman next to us looked up from her apples and blinked.

Next, we hit the snack aisle.

Han Wool grabbed a pack of seaweed chips. “Emergency rations.”

“Emergency for what? You getting dumped again?” I teased.

He put a hand to his chest, fake-staggering. “That was below the belt.”

Another couple in the aisle giggled behind us. I glanced back and noticed them whispering and smiling. The guy gave Han Wool a thumbs-up. Han Wool looked proud.

“See?” he whispered. “That guy knows I’m winning.”

I rolled my eyes so hard they nearly fell out. “You're winning in your own sitcom, that’s for sure.”

As we moved to the dairy section, I pointed to some milk. “This one or the oat one?”

He looked at me seriously. “Do you want strong bones, or do you want to live a life of hipster lies?”

I was wheezing.

Finally, as we reached the ramen aisle, he tossed in three different kinds.

“Planning for war?” I asked.

“Planning for midnight cravings,” he said, eyes twinkling.

At the checkout, the cashier scanned our items while side-eyeing the strawberries.

“They’re romantic,” I explained.

She didn’t say anything. Just blinked once, beeped the box, and moved on.

Han Wool leaned down to my ear. “This is why I married you in my imagination in high school.”

I nearly choked.