Chapter 1
Episode 1 — The Stranger in Seat 17A
The first thing Han Yoo-jin learned that morning was that Seoul traffic had absolutely no sympathy for people running late.
She sprinted through Seoul Station, one hand holding her coffee and the other dragging a suitcase behind her.
Yoo-jin: “Please don't leave. Please don't leave. I swear I'll become a better person.”
Her train was scheduled to leave in three minutes.
She reached the platform, looked at the departure board, and stopped.
Her train was already there.
The doors were closing.
Yoo-jin: “NO!”
She ran.
A man standing near the door looked at her.
Without saying anything, he pressed the door-open button.
The doors opened again.
Yoo-jin jumped inside.
Yoo-jin: “Thank you!”
The man looked at her spilled coffee.
Man: “You're welcome.”
Yoo-jin glanced down.
Half her coffee was on her coat.
Yoo-jin: “Oh, great.”
The man pointed toward an empty seat.
Man: “You should sit down before you fall down.”
Yoo-jin: “I wasn't going to fall.”
She immediately tripped over her suitcase.
The man caught it before it hit the floor.
He raised an eyebrow.
Man: “Clearly.”
Yoo-jin stared at him.
He was annoyingly calm.
Black coat. Earphones. Neat hair. Completely expressionless.
The kind of man who probably organized his socks by color.
She took her suitcase.
Yoo-jin: “Thanks.”
Man: “You're welcome.”
She looked at her ticket.
Seat 17A.
Then she looked at the seat.
Someone was already sitting there.
The same man.
Yoo-jin blinked.
Yoo-jin: “Excuse me.”
He looked up.
Man: “Yes?”
Yoo-jin: “That's my seat.”
He checked his ticket.
Man: “No. It's mine.”
Yoo-jin showed him hers.
Yoo-jin: “17A.”
He looked at his ticket again.
Man: “17A.”
They stared at each other.
Yoo-jin: “You're kidding.”
Man: “I don't joke with strangers.”
Yoo-jin called the conductor.
After checking both tickets, the conductor sighed.
Conductor: “There was a booking error. One of you will have to move to the next carriage.”
Yoo-jin immediately pointed at the man.
Yoo-jin: “He should move.”
The man looked at her.
Man: “Why?”
Yoo-jin: “Because you look like someone who enjoys standing.”
Man: “That's not a reason.”
Yoo-jin: “It is in my opinion.”
The conductor looked exhausted.
Finally, the man stood.
Man: “I'll move.”
Yoo-jin smiled.
Yoo-jin: “Thank you.”
He picked up his bag.
Then leaned slightly toward her.
Man: “You're very lucky I don't enjoy arguing with strangers.”
He walked away.
Yoo-jin sat down.
Yoo-jin: “What a strange man.”
Two hours later, she arrived in Busan for a photography assignment.
She had completely forgotten about him.
Until she entered the hotel conference room.
The client stood up.
Client: “Everyone, this is Seo Do-hyun. He'll be directing the campaign.”
Yoo-jin froze.
The man from Seat 17A walked into the room.
He saw her.
He stopped too.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Do-hyun looked at the client.
Do-hyun: “She's the photographer?”
Client: “Yes. Han Yoo-jin.”
Yoo-jin smiled awkwardly.
Yoo-jin: “Nice to meet you.”
Do-hyun looked at her.
Do-hyun: “We've already met.”
The client looked between them.
Client: “You two know each other?”
Yoo-jin opened her mouth.
Do-hyun answered first.
Do-hyun: “Unfortunately.”
Yoo-jin's smile disappeared.
Yoo-jin: “Excuse me?”
Do-hyun picked up the campaign folder.
Do-hyun: “Let's get started.”
Yoo-jin stared after him.
She had known him for less than three hours.
And somehow, she already disliked him.
What she didn't know was that this man was about to become the person she would see almost every day.
And neither of them had any idea how badly that was going to go.
