A/N: I wrote this 3 different times and scrapped it all. Secret Santas are always a good idea until you're actually writing them, in which case they're absolutely awful. At least I'm glad I have something up, finally. Anyway, hope you all enjoy
Life is full of first encounters. In Jaehee's case, her first encounters tended to be more significant than most.
Whether it be the first time she met her aunt and uncle after her parents passed or the first time she met the man who gave her a full ride to college, there was no first encounter (that Jaehee could remember) that didn't lead to one thing or another. For once, all she wanted was to meet someone so incredibly irrelevant, that she'd never see or hear from them again.
Alas, it was never meant to be.
Six semesters of university and with an impressive internship under her belt, Jaehee was finally ready to take on the world. She had no clear direction or goal; all she craved was a space for herself where she could drive away the feeling of emptiness and worthlessness that she had cultivated internally for so long. She wanted to be independent, live somewhere where she could be comfortable and distance herself from all those she wished to.
So when she received a call from C&R for a position as Jumin Han's assistant she accepted before any conditions were even set. A handful of sacrificed hours of sleep and a haircut was all that was stopping her from making it on her own.
"I hope you understand what is expected of you in filling this position," were the first words Mr. Han said to her when they first met at the office building a couple days later.
"Of course, sir," Jaehee bowed slightly. "I plan to do my utmost best."
Her hair appointment was scheduled for that same afternoon. She had a couple hours to spare, however, so she figured she'd go grocery shopping given the lack of time she would have later on.
She couldn't afford very much due to her restricted budget, but knowing that she'd soon be paid twice as much, she allowed herself to buy a few extra things here and there.
She should've known better, though, because she ended up having to leave some things at the counter after all.
"It's a shame you have to leave these behind," the cashier commented, moving a bag of cookies to the side. "They're my favorite!"
Jaehee sighed, removing a pack of red bear and a gallon of milk in the process. "It's fine, I'll buy them next time. By then I'll have enough money to get twice as much."
"New job?" The cashier asked, scanning the rest of the items that Jaehee had stuck with.
Jaehee nodded in response. Normally she wouldn't partake in any sort of conversation with staff of any kind, but the store was practically empty and she didn't mind the momentary company. Besides, this seemed like the kind of first encounter she'd been waiting for!
"Sounds great!" The cashier smiled. "What'll you be doing now?"
"I'll just be an assistant at a big company, but the pay is good and I waa asked to cut my hair short so it must be pretty serious."
The cashier frowned slightly and stared at Jaehee's head. "Aww that's too bad. You have such pretty long hair!"
Jaehee tried her best to brush it off with, "Oh, it's not such a big deal."
However, the cashier was having none of it. Just as Jaehee was getting ready to pay, the cashier took out her own wallet and added the cookies back into her purchase.
"I said I wouldn't be taking those-" Jaehee attempted to stop her but the receipt was already printing out by then.
"Don't worry, these are on me," the cashier assured her, taking out a few bucks to cover the cost.
Jaehee was touched. Certainly this was a first encounter she hadn't been expecting. Even so, she felt guilty. "There really is no need..."
"Trust me," the cashier interrupted and winked, "you'll thank me later."
Jaehee only smiled, paid for the rest, and happily took her groceries, waving goodbye as she left the store.
She realized that she hadn't caught the cashier's name, but it didn't matter anyway. Although that first encounter had meant more than she would've imagined, she'd already accepted that she'd never again see the young woman.
In fact, their interaction had been so short that she could hardly remember anything about her, save her long brown hair and bangs that made her eyes difficult to make out.
Needless to say, she was greatly surprised when she met her once more nearly two years later at a party hosted by a charity organization, as the woman she had befriended and had learned to cherish through a messenger app.
Jaehee should've known better. Of course she'd see her again. Her first encounters were never the last.