Soojin – Government Exam and Afternoon at the Beach
The morning sun had barely touched the rooftops when Soojin's alarm nudged her awake. Her notebook lay open on the desk, pens scattered around it like loyal soldiers waiting for orders. Today was important — the government exam she had been preparing for months.
She dressed quickly in a simple blouse and skirt, tying her hair neatly. Breakfast was modest: a small bowl of rice, kimchi, and a fried egg. As she walked toward the exam hall, the city of Busan stretched out before her — quiet streets slowly awakening, the hum of trams and distant seagulls blending into a morning symphony.
Inside the exam hall, she found her seat, placing her bag neatly under the desk. The smell of ink and paper was oddly comforting, like a ritual she had come to cherish. Pens scratched across pages, and the occasional cough or shuffle of papers was all that interrupted the concentration. She focused on every question, recalling formulas, dates, and policies she had drilled for weeks. Even when her wrist ached or her mind drifted for a fraction of a second, she reminded herself softly:
"Consistency is the key. Keep going."
When the exam ended, a wave of relief washed over her. The tension in her shoulders eased as she walked out into the bright afternoon. She met her two close friends near the beachfront, the wind teasing her hair.
The three of them settled on the sand, the waves lapping gently nearby. Coffee in hand, they laughed and shared snacks, tossing crumbs to the seagulls that circled curiously.
"Did you see question seven?" one friend whispered, eyes wide. "I think I blanked completely."
Soojin grinned, shaking her head. "Me too... but we survived. That's what matters."
They teased each other about their exam jitters, but the laughter was genuine, lightening the heaviness of months of preparation. The sea breeze carried a faint smell of salt and warmth, the sunlight dancing on the water.
Soojin leaned back on her hands, letting the wind brush over her face. For a moment, she allowed herself to just breathe — the study sessions, the early mornings, the late-night note-taking — all felt like a small price for this fleeting sense of freedom.
"Next time, we need to bring ice cream," one friend said, nudging her playfully.
"Only if it doesn't melt in the sun," Soojin replied, laughing.
They spent hours like this, talking about everything and nothing — school, dreams, small annoyances, funny memories. She felt lighter, as if the waves themselves had carried some of her stress out to sea.
By the time the sun dipped lower, painting the horizon with streaks of orange and pink, Soojin knew she would return to her apartment to continue her preparations. Yet, this afternoon had reminded her why she pushed herself so hard — not just for exams or success, but for these small moments of joy that made all the discipline worthwhile.
With a contented sigh, she stood, brushing sand from her skirt, ready to step back into the rhythm of her life — determined, but also alive.
Min Hyuns life
The first light of dawn barely touched the city skyline when Min Hyun's alarm buzzed. He rolled out of bed, moved with the quiet precision of someone who had learned early that mornings set the tone for the day. Breakfast was quick—a slice of toast, a soft-boiled egg, and a steaming cup of coffee, its aroma sharp and grounding. He sipped it while scanning the day's mental checklist, though today he didn't need reminders. Every step of the job was ingrained.
By 7:30, he was out the door, slipping into the familiar hum of the streets as he walked toward Dohyun Logistics. The warehouse came into view: the faint smell of cardboard and engine oil, the early murmur of drivers preparing for their routes, and parcels stacked haphazardly, awaiting his meticulous eye.
Min Hyun walked into the warehouse, clipboard in hand.
"Morning, Hyun!" shouted one of the drivers, balancing a crate.
"Morning. And careful with that—you're flirting with gravity," Min Hyun replied, nudging the crate upright.
"Eh, I got this," the driver said, wincing as it teetered.
Min Hyun muttered under his breath, "Famous last words..." and moved toward the stack of parcels. He picked up a box labeled "Fragile" that had clearly been treated as optional.
"Jaehoo, did you see this?" he called, waving the box.
Jaeho peeked from behind a pile of papers. "Uh... yeah. Someone dropped it again."
"Someone?" Min Hyun raised an eyebrow. "I think it's a team effort at this point. Gravity, teamwork, carelessness—everyone's involved."
He scribbled notes on his clipboard, checking the delivery slips. "All right, driver Lee, you're taking the north route today. No detours past Mrs. Kim's garden gnomes this time. Last week, one ended up in the mulch."
Driver Lee laughed. "Hey, they attacked me first!"
"Sure, sure," Min Hyun said dryly. "But I'm pretty sure gnomes don't have opposable thumbs."
He walked over to the office desk where a pile of supplier invoices sat. "Kim, call GreenLeaf and see why the tomatoes are late. Again. And don't just 'ask nicely.' They need a plan, not a prayer."
A few minutes later, he hung up. "They're shipping a replacement tomorrow. Finally. Consistency—ever heard of it?"
He tapped the clipboard, scanning the schedule. Two drivers had overlapping routes. "Oh, this is a mess. Hyun-Jin, you swap with Min-Soo after stop three. Min-Soo, don't try any shortcuts—you know what happened last time."
Min-Soo grinned. "Hey, shortcuts are my specialty."
"Specialty? More like specialty in getting lost," Min Hyun shot back, rolling his eyes.
He moved back toward the stacks of parcels, rearranging them by zone while muttering out loud. "North, south, east... okay, green is mystery. Mystery zone. Maybe it delivers itself."
Jaeho peeked again. "You make it look easy."
Min Hyun smirked. "It's not easy. It's just about getting everything in order... and a lot of coffee."
By the time the morning was halfway done, parcels were moving smoothly, drivers were following their adjusted routes, and the office workflow was humming. Min Hyun leaned against a crate, satisfied.
"See?" he said to no one in particular. "Even a messy start can turn into something manageable... eventually."
Min Hyun ducked under a leaning stack of boxes, narrowly catching a crate before it toppled over.
"Careful!" one of the drivers shouted, scrambling to steady it.
"Relax," Min Hyun said, setting it upright. "I'm not your safety net... yet."
As he moved down the aisles, scanning delivery slips and reorganizing parcels, his mind drifted—like a soft echo from the past.
Two months ago, he had stood in Mr. Kang's office, the polished wood and faint coffee aroma almost suffocating in its formality.
"So... you're leaving?" Mr. Kang's voice cut through the tense silence.
"Yes, sir," Min Hyun replied, steady. "I've given this a lot of thought."
"You know the conditions—two years of dedication, targets met. You're not even a year in. Why resign now?"
Min Hyun met his gaze. "Sir... as per the conditions you set, I've proved myself. I've met the targets, delivered results, and shown I can handle the responsibilities. But now... I need to build myself further. I need a new challenge, something beyond what this position can offer."
Mr. Kang's jaw tightened. "So your ambition outweighs the commitment you agreed to?"
"It's not about outweighing it, sir," Min Hyun said firmly. "I respect the agreement. I honored it. But I've reached the horizon of growth here. If I stay, I'll stagnate. I need to stretch, learn more, and build something I can call my own."
A pause. Mr. Kang finally extended a hand. "Very well. You've made your choice. Don't make me regret trusting you."
"I won't, sir. Thank you," Min Hyun said, feeling the weight of freedom settle in his chest.
Within a week, Min Hyun became a small shareholder at Jaeho Delivery Company. It was a modest stake, but enough to give him a voice in operations. The office was cramped, vans were old, and the team was small, but Min Hyun felt an unfamiliar thrill—the opportunity to shape something from the ground up.
On his first morning, Jaeho handed him a clipboard. "Here's the route sheet for today. Don't get lost in the paperwork."
Min Hyun glanced over the forms, a faint smile on his lips. "I like knowing the details before things start moving," he said, already scanning delivery addresses and time slots.
Driver Lee, leaning against a van, eyed him skeptically. "You really check everything?"
"I check what matters," Min Hyun replied, lifting a stack of parcels. "If we skip it now, we'll be fixing it later."
That afternoon, he rode with Lee on the north route, watching the streets, noting delays, and jotting down small observations. "Turn left before the convenience store," he instructed. "There's usually a traffic jam near the intersection at this hour."
Lee raised an eyebrow. "You've got everything planned, huh?"
"It's not about planning," Min Hyun said, adjusting a strap on a package. "It's about making sure nothing slips through the cracks."
Back at the office, Min Hyun spent hours reorganizing the parcels, labeling priority packages in bright colors, and creating a simple checklist for the drivers. Jaeho peeked over his shoulder. "I didn't expect someone to notice these small details."
"They make a difference," Min Hyun said calmly. "A single delay can ripple across the day."
By the third day, Min Hyun was already making small improvements. He instructed Min-Soo not to take shortcuts through narrow alleyways and rerouted vans when roads were under repair. He spoke with customers directly when deliveries were late, listening carefully to feedback. Even the drivers, initially wary, began trusting his instructions, following his guidance without complaint.
One evening, as he filed the last of the delivery slips, Min Hyun leaned back in his chair, tired but satisfied. The first few days had been intense—early mornings, long rides, constant planning—but for the first time, he felt that his actions shaped real results. This wasn't just a job; it was a challenge he could handle, and he was already starting to leave his mark.
The memory faded as Min Hyun adjusted a leaning stack of boxes in the warehouse, the hum of forklifts and chatter of drivers drawing him fully back to the present.
By late afternoon, the office had quieted down. Sunlight slanted through the blinds, casting long lines across the stacks of invoices and delivery sheets. Min Hyun leaned against the desk, flipping through the day's notes, while Jaeho sipped his lukewarm coffee across from him.
"So," Min Hyun began, "I've been thinking about how we can grow the company. Not just surviving day-to-day, but actually increasing revenue and presence."
Jaeho raised an eyebrow. "Alright, I'm listening. Don't make me regret lending you that small share."
Min Hyun smirked. "Don't worry. I have ideas. First, we need new clients. Bulk deliveries, recurring contracts—places that need regular shipments, like cafes, grocery stores, or offices. If we secure a few big accounts, we'll have steady cash flow and predictable routes."
Jaeho nodded slowly. "I get it. But finding clients isn't easy. Sales calls, proposals... do we have time for all that?"
"We'll delegate where we can," Min Hyun said. "I can draft proposals and handle initial meetings. You focus on operations and deliveries. We can rotate responsibilities."
"And the drivers?" Jaeho asked. "They're good, but... some are sloppy."
Min Hyun leaned forward. "Exactly. We train them. A short session every morning or twice a week. Routes, time management, customer handling. Even small improvements in efficiency will reduce delays and complaints."
Jaeho scratched his chin. "Sounds like work, but I see your point. Faster deliveries, happier clients. And you have a plan for that?"
"I do," Min Hyun said, tapping the edge of the desk. "We make a checklist for each driver: vehicle inspection, route review, and customer notes. Then we track performance weekly. Incentives for top performance—bonuses or small rewards. People respond to recognition."
Jaeho leaned back, thinking. "Alright. What about expansion? Vans, maybe hiring more staff?"
"Not yet," Min Hyun replied. "Small steps first. Add one more van for peak routes, hire a part-time driver if needed. Increase delivery capacity gradually. Once we have more clients and stable operations, we can scale further without overextending."
Jaeho nodded, a spark of excitement in his eyes. "You really mapped this out, huh?"
"I did," Min Hyun said calmly, though a hint of satisfaction colored his tone. "Step one: new clients and contracts. Step two: training drivers for efficiency. Step three: gradual, manageable expansion. Everything measurable, nothing wasted."
The office felt quieter now, the sun lower and warmer, as Jaeho leaned forward and grinned. "Alright, Hyun. Let's do it. I'll trust your plan and follow your lead on this. If we pull it off... we could actually make this company something bigger than we imagined."
Min Hyun's lips curved into a small smile. "That's the goal. Big enough to matter, but controlled enough to stay solid. One step at a time."
The two of them sat in thoughtful silence for a moment, the afternoon light catching dust motes in the air. Outside, a delivery van rumbled past, and Min Hyun's mind wandered briefly to the routes, the drivers, and the clients they would soon reach. For the first time in a long while, the future felt deliberately within his grasp.
Both them are doing there part now what result they might get now ?