She didn't cry in front of the graves, but she cried when they got back in the car.
He thought it was better to let her shed her tears out, rather than offering words of comfort. He was attacked by flood of memories of his Harabeoji too, so he drove in silence.
It's strange how you could continue loving someone important to you, though the person left you a long time ago. Maybe love just doesn't stop because you can't see the person. Memories feed your love. So as long as you don't forget the person, you'll keep on loving them.
After she stopped crying, he announced, "I'm starving."
"Where do you want to eat, Doryeonnim?"
"I'm craving for Ramyeon. Do you know any ramyeon restaurants here?"
"I know one, around...ten minutes from here."
"Oh, Jjinjja? Is it good?"
"Very good. It's our favorite."
He turned to her, a curious smile on his lips, "Your favorite and....?"
"Seo Ki Jun's."
"Seo Ki Jun. The name is very familiar. You've known each other for really long, right?"
"Since junior high..."
"It's good to have friends who really know you. And accept you as you are."
"Very true, Doryeonnim."
"Yes. Friendships like that are worth more than money, I think."
"You must have a lot of good friends."
"Do I?" he asked back.
She turned, surprised. "Don't you, Doryeonnim?"
"I have friends....but good friends, only two or three."
She frowned."You look as if you wanted to ask why. You're smart. I'm sure you know the reason why."
He looked at the road, as if he was reluctant to tell more. She felt this was not the topic he liked to talk about.
He surprised her with continuing.
"That question always comes to my mind."
"....what question Doryeonnim? Please tell me."
"Is this guy sincere or is it just because of my money?"
She swallowed. It's painful to hear, somehow.
"That's an awful way to see the world..."
"It is. After some time, you'll be able to see which one is real and which one is not."
"I hope you have real friends who really care about you."
"I have. Not that many. But I do. We went all the way from preschool to university together. I guess you know them from the parties we have through the years.''
"I think I know them," she nodded, thinking back to the three men who often came to the Lee House for lunch or to play games in his room.
"Ne. They are...as wealthy as me. We really know each other. But I also got a lot of friends in the army."
"Real friends, Doryeonnim?" she quickly asked.
"Ne. I guess that's why Harabeoji and Abeoji wanted me to go to the army as soon as possible. To experience doing something together with other people. To work hard together and feel...I belong because of myself not because of my name," he said solemnly, "or my money."
She felt sorry for him. It must be horrible to always question other people's intentions like that. Or he might have had bad experiences, that's why he was like that. Who was it that hurt him? She was dying to ask, but she didn't think it was appropriate.
"Do you still want the ramyeon, Doryeonnim?"
"Even more now. Where is it?"
"Near Kookmin university."
"Oh, okay, I know the way," he turned on a crossroad, "Is it close now?"
"Ne. But—"
"What is it?"
"It's a cheap place. I don't think you've ever eaten ramyeon in a place like that."
"There's always a first to everything. I don't mind as long as you guarantee it tastes good."
"It is good, I promise you."
"Let's eat there, then. The right or left side of the road?"
"Left."
"This road?" he asked, as they passed a big road where students walked around, restaurants filling the place.
Unfortunately, there's no parking space left in front of the restaurant.
"Tsk. I hate places with limited parking space like this," he complained, looking around to park his expensive car.
But when he saw her expression, he assured, "But I'm determined to taste this ramyeon."
They finally found a place three restaurants away, parked, and got out of the car.
The restaurant was crowded at that hour, the lunch time was only beginning.
It was noisy with sounds of people slurping the noodles soup, there was the tack tack sound of wooden bowls and chopstick used eagerly, the shouts of the waiter yelling to the chefs dozens of orders amidst the noise, and the buzzing of steady conversations between Kookmin students and people working in office buildings around the area.
The atmosphere was comfortable. A ramyeon shop with no false pretenses of elegance. Here, you can expect good food, with good prices. Nothing more, and nothing less.
They found a table for two in the middle of the restaurant. She offered the menu as soon as they were seated.
She was busy recommending the best noodles she knew for some time, until he decided to try the original beef ramyeon. A young waiter noted their orders and disappeared to inform the kitchen.
He took off his coat and loosened one button of his shirt, fanning himself with the menu.
"Are you alright, Doryeonnim?"
"Hm? Oh, I'm okay. It's just a bit hot in here."
"If you want to, we can—"
"No, Ga Eun, I don't want to try another place. I'm perfectly fine and I'm determined to taste this ramyeon."
"Algesseumnida, Doryeonnim," she smiled.
"Business is good here," he commented.
"Ne," she nodded. "It's never empty. People come and go all day long from 10AM to 10PM again."
"Ah. I think the best advantage of small businesses like these is how the owners and waiters could really get close with their customers. The frequent customers must be loyal visitors for years."
"They are."
"Harabeoji started off like this, did you know?"
"Ne, Doryeonnim. I've heard."
"It was only a small tea house in Jeju. And then he and Haelmoni opened up three rooms in their own house. That was the start of Sang Kyu Hotel."
"It's something big that was started from scratch," she concluded.
"Exactly," he nodded.
Their ramyeon was served at that precise moment. She broke a pair of wooden chopsticks, wiped it thoroughly with tissue, and gave it to him. She then proceeded to wipe clean the wooden cup for him, and filled it with green tea from the jug placed between them.
She was too serious in making sure that he could eat comfortably; she didn't notice he was looking at her intently while smiling.
He was still like that when she finally looked up, making her instantly nervous and her throat dry.
"W—waeyo, Doryeonnim?"
He chuckled. "Nothing. It's just that.....you have a nice habit."
"Ne?"
"You're very considerate. Without realizing it. Sometimes you help people without thinking, like moving on autopilot."
She looked into his eyes. It was sincere and cheerful. Showing he really meant what he said. She tried to find something to say. Anything. Just to show 1/10 of her gratitude to him. How the simple praise from him had her heart dancing around like a spinning wheel.
"Ga Eunnie?"
A familiar voice called her. They turned around to see Ki Jun standing there, with two friends. A guy and a girl.
******
"Ki Junnie!" she beamed.
"Hey," Ki Jun greeted back, his hand immediately reaching to pat her hand.
"You're in the neighborhood and you don't find me?"
"I just visited Appa."
"Oh. Okay. I forgive you," he announced, as if he was the most benevolent man in the world.
"You just finished lunch?"
"Yup. I have to rush back now, so don't you dare detain me. I have my midterm test."
"I'm not going to stop you!" she denied, laughing at her crazy best friend.
"By the way," he bowed a little to Myung Hwan, "Annyeonghaseyo, Lee Myung Hwan-ssi. Just got back from the army?"
"Yes. It's nice to see you." Ki Jun smiled a bit at him before turning his attention back to Ga Eun.
"Come to my place later this day if you have time."
"Wae?"
"I want to show you my latest sketches. The theme is autumn. My class will hold a fashion show for our design."
"Jeongmal? Then this will be your first fashion show!"
"Only one dress. Just come by if you can."
"I think I will."
He patted her shoulder before starting to walk away with his friends.
"See you later, Ga Eunnie," he waved.
"I'll be leaving now," he said formally to Myung Hwan.
"Good luck," he said to Myung Hwan.
He waved as Ki Jun left the restaurant.
******
And then she started eating.
He also took his first taste of the ramyeon.
"This is delicious!" he said out loud, before quickly eating some more.
"Do you like it, Doryeonnim?"
"A lot," he affirmed, "We need to buy more and show it to uri Chef Baek. I want him to be able to make something exactly like this one."
"Chef Baek's ramyeon is also very good"
"Yes, but not like this."
They enjoyed their meal for a while, before he suddenly asked, "So who's the one, Ga Eun?"
"Ne?"
"Seo Ki Jun or Park Jin Yang?"
******
She understood the question. But couldn't give the answer.
His eyebrows went up."You don't want to answer or you don't know the answer?"
Her mouth clamped shut. She wanted to come up with something light and careless. But she couldn't.
Doryeonnim, if I say your name as my choice, what would you say? He was studying her expression, wonder and curiosity was etched on his face.
"I think it's the second."
"N-ne?"
"It's not because you don't want to tell me. You don't know which one's more important for you."
I know. He's sitting right in front of me, but it's not like I could freely say it to him, she thought.
"Doryeonnim."
"Yes?"
"Let's change the topic."
"Mwo!?" he laughed.
"So uri Ga Eun is popular. Two guys are fighting over her."
"It's not like that....."
"What is it like, then?"
She decided to just eat again.
"You're not going to answer me?"
She kept eating her ramyeon.
"Ahrasseo."
She spooned the soup of her ramyeon.
"Aigoo, what a playgirl!"
She choked.
She gasped and coughed and coughed until her eyes watered.
He laughed and got up from his chair, rubbing her back and apologized.
"I'm sorry. I was only joking! Sorry, I didn't think it would shock you that much. Sorry, sorry, I didn't mean to make you choke! Drink up, drink up. Breathe in, come on, and drink."
She took a deep breath before drinking her tea, which he held up for her.
When she could breathe close to normal again, her face was red and her eyes were watering from the coughing, he said once more, "I'm sorry."
"It's alright, Doryeonnim, I'm sure you didn't mean it."
"I didn't," he assured, sitting back.
She looked at him, her heart was beating faster for no reason at all. She was amazed at how comfortable this felt. She was sitting with him, and he was making jokes like that.
"Feel better?"
"Ne."
"Finish your lunch. I promise I won't make you choke again."
************************************
Author's Note:
There's definitely something between them. Either friendship or sibling-like attachment. Or could it be a little more from her?
They have things that bind them together, something that makes them different.
What do you think about them here? Do you think it makes sense for them to be together?