Ch.116116. Romance and Train Travel

The next morning, we woke up a little later than planned due to certain circumstances and completed our check-out.

After gathering our luggage-filled carriers, Hwa Nabi and I bought tickets at the train platform. Our destination: Ikaho Hot Springs Village. While chatting in the waiting room, the train arrived quickly.

“This train looks a bit different?”

Perhaps the difference is like that between a regular subway and a KTX. The train we needed to board had an elegant shape, looking different from the trains we’d seen so far.

“That’s because it’s a long-distance train. I think it probably has compartments inside too.”

“Oh, really?”

I had bought regular seats since we’d arrive in just over two hours, but if I’d known, I would have checked out the compartments. But it was too late now. Swallowing my regret, I followed Hwa Nabi onto the train.

The train seats faced forward with generous spacing between them. The back of each chair had multi-ports for USB and 110v power outlets. Overall, the structure wasn’t much different from Korean trains.

“Let’s see. CM-29 seat… should be here?”

“Yes, CM-28 and CM-29, this is right.”

We had boarded the front car, and luckily our seats were in the same section. I placed my carrier in the empty space above our heads, then Hwa Nabi’s, and sat down.

“Thank you. This is my gift.”

“Huh? Thanks.”

I accepted it since she was giving it to me, but I wondered what it was. From the label on the bottle, it seemed to be a drink from a company called KIRIN.

“Is it a soft drink?”

“No, it’s alkaline ionized water. This brand is only sold in Japan, and it’s supposed to be really good for your health.”

“Water is just water, isn’t it?”

Maybe it’s because I’ve only had domestic brand bottled water, but while I could tell the taste was different, I didn’t think it seemed particularly healthy.

“I heard it’s especially good for men.”

“…Really?”

Tasting it again, it did seem like it might be good for health… As I was having these pointless thoughts—

-Ring ring.

My phone made a sound from my pocket. Since it kept ringing instead of stopping after one ring, it wasn’t a message but a call.

“International calls are expensive…”

I had set up roaming in case of emergencies, but I never expected to receive a call. Who could it be at this hour? I checked the caller ID without thinking much and was startled.

[Father]

“Siwoo, who is it?”

“Ah, it’s my father.”

“Mmm, Siwoo’s father. …Wait, w-who? Your father? Why is he calling?”

“I’ll have to ask him now.”

To calm down Hwa Nabi, who was more surprised than me and making a fuss, I put my index finger to my lips.

-Shh, a simple gesture meaning to be quiet. Hwa Nabi understood and nodded, and I carefully pressed the phone screen.

I’m not sure why he would call when we barely speak once or twice a year… but there must be some reason. Thinking this, I spoke casually.

“Hello?”

[…]

But there was no answer. I checked to see if the connection was bad. The screen showed a network icon with all four bars filled.

That means the connection is fine. So what’s going on? Confused, I spoke again.

“Hello, Father? Are you there?”

[Hmm, is that Siwoo?]

Finally, my father’s voice came through. But… his way of speaking seemed a bit awkward? He’s usually a bit stiff, but this wasn’t his normal way of speaking.

“Yes, it’s me. But Father, why are you talking like that?”

[…What do you mean? This is how I’ve always spoken.]

You’re only in your early fifties, but suddenly you’re speaking like an elderly man from a martial arts novel. But I couldn’t say that to my father, so I let it go.

“What? No… well, anyway. Why did you call?”

[Why? Don’t I often check on you like this?]

“…What?”

Did my father have a drink in the middle of the day? It was such an absurd statement that I had that disrespectful thought. I was momentarily speechless, and Hwa Nabi moved closer to me.

“Siwoo, what did he call about?”

“I don’t know…”

The more we talk, the more I feel like I’m entering a labyrinth. Honestly feeling dumbfounded, I was about to ask again when my father’s voice came through first.

[By the way, Siwoo… is that child with you right now?]

“What? That child? …Ah.”

There’s only one person my father refers to as “that child.”

My gaze naturally turned to Hwa Nabi beside me, and she was startled, mouthing words.

‘Is your father talking about me?’

‘Yes.’

“Yes, she is here. Do you have something…”

I was about to ask if he had something to say but stopped. Hwa Nabi suddenly grabbed my arm and pulled me, shaking her head. I mouthed to her.

‘Why?’

‘Siwoo, you shouldn’t ask so directly! Give me the phone for a moment, I’ll talk to him myself.’

What was she going to say… Before I could ask, Hwa Nabi quickly snatched my phone. Left grasping at air, I could only blink, but Hwa Nabi ignored me and started talking.

“Ah, hello, Father? Yes, this is Nabi. I took the phone from Siwoo.”

I was surprised. Hwa Nabi’s voice when greeting my father was incredibly sweet and gentle. I didn’t know she could make such a voice. She’d be great at customer service.

“Yes, yes. We’re on the train now. We’ll need to transfer to a bus later, so we should arrive around lunchtime.”

“Um, Hwa Nabi? That…”

“Just a moment, Siwoo. I’m busy now, we’ll talk later. …Oh, no. I’m not busy at all, so don’t worry. Come on, it’s fine. How could I be too busy to talk with you, Father? Yes, yes.”

She was so serious that I couldn’t get a word in. I did as Hwa Nabi instructed, leaning back against the chair and waiting quietly.

“Yes, yes. Of course. Certainly. Oh, don’t mention it. If anything, I’m the one indebted to Siwoo. He treats me so well. He’s very reliable here too. Yes, we’re doing fine, so you really don’t need to worry.”

Since she had lowered the call volume, I couldn’t hear clearly, but from the keywords I caught and Hwa Nabi’s responses, it seemed they were having a casual conversation.

“By the way, you reserved our plane tickets, right? I should have visited to thank you, but our schedule was so tight that I couldn’t. Is there anything you’d like?”

“……”

“Yes, yes. Thank you. I’ll visit when we return from our trip. Yes, I’ll see you then.”

Click. With Hwa Nabi’s sweet voice, the call ended. She let out a sigh of relief and handed me back my phone.

“Here. The call is over.”

I stared at Hwa Nabi for a moment, then awkwardly took the phone.

“Siwoo, why are you looking at me like that?”

“Nothing, just thinking how sweet you sounded.”

“Really? I was just talking normally.”

If she says so, I guess that’s how it is. I swallowed my words and kept quiet, while Hwa Nabi stretched.

“Now that the call is over, shall we rest until we arrive?”

“Hmm, sure.”

I am tired from not getting enough sleep. As I was about to sink into the chair after responding, Hwa Nabi pulled out something like a cord from her crossbody bag.

“Is that an earphone cord?”

“Yes, I brought it just in case, and it’s perfect timing. Want to listen together?”

“I just want to rest.”

“Oh, why? Listen with me. I’ve really wanted to try this.”

“What exactly did you want to try?”

“You know, like in movies? When the male and female leads share earphones on a train.”

Sharing wired earphones on a train journey… In today’s world where wireless earphones are so common, it’s a rare, very romantic act.

Well, when else would we get to do this? I took the earphone cord Hwa Nabi was holding out.

“Alright, Siwoo. I’ll take your song request. What would you like to hear?”

“Let’s see… How about ‘Riding the Train’?”

“Riding the Train? Isn’t that a children’s song?”

“No, not the children’s song. There’s one sung by IU. It’s a bit old, but you should find it if you search.”

I even kindly added the singer’s name to avoid confusion, but Hwa Nabi’s eyes narrowed.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“…Nothing, I just realized you listen to female singers too.”

“Wouldn’t it be stranger if I didn’t?”

It would be a bit odd if a man only listened to male singers, wouldn’t it? That’s what I thought, but Hwa Nabi puffed her cheeks and nudged my shoulder.

“Hmm, this won’t do. From now on, Siwoo, you can only listen to male singers. Got it?”

Those people live in a different world from us. I don’t think there’s any need to be wary of them… but still, this level of jealousy is cute. I smiled and interlaced my fingers with Hwa Nabi’s.

“You’re not actually jealous, are you?”

She was pretending to be upset, slightly pouting her lips, but she wasn’t genuinely angry.

“What are you talking about? I’m not jealous.”

Hwa Nabi wiggled her fingers, tickling the back of my hand. I didn’t back down and rubbed the back of her hand too. As we played this tickling game with each other’s hands, the train slowly started moving.

“Siwoo, I think we’ll arrive a little after lunch. What should we do first?”

“Let’s unpack first, have lunch, and then go to the hot springs?”

Since Ikaho is famous as a hot spring village representing Japan’s Gunma Prefecture, the night scenery must be beautiful too.

“Hmm… well, daytime hot springs are nice too. Okay, let’s have lunch and go to the hot springs first.”