episode_0046

There are times in life when each day feels like it’s passing mechanically.

Nothing seems interesting, enjoyable, or particularly stimulating.

Some call this feeling being stylishly burnt out, others refer to it as a “reality check” shortened to “현타,” and it’s often simply labeled as a sense of disillusionment.

I’m not sure which one applies to me, but that’s how I feel right now.

Every moment of being awake felt overwhelmingly tiresome.

It wasn’t a strange sensation.

The first time was when I fought with Mayeonseo and distanced myself from Hanyeorwon by force.

The second was when I was scolded by a senior at work for a while even just for breathing.

And now.

For some reason, everything that entangled my body felt suffocating.

Like the mindset of a death row inmate who knows they’ll soon be hanged.

What used to be a palace where dreams couldn’t even be dreamt of seemed like a prison on a remote island.

Mayeonseo, who shamelessly demanded love constantly, felt like an executioner carrying out a sentence, and even the ever-loving Hanyeorwon felt like someone blowing only futile hopes.

“Let’s run away.”

So, I left home.

“To Gangneung.”

Although I left home with determination, I couldn’t go far.

Because I knew I would be summoned back before Mayeonseo with just a snap of her fingers.

Me [I’ll go get some fresh air.]

Me [I’ll come tomorrow. I might come today too.]

Like a child asking permission to play at a friend’s house, I sought approval through a message.

♥ [Okay. Be careful.]

Surprisingly, Mayeonseo let me go without saying much.

Fortunately, the good person cosplay still seemed effective.

…I’m not sure if I should consider that fortunate.

Me [I’ll go get some fresh air.]

Of course, on my way, I left a brief message for Hanyeorwon at the training camp.

However, contrary to expectations, she didn’t let me go easily.

[Why all of a sudden…? Are you okay?]

She called me right after sending the message, asking about my well-being with a very worried tone.

Normally, I would have found comfort in her actions, but not today.

“Just trying to change my mood.”

[Where are you going? Should I take a half-day off and follow you?]

“No, don’t bother. Just going to Gangneung to see the sea for a bit. Already bought the ticket.”

[Is everything okay…?]

“Yeah.”

[…Alright. Eat something delicious. Let me know when you arrive. If you’re bored, make sure to contact me.]

“Yeah.”

[Love you. Kiss!]

“Me too.”

[Kiss me?]

“…Kiss.”

[Haha. Talk to you later!]

After reluctantly receiving a kiss from Hanyeorwon, she hung up.

Her playful demeanor made me feel strangely energized, despite myself.

“Sigh…”

Having secured a partial taste of freedom, I boarded the bus heading to Gangneung.

Perhaps due to it being a weekday afternoon, there weren’t many passengers, and the bus was almost empty.

The subtle sense of escapade, going out while others were working, lifted my spirits slightly.

“I did the right thing coming out after all.”

After a long ride, the express bus arrived at the terminal around a quarter into the playlist.

Despite being a comprehensive terminal facing the hot peak season, it was quite quiet due to the lack of people.

It suited my mood today.

“…quieter than I thought.”

The sea in Gangneung was further away from the terminal than I had anticipated.

I started to wonder if I had come all this way for nothing…

“Wow.”

But once I reached the beach, all those thoughts vanished.

The wide stretch of sandy shore, people enjoying themselves under the hot sun.

The faint smell of the sea mingling with the crashing waves.

A feeling of relief washed over me, releasing the tension in my chest.

“Sometimes, this isn’t so bad.”

With my mind cleared, I strolled along the beach at a leisurely pace.

“…Excuse me! Sir!”

Glancing back, a young woman approached with a bright smile.

“Excuse me, could you take a picture for me? I have no one to take it for me.”

She had her black hair tied up casually, large eyes, a sharp nose, and a prominent mouth accentuated by dark lipstick against her very fair skin. Not to mention her ample bosom.

With a refreshing demeanor, she seemed to be traveling alone like me, extending her phone with the camera on.

I absentmindedly nodded and took the phone from her.

“Sure.”

“Thank you!”

Politely thanking me, she swiftly walked towards the beach, raising two fingers in a pose.

At first, I thought she might be a model, but her awkward posing suggested otherwise.

‘If we’re doing this, might as well do it right.’

Fired up by the encounters with the two women, I gladly bent down and snapped a photo of her.

Click. Click. Click.

“Check it out.”

Approaching with a bright face, she glanced at the phone and murmured in admiration.

“Wow… You took it really well.”

It seemed she was genuinely pleased with the result.

‘My skills aren’t rusty after all.’

Feeling a slight sense of pride after successfully completing the task, I was about to leave.

“Thank you.”

Just then,

“Oh wait!”

She suddenly grabbed my arm and offered, “Let me take yours too.”

She wanted to take my picture.

“I’m fine, really.”

“But since you came all the way here, you should have at least one picture!”

Despite my initial refusal, her insistence made me relent, and I handed her my phone.

Standing where she had been, she took a photo of me.

“How is it?”

As expected, since she didn’t seem to take photos often, the result was subtle.

“…Well, it’s good enough.”

Recognizing myself in the photo, I returned the phone without much fuss, exchanged pleasantries with her, and parted ways.

“Well, have a good time.”

“Okay! See you later!”

She struck me as quite a unique individual.

*

After wandering around for a while, I started feeling hungry.

‘Maybe I should grab a bite.’

Not one to actively seek out gourmet spots, I settled for a nearby seafood kalguksu restaurant to satisfy my hunger.

“Oh no. What should I do? All the seats are taken.”

It turned out to be a busy day, as the restaurant was full, likely due to others having the same idea as me.

‘Perhaps I should go somewhere else.’

Since I wasn’t terribly hungry and had no strong attachment to kalguksu, I decided to look for another place to eat.

“I’ll come back next time.”

Just then,

“Sit here with this customer!”

A loud voice from inside, presumably an elderly lady, suggested sharing a table with another guest.

“If you’re okay with it, let’s sit together and eat. Our home’s kalguksu is delicious.”

Confirming that a seat was available, the lady subtly asked, slipping her hand into her apron pocket.

Simply needing to fill my stomach, I nodded in agreement.

“Sure.”

And just like that, I found myself sitting at a table with a complete stranger, ready to share a meal…

“Huh.”

“Huh!”

The face of the customer who was already seated looked familiar.

“Seeing you again?”

It was the young woman I had taken a photo of earlier.

“…So it seems.”

Of all the restaurants, what were the odds of running into her here?

‘…Coincidence?’

Recalling her words about meeting again, I briefly pondered whether it was just a simple coincidence and brushed it off.

“One seafood kalguksu, please.”

Having placed my order and idly fiddling with my phone,

“….?”

I suddenly felt a subtle gaze coming from the woman sitting across from me.

“Why?”

“….”

She gazed at me intently for a while, then spoke to me in a very serious tone.

“Do you like dumplings?”

“Yes…?”

“Actually, I was going to order some dumplings too, but it seemed like too much so I didn’t.”

“Oh… okay.”

“Since this seems like fate, how about we order one together and share?”

She asked me seriously, raising her eyebrows as if asking someone she had just met how many dumplings they wanted to eat together.

“I’ll pay an extra thousand won…!”

Acknowledging her determination, I approached a passing lady.

“Ma’am, please give us a plate of dumplings here.”

“Yes!”

Having obtained the dumplings, she clenched her fist tightly and looked extremely satisfied.

“There are exactly 10. Let’s split them in half.”

“You can have more.”

“No, since we ordered together, let’s split them evenly.”

“…Alright then.”

I soon filled my empty stomach with the noodles and dumplings that were served.

Perhaps because I was hungry, both the noodles and dumplings were incredibly delicious.

“You’re good at making dumplings here.”

“Right? Wasn’t it a good idea to order them?”

With a proud expression, she picked up a dumpling and slyly asked me as I slurped the noodles.

“Are you traveling alone?”

Nodding, I quickly replied after rinsing my mouth with water.

“Just came out for a breath of fresh air.”

“Well, what will you do after finishing this?”

“I’m not sure.”

“If you have nothing to do, shall I read your fortune for you?”

“Fortune?”

“That’s my specialty.”

Smiling innocently, she offered to read my fortune.

I thought she might be a fraud or perhaps a schemer trying to deceive me.

Either way, getting involved with her wouldn’t lead to a good relationship.

“…It’s okay.”

“You seem much more accommodating than you appear.”

“You must have many customers.”

“It’s by appointment only, so I’m not that busy.”

Her tone was serious for a joke, yet the content was playful for seriousness.

“What a unique character.”

With subtle admiration, I decided to quietly focus on my meal.

“…I’ll see you next time.”

“Sure. It’s hard to meet here anyway.”

Finishing her meal with a satisfied expression, she suddenly left.

“See you later.”

“…Goodbye.”

After finishing my meal leisurely alone, as I was about to leave the restaurant slowly…

“Ma’am, could you please bring the bill?”

“Huh? The customer who left earlier already paid for everything, didn’t she?”

“…What?”

I could hear stories of the girl who left earlier paying for mine as well and running off.

*

Having unintentionally received a free lunch, I tried to find her whereabouts for a while.

But finding her in this vast Gangneung was not an easy task.

So I decided to just forget about it.

“Should I take a walk?”

Wanting to aid digestion and move my body, I aimlessly took steps again.

“It feels refreshing.”

Perhaps due to being near the beach, the cool breeze made me feel good.

…At first.

“Phew. It’s hot.”

Unable to bear the increasingly strong sunlight, I sought out a nearby cafe to cool down a bit.

Luckily, there were many cafes around the beach area.

“Today, should I try a private cafe instead of a franchise?”

Leaving behind the bustling large franchise cafes, I entered a moderately quiet two-story private cafe.

“Would you like to order?”

“A mint chocolate latte, iced, please.”

“What size?”

“The largest one.”

After receiving my order, I went upstairs, and there she was!

“Oh, you’re here. Here!”

“…Huh?”

She was already seated at the restaurant we had met before.