“You ‘love’ dubokki as much as I ‘love’ goguma…” Seohyun said as they took their seat which was close to a large window facing the view of the street of Shin Dang Dong. They had already placed their orders in a comfortable silence with Jung Yonghwa eagerly waiting for their food to come. “The dubokki back in the States doesn’t taste as good as here. I’m going to eat as many dubokki as long as I shall live” he said with eyes beaming with excitement.

Seohyun laughed; amused now that Yonghwa seemed more cheerful today than the past few days.

“All these people looked so happy…” Yonghwa suddenly said now facing the street over-looking the unknowing passerby and street-mongers below. “I wish I can be like them…”

The friend in her kicks in as she focused on Yonghwa. “Why? Aren’t you happy?” She said proving that she listens.

For a while Yonghwa didn’t answer but he simply smiles at her. She wondered if the legacy left by his mother is the sole obstacle that hinders his freedom but somehow she thinks that there is something more than that; there was something he keeps to himself.

“The reason you left your friends… you still can’t share with me?” she asked looking directly at him. Jung Yonghwa only shook his head. Silence consumed them until their meal was served.

I really wish he could just tell me his reasons for leaving his friends. How can I help to bring his friends and him together again? Sometimes I feel like I am close to him but often as well I feel that there isn’t any change at all except from us being comfortable around each other.

After we had finished our dubokki meal, it was already dark. I decided to drag Yonghwa for a little stroll around Shin Dang Dong eager to show him the beauty of the streets here at