#3

The sun over the streets paved with black asphalt seemed to bake the very air. Pedestrians on the street walked with annoyed scowls and crinkled brows at the killer heatwave.

A café in Busan Namchun-dong…  

It was a small shop that breathed an air of simplicity, located at the very foot of Mount Hwangryung, one that breathed a certain air of simplicity.

The coffee was one thing but it was best known for its tea— the brewing methods of the traditional drink dated back generations, originating from parts of China and within different regions of the small peninsula nation. The aged interior and neatly furnished rooms reminiscent of Joseon era architecture were a just a few of the delights the place provided to the people that sought it out.

Ji Hyo too had frequented this café for over two years now.

Having fell in love with Busan during her two month stay for one of her drama filmings, she continued to visit the area whenever she had the chance.

With Running Man’s shoot and her own drama shooting done with, Ji Hyo suddenly found herself with three day’s worth of leisure time and rushed down to Busan without a moment’s hesitation to put it to good use. She was currently drinking tea in a cozy corner of the café as she looked out the window, her final destination after she had toured around Haeundae and a couple other tourist destinations.

The view of the ocean was limited here, but Busan’s Gwangan Bridge at night was a picture in its own that made up for it.

Ji Hyo took small sips, enjoying the relative quiet and faint lingering smell of the tea leaves that was still present in the white steam rising from the hot liquid.

The sweetness that came after the strong, almost bitter richness was one of a kind.

[Where are you?]

The resounding blip of noise from her messenger broke the peace, and Ji Hyo held up her phone.

Jong Kook’s name shone clearly on the screen.

Ever since that day, he had never called her first.

Ji Hyo had almost given up, her insides so knotted in worry at not being able to have a proper talk with the man, yet this small gesture picked her up and changed all that.

[In Busan]

She carefully typed up the letters with trembling fingers, and after some hesitation pressed ‘send’. Not 30 seconds later, Jong Kook’s reply came.

[What are you doing in Busan?]

The words were no different than normal, yet there was this strange distance she couldn’t put a finger on. Maybe it was because she swore to herself that she couldn’t treat him the same after that incident, but Ji Hyo felt nervous.

[Just because. I had some extra time so I came on a mini-vacation.]

[Ah, really? I was looking all over for you]

Ji Hyo’s large eyes grew wide in disbelief. She rubbed her eyes thinking she had read it wrong, but the words still appeared exactly the same as before.

[You were looking for me? Why?]

She was hoping for another motive in his decision to contact her, but she didn’t dare express it out loud. She didn’t want to be hurt again by Jong Kook’s yet unsettled feelings.

[I wanted to talk you, ‘s all. When are you coming back?]

[I’m going to stay here for about two more days before heading back.]

Even as she texted him, Ji Hyo thought maybe it was a mistake coming down to Busan.

Why had she come here now? Why did she have some leisure time now of all times? It was too strange for mere coincidence.

Ji Hyo bit her finger in disappointment.

Yet Jong Kook’s reply transformed her feelings into one of fluttering anticipation.

[Then can I see go see you for a bit? Busan, right?]

Why is this guy suddenly acting like this?

It was even more strange considering they had taken the two steps back to the awkwardness of their first meeting after that incident.

Feeling rather uneasy Ji Hyo replied that she will go to see him instead.

She didn’t want to be hurt like that again, not in Busan where she came to relax and be happy.

[I’ll come see you. Can you wait a little?]

[No, I’ll come down so tell me the place you’re at when I call.]

[You’re coming down here? Right now?]

[Yeah. So just wait a bit, alright?]

Jong Kook’s message was rigid, not a trace of one stupidly common emoji anywhere.

Very different from when he had treated her comfortably as family.

[Um… Okay]

She waited for his response with a bated breath and throbbing heart, but there was no more after that.

Was he really coming? But why did he want to talk right now, when they could do this tomorrow?

Curiosity and anxiety raged within her. She couldn’t just sit here and do nothing, but there wasn’t much else she could do.

If he was looking for her so urgently, perhaps it was very important.

Did he want to end their relationship where it stood before everyone else around them got a whiff of the suddenly awkward air between the two? Her mind jumped all over the place with various possibilities.

The only positive outcome she could possibly see was him accepting her feelings. Any other words would cut open another wound on her heart.

Time ticked away. The lone empty teacup in front of her seemed to reflect her current state.

It was almost time to close and yet Ji Hyo’s phone lay traitorously still. She forced herself to calm down and just breathe.

It’ll be alright. Even if he rejects you, don’t cry.

Ji Hyo promised herself to be strong if only for Jong Kook who above all else hated to see people suffer because of him.

But if that really did happen, she didn’t know what would happen. She thought it might feel like the world was collapsing around her.

Suddenly, Ji Hyo’s phone vibrated loudly.

It was Jong Kook.

She swallowed hard and steeled herself, taking care not to let him hear any trembling in her voice.

“Yes, oppa?”

“So where are you?”

“I’m in Namchun-dong.”

“Namchun-dong.. Is that near Gwanganri?”

“Yeah, there’s this teahouse on the road to Mount Hwangryung. I’m there right now.”

“Alright, I got it. I’m going to be there soon so just hang on.”

“Alright.”

The moment of fate ticked ever so nearer.

Her heart felt like it was going to burst out of her chest, and she couldn’t stop her hands from shaking.

“Aish, come on…. Don’t be nervous Song Ji Hyo.”

She repeated the words over and over to herself like a mantra. Each minute passed by in agonizing slowness.

Another phone call.

She didn’t know how the time had passed.

“Here, oppa.”

“I see you sitting by the window. Come outside now.”

“Um.. okay.”

She could have turned her head and checked, but Ji Hyo stood up and walked straight outside. It was summer, but the air was oddly cool from the draft from the ocean and the hills mingling together on the mountain’s base.

“Ji H