CHAPTER THREE

MINA

Time passes quickly. It's already been the third week since Mark first came to my café. He always comes when not traveling around the island to take pictures. I think that’s how we began to be good friends. Every time he comes I will always sit with him. It's nice to have someone to talk with. Managing a café on your own can sometimes make you feel very lonely even though I don't really like crowds either.

We couldn’t really say to be in a conversation. Sometimes there is a long pause of silence. Both me and him are not a talkative type of person. But strangely the silence did not feel awkward at all. Just like this moment, I sat across from him while reading a book and he was editing a photo he had taken the previous day.

"When do you have a day off?" that question made me look away from the book in my hand.

"That .. actually .. I want to ask you to go to some places together. Every day traveling alone feels pretty boring." he continued.

…..

And here I am accompanying Mark to Seongsan Ilchulbong. I totally close my café today for this. But I don’t really regret it because I get to see yellowseed flowers blooming since its spring now.

I turn my head right just to find Mark still having fun with his camera. I keep watching him for some moment. For the first time, I get to see the figure of Mark who is working. He was indeed a photographer, I justified my thought. Mark with the camera looks really cool.

He turns his head as I look at him, smiling at me. Instantly my face feels so hot seeing that smile. I must be ashamed to be caught staring at him. He steps closer.

"Are you tired? Get some rest I soon finished." he said when the distance was only one step from me.

"It's okay, I'll just wait here."

He nodded.

"Where are we going next?" I asked.

"I want to see the sunset on the beach.""I want to see the sunset on the beach."

…..

A few hours later we have moved place. The sun will set soon. The beach wind blows hard. We match our steps on the white sand leaving a trail that soon erased by the waves. The sky has begun faintly orange. We continue walking along the beach. Without a word just accompanying by the sound of waves. When the orange circle had disappeared, we stop to watch it disappear and replaced by the dark night.

Whether he realizes it or not, at that moment I turn my gaze. Seeing his face standing beside me. He smiled broadly at the sunset. My stomach tingles and my heart feels like it's not beating normally. What with this feeling?

As if he could feel me staring at him, he stares back. But I quickly look away in fear that the atmosphere will become awkward.

…..

Jeju-do, Spring 2020

I look at the cherry blossoms which begin to bloom along the road. Spring should be pleasant with flowers blooming along the road. But my feelings keep getting weird.

"I'm going back to LA tomorrow." that was the last sentence he said that day after seeing the sunset as he drove me back to my apartment.

I was silent for a moment. Surprised. Before I finally smiled and let him go. For the last time, I saw his back walking away. Most of me really want to hold him and not letting him go. But I realize that sounds absurd. I didn't even understand what happened to me. At first, I still did not understand. The tingling sensation every time I see him. My heart that beating fast. A sense of comfort in every presence of him. But even after some time that feeling doesn't seem to disappear.

When I finally realized the overflowing feeling turned into tears. I miss him. Without realizing it in that short amount of time, he made me feel so used to his presence. Growing hope that he is always around me. Makes me like him.

…..