Chapter 81: The Empty Street
Yesterday it was the local fast food joint, and today it's Chinese cuisine...
It's fortunate that it's delicious, but I couldn't help but chuckle at Yuki.
"Uncle, why don't you just order sweet and sour pork and get some free dumplings too?"
Since I was quite hungry, I didn't decline and took my seat.
A little while later, the Chinese restaurant delivery guy arrived with a dish of black bean noodles and sweet and sour pork.
"It's amazing. They can deliver food with just one phone call..."
Yuki, who was seeing delivery food for the first time, stared at the delivery guy's iron box with a curious look.
Soon, as the sweet and sour pork appeared on the table, Yuki's eyes sparkled with excitement when she picked up the chopsticks.
"But, what did you say to the owner to get the black bean noodles as well?"
"I just gave him a pitiful look while patting my belly, and he gave it as a service. Like this?"
I burst into laughter as she pouted her lower lip and looked at me with a cute expression. The owner, who witnessed this, also laughed and said, "I can't refuse when you keep looking at me with those eyes."
Seems like he won't let anyone go hungry, no matter what...
That's when it happened. The owner, after removing the hot sweet and sour sauce from its plastic cover, poured it directly onto the crispy fried dish!
Ack! Pouring hot sauce on crispy fried food like that!
That's not the right way to treat fried food! But the owner, who demonstrated the art of pouring sauce, had a satisfied smile and said to me.
"Sweet and sour pork tastes best when you pour the sauce on it."
At that moment, I swiftly rescued the ones that the sauce hadn't touched into another dish.
"Hmm!?"
The owner, who was surprised by my quick action, stared at me in silence. Maybe we're thinking the same thing right now...
"This person can't be helped..."
"Wow, what kind of food is this?"
Yuki, in a strange tension, took a bite of sweet and sour pork dipped in sauce, then waved the chopsticks in her hand with a delighted expression.
"Junhyuk, there are so many delicious dishes in Korea."
"Just now, you said it was delicious, right? Look, pouring sauce on sweet and sour pork is the best!"
No, I absolutely can't agree with that.
&
A while later, as we left the restaurant after having dinner on the house, the outside was already enveloped in the deep darkness of the night.
"I'll contact you when I return to Japan. Please use the dragon emblem I gave you as a gift for now."
"Sure, I understand."
The owner waved goodbye to us in front of the restaurant until we got into a taxi.
"Ahh, I'm so full. But where have you been?"
"Um, that's a secret..."
"Hmph, you've been hiding the fact that you made the Dragon Emblem all this time. Are you hiding anything else from me?"
"No, not anymore."
At that moment, the driver who was taking us to our destination coughed and cautiously asked me.
"Where should I take you?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. Please go to Namsan."
"Got it."
Perhaps because it was the rush hour, the taxi we were in repeatedly came to a halt as it navigated the busy city.
Without thinking, I turned my head and saw an elderly man opening the window of a crowded city bus and lighting a cigarette.
Goodness... even in a crowded bus, was it really necessary to smoke a cigarette?
The 80s and 90s must have been a real paradise for smokers. Come to think of it, there were visible burn marks on the taxi's back seat from cigarettes.
How much did cigarettes cost in this era... 200 won? 300 won?
When I was young, my father often asked me to buy alcohol and cigarettes... I couldn't help but burst into laughter at the fond memories that suddenly resurfaced.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Just... old memories."
"Hmm..."
Yuki didn't ask anything further.
...
We intended to take a taxi up to Namsan's midsection. Still, due to the era's limitations (we couldn't ride all the way to the summit), Yuki, wanting to digest her meal a bit and walk, we disembarked at the foot of Namsan and leisurely climbed the hill.
"Ah, Korea is nice, but it feels so cold."
"Compared to Korea, Japan seems warm."
"Really, it does. But still..."
"But still?"
"It was really fun. I'm glad I came. When I return to Japan, I want to tell my mom a lot. I want to say that I really liked Korea, so let's come together next time..."
Honestly, even though Yuki hadn't really seen much since arriving here, she followed me without a single complaint.
In fact, last night, as I was organizing our luggage while she slept, tired, I found a guidebook in our travel bag. I unfolded it on the table.
The guidebook primarily featured tourist spots around Seoul, such as Han River Citizens' Park, 63 Building, and Namsan Tower. The 63 Building, completed in 1985, was a popular landmark in Seoul, so Yuki had drawn Tamago-san (the egg mascot) supporting it with great effort and five stars.
"This character is really cute. It might be good for merchandising."
In the next section, the guidebook introduced the night view from Namsan, detailing the nighttime hiking trails and the cityscape.
"This one even has seven stars. Is this the place you want to go to the most?"
After closing the guidebook, I looked at Namsan Tower outside the terrace and then turned my head to Yuki, who was sleeping.
&
In 1988, the path up Namsan was completely different from what I knew in 2015. The road was paved only up to the middle, and beyond that, it was practically a mountain path, which meant we had to use a hiking trail.
"Darn, if I had known, I should have just gone to the 63 Building. I could have easily taken an elevator to the observatory."
Even though it was early evening, there were only sporadic streetlights, and I climbed Namsan with deep breaths, surrounded by darkness. That's when I noticed a massive object above my head.
It was the Namsan Cable Car.
"I'm so stupid! I walked all the way here when there was a cable car available! Why didn't I think of that?"
Silently chastising myself, I was about to make my way up again when Yuki, who was walking with me, grabbed my hand.
"It's a bit tough, but... it's nice to walk together."
"Oh... is that so?"
If I say too much, I'll have to go back up again... I couldn't show that I was tired, so I silently held her hand and continued the climb. After about an hour, we finally saw Namsan Tower in front of us.
"We made it."
I couldn't help but take a deep breath, and as I looked around, I noticed a crowd of people gathered along the railing to enjoy the night view.
With neon signs of Myeongdong and countless city lights spread out below like stars, Yuki stared at the scenery without even blinking.
"Junhyuk."
"Yes?"
"Are we... in a relationship?"
At her sudden question, I stared at her without saying anything for a moment. In truth, our relationship had not been officially defined as lovers yet. But I wasn't completely clueless, and I had started to feel a certain fondness for her through her actions.
However, if I were to start a relationship with Yuki here and eventually get married in the future...
What choice would I have to make when I return to 2015?
"Why aren't you saying anything?"
As I hesitated, Yuki asked again with an anxious expression.
In that moment, I thought back to the day I first met Yuki and all the moments we had spent together until now. The more I hesitated, the more her expression hardened with anxiety.
"Junhyuk?"
"I'm sorry..."
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