CH 13.8

“Over there.”

Yeon Woojeong pulled up in front of the car center. 

“Be careful.”

“Yeah.”

I got out of the car, holding the juice box. As I walked into the shop, the owner, who was sitting and doing something, looked up. Her eyes widened up.

“Welcome. I thought you wouldn’t come.”

“Good afternoon.”

I bowed my head, greeting her, and put down the box on the table.

“Oh, my. What’s with all this? Honey!”

The man came out at her calling. He looked at me as he came out and raised an eyebrow. 

The gazes of the two people were at me. I opened my mouth as I looked at them.

“I’m going to go back to Seoul to study and try to get a job. I’m sorry.”

“Oh, is that so? It’s fine, you don’t need to be sorry. Do it if it’s your decision. When will you go? Today?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm, have you eaten?”

“Yes, I have… Thank you for lunch yesterday.”

The woman laughed, and the man twitched the corner of his mouth.

“I see. Do well there. A young man can do anything if he wants it.”

“Yes.”

They were all good people. It’d be good to learn from these people, but it couldn’t be helped because I had a place to come back. I greeted them once again, and something came to mind when I was about to leave.

“Excuse me.”

“Hmm?”

“The name of this shop, can I use it later?”

The two bosses opened their eyes wide, exchanged glances, and laughed.

“Sure, sure. Use it. We didn’t trademark it or anything.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

After saying goodbye, I turned around and headed to Yeon Woojeong’s car, where he was waiting for me. 

“Did you say goodbye?”

“Yeah.”

“I see. Good work.”

Yeon Woojeong reached out his hand and caressed my head, then started the car. I fastened my seatbelt and watched the car center building recede into the distance. 

It was unknown whether I would come here again or not, but I hoped that this shop would last for a long time. It made me happy just thinking that a car center with Yeon Woojeong’s name existed somewhere. I wouldn’t easily forget the taste of jjajangmyeon I ate there as well.

The car ran fast. It felt weird to drive the same road I had traveled by bus, only a day later, in Yeon Woojeong’s car. It was still the same scenery, but somehow it felt different.

The color of the sky, with white clouds floating around, gradually faded to another color. It was fortunate that it coincided with sunset. Because I could show Yeon Woojeong the most beautiful view.

We pulled out at the parking lot, bought tickets at the ticket office, and went inside. Yeon Woojeong walked while looking around.

“There’s a lot of people here.”

“Yeah. Maybe they are all traveling.”

“We’re traveling, too, in a way.”

Yeon Woojeong said positively, then put his hand on my shoulder. We walked slowly. Looking at the sky, the sunset would likely be at its peak when we reached the field. 

We didn’t really talk to each other. I was just happy to walk side by side like this, and I wondered if Yeon Woojeong felt the same way. The face I stole a glance at looked soft.

Someone walking down the path and stopping to take a photo, someone leisurely strolling while giving his child a piggyback ride, someone walking alone without company. Lots of people passed us, and we also passed them. It was fascinating to be amongst these people and feel like I melted into them while Yeon Woojeong became more special. The wind blew, and his unstyled hair fluttered naturally.

The scenery wasn’t that attractive because I had seen it once. Rather, it was Yeon Woojeong, who was walking beside me here and now, that caught my eye. We reached the bridge while I looked at the eyes looking around and the lax lips.

We crossed the bridge and found ourselves in an open field of reeds. I led Yeon Woojeong to the place I had stood still, keeping the view in my eyes.

Golden, soft reeds swayed in the breeze. The sky turned scarlet. The clouds scattered away. A chilling sound poured out.

I can’t believe I’m looking at this view again with Yeon Woojeong. My heart skipped a beat. I turned my head and kept Yeon Woojeong, who was engrossed in the scenery, in my eyes.

“How is it?”

The reeds seemed to glow in his black eyes. I could feel how he looked at this landscape. It was as if his feelings permeated me.

Yeon Woojeong answered.

“It’s beautiful.”

I came to think that it was amazing to see the same view and feel the same thing. It’s beautiful. As I mulled over his answer, I cautiously reached out and slipped my fingers between Yeon Woojeong’s. His head turned to me. He glanced at the grasped hand, then squeezed my hand.

Yeon Woojeong only stared at me for a while. His eyes seemed to gleam. Or maybe it was that I was illuminated because he looked at me. As quite a long time went like that, his lips slowly parted.

“I will adopt you.”

Suddenly, everything around me seemed to stop.

If it weren’t for the blink of his eyes, I would think that time had stopped. I also blinked my eyes like him.

“I need the consent from your biological parents, but your father isn’t very willing to give it. It’s okay. I’m going to throw him in jail for habitual gambling and assault.”

He spoke casually, as if he were talking about the weather or dinner. The warmth seeping between my fingers was telling me that this moment wasn’t an imagination.

“I got in touch with your mother by chance, and she gave her consent easily. She said she looked for you. Don’t meet her. Why would you meet her?”

My heart sank as if the reeds in the wind had moved into my chest. There was a sound of soft crack. Then a firm sound… of something getting built up again.

Things like wonders if my mother didn’t completely abandon me and how he got into contact with her didn’t matter much to me. The sun was setting, but it was strangely dazzling. 

“Nothing changes much.”

“…”

“It’s just that we’re tied.”

Yeon Woojeong always gave me something unexpected like this. I didn’t feel shabby even after receiving something this great and big. What he gave me was a path.

I’ll surely catch up to him as I walk. I’ll be with him. I’ll be able to walk with him.

I grabbed Yeon Woojeong’s hand with my other hand. I felt a rush of white-hot emotion. I felt breathless. 

“Mr. Yeon. I have nothing, so I can’t give you anything right now. But I can promise you one thing…”

Yeon Woojeong looked back at me softly. How do I look in his eyes? What kind of face I’m making now? It’d be good if everything I’m feeling now reaches him. 

“My heart will last forever. I can promise you that one thing.”

Yeon Woojeong blinked slowly. Yeon Woojeong didn’t move at all, looking at me as though his time had stopped, and then he smiled lightly.

“It’s more than enough.”

I pulled Yeon Woojeong into my arms. The sunset behind him, the vast field of reeds, the landscape of this moment, this endless space, all seeped into me. All the unfamiliar things melted away into something familiar and cozy. 

It suddenly came to my mind. That it’s no wonder I couldn’t blend into this world. Because my world is right here. Because he is my world. Now I finally met my world and blended into this world at last.

I was here. In this place, right here.

TN: Finally. This is the last chapter of the main story. I want to thank all the readers for all your kind words. I’ll be back soon with the epilogue and side stories. Thanks again.