CH 113

“Please say hello,” Muyeol introduced the new members, “He’s our team leader, Mr. Kang, and he’s the section chief, Mr. Ko.”

“Hello,” Yiyoung replied, “My name is Yoon Yiyoung.”

“She’s my wife,” Muyeol told the two.

Mr. Kang and Mr. Ko stood up, startled by the introduction; they hadn’t heard anything about her. “It’s very nice to meet you.”

Once the introduction was over, the men gathered around a table, their laptops open in front of them, and began a brief meeting. Yiyoung continued eating, unable to understand what they were talking about. She felt a sort of compulsion to eat while they talked business, fearing it would be awkward otherwise.

She stood up to grab seconds, but Muyeol held by the hand and said, “You should have the in-flight meal later.”

“Oh, that’s right. I forgot about that.”

“Are you bored?”

“Just…” Yiyoung said awkwardly, “slightly.”

“Just wait for a bit. Then we can look around the duty-free shops later.”

“Oh, no, I can go by myself! I took the medicine, and I feel great right now.”

“Do you really think you can do it on your own?”

“Yeah, I can!”

“Okay. Don’t go too far, and come back within an hour.”

“Okay, sir!” Yiyoung said.

Muyeol chuckled and let go of her hand.

Yiyoung left the lounge and went up the escalator before merging into the crowd. She focused on her breathing, keeping it calm as she continued to walk.

The airport seemed like a 3D world map. It was a place where people from all over the world came and went. They spoke different languages, but their purpose at the airport was the same. They wanted to travel to their destination.

People passed by in front of her with their phones stuck to their ears, and she suddenly realized that she had forgotten to call her uncle after arriving at the airport despite promising to do so.

She immediately pulled out her phone and called Sangsu.

After a few rings, he picked up. “So, are you at the airport?”

“Yeah, Uncle.”

“Visiting the airport… You’re not a countryside girl anymore.”

“I guess so. I do feel like I’m not a countryside girl anymore. Traveling is nothing difficult, now that I’m experiencing it. And it wasn’t like anyone had locked up… I could have done this earlier. ”

“You locked yourself up mentally. When you were in school, you only focused on studying. And once you got a job, you focused on working. It must be tough living a boring life like yours, right?” Sangsu said brightly, seemingly smiling at the other end of the phone.

“I can’t control myself! I think I’m way too excited. Even just thinking about what I’m going to do in Istanbul makes my heart flutter.”

“Oh no, I’m afraid. Are you going to want to travel all over the world now?”

“Maybe. Now that I’m on a break from work, I have lots of time.”

“Well, that’s a good idea you have there,” Sangsu said, “When else would you ever think like this? It’s probably just for now. Once you go back to the ER, you’ll completely forget about the world again.”

Yiyoung nodded. “You might be right. So, before I return to work, I’m going to try and experience many things!”

“That’s a good idea. Muyeol saved you… And it confirmed my belief. Everyone needs someone who cares about them next to them.”

“That’s what happened to you, right? I really admire aunty… You said she fell in love with you at first sight, right?”

“Wow, you decided to make fun of your uncle, huh? What about my face? The people who turn away after looking at my face are cowards!”

“When did I make fun of you? I was just telling you the truth.” Yiyoung laughed. “But you’re right to say that Muyeol saved me.”

Back when they were in middle school, and now that they were both adults, Muyeol had indeed saved her.