My Pathetic Universe

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After completely forgetting that we went into the department store to get Her a present, we left the place. Can't really think straight when you're hungry, right?

Her: Whoa, it's dark outside already.

Me: Yeah... let's go get something to eat. Where do you want to go?

Her: Well... um... that is... see, I...

Me: What? Say it out loud!

Her: I... I want to eat... THAT.

Me: That? What's 'that'? A puppy? Snake soup?

Her: No! Geez! You know... THAT.

Me: What is “THAT”?!

Her: That... jajangmyun...

Me: …...

So, we went to the Chinese restaurant.... T_T (T/N: Refer to Chapter 9 if you forgot what happened with them and the infamous jajangmyun (black bean noodle) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0293715/board/thread/55549493?d=71464970&p=4#71464970 )

But... I mean, this was our 100 th day anniversary. I mean, I wasn't planning to take her to a fancy five star restaurant or something... but jajangmyun of all things?

'You can barely afford jajangmyun anyway', you say?

...I stole dad's credit card, remember?

I mean, ramen would have been a better choice. Or we could not eat at all... But... but.... why jajangmyun of all things...

Me: You want the double-sized bowl, right? Excuse me! Could we get a double-bowl jajangmyun and a jjamppong? (T/N: Spicy, seafood-broth-based noodle. I personally hate it, but it's as popular as jajangmyun and is often sold in same places where they sell jajangmyun. http://c.ask.nate.com/imgs/qrsi.tsp/5612755/7738181/1/1/A/7t6uyg.jpg )

What? You thought I was going to eat jajangmyun after what had happened last time?

Our orders came out, one jjamppong and one double-sized jajangmyun...

Her: Hey, Gyunwoo?

Me: Hmm?

Her: So...

Me: What? What's wrong with you today? Speak your mind.

Her: So... that jjamppong looks really tasty.

Me:...

Her: Let's switch.

Me: T_T

A double-sized jajangmyun now stands before my eyes... which are flowing with miserable tears.

After dinner, we went to go see a movie, then we went to a cafe. And now, it's already midnight. Looks like I can't go back home tonight, with all the buses and subway closed for the day. I'll probably have to spend the night at my aunt's house... You know Gyungin Women's college near Kyesan? My aunt lives in the apartment right in front of that place.

Before they built the college there, the place near the apartment was really empty and quiet... but with the college there, there were a lot of girls walking around the place. My aunt was thinking about renting some of her rooms out to the students, and I was thinking about moving in to live with my aunt when that happened.

What if there's no room left for me, you say? Well, I wouldn't mind having a roommate. ^^

Her: Gyunwoo, there's a place we have to go.

Me: 'have to go'?

Her: Yeah...

Me: Where?

Her: Just follow me.

Me: It's midnight already. Don't you have to go home?

Her: You can't go home either, right?

Me: My aunt lives in Kyesan. I can just crash there.

Her: Just... follow me.

We took a cab, and went to the place she wanted to go to. I've never been in this area before... couldn't even tell which way was which. I followed her after getting off the cab, and we went to some cafe.

Her: My mom's friend runs this cafe...

Me: Oh really?.. so, why are we here?

Her: Let's go in...

Me: Here? The signs are all off... aren't they closed right now?

Her:....

When we went inside, there were couple people around... oh, God, there was a familiar face. That couple... from the double date (T/N: Chapter 11, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0293715/board/thread/55549493?p=15 ) and her three friends were there.

Couple-Girl: Finally, the guests of honor are here. Okay, everyone ready?

The couple sit together as if they're joined at the hip... in a way, they're made for each other...

After sitting down in one table, we exchange pleasantries...

And just sat there for about a minute or two.

.............................

.............................

She must have asked her friend to rent out her friend's mom's cafe. I think this was her first time planning something special for me...

The cafe was filled with comfortable chairs, glass tables, and there was a white piano in the corner. Each table had a spotlight of its own from the ceiling... but they were all turned off. Only the light above the table we were sitting around were on, painting pretty green silluete on everyone's face as it illuminated the room against the darkness.

Her friend comes in with a cake, and sets it up on the table.

There were two candles on the tiny cake.

I can almost feel the wavering of the two flames.

I think I can hear music playing from somewhere...

“Even if~ we fly across the skies freely~ don't be surprised~” (T/N: The Classic's popular song “The Magic Castle”... though the version sang by a little kid became far more popular http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-QeUBR9Wv4)

Her and I blow the candles together.

Everyone around us clapped, shouting “Happy 100th!”

I was really moved... I couldn't even imagine that she would go this far to prepare an event like this... But I didn't cry. Why? Because I'm a man... -_-

Her: Here... I have a present for you.

Me: Present? You even got me a present?

Her: Yeah... thanks, Gyunwoo.
Me: For what?

Her: Just... for everything. Open the present.

Me: Yeah... but... I didn't get anything for you at the department store...

Her: That's okay... go ahead and open the present...

Me: Yeah...

The box was as big as a crate of apples. I went through the pretty wrapping papers, and felt... clothes? I wasn't exactly following the lastest fashion trend, so I guess she got me some clothes to wear...

Couple: So? What is it?

Friends: What is it? The box is pretty big...

There were several clothes in the box, so I kept searching around with my hand then pulled out the smallest one I could find...

It was dark everywhere... but something was shining nonetheless...

A... skull?

Yes... that's right... the glow-in-the-dark skull underwear... that I left it at her house after the gangster incident (T/N: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0293715/board/thread/55549493?d=126441896&p=19#126441896 )

I looked at all the other “presents” she got for me. Her... “presents”... were all the clothes I left at her house after meeting those gangsters in the street....

I could have taken out a shirt, or pants... but underwear of all things...

Friends: Whoa! You guys are close enough to give each other underwears already?

Couple: Haha... the skull is kinda cute.

Me: ….

I didn't buy those underwears. As mom had all the spending money in the house, she picked out everyone's clothes... but for some reason (I guess she likes glow-in-the-dark), at least one-third of all the underwear she buys is glow-in-the-dark. Aside from this skull one, there's also one that glows “I LOVE YOU” in the dark... (T/N: “I LOVE YOU” is in English)

The worst of them all is the Carrot underwear... you know how people sleep in their underwear in summer because it's too hot?

So... when I'm wearing that one... at night, an orange carrot glows right where...

Mom must think I'm still in fourth grade or something...

If anyone's interested, I am more than willing to sell it online. Turn the light off and show it off to your loved ones... the carrot that glows in the dark right where...

Me: Um... thanks for the presents..

Her: Hahahahahahaha! I washed it myself with my own hands! It was my first time washing a guy's underwear!

Me:...

Her: Gyunwoo, come here for a second.

She drags me over to the piano, and she sat down in front of it. Everyone else stood around the piano.

She took a deep breath, then lightly placed her hands over the keys. Suddenly, a tranquil rendition of “Fur Elise” filled the air.

I stared at her... now I understood why she asked me that question... “When do you think that a girl is at her prettiest?” As I thought, as she played the piano with utmost sincerety, she was really beautiful.

She continued as the second part of the music began... then, a disruptive note jarred everyone's sense as she hit a wrong note.

Her: You said a girl was at her prettiest when she was playing a piano, so I practiced all week... This is easier than Ballade Pour Adeline... so...

She smiled sheepishly.

Though it was an awkward performance, and ended abruptly with a mistake... but it was the most beautiful piano performance I've ever heard in my life. As I'm writing this, I can still remember how amazing it was..

Later, I heard her friend talking to Her about it...

Friend: I taught you day and night for a week, and you can't even last two lines?!

Her: What? I haven't even touched a piano since I learned from “Do” to “Fa” when I was little!

---

We were inside the department store.

I don't like buying stuff from a department store too much... mostly because of my prejudice against them... you know the rumors, right? Though I'm sure not every department store does this...

They buy stuff from the local street market, arrange them around so that they look fancier, then sell them at ridiculously expensive price...

So I've never really bought anything from a department store.. .except a formal suit I bought after graduating high school.

However, I really like window shopping. It's really fun to just walk around and look at bunch of different stuff they have there. She walks over to the Women's Business Suit section, and I followed her.

Her: Hey! This one's really pretty. Gyunwoo, isn't this really pretty?

Me: Why? Are you going to wear that?

Her: What's wrong with that?

Me: You? Wearing a business suit? With a short skirt like this?

Her: Hey! I wear skirt! … Sometimes...

Me: Yeah? Then try it on.

At this point, as if following a script, a sales representative appeared out of nowhere.

“That's one of our latest product, following the most recent fashion trend. You really have good eyes, ma'am. Would you like to try it on?”

She threw her purse at me as she entered the changing room. Hehe, I've never seen Her wearing a skirt before...

Me: Wh- Wha... Hey.... Hey... Uh...

Her: What? Say it out loud!

Me: Whoa... you have really nice legs...

Her: -_-;;

Saleswoman: Wow! It looks very good on you! Shall I pack it up for you?

Her: How much is it?

Saleswoman: It's priced at 1.2 million won ($1,200)

Me: 1.2 m- million? It's just pocket change... 1.2 million pocket change...

Her: No way... it's too expensive...
She went back to the changing room and came out with her own clothes. Though it's not as expensive, she looked more beautiful wearing her own style of clothes...

I could just say screw it and buy it for her... I took dad's credit card with me today, after all...

But... I then saw a vision...

Mom: W-What is this?! 1.2 million won for clothes?!

Dad: What are you talking about? What clothes?

Mom: Look at this!! 1.2 million!!

Me: (not looking at them in the eyes) Hey, uh... I'm going to the library to study...

Mom: You're going to the library to study? Stop joking around and do the dishes!

Mom & Dad: !#$@#%$^#%&%^&^#$%&^%#%$^$%^&$%^#^%@$^#$%^

Mom: I can't believe you! All those time when I complained and complained that I didn't have anything to wear outside, and you buy one for some whore?!

“Dear Mom and Dad:

Please forgive me for using the credit card... When this world changes for the better and become a world without clothes, I will come back and make it all up to you.”

The next day, advertisement saying “Gyunwoo, we forgive you for everything. Please just come back tome” are posted in all the daily newspaper in the countr-

Her: Hey! Stop daydreaming and let's go!

She wakes me up from my vision and hands me the 1.2 million suit. In a moment of desire for childish revenge, I flick a booger at it before handing over to the sales rep. And before the sales rep finds out, I took Her hands and fled the scene of crime. If I get caught, I might actually have to buy the clothes for 1.2 million...

We went around the department store without getting Her any presents... and it was already nighttime. Though we pulled a lot of pranks while looking around

Her:

Trying out expensive high heels and kick a pillar when the sales rep is not looking

Wiping hands on a silk-woven clothes on display after going to the restroom

Me:

Taking pictures of myself while posing in inappropriate position with the store mannequins.

When someone else is about to buy a 100,000 won shoes ($100), comment “Hey, didn't we see that shoe on sale for 80,000 won at the department store next door?”
Her & Me:

Riding the escalator the wrong way

Pushing every button before getting off the elevator

After all the frolicking around, we got pretty hungry. We were like little kids, messing around the place... Maybe we'll try the Blue House next? (T/N: The Blue House, or the Blue-Roofed House, is the presidential residence of the President of South Korea)

It was about dinnertime as well, so we left the department store without buying her a present. Actually... we kinda forgot that we went into the store to get Her a present...

And then... it was nighttime...

(T/N: Hmm... perhaps I should repost everything onto a different thread to avoid making chapters harder to find... And sorry once again for the horrendous delay ^^; Life can be a huge obstacle... especially when a dissertation is involved...)

---

(100th Day scene. At last)

Out of nowhere, she asked me...

Her: Hey. When do you think that a girl is at her prettiest?

Me: When she's naked. ... What?

Her: .....

Me: Why, are you going to take off your clothes?

Her: Stop kidding around! I'm serious!

Me: I'm not kidding! What's more beautiful on this Earth than a woman's body?!

Her: Hey!!! You're talking like you've seen a lot of those!

Me: -_-;;; Haha... ha... ha....

She must have something in mind to ask that kind of a question... but I can't really tell what she's thinking... Well, whenever I see a girl playing the piano, I feel dreamy. Haha... I go completely insane when I see a naked girl, of course.

So I told her like so...

Me: Well, for me... whenever I see a girl playing the piano, I get all weak-kneed.

Her: Really? Is that a good thing?

Me: Sure.. you know, like you're drunk... Hmm... you know... when you're being hypnotized by something...

Her: I see... what's your favorite music then?

Me: Ballade Pour Adeline... I think I started listening to it when I was still a fetus in my mom's belly... (T/N: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MicK4vwn_zE)

Her: Enough!!

Was it yesterday? She called me really early in the morning... I was sleeping so well... But when she said "Hello" on the phone, I was completely awake.... thinking "Oh dear God... what have she done this early in the morning already..."

Her: Hello?

Me: What the... why are you calling so early? What is it? What happened?

Her: Why are you getting all worked up for?

Me: Huh? Me? Oh... I guess you're right.. Haha...

Her: Hey, you know that our 100th day is in a couple of days, right?

Me: Wow! 100th day already?

Her: Yeah, heh heh ^^ *blushes*

Me: I see... 100th day of what, though?

Her: What the... it's the 100th day since we've met!

Me: Oh, really? Haha...

I'm pretty bad at remembering stuff like this... I can't even remember birthdays well... Anyway, she calls me out of nowhere in the dawn just to remind me that our 100th day is approaching... what a devious girl...

Hmm... Even I know that the 100th day for a couple is pretty important... but should we celebrate the 100th day as well?

But I decided to put some meaning into the 100th day. Few days ago, she met the guy she used to be in love with, and she was tempted a bit, but by her own will and choice she erased her wounds, and is now living life bravely ^^.

So, I thought it would be nice to celebrate the fact that she got over the pains of breaking up on our 100th day...

But there really isn't anything that I can do for her... My friends have been fired from that amusement park a long time ago after her birthday... and my other friends heard about that incident and haven't been returning my calls lately...

I decided to just hang out with her all day...

The day before our 100th day, she called me again...

Her: You know it's tomorrow, right?

Me: Yeah... so what should we do?

Her: Let's just hang out...

Hah.. she wants to just hang out too... I'll just get hit a couple of times...

It's today... 3 months and 10 days went by really fast... It feels like the time I carried her and wandered around the Bupyung station was just yesterday...

We decided to meet at that cafe... "that cafe?" You ask? You know, the one that we first went to.

She was waiting for me there. We sat down at the table that we used the first time we've met. Just like then, she ordered two coffees without asking me... and she said..

"I'll pay for it this time... ^^"

While drinking our coffees, we began to talk about the first time we've met. We naturally laughed at all of our old antics... I said

"Hey, let's go to that restaurant from our second day! You're paying again!"

So we went to that restaurant... and in case she takes my share again, I ate the whole thing really fast even though it was really hot, tears and snots flowing down...

We went around the shopping district in the Bupyung station, then we decided to go to the department store so that I can get her a gift.. I don't really remember the name... was it Hee-Mang (T/n:"Hope")?

In front of the department store, I pointed my finger at it and said

Me: Hey! I'll get you one thing you want in this department store, no matter what it is!

Her: Really? You're not kidding, right?!

Me: Of course!! ... As long as it's under 50,000 won (T/N: $50)

He: -_-;;

And we went into the department store.. ^^

---

We're at Her house...
Her and I are sitting on a couch, and her mother and uncle are sitting on a couch opposite of us. They're looking straight at us... And her father sat on the sofa next to ours... the kind that the head of the family sits on.

I was so nervous, my body began to twitch and shiver a little...

I've met her uncle before... in jail... But this is the first time I've met her parents... I've talked with them before briefly on the phone, but to see them face to face... I could feel my body go rigid..

Even if the circumstances was a joyful event where I was formally visiting her family, they would still wonder if I'm the kind of a guy that's worthy to be with their precious only daughter... so how would they feel when they see a guy who's still glowing from the warmth of a ... police station?

It would've helped if I was dressed up a bit... but I was just in a fistfight with a bunch of gangsters in a muddy street... I was a mess...

The silent couple of minutes passed like two or three hours...

Her mom brought me a cup of juice... I was getting thirsty from my nervousness.. so I drank it in one gulp... her father began to speak...

"You... why don't you clean yourself first? Honey, could you get him a set of clothes?"

So I unexpectedly got to shower in a stranger's house... in a girl's house, no less...

I went to Her room. She had her own small bathroom attached to the bedroom... I guess she's the only one using it... ^^

I became the first guy to take a shower in her bathroom ^^

Wow! The bathroom scent is great! You know how a girl's room smells much nicer? There's the smell of her cosmetics but... the undefinable scent of a mature woman... ^^;;

That scent was in the bathroom as well...

The bathroom at my house is shared by all five members of our family... the funny thing is, everyone has their own toothbrushes... oh, wait, no, I meant we all have our own soaps... -_-;; Toothbrushes are meant to be for one person... Hm... Anyway, if someone accidentally uses someone else's soap while they're still sleepy, then our family goes into a "Soap War" mode...

Everyone intensely guards their own soaps...

I once accidentally used my little brother's soap, and the next day, I saw him taking a bath while completely dissolving my soap in the bathwater...

For your information, this isn't some mental problem that we have... it's more like a hobby... -_-;

So the bathroom is very dirty... Soaps are everywhere... and there are my sister's yellow hair, my brother's brown hair, my black hair, my mom's curly hair, and my dad's hair all harmoniously... blocking the sink...

In any case, I've never seen such a clean and pleasant smelling bathroom in my life... the towels are all dried up nicely on the racks... and there were many bath products that I've never even seen or heard before...

I took my clothes off and turned on the shower... warm water began to come out... all the nervousness in my body dissolved out... there is a bath towel in here (T/N: The kind you scrub yourself with in the shower, not to dry)... haha! This must be the one she uses... Yes!

I used the towel that she uses everyday and... (T/N: Anyone else seriously creeped out at the moment? :-D)

There's a bath soap here as well... is it a body cleanser? I put the soaps... or shampoo-like lotion on her pleasant-smelling towel and scrubbed away... I felt really clean afterwards...

She said outside...

"I have your change of clothes outside on the bed."

I went out of the showers... There is a neatly folded clothes on the bed..

There's an underwear there as well... -_-;;

They must be new, since they didn't take it out of a box... and it must've been her dad's... I wore it in any case... ^^;

The pants... oh boy... this is her jean... There's no way this will fit me... I'm not exactly fat or anything, but how can a thin girl's jean fit a guy like me? I opened the door a little and got my head poked out.

At once, her parents and uncle turned to stare at me... As I completely got their attention... I said...

"Um, the pants is a bit too small for me.."

How embarrassing... what is this, really? In front of her parents, no less... So, she lent me her overalls... I went back into the bathroom while she was getting it, of course...

I wore the overalls... it fit me quite well... but the pants ended way above my ankle... a Michael Jackson style, if you will ^^;;

And I picked up the shirts... It... has laces on it... -_-;; In the middle there's a very pretty lace... Grrrrr....

This must be her idea of a prank... How can she pull a prank in a situation like this, when I'm dying of nervousness? ... What can I do??

I poked my head outside the room again and called for her... and... I went back into the bathroom... with the bathroom door between us, we talked to each other...

Me: Hey! Are you kidding me?! Get me a proper shirts for crying out loud! Laces...

Her: Hahaha!! But I picked out the prettiest shirts.

Me: -_-;;

She left me another shirt... this one wasn't too bad... though it looked familiar... Oh yeah... this is the t-shirt that she was wearing when I first met her on the subway... how nostalgic...

I put the shirt on and looked at the mirror.

Yellow t-shirts, blue overall that only goes to my ankles... I was reminded of a song...

When Daddy goes to work, Popopo! When Mommy hugs me, Popopo!

That's right... my clothes would remind everyone of Popopo (T/N: This is a very popular kid's show in Korea, similar to Barney or Sesame Street, but meant for a much younger crowd.)

I have to face her parents looking like this... tears are fogging my eyes...

I really wanted to go back into the bathroom and just wear my mud-covered clothes, but I decided to go outside instead.

She begins to laugh as if she went insane.... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

Her mom begins to laugh... and her dad... and her uncle... I want to cry...

But thanks to this, the atmosphere became a lot lighter... turning disasters into opportunities, I guess... hehe...

So we all sat down on the couches again. They must have heard what happened from her while I was taking a shower..

Her mom thanked me. Her family thinks that I fought those gangsters 3 to 1 and beat them all up in order to protect Her.

The truth is... she kinda saved me from them...

Without her kendo skills, I probably would have become minced meat...

And like all meetings between guys and their girl's parents, they began to ask me all these questions about myself... I sweated nervously.. This was the scariest question:

"What do you want to be when you grow up?"

Of course, they asked "What are your plans for the future?", but it's the same basic question... I like living an ordinary life... I don't have any outrageous dreams...

I wanted to say "I want to marry into a rich family..." -_-;; but I couldn't say it.

It's time for me to leave now... I said good night to her parents and went to the front gate with her.

Me: Hey, how can I go all the way home looking like this?

Her: What's wrong? You look really cute! Hahahaha!

Me: T.T

It's the subway... I was too embarrassed, so I pretended to sleep the minute I sat down... the kids all looked at me like they know me from somewhere... She then called me...

Me: Hello?

Her: Hey, Gyunwoo... Um... about your clothes...

Me: My clothes? Oh, right.. My clothes are in your bathroom..

Her: Yeah, about that... I'll give it too you later, okay? *snickers*

Me: That's fine... but... what's with the snickering?

Her: Oh it's nothing... get home safely, okay? *snickers*

Me: Okay. Bye.

I hung up the phone and thought for a moment....

Oh no... my underwear... I should've brought it with me in my pockets or something... Damn... I was too distracted by everything else... Today is an unforgettable day...

"Mommy!!!!!"

P.S.

Today's the Korean Language Day. So, unlike my usual style (forget grammar rules, acronyms, writing phonetically), I decided to fix everything. Please forgive me if I still made any mistakes. (T/N: This is true... this translation took 1/3 the time that I normally take because for once, he wrote it more or less conventionally...)

On 9 O'clock News on MBC, there was a report on the netizen's language culture. I guess it was a special report because it's the Korean Language Day.

Yonsei University's Korean Professor said that the netizen's language is also a legitimate development of Korean language, and rated it positively.

And some college student said in the interview that since such writing style is not being used in conversations, but in chatting or in cyberspace, there's really no problem.

And some middle school girls said that you get isolated from everyone else if you don't know the netizen language... -_-; There were also the opinions that a traditional culture was being destroyed, and that such usage was damaging Korean as a language.

I'm not so sure which side is correct... because the medium of conversation in this case are keyboards instead of one's mouth, I think the language is being developed for the sake of convenience. I really think both sides have valid points.

Oh.. and someone sent me an email from Unitel (Korean internet server company)... he basically said that "a nation's language is that nation's order and identity. You're 25, so you're not exactly young, and your writing is being enjoyed by a lot of people. Also, since this is on the internet, Korean-Americans or Koreans oversees would read it as well. So you should write using a more proper style."

Hehe ^^ My Sassy Girl was written from the start with a bit quirky(?) (T/N: That's an understatement of the century...) style of writing, and the atmosphere created from such style has become part of the story... so I'm keeping the style. But if I write anything else online, I'll be sure to take your advice.

Oh, and I'm not the kind of a guy who ignores a nation's identity... Whenever I write personal letters or reports for school, I use proper grammar. ^^;

---

As we passed them by, I thought “Thank God”. But then...

“Hey, @$$hole!”
I thought that this was my chance and began to ran, but She stopped in her track. Man... all we have to do is just run... what is with her?
Having no other choice, I turned around.

One of the gangsters leaning on the telephone pole spat on the floor... and the other two approached us and said..

“Hey, looking good there.”

Gangsters, past or present, in movies or in reality, can be really simple. Whenever they're harassing a couple passing by, they always say “Hey, looking good there.” like a corny movie line. The two guys came closer.

'The one leaning on the telephone pole must be the leader...'

The two guys couldn't be helped, but in order for me to win, I thought, I had to fight the leader of the group... I stood face-to-face with the two gangsters. She was right behind me...

The gangsters were looking at her.. @$$holes! Look at me! Me! What, I'm not sexy enough? ... -_-;

The leader of the group approached me... and said

“Hey, get lost while you can.”

I smirked.. sexily... Heh...

Leader: I said, get lost!

Me: What's with you, harassing a passerby like this?

Leader: You got a death wish, you little...

Suddenly, he threw a punch at me!!

Me? My body has been thoroughly trained by Her fists! So I thought 'This won't be too bad...'

... and bravely stopped the punch... with my eyes... o.O

I got punched once... You're DEAD!! I made a fist and threw a punch towards his face...

He stopped it... with his nose... must be an expert. -O-

So... With the leader of the group, I kept fighting back and forth, rolling on the ground still wet from the rain..

Only in movies would you see fights with double-step sidekicks and roundhouse kicks... in real fights, that doesn't happen.

Falling forward, falling backward, hitting with elbows, biting, pinching... scratching... -_-;;

Even during all that, all I could think about was wishing that she would just run away. At this rate, if the fight drags on, the other two will...

After stopping the guy's punch with my valiant beer belly, I thought...

'I'll take him out in one hit'

After getting hit, I retreated a little... and... raising my toes, I kicked him in the testicles... using my skills as a Taekwondo First Dan master (T/N: This is the lowest black belt level)

He started foaming in his mouth as he fell down...

It was dirty, but I had no choice! I had to finish this quickly and run away...
After confirming that he was curling in a fetal position, clutching onto his family jewels, I turned towards her.

The other two tries to grab her hands. I yelled,

“Hey! Get your hands off of her!”

And went towards the two remaining gangsters.

They were facing me, while she was behind me. My umbrella with a golf club-looking grip was on the ground next to her...

They hesitated, since their leader was on the ground, still foaming on the mouth...

Suddenly, I felt a gust of wind pass by me, and... one of the gangsters fell down, screaming “Ahhhhh!!!!”

Then, I heard a swish as the other one fell down.

You guessed correctly.

She grabbed my umbrella and hit the two gangsters on the head with that golf club-looking handle!

She... is really, really good at kendo. I was dragged to a kendo gym and sparred with her once... and even though I was wearing the protectors, I almost fainted.

But... It was an umbrella with a really hard handle, and they weren't wearing protectors, AND they got hit on the head... They probably got their skulls cracked...

Around us, about 3 meters away in front was the guy still clutching onto his balls while foaming... next to us was a guy who was clutching on his head... and another one doing the same...

My face was red, and I was panting... and She was holding onto the umbrella like a sword... she actually looked pretty cool... anyway, that was the scenery here.

A local security officer was passing by... and after seeing this picture, he used his walkie-talkie to call the police... security officers have walkie-talkie now?

A police officer with several other security officers appeared... Man... where were you guys? Why come now, when the situation has been taken care of?
And now, we're at the local police station...

Her and I were sitting on a comfortable couch...

And next to us, the three idiots were sitting on a hard, wooden bench.
I was covered in mud and water, but she looks perfectly normal. And the idiots... I can't even describe them... I guess it still hurts..

They did a background check on us.. We're absolutely clean, not even a misdemeanor. Well, I'm probably guilty for several public urination after drinking, but I've never been caught...

The idiots? They each had assault and battery charges on them, first time, second time, and fourth time offenders each.

They were screaming that they'll bring the doctor's diagnosis with them... @$$holes... They're claiming that they were just smoking cigarettes and that I started beating on them...

Does that even make sense? I'm with a girl, and I'm going to pick a fight with gangsters who supposedly were leaving us alone? Three of them, no less!

Of course, the police officers didn't believe them either... but... we didn't look hurt at all while they're still pale... the leader guy actually was turning yellow...

They're keeping complete silence on the fact that She beat the living crap out of them... They're saying I beat all three of them... At least they know that it's embarrassing...

I was about to call my parents, but because Her parents were closer, they contacted them... Oh boy...

After 10 minutes, Her parents came into the police station... and after 20 minutes, her uncle came in.

Remember her uncle, right? I mentioned him a few times before... the district attorney...

After her uncle talked with the police officers, we all came outside of the police station.

Then, with her parents, we went to Her house... I'm really nervous now... Brrr.... I already left a very bad impression on her uncle...

I'm inside her house now...

Her and I are facing her parents and her uncle as we all sat on couches in the living room.

I was so nervous that I began to feel numb...

---

The rain was really pouring on today!!
It really sucks when you have to go outside on a rainy day, right? Your clothes get all wet...
But if she tells me to come out... I go out. Why? Because she'll be mad... well, she'll beat me...

Her: What are you up to today?

Me: It's raining, so I'm going to watch a movie at home... I rented “Touch Me.” ^^ (T/N:Ahh... don't you just love pun humor? The movie... well, porn he rented is apparently called “Jup-chok”, meaning “contact” with a rather lewd implication. She thinks he's saying “Jup-sok”, or “Connection”, which is a romantic/melodrama movie similar to You've Got Mail, but waaaaaaay more sappy. Anyway, I'll be replacing it with something that fits her in the translation.)

Her: “Punch Me”?

Me: -_-;;

Her: I don't have anything to do... you should come out with me.

Me: No! I'm busy! (T/N: Hooray! Another pun humor... this time, he's saying he's busy, or “Bah-Pah”. She thinks he's saying “Bap-Hah”, which would mean he's cooking rice. Gotta love it...)

Her: What business?

Me: No, B-U-S-Y! ... Ugh, damn OneShot 01X... (T/N: OneShot 01X is a very old cellphone model that was rather notorious for its unreliable performances. The reason She is confusing what he is saying is because his phone is really crappy and breaking up his voice)

But how can I say no to her? She wants me there... I have to treat her well while I can. ^^;
So I promised to see her at Jongroe in the afternoon.

I casually washed my face, ate something for lunch, put on my clothes, took my cellphone... opened the door, and went outsi- Oh wait, I forgot my wallet. Damn..

So I went back to get my wallet. I checked how much I had and... I only had 3000 won ($3) on me... crap..

“Hey, oppa (what girls would call their older brother), I'm borrowing some of your money. Mom's not home, so... I'll pay you back tomorrow!” -_-;

God damn it! She took all my 10000 won bills ($10)! All of them!

Well, there were only three of them in there, but... How can she leave me with absolutely nothing? Over all these years, she probably took few hundred thousand wons from me this way.

I called Her again.

Me: Hey... I really can't go today. I don't even have money for the bus anymore...

Her: What do you mean you don't have it 'anymore'?

Me: ... it's a long story.

Her: Then just come out.. You still have your subway pass, stupid!

So, I went out to see her with a subway pass and three thousand won. This... was not a good experience for me. I would rather not go out than see her without any money on me...

I can't suggest going to get something to eat... I can't suggest going to a cafe... I am forced to just follow her and do whatever she wants to do. Man, this is embarrassing...

It's still raining... Of course, I brought an umbrella. What kind? There are those tiny folding umbrellas, medium sized ones, and big ones that looks more like a parasol.

I brought the big one, and she brought the tiniest type, so we just decided to share my umbrella while she carries hers.

The handle on my umbrella looks kinda like the clubhead on a golf club...

Even though we had an umbrella, it was still raining hard, and our shoulders and pants got really wet. So we decided to go to a cafe and order two steaming hot coffee...

This cafe was on the first floor, and it had huge windows for walls... it was pretty fun to just watch people passing by.

Outside, a couple was sharing an umbrella. The guy was holding on to the umbrella, and the girl was staying really close to him.

Suddenly, the guy ran away from the girl while taking the umbrella.

The girl? Got drenched in the rain.

The girl chased after the guy, but the guy was really fast. So she kept chasing him for about a minute in front of the coffee shop... kinda like “Catch me if you can!” situation on a beach.

The guy finally let himself get caught, but the girl was already soaked. I thought she was going to get angry, but... she just half-heartedly complained and hit his chest in a very cutesy way.

We left the cafe... it was already getting dark... unlike the summer, the days were getting shorter... but it was still raining.

We were still sharing my umbrella. Of course, I was still holding onto it. After a while... I imitated that guy in front of the cafe and ran away from her.

Her? Also got drenched in the rain.

She started chasing me while screaming that she'll kill me when she catches me...

I got really scared, so I let her caught me... Well, to be honest, she was fast like a freak... so I got caught in less than 10 seconds.

She threw the umbrella she was holding at me. As I picked it up.

“Hey! Why didn't you just use this umbrella instead of throwing it at me? God, you're so stupi-”

And she almost punched me for that...

It was the Bupyung station. I have to take her to her house. Typically, we would take a cab, but we took the bus instead... why? Because I was broke, she used up hers and... we were both broke.

The bus station was a bit far from her house, so we had to walk for a while. The rain had stopped by then...

I carried my umbrella like a sword.. you know, like D'Artagnan...

The way to her house from the bus station was really creepy. It was really dark, and the streetlights were going in and out periodically... and the lights were only going as far as the base of the streetlight.

We were about halfway there... about 10 meters ahead, a streetlight was set up right next to a telephone pole.. Near the telephone pole were three guys smoking cigarette.

My intuition told me that they were the local gangsters.

Our eyes met as we approached them. It was too late to backtrack now. She was right next to me. I really wished they wouldn't pick a fight with me.

If there was only one person there, I could do something about it. Unless the other guy was some professional boxer or something, how bad would the fight be?

I am a sergeant in the ROK Army... Reserve, you know.

Even if there were two, I could go all out... and even though I may get hurt, I would be able to protect her. But there were three guys. Short of me suddenly becoming a professional boxer or something, two guys would keep me busy while the third...

In that short time, I tried my hardest to figure out a way to get out of the situation... I took her hand... in case we would have to run.

We got closer and closer to the gangsters...

Aside from the reason that I was holding Her hand, my heart was pounding.

As we passed them by, I thought “Thank God”. But then...

“Hey, *beep*

---

But when I was making my way to the station, someone suddenly grabbed my shoulder... and turned me around by force...

Suddenly, something flashed before my eyes... I was stunned for about 5 seconds... I was trying to figure out what had just happened...

It was her... She had ran towards me, grabbed my right shoulder with her left hand... like a scene in a romantic movie, turned me around by force... and with her right hand...

WHAM!!!

Punched me right in my left eye.... it bruised up nicely, like this → o.O

Typically, such human body part is referred to as an “eye”. But when an outside force exerts such excess pressure on it, the name changes to something more professional and medical...

'Eyeball', I think they call it....

I covered my eye-, no, eyeball with my hand... and looked at her with my other eye...

Her: Follow me!

Me: T.O

If I didn't follow her, she probably would have made the other eye an eyeball as well... so I followed her while putting some distance between us.

Perhaps... My thoughts were muddled by alcohol...

I should've stayed there... and witness her getting over her wounds as she finds happiness after all this time... that was the moment I had wished for... that moment was then...

But I walked out on her instead... what was I thinking?

I followed her back to the bar. He asked her where she went, but she didn't answer him.

I ordered another drink...

Me: Excuse me!

Part-timer: Yes, sir?

Me: Can I get a pint of beer and... do you guys have any eggs? (T/N: a common folk treatment for bruises, especially bruises around the eyes, is to rub a cold egg on the spot... apparently it disperses the blood?)

The part-timer stared at my eye...ball...

Then the part-timer brought me a pint and an egg... It was a bit embarrassing. He said he drove here and that he shouldn't drink any more... so I drank by myself....

A mug on my right hand and an egg on my left hand, rubbing my left eyeball.

I was done drinking, and we were out of food... He looked like he sobered up as well... and she wasn't drinking in the first place. She said

“Let's go do some karaoke.”

I had no idea then what she was trying to do. Why is she trying so hard to extend this boring and awkward meeting? Why was she extending her own misery?

He wanted more time to sober up so that he can drive, so he agreed. I agreed as well... for my right eye's sake.

The karaoke place was on the floor above the bar. The three of us got a rather big room. You know, they say that a really good voice singing a good song can give the listeners a minor orgasm. (T/N: ... I have no idea if this is true...) And usually it makes people want to go pee (T/N:... *shrug*).

I was familiar with the concept. When I sing, my friends all want to go to the restroom... You know, to avoid listening to me sing...

I don't really like going to karaoke... I suck at singing... But I'm really good at using tambourine... No matter what kind of song, ballad, rock, dance, trot, or whatever, I can accompany it well with the... tambourine...

It is my utmost wish that karaoke place would allow people to lip-synch as well...

She gave the microphone to me... I gave it to Him... I guess he already knew what he was going to sing, because he started to put in some numbers.

It was Lee Seung Chul's “Remember Me, You are my Only One”

(T/N: Youtube link for anyone interested... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2fpdnC_MlM )

“I love you ~~ I loved you so much ~~ I've only lived for you ~~ Don't forget me~~
I've only looked for you ~~ and waited for you ~~ and longed for you~~
Please remember me, you are my only one~~~
One day, long after you left me, I felt the pain of separation, feeling of loneliness, and the unquenchable sadness~~~”

He was really good... His eyes were fixed on Her. He was singing, so why was I feeling so sad? I barely kept the tears from flowing.

Anyone could tell that he was expressing his love in his singing... it was her turn to sing... she chose...

Yang Pa's “A'ddio” (T/N: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrH-tM9cLl4 .. just ignore the announcer in the beginning)

“Did you feel~~ that love was a luxury for you?
You were so painfully cold~ I understand the tears now~
If there's no way to turn everything back to the beginning, please forgive me~
For not realizing your feelings sooner~~”

She wasn't looking at Him or me... she wasn't even looking at the screens... But, for some reason... I felt like this was her last song for me... He was clapping... the clapping noises were slapping my heart again and again...

It was my turn. I suck at singing, and didn't know any song... I didn't want to sing, but the situation was... So I picked a song and began to sing... (T/N: http://goodieds.tistory.com/1275?srchid=BR1http%3A%2F%2Fgoodieds.tistory.com%2F1275 OR http://depression01.tistory.com/29?srchid=BR1http%3A%2F%2Fdepression01.tistory.com%2F29)

“I love you~ Forever~~ It's okay~~ if I give you my everything~~
Even if I'm able to live in this world~~ Without you, it's too hard~~
What's left of my life~~ I'll sacrifice it for you~ Don't feel bad~~
And please~~ live on happily~”

Of all the songs listed in the book, it had to be this one... I just picked out a random song and... it would've been nice if someone who could sing well sung this song....

We kept singing back and forth until time was up... My watch told me it was 10 PM in the evening... I took my bag as I stepped out of the karaoke room.

He slung her bag on his shoulder... She didn't say anything...

He lived in Inchon, and she lived in Bupyung... plus, he had a car with him, so she would have a comfortable ride back home... When she was with me, she would have to take the subway home... we would always be pressured to catch the last car of the day... and it was always crowded and uncomfortable...

In front of the building, it was time for us to part. I began to say things that I really didn't believe in.

Me: Today was fun... We should hang out next time too....

Him: Yeah... then I'll see you next time too...

He probably didn't want to see me next time either... She was still in the restroom... and he was holding onto her bag...

I was thinking about waiting for her... but then I thought that if I saw her, I would cry like an idiot.

It wasn't because I had to part with her... or the loneliness from the fact that she doesn't need me by her side any more... I didn't think that I was in love with her either...

Just... that's how I felt then.. so I left before she got out of the restroom... I had to go to the Shinchon-Hyundai Department Store to catch the subway (T/N: Some popular department stores in Seoul get their own designated subway station.) ...

I wanted to look back to see if she followed me, but my logical side ordered me... to just go home...

I was in front of the escalator that linked the department store to the subway station...

I smoked a cigarette... and stayed there till the first one burned out... I took out a second one...

For some reason, there were a lot of couples around me... I was just standing there fore about 10 minutes... then...

I saw her running towards me from far away!

I squinted my eyes and looked again... I don't think it was her...

Heh... what was I thinking... I took the escalator to the station... I was about quarter way down when... suddenly, I heard a voice calling for me...

“Gyunwoo!!”

I looked up the escalator. It was her!! She was calling for me from above!! But the distance between us began to increase... The escalator kept going down... I was halfway down now... For some reason, I thought that if I kept going down, I'll never get to see her again... I was so happy that...

I weaved through the people who were going down the escalator and ran up towards her.

And then I passionately embraced her.

Everyone around and on the escalator began to stare at us... The people on the stair next to us.. and the people outside the doors... everyone was...

Then, while everyone was watching... she began to beat the crap out of me with her bag.

You know how in movies, a couple kisses or embraces each other in public after a tense moment, the crowd around them claps for them? But in reality... it doesn't really work that way. They just stared at us while probably thinking, 'Nutjobs...'

I took the subway headed towards Inchon with her... until we were near the Bupyung station, we didn't say a thing... I thought about all the things that happened between us while I was with her... I still don't know what she is thinking...

After we got off the subway, we could've taken a cab... but she said she wanted to walk a bit... so we walked side by side.

She said...

Her: Gyunwoo...

Me: Hmm?

Her: Even though he was a better singer... I liked your singing better...

Me: .....

Her: And... I like the train that I ride with you better than his car...

Me: ......

This was the end of her wandering. She no longer has any wounds or pain.

And I am with her... but for a completely different reason...

We arrive at her house... I asked....

Me:... Um... why did you beat me up at Shinchon?

Her: Isn't it obvious?! Idiot! Who gave you permission to hug me?!

Epilogue – She wanted to demonstrate that her wounds were healed through action to me... and that's why she met Him in front of me. It wasn't that she was meeting me in front of Him... But I can't confidently declare that the reason why I am by her side is love... Nor can she...

The next story was about a month ago... She started to read this after her friend told her about it... if she reads this, she'll laugh out loud... haha...

Next time, I'll write something funnier. ^^

---

The pub we went to was very different from a typical bar. It was more of a cocktail bar than a pub. There was a quiet and moody ballad song playing in the background.

There were two kinds of table at the pub. There was a circular table, and a typical rectangular one.

He was the first one to go in, and he went towards a rectangular table. I came in right after, but I was too engrossed in my thought to notice that he had already gotten a table.

As soon as I stepped into the bar, and noticed the mood of the place, I began to think...

'Just like at the cafe, she's talking to both me and him in turns, and she's trying her best to make the situation as comfortable as possible for both of us.

At a rectangular table, she would have to choose who she's going to sit next to....

I should go sit at a circular table...'

So I went to a circular table. But he was still going towards a rectangular table. She followed me and called out to him to follow us..

She must have thought the same thing. To her, a rectangular table would have been a tough situation.

He complained as he sat down that a circular table was inconvenient.

I wondered how someone who had loved her could be so thoughtless. Or... maybe it wasn't a thoughtlessness, but his confidence towards me in respect to her. He must have expected her to sit next to him.

I really didn't care who she sat next to, as long as she didn't feel uncomfortable. But maybe I was wishing that she would sit next to Him... so that she can demonstrate to me that she had completely healed...

Because... that was the reason why I stayed with her all this time...

We ordered drinks, but it wasn't a cheerful table at all. I drank, but I was not enjoying myself. She wasn't drinking at all.

Many thoughts crossed my mind.. Does she not drink when she's with Him? But pretense and Her... does not mix at all. Maybe she has something to say to me and Him, and that it has to be said under a clear mind.

Both He and I got drunk. When you drink with one another, you tend to get friendlier with that person even if he was a stranger, but... that wasn't the case between Him and me. It wasn't intentional, but we didn't really say anything to each other... not that I had anything to say to him...

I thought... 'This is enough... She is able to see Him without becoming uneasy, so she must be able to fall in love again.'

I got up from the table. She asked me why I was getting up, and I answered I had to go to the restroom. But I really just wanted to go home. I thought I'll just call her on the way...

And I sneaked out of the bar... As I went down the stairs, someone called me.

Her: Hey! Where are you going?

Me: Why are you following me? Go back inside... Hurry up...

Her: Where are you going?!

Me: I'm really tired, so I'm going home... Take care when you go back home, okay?

Her: Get back inside, or I'll kill you!

Me: -_-;;

She came down a few stairs, coming near me... I said

Me: You know... you could've just told me something like this over the phone...

Her: Huh? What do you mean?

Me: ..........

What I wanted to tell her was that if she wanted to tell me that she was going out with her ex again... it would not have been a big deal. If she called me and told me, I would have just congratulated her.

But when I saw Her with Him... and the things she said through her action... I got really angry at her. It was probably because I was drunk... My emotion took over from my logic and... I began to speak from my heart rather than my brain...

For the first time, I shouted at her...

Me: That's enough! What do you want me to do?! It's not a good place for me to be anyway... What is it exactly that you want to say to me?!

Her: ......

Me: If you wanted to tell me this... you could've just called... I told you I was tired and had other things to do! What do you think you're doing?!

... is what I said... This wasn't what I wanted... I just wanted to congratulate her... and wish her happiness in her love... What was wrong with me?

Her expression then... That must have been the first time I saw such an expression from a human being. Many different emotions were all mixed up...

Sadness... Heartbreaking... Happiness... Warmth... and a longing to say something...

I marveled at the sight while thinking how a single person's expression can contain so many different emotion... She was speaking... even her voice carried too many emotions...

“If you want to go... then go... but.... but...”

She couldn't finish her sentence, and I turned my back on her and went down the stairs.

I headed towards the subway station... I don't know why each one of my steps felt so heavy...

In my heart, I felt too many different things as well....

In my wish to congratulate her, a bit of heartbreak was mixed in... In my expectation for me to be happy for her, a bit of sadness was mixed in... Somewhere in my heart, a big gaping hole began to form... The wind that passed through that hole was too cold and painful...

But when I was making my way to the station, someone suddenly grabbed my shoulder... and turned me around by force...

---

After she ran into the person she was in love with before, I stopped calling her... I didn't answer her calls, and even when she asked me to go somewhere with her, I told her I was too busy. Even when she said “Are you going to die, or are you going to come out?”, I didn't go...

Yes, I have finally gone insane and now have a death wish...

No, not quite. The reason I was avoiding her was...

Because I didn't want to influence her decision...

But that day, she called me...

Her: What's wrong with you, lately?

Me: Huh? What do you mean?

Her: You don't come out when I ask you to... and you're not really answering your phone... like you're mad or something.

Me: Oh, I'm just busy and tired lately...

Her: What about today?

Me: Yeah... I'm too busy... and I promised someone to go somewhere...

Her: Can't you delay it? Do you have to go there?

That call was different from others... Her voice on the phone was different... It felt like there was something different... even her way of speaking was different from usual..

I could tell from her voice that...

She was ready to make her decision.

Like I said before, it wasn't a choice between her ex-boyfriend and me... but whether to start her relationship with her ex or not...

My meaning and purpose in all this was simply whether her heart has healed enough, or if she needs me to be around a bit more...

I had thought that the outcome of her decision was irrelevant to me... I thought I wouldn't be hurt either way...

In order to see her... well, to be more accurate, I wanted to see the fully healed Her... so I canceled everything else and went to the place she asked me to go to.

Sure enough... there was another person with her. Another guy... The person who she was in love with before... This was the first time I saw this person.

Yeah... he was good-looking. He looked like a nice person, and was dressed very well. He looked rich too, the kind of guy that's really popular with girls.

He was really different from me, who was dirt poor, plain-looking, barely knew what “manners” meant, and wearing whatever I found in the dryers... It's a secret but... I've been known to wear the same underwear for three straight days when I feel really lazy...

She introduced us to each other..

“This is my friend, Gyunwoo...”

Yeah... I was her friend... but for some reason, I could only hear the word 'friend'. Friend... Friend... The word 'friend', for some reason, began to dig painfully into my heart. She and I were friends...

“And this is... um... OOO.” (T/N: Name censored by the author, for obvious reasons)

I guess she couldn't find the correct title for him. She just told me his name... To her, He was... he wasn't a friend, at least...

I ordered coffee... and he ordered coffee... and she ordered a coke.

Something is strange though... I was really surprised to see her ordering a coke. Coke... she only orders that when she is really upset about something.

But He, who have known her for so long... who have loved her once, didn't seem to know that about her... He was smiling... I thought, 'what's he smiling about, anyway?'

I took a closer look at her. She was laughing, but something was different. As if she was nervous about something... It's not too surprising, actually...

She was at the same table with her ex and someone who she was seeing (though not going out with). Any girl would be uncomfortable in such setting... but she's the one who arranged this meeting... (I will elaborate on why she did this later)

I didn't know then. Actually, I thought, 'she's finally going back to this person... and she just wanted to thank me for everything...'

But I was stoic about it... It's the result of my utmost effort to not to fall in love with her... my logical side had won against my emotion.

I didn't say anything... It was a rather uncomfortable meeting, and I was meeting a stranger for the first time, no less... I had nothing to say.

When she asked me something, she and I talked while he drank his coffee...

And when she asked him something, they talked while I drank my coffee...

And when there's an awkward silence, she drank her coke.

She got up and said, “Let's go... and get something to drink.”

Even if she gets drunk and pass out or pick a fight with strangers, it has nothing to do with me now. Because He was there...

And then, we all went to a very, very quiet pub for a drink...

---

She was sleeping... well, not just sleeping, but unconscious after having too much to drink... I put her on the couch, but she wasn't moving an inch.

I thought to myself

'What the hell.. she doesn't think of me as a guy or something?'

Well, this wasn't the first time she went unconscious from drinking in front of me... and then there's the beatings...

It kinda hurt my pride... ha, what am I saying, pride? Objectively speaking, there was a very pretty girl, who seems to be dependent on you, and she was sleeping in front you while looking really cute.

... You can wipe off that drool now... ugh...

Any guys here who wouldn't think about kissing here? Anyone? Of course not... and I'm a guy too, after all. So, when I saw her sleeping, it kinda got to me as well.

But I can't just kiss her when she's drunk. I have my morals and pride... Even if it means getting slapped, you should kiss a girl when she's awake and normal.

But! That would be if I was with a normal girl. With her, if I try to kiss her while she was fully awake... I...

I won't put it in details.... (she censored this part out, see... and I almost got killed in the process too...)

In any case... I thought 'Fine. Even if it was stealing a kiss...' and sat down... well, laid, next to her on the couch... The video room was pretty good, the couch was almost a bed- oh...

I was facing her... my heart was beating very fast... I could feel my logical side going numb... but I kept looking at her. You know, even couples don't usually take time to look each other in the face for even 10 minutes...

And we weren't really going out in the first place, so I never had the chance to really take a look at her.. I thought, 'She's really pretty.'

If I kiss her now... I felt like I would be punished greatly for it.

But it was a little sad too.. . What kind of person would hurt someone so pretty and lovely and... slightly off like this? I got a bit angry.

Images of her suffering and her sadness... I haven't really written much about that side of her, but all those images began to flash before my eyes...

For no reason at all, my heart felt heavy... I wish I had been some sort of strength for her, but... I'm not so confident as to whether I have been at all.

In any case, we were predetermined to be separated in the near future...

When she is able to love someone again... and find someone to love again... I'll leave her side without saying anything... So I wish... I earnestly wish that I don't fall in love with her...

And I also pray... that I am not the person she'll fall in love with...

When I was thinking this, I felt like I wronged her, even though I haven't done anything.. Hehe...

I went closer to her.. there was only a small space between her lips and mine...

I could feel her breathe... it was very warm..

Then, she moved around a little and...

BURRRP!

... The smell of alcohol reeked from her breath...

I almost fainted from the smell...

I quickly took out a notebook from my bag and started fanning away the smell.

After I averted that crisis, I just sat down and watched the movie. I was being a jerk after all... the heavens must have punished me for it... or, it was her body's self-defense mechanism.

A monk was chanting in the movie... And I began to fall asleep... I turned towards her and saw her again, which chased away any drowsiness I felt before.

Her red face looked bright and pale from the lights of the screen... I was surprised... she was already pale to begin with, and with the lights...

I sat up and brushed her hair aside from her forehead. Her forehead was pretty too.

I got closer. Slowly, and a bit by bit...

My eyes and her closed eyes met... our noses were almost touching each other... and our lips were apart by...

And I stayed like that for about a minute... I closed my eyes as well...

Then, I raised my head... and kissed her forehead.

She moved around a bit, and I quickly went back and pretended to watch the movie. She nudged me and said,

Her: Hey... I'm really thirsty... and my head really hurts...

Me: Well, who told you to drink like that? ... Idiot... (-_-;;)

Her: Can I get some water, please?

So I went out to get some water... I didn't get caught! Yes!

I must be a prince in a fairy tale or something. My kiss on her forehead woke her up. Right?

Maybe I should kiss any sleeping girl... Wake up, women of Korea!!! Hahaha!!! .... -_-;;

After drinking some water, she began to talk...

She was waiting for me at Shinchon when she, by pure coincidence, ran into Him.

He wanted to talk a bit... she didn't want to, but I wasn't answering my phone (batteries...), and He was really desperate... so she agreed only if it was for a little bit.

I don't know what He and She talked about... She didn't tell me, and I didn't ask... But I could guess rather accurately.

He must have asked Her to start over with their relationship...

That's when she called me, and I was too concerned with that English speaking waitress... I should've just ignored everything and ran to her. I started to regret my choice...

I was just listening to her speak... It was her choice, after all... Not some cheesy choice like one between me and Him... but what to do about Him and Her... it was her decision and hers only.

I know... that He truly loved Her, and She really loved Him as well... and that She was hurt as much as She had loved Him.

And that my purpose in respect to Her was to help treat her wounds...

And I could tell... that she was wavering in her resolve... and that she was really confused as to what to do.

Even if she decided to renew her relationship with Him, I won't do anything to stop her....
If she is hurt by her chance encounter with Him, I'll be there to tend to her pain...

That's the extent of what I can do for her...

I thought being with her for the past two to three months had helped her a lot... I was a bit angry at Her for letting a single meeting with Him affect her so much, but...

I only wish that her choice is the right one... and that she won't have any regrets.

---

Yep. There was no way it would've ended like that... The next day... it was Sunday. She called me in the morning... and I was sleeping, of course... To be honest, isn't sleeping in on Sundays a tradition?

It's a sacred tradition in our country, and to even imply that I should violate it... It's the end times, I tell you...

She called me and told me to come out... I could tell from her voice that she was still angry... To be fair, I kinda blew her off last night... even I would've been upset.

I was really nervous that day. I told myself 'Just be really careful... Don't talk back to her or confront her... just become a Yes-Man for today...' as I went to the place she wanted me to go to. Poor me. T.T

It was a small cafe in Shinchon. Back in 94 or 95, internet social groups would meet in places like these, but I haven't been to one since... it changed a lot since... it was really cozy back then (T/N: He's referring to the mysterious, mythical times where internet browsers did not exist yet... it's not a facebook group or anything like that).

She was already there waiting for me. Shinchon was pretty close to where I lived and she lived in Bupyong... so I guess I was being sluggish.

I approached her, but she didn't say anything... She must be really angry... I sat down, but she didn't even look at me... She was just looking at an empty space, and I had no idea what she was thinking... She wasn't her usual self.

Her usual self would have involved a water cup to the face along with a nice double side kicks... I would've preferred that, actually... This made me even more nervous... It felt like a scene in Misery...

Without saying anything, we drank our coffees. She then stood up, and I followed her. I paid for the coffees... you know, out of guilt.

I was getting hungry... it was a little past lunchtime... I took her to lunch, but she still wasn't saying anything...

So far, all we've said to each other was “Hey, I'm here.” and “I'm hungry... let's go eat something”. And I was the only one speaking.

After lunch, there weren't anything to do... Then she finally said something...

“Let's go watch a video.” (T/N: A Video Room is like a private theater with a projection, surround sound, a comfortable couch, and a very private setting. Typically, it is used by couples for... well, when they need privacy.)

I've never been to a Video Room with her before... This woman was going to take me to a dark place and beat me to death in private... I am really screwed now...

I don't even remember what movie we were going to watch... she just picked one. Then we went to the room... I prayed... that there were some windows around, and that someone would be able to see something if she decided to kill me... and hopefully save me...

But... the room we got was completely isolated from the outside... no one could see what was going on inside... crap...

We sat next to each other as the movie started, but she still didn't say anything. It was driving me insane... I couldn't even tell what the movie was about... I just looked at her hands... well, her soon-to-be-fists that will eventually come flying towards my face... so I prepared myself to block anything.

The movie was over... and she still hasn't said a thing. I kept looking at her during the movies, and it didn't look like she was watching the movie either. She looked... really out of it.

She then said her second sentence of the day.

“Let's go drink...”

Drink... While I was meeting her, I promised myself something...: 'Hell would freeze over before I drink with you or eat Jajangmyun (T/N: see ch. 9) with you'.

But I couldn't help it... I already told myself to do anything she wants today... So we went to a pub and ordered 2 pints of beer and a fruit salad...

A pint is... exactly the amount of alcohol that will cause Her to pick fights with strangers...

I tried to drink mine really quickly, then drink hers so that she won't get any alcohol in her system... this was the only way for me to survive tonight...

What will I do if she gets drunk and pick fights with someone huge?

But... she drank hers in two gulps... and ordered another pint... while I was able to take two sips.

I was getting really curious... this wasn't about what I did yesterday at all...

With this much alcohol in her... typically she would have already yelled at one of the customers, “Why the hell are you eating snails for? Eat something else!”

But she was really quiet... she was about to drink her second pint, but I stopped her.

Me: Hey, hold on a minute... What's wrong?

Her: What? Just leave me alone...

Me: If you go unconscious again, I'm just going to leave you on the floor.

Her: Do whatever you want...

Me: Something's obviously wrong. What's up? What happened? I'm really sorry about yesterday... Wait a minute... Is it... “That” day today?

A fork flew straight towards me... like those bullets in the Matrix.

Despite me trying to stop her, she drank her second pint... three gulps this time.

Then she picked up the fork she threw at me and picked up a slice of apple from the fruit salad... then fell asleep on the table. -_-;; I'm not even surprised by something like this anymore.. It was to be expected.

And of course, she couldn't fall asleep quietly... she made a big crashing noise as her head banged against the table.

People looking? Oh yeah, they were staring at us, but I was used to it by now. Remember, we're the people who threw up in front of the audience of 200 people. (See chapter 9)

We haven't really touched the fruit salad... and I only had two sips of my beer... and it hasn't even been 30 minutes since we arrived at the pub... But what was I supposed to do, finish my drinks and eat the salad with her unconscious in front of me?

I took care of the bill, picked up her bag and mine... and was about to carry her, but decided to help her up instead.

I think I'm qualified by now to write a thesis paper on the most effective ways to transport an unconscious drunk.

Supporting mode, piggyback mode, carrying mode... dragging on the floor mode...

We got out to the Shinchon streets, but the sun was still out. It was summer, so the daytime was still pretty stretched out...

She was passed out drunk... where should I take her? You think... really?

Heh heh heh heh... perverts...

Well, it wouldn't be the first time if I took her to a motel... too bad we weren't in Bupyung... that motel owner would probably give us a warm welcome...

But, like I've already said numerous times, nothing happened between us.

And this time we didn't go to a motel... we went back to the video room. How could I go there twice in one day? ... Hey, why not? I helped her sit down on a chair and picked out a movie.

Me: Say, which one of these movies are the longest?

Owner: -_-;;

Me: ^^;

The owner picked out some weird Buddhist movie that ran for about two and a half hours for us.

I sat her down... well, lay her down on the couch.

I took a look at her... she was wearing a slightly bleached jean and a tight white t-shirt... she wasn't wearing much make up, but her cheeks were bright red, probably from the alcohol... her eyes were closed, and her eyelashes were noticeably long and pretty...

But, above all, I was mostly staring at her breasts... -_-;; (...I promise this isn't an erotic novel)

A completely closed off space... she was sleeping besides me in a dark place...

.....

To be continued....