# Chapter 149
“Is this the right destination?”
“Yes.”
After saying goodbye to the kids who had been encouraging me saying I’d been through a lot, I got into the car driven by Teacher Jaewon. It’s been about an hour since we left. As we approached our destination, my wandering mind gradually returned to reality.
It seemed to be quite secluded, and after driving along winding paths for a while, a large mountain peak appeared. A spacious park surrounding it spread out before our eyes.
After getting out of the car, we headed to the columbarium where Park Yewoon’s remains were kept. With Teacher Jaewon’s help, we arrived without any difficulty.
Seeing the name neatly written on the memorial tablet, I became lost in thought as I realized that, just as Jeon Seohan said, his body was truly dead. The physical remains in that urn belonged to Park Yewoon, but the soul inside must have been Jeon Seohan.
A strange emotion swept over me as I stared at the photo of the thin man smiling. I remembered Jeon Seohan saying we should meet again if given the chance, but when that moment actually arrived, I didn’t know what to say.
“Is that him?”
“…Yeah.”
Moon Seoheon stared at me standing quietly, then took my hand. When I turned to look at him gripping my hand tightly as if he would never let go, his lips curled up gently.
In response, I smiled back as if to say it was okay and squeezed his hand.
I carefully placed the small bouquet I had prepared and took a moment to pay my respects. Fortunately, seeing the fresh bouquets of flowers nearby, it seemed others who cared for him visited frequently.
“Thank you for coming with me. And thank you, Teacher, for driving us all the way here.”
“It’s nothing. After hearing about it, I wanted to visit too. I didn’t know we had a student who passed away so tragically at our school.”
The teacher replied with a bright smile in a light tone, but I noticed he was deliberately trying to ease the burden. Moon Seoheon didn’t say anything, but I could feel his concern for me in his clear gaze, and I felt like I knew what he would say without hearing it.
“Shall we go down now?”
“Yes.”
As we went out through the way we came in, the sun was already setting. Beautiful pink clouds layered upon each other in the clear blue sky that had been cloudless earlier, gradually turning purple.
As we walked down endlessly, looking up at the magnificent colors in the fading sunset, the teacher who was leading the way whispered softly.
“It feels like we’ve become characters in a movie.”
There was a hint of joy in his tone. He quickly turned his head to look at us, then lowered his gaze and stared at our fingers that were still interlocked.
“This is like the final scene of a movie.”
He came all the way to the columbarium with us and now he’s getting emotional while admiring the beautiful sky? I awkwardly laughed off his silly remark and naturally let go of our intertwined hands.
“Ahem, let’s hurry.”
Honestly, I was a bit embarrassed since I had been lost in thought and showing a gloomy attitude until just now. After clearing my throat quietly and quickly walking toward where the car was parked, I heard low laughter from behind.
After opening the car door and sitting in the back seat, Moon Seoheon looked out the window and asked.
“Will you come again later?”
“…I don’t know. I just thought I should visit once.”
After impulsively asking Jeon Seohan for his name before returning, I felt obligated to visit once I knew it. I might have felt a sense of kinship with someone who experienced the same situation as me.
Though seeing the grave definitely made me feel melancholic, I was glad I came. It was as if something that had been stuffed up inside me for a long time had been cleared out, leaving me refreshed yet empty at the same time. Anyway, I was satisfied just knowing I could live without anxiety from now on.
* * *
I felt my body floating under the clear sky. Though I was standing properly, my feet didn’t touch the ground, and the surrounding sounds were buzzing.
I know what state this is.
Yoon Taeho, who had entered my body, was taking out a clean, polished wine glass from the kitchen and pouring vodka. As I recognized the familiar kitchen, I realized it was inside the restaurant.
It was the place where I worked part-time, and the manager who was still in charge of food and beverage was standing nearby, exclaiming all sorts of amazement. Before I could even feel confused, exclamations of surprise burst from my lips as I watched from a distance.
His knife skills are no joke.
People gathered around to watch Yoon Taeho’s skills as he held a lemon firmly and sliced it as thinly as possible. After placing a lemon slice that looked almost as if it had been cut with a mandoline beautifully in the glass, the manager who had been watching the entire process from beginning to end gave a thumbs up.
While working at the restaurant, I had never received a word of praise from that manager, and although the accolades were for Yoon Taeho, I felt proud yet empty, as if I had received them myself. I felt dazed, thinking this was probably something I would experience a lot in the future.
With my ambiguous feelings, I laughed awkwardly, and the scene immediately changed.
Yoon Taeho was standing in front of the front desk, looking through documents with a solemn expression. It was a place so familiar to me that I could tell what was there even with my eyes closed.
So this is what Yoon Taeho meant when he said he saw what I was doing in his dreams. Unlike when I saw his past, seeing Yoon Taeho living in my body made me feel more at ease than I expected.
Perhaps it was because I was seeing him vibrant and bright, rather than fading away and suffering.
Just then, the manager approached Yoon Taeho, who was organizing documents, and immediately slapped him on the shoulder. That really hurts. As my eyebrows automatically furrowed, Yoon Taeho made the same expression but forced a smile. I focused on listening to their conversation and realized they were talking about the situation I had witnessed.
‘What happened to you? The chef was really surprised too. He asked how someone who couldn’t even properly slice an onion became so skilled. You’re not thinking about going back to cooking, are you?’
‘…No. Cooking is just… something I practiced to impress others, but I have no interest in it now.’
‘So you’re okay with the room management work?’
‘Ah. I’m sorry for not relaying the reservation information promptly.’
‘No, it’s fine. I’m not scolding you, just saying if you have any difficulties, don’t keep them to yourself and talk to me.’
‘…Yes.’
Though his expression was quite comfortable, realizing it was my face made it bizarrely strange.
Yoon Taeho, who had hesitated at the manager’s request to share any concerns or difficulties, opened his mouth. Oh, is he really going to say something?
‘There’s nothing particularly difficult. In fact, it’s fun… and since I’ve been interested in travel lately, I’d like to learn more about tourism.’
‘Oh, really? You need qualifications to transfer departments. First, there needs to be an opening, but…’
‘Is that so?’
‘Yeah. …Hey! But don’t say things like that in front of other people. No supervisor wants to send away someone they’ve worked hard to train.’
Yoon Taeho, who seemed to have realized something, bowed his head awkwardly, and the manager waved his hand and told him to go home soon.
Somehow feeling embarrassed myself, I touched my forehead, but as if to show me something even more, I became nervous seeing Yoon Taeho heading to Jeon Seohan’s room as soon as he got off work.
I tightly closed my eyes when I saw Jeon Seohan happily embracing my body, which had become Yoon Taeho’s. I’d rather see the past. Comfortable my ass, it wasn’t comfortable at all.
What did I show Yoon Taeho?! Was he feeling like this too? As I struggled with the overwhelming distress, the space seemed to blur. At that moment, I wanted to just wake up.
“Taeho, Yoon Taeho. …Bowon hyung!”
My eyes, which had been tightly shut, opened at the urgent voice calling my name. With the dazzling sensation, I blinked once and saw Moon Seoheon’s face right in front of me. As I looked around dazedly, Moon Seoheon, frozen with a cold expression, gripped my shoulder tightly.
“Ah…”
Finally coming to my senses, I frowned and expressed my pain.
“It hurts. Moon Seoheon.”
“…”
“…Seoheon, it hurts. I didn’t go back.”
After I continued my response with gasps, Moon Seoheon finally removed his hand from my shoulder and embraced me. Our skin touching and his lips buried in my neck released trembling breaths.
My intention to shout about what kind of dream I just had and how I almost died of embarrassment disappeared completely.
I wrapped my arms around Moon Seoheon’s waist and buried my face in his neck just the same. His distinctive scent became stronger. While bearing the full force of his arms pulling me in more tightly, I asked in a calm tone.
“What should I do to make you stop worrying?”
Moon Seoheon, who hadn’t moved, slightly tilted his head and kissed the top of my right shoulder.
“Just… hold me like this again.”
“Sure.”
It’s not a difficult task, and as for hugs, I can do it as many times as needed, so I wish he would stop worrying. I continued to stroke his back to help him calm down.
After staying like that for a while, Teacher Jaewon, who had been away from his seat, opened the car door and came in.
“If you’re feeling better, let’s separate and load the luggage.”
“…Yes.”
Somehow, I bit my lip unconsciously at his gaze that seemed to be saying it was an eyesore. As someone who had fallen asleep in front of people who drove me here for my sake and even made them worry, I had nothing to say. The car had been parked in front of the house for so long that it was already night outside the window.
Following Teacher Jaewon, who was taking out the luggage quietly, I walked with Moon Seoheon and started to get excited about going home after a very long time.
Moreover, once the awkwardness faded and I recalled the dream I just had, besides the embarrassment, I was somewhat relieved to see Yoon Taeho seemingly doing well.
In the shopping bag I was holding now was the letter I had intended to give to Yoon Taeho, safely preserved. He seemed to have read it without any problems, and I would often smile when I recalled the brief reply he wrote.
[Yes. I’m not sure if you read the note I left. If there’s another occasion to leave a note, please write comfortably then. You’re older than me, after all.]
The latter words sounded a bit sassy and bothered me a little, but I decided to gladly accept not just notes but also news I could see through dreams.
Remembering Yoon Taeho’s words that he had chosen cooking due to others’ expectations but was interested in travel, I looked directly at Moon Seoheon and asked.
“Seoheon, what’s your dream?”
Moon Seoheon didn’t look at my sudden question strangely but just smiled brightly.
“To keep being with you.”
Hey, there’s a teacher right beside you! I was surprised and hastily spoke due to his shameless words that made me blush.
“Not that! I mean what do you want to be? Like future career or job.”
“…A soccer player or a physical education teacher?”
I expected the soccer player part, but a teacher… At the unexpected answer, I glanced at Teacher Jaewon who was standing next to us, and he also seemed unaware, his eyes wide.
“Really? When did you think of that?”
“For a while now.”
As we stood dumbfounded at his brief answer, the elevator dinged and stopped. As Moon Seoheon went out first through the opening door without stopping, I quickly followed behind.
Standing in front of the door and entering the passcode, the sound of the lock unlocking rang cheerfully. As soon as I pulled the handle, I could hear signs of movement inside, along with delicious smells that tickled my nose.
“Why are you so late? All the food I prepared will get cold.”
My mother, who had arrived earlier and was waiting, came to the entrance. When she saw Teacher Jaewon standing behind, she gestured for him to come in quickly, saying he had worked hard. Since she had prepared a meal to serve him on behalf of my busy parents who had brought me back, both of us went in together instead of leaving.
“Welcome back.”
“I’m home.”
My father, wearing an apron, welcomed me and gave a gentle look to the teacher and Moon Seoheon who came in with me. Yoon Taean, who had been in his room the whole time, came out quietly at the commotion and took the luggage instead.
“I’m not sure if it will suit your taste.”
“Food prepared by the owner of Rowoon Restaurant will definitely be delicious.”
At those words, both my father and mother seemed pleased and laughed softly.
“Seoheon, you’ve gone through a lot taking care of that guy too. Eat plenty and go.”
“Thank you.”
Soon, as we gathered around the table one by one, there was a clattering sound of dishes being brought out. Even while watching all these familiar scenes, it was still hard to believe that I belonged in them.
Somehow I felt like I was running with all my might toward a place without a destination. Even if I wander here and there on my journey, if I meet someone and have the most delicious meal, wouldn’t that become a lifelong unforgettable memory?
After all, a happy life is eating delicious food with someone you love. It was for me.
