16 - Dumb Conversations

                                    

                                          
"If one day you meet someone you love and decide to spend the rest of your life with them, I'll make you the most beautiful ring ever," Jake said out of the blue, and Soo Yun folded her arms over her chest.
"For free?" She raised an eyebrow and he laughed.
"For free." He nodded.
"Okay, that's a tempting offer." She chuckled before a smile appeared on her lips. "I'll make sure to do that."
"Also, don't tell Sunghoon about the rings."
"I won't, I actually feel excited to tease him about it. I'm seeing something he's dying to see but can't."
"You sound like an evil sister," Jake said and the two of them just laughed. "Would you like to go have lunch?"
"With you?" She asked as she rested her hand on her handbag.
"Yes. My treat." He smiled when she nodded, feeling relieved.
"Then, I want to show you my favorite restaurant." Soo Yun muttered, hoping to show him the place she spent most of her time at. The place that warmed her heart. And sometime later, the two of them were sitting inside a small restaurant in a small alley. 
Jake had no idea a place like that was in Seoul, he was used to eating in famous and well-known places. But the lack of people - dressed in elegant, expensive clothes and taking pictures of every food they were served and literally everything - made him relax.
There were only a couple sitting across them, eating and chatting and enjoying each other's presence. And Jake wondered if he and Soo Yun looked like that too.
"It's very calm and relaxing, isn't it?" She asked and he nodded, the smile never leaving his face. "I spent almost all my time here back when I was in high school."
"It's been a while, Soo Yun. Your tteokbokki and japchae is here." The old woman in charge said as she served them their orders with a smile. "Eat a lot."
"Thank you." They both bowed politely before they started eating. And right when Soo Yun put the piece of tteokbokki in her mouth, her eyes glistened.
"She still makes the best tteokbokki." She said as she wiped her tears and Jake just stared at her, chopsticks still in his mouth. "I always loved her food."
"Did you have nice memories here?" He asked quietly, his eyes softening.
"I always preferred this place over home. After my parents passed away, it was only me and Sunghoon and it felt... quite lonely." Soo Yun said as she stared at the food. "One of my friends brought me here one day and I never really left since then. The Soo Yun in my memories is still here, reading her favorite book and listening to her favorite song."
Jake was listening to her only, and he felt happy somehow. Perhaps because she was comfortable enough to tell him about her memories, or because the mere thought of her in a school uniform, sitting in a quiet place and doing the things she likes was a very beautiful scene for him to imagine.
"It also felt like mom and dad were preparing food for me. It just... felt like home." She said with a bitter smile, trying to stop the tears from falling down her cheeks as she ate her food.
However, right then, Jake got up from his seat and sat next to her. He wasn't looking at her, rather, she was looking at his back in confusion. "What-"
"You can cry." He muttered. "I'm not looking, and you're hiding behind me so the others can't see you. Just cry and when you feel a little better, let me know."
Soo Yun just stared at him, wondering if someone like him indeed exist. He was perfect in every way and she couldn't help but close her eyes and cry silently.
For her parents who left the world so soon.
For the Soo Yun in her memories who felt lonely and unhappy.
For her brother who had to give up his teenage days to look out for her.
And for Jake who didn't deserve having his heart broken. 
She just cried silently for a while, and a few minutes later, she wiped her tears and tapped his shoulder before he turned to look at her. "Better?" He asked as he gave her a reassuring smile and she nodded.
"Thank you." She muttered.
Jake sat back in his seat and glanced at the couple who were staring at the two of them. It made him smile a little. Perhaps they look like them too.
"Let's eat." He said and she nodded before she started eating. "I think I will come back to this place, it's comforting."
"Right?" She smiled. "Let's come back again."
"For sure." He nodded.
The two of them just talked about everything and nothing; their childhood, their favorite places, their friends... just dumb conversations that made them lose track of time. He wasn't forced to be anyone but himself, and Soo Yun liked him the way he was. 
"What about Jay?" He asked after some time.
"Hm? What about him?"
"I mean, we didn't talk since that day." He explained and it seemed that she understood. 
"We talked, and he's not upset about it." She shook her head. "Honestly, he doesn't know how to approach you after what happened. It wasn't your fault, it's just that Sunghoon has a big mouth."
He laughed at her comment and shrugged. "I'd like to talk to him and apologize, though. Also, Heeseung told me that he's planning a trip?"
"Oh right, we're all going." Soo Yun said in excitement. "He said that he'd like you to come too, so you can talk it out then."
"How do you always say the right things?" He asked and she stared at him, taken aback.
"This is the first time someone says this." She smiled. "Maybe I just say the right thing to you."
"Maybe." He smiled back. "Are you going to open the shop this afternoon?"
"I think so. You're going back to work?" 
"I think so." Jake shrugged. "I thought of a new design for a necklace."
"You're really doing a good job, your father must be so proud of you." Her words made him feel quite relieved. "I'd like to see your next designs."
"You're always welcome to come to my workplace. I'll let you be the first one to see them." 
"Even before Heeseung?" Her eyes slightly widened.
"Even before." Jake laughed as he nodded his head. "But keep it a secret, he will kill me."
"Of course." She smiled.
Their date was slowly coming to an end and Jake didn't want their time to end just like that. "Do you want to watch a movie together after work?" So, he blurted out.
Soo Yun stared at him for a moment before she smiled. "I'd love to. Do you have any movies in mind?"
"The Notebook." He said. "I'm one of the few people who didn't watch it yet and I finally would like to watch it."
"Really? I haven't watched it yet, too." 
Soo Yun just lied. The Notebook was her favorite movie ever, and she had watched it over 17th times.
But if it meant spending more time with Jake, she wouldn't mind watching it for the 18th time.