We decided not to cross the line (1)

Episode 79. Flirting

After finishing a tiring walk and coming back home,

I was hungry.




"Julien, aren't you hungry?

I'm a little peckish... I'll see if there's anything to eat."




When I opened the kitchen shelf,

there were still a few packs of Korean ramen I hadn't eaten yet.

I took out two of them and asked Julien,




"Do you want to eat ramen and stay over?"




Julien said brightly,




"Huh? Isn't that a Korean flirting line?

I've heard it doesn't just mean 'eat ramen and go home'?"




"Where did you learn that from?

You know a lot about Korean culture even though you live in France, huh?"




"I knew it, right?

I think I saw it on YouTube...

I think a Korean friend told me...

Anyway, I heard it became a Korean flirting line

after it appeared in some Korean movie a while back."





"Flirting..."


"...That's right."


"I'm flirting with Julien right now."




I said, looking into Julien's eyes.

Julien looked away, as if embarrassed.




"Come out here and rest.

I'll boil it.

I make it at home sometimes too,

so I know how to cook it."



While Julien was filling the pot with water,

I sat at the table and silently watched his back.




"What's your favorite Korean food, Julien?"




"Wow... do you know that's incredibly moving?"



"Why?"



"That's the first question you've ever asked me, Jeong-a.

Didn't you know that?"



"Really?

The first question I ever asked Julien?

No way...

We've been dating for months already..."




"Do you know how many months it's been?"




"A...about three months?"



Julien laughed for a moment and shook his head.



"Ah... I'm really hurt.

I see Korean couples around me celebrating 100 days,

and even their first anniversary, but

is Jeong-a the type who just doesn't celebrate those things?

Or are you not interested in me?"




"I'm sorry...

I'll reflect on it.

I really have been such an inattentive girlfriend."



I went behind him

and wrapped my arms around his waist.



"Eat ramen,

and sleep here tonight.

Don't go to the hotel..."



After hesitating for a long moment, he answered.



"Today... I'll hold back on that flirting."



He transferred the ramen into bowls.



"Why?"



It was an unexpected answer, but

I thought he was joking.




As he casually

set the two bowls of ramen on the table, he said,




"The day you can accept me completely.

I'll be with you then."




"What do you mean?"




"When it feels like it's just you and me completely.

When it's just the two of us, not three... then."




"Juli..."




Because I understood all too well

what his words meant,

I couldn't make any excuse.





Thinking of the loneliness he must have felt all this time,

even sorry didn't feel like enough.




While eating ramen with him,

I felt heavy-hearted, wondering

if I was hurting another person again.




Feeling sorry, I wanted to be more considerate of him

and match his mood better.




"What should I wear next weekend?

What style do your parents like?"




"Just keep your own style, Jeong-a.

No need to dress up on purpose.

My parents... will like you exactly as you are now."




"You think so?

I... actually...

this is the first time I'm meeting my boyfriend's parents,

so I'm really nervous and tense.

If I get too stiff,

hold my hand a little.

I'll trust Julien and try to be brave."




"If it feels like too much, you don't have to push yourself.

I'd rather you tell me honestly."




"Juli...

why are you saying it like that?

Do I seem like I don't want to meet your parents?

Did I seem that way?"



"I'm not sure.

That's why I said you could be honest."



"I am a little flustered.

We haven't even been dating that long yet...

And since they're coming all the way from Korea,

I feel like I really can't afford to not make a good impression on the two of them..."



"Should we say we'll meet them next time, when there's another chance?"



"Julien, don't you want me to meet your parents?"



"As for me... well, that's true.

But this isn't something I can put pressure on you for."



"If Julien wants it, I'll meet them."


As I said that,

I suddenly remembered the day I met Hun-ji's older sister.

I remembered how nervous I had been that day.


But now...

I didn't feel like I was doing something wrong

the way I had back then.

So this time, I was a little less afraid.




"I'm getting less and less confident..."