We decided not to cross the line.

Episode 122. Accident

We finished a four-day trip

and returned to Frigiliana.





It had been an unforgettable, wonderful trip, but

after hearing Mr. Hoonji’s question,

I, still unable to give an answer,

felt as if I were carrying a heavy burden.





In the car on the way back from the trip,

he said.





"I don’t want to force you to choose.

I’ve made my choice, and now it’s your turn.

Whatever choice you make... that’s up to you."





I still didn’t have the courage to throw myself into his life.


As the price of liking him,

I was afraid of all the things I’d have to go through.





We left that matter buried and

went on with our usual life before the trip.





Mr. Hoonji went out to exercise,

and I stayed home, cleaning,

on a weekend afternoon.





When my phone rang and I checked it,

it was Manager Kim.




"Oh. Taehyung."




"Did you have a good trip?"




"Yeah."




"Is Hoonji by any chance next to you?"





"No. He went out to exercise.

I’m alone."





"Did you hear from Hoonji about the movie?"





"He didn’t tell me the details.

I only know he said he wouldn’t do it because filming starts soon."

"The production company is a major one,





and the director has worked with Hoonji before.

The script is solid, and there’s no reason to pass on it.

Honestly, if you let an opportunity like this slip by, you’d be a fool."

"..."





"Are you listening to me?"




"Yeah, I’m listening.




You called because you want me to persuade Hoonji, right?"

"There’s no need to fill out the whole year exactly.





He could come back early if needed and so on.

Right?"

"That’s true, but...





the problem is, if you want him to do the movie,

the problem is that you’re asking me to make a decision too..."

"What decision are you being asked to make?"




"To go back to Korea together..."





"Ah...





You still haven’t made up your mind about the two of you?"

"Yeah..."





"Then from your position,




you can’t really push him to do it."

"I don’t want Hoonji to miss such a good opportunity either, but...





right now, even deciding what to do about Hoonji

feels overwhelming."

"I see. If that’s the situation...

it’d be hard for me to ask you for help, too.





From my position, I guess I’ll have to persuade Hoonji more."

"I’m sorry I can’t help..."

"No...





from your position, there’s nothing you can do."





After I hung up with Manager Kim,

I felt lost about





what choice I should make.

I couldn’t tell him to choose the movie,

but I also couldn’t say





I’d go back to Korea with him.

If I stayed at home,

I felt like I’d keep thinking about it, so





I grabbed a book and went outside.

I thought about going to the park,

but then changed direction to Miguel’s cafe.





I wanted to talk with him about this and that.

On a weekend afternoon,

there were already a few customers sitting inside the cafe.





"Sophie. What brings you here on the weekend?

You don’t work on translations on weekends, do you?"





"I just came out to read a book."

"Ah... then...




could you help me for a moment?"




"With what...?"

"The bean delivery is running a little later than planned,





so I’m going to go pick it up myself.





Could you watch the cafe for a bit?"

"I can’t make coffee, though?"

"No. You don’t need to make anything,

just keep an eye on the customers here for a little while.





If there were no one here, I’d lock up and go, but





I can’t do that."

"Ah... if that’s all, I can stay.

Don’t worry and go ahead."

"Thank you.





I’ll make you some delicious coffee when I get back."

"Sounds good."





I saw Miguel off

and sat at a table.

While I was reading,




the customers left one by one,




and in the end I was left alone.

'I guess I should pack up life here





and go back to Korea...

When would be the best time...? '

I couldn’t get into the book.




Then the cafe door opened,

and Miguel came in.

In his arms




was a sack of beans.




"No new customers came in?"

"No. After Miguel left,




no one else came in."

"I just got some fresh beans, so




I’ll make you some coffee—try it."




"Can I look forward to it?"

"Of course!"





As Miguel untied the bean sack,

he said, looking my way.




"There was a traffic accident downtown earlier.




I heard an Asian man was hit by a car




and taken to the hospital."

"An Asian man?"




"Yes.

Could have been a tourist..."

At that moment,




Hoonji flashed through my mind.




'It’s been quite a while since he left to exercise,

so why hasn’t he called me...? '




In a hurry, I took out my phone

and dialed his number.




The ringing went on and on.

But




he didn’t answer.

"Hoonji!!!"




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