We decided not to cross the line.

Episode 69. Room 1108 (1)

"Manager.

I have a favor to ask...

Please don't tell

Hunji that you saw me here today. Please."




"Ah... okay...

I'll do that. Don't worry."





"Yes... thank you.

I'm here on vacation.

Please film well, and take care on your way back.

It's even nicer to see you somewhere like this."




After greeting the manager,

I quickly finished checking in.





'Wow... no matter how small the world is..

to run into each other like this here...'




After taking my luggage up to the room,

I changed clothes and came back out.





After checking the route I'd tour today,

I asked the hotel concierge if there was anywhere nearby for a light meal or

a dessert hotspot.




The concierge recommended a famous crêpe shop near the hotel and

an ice cream shop.





'For today's dessert, instead of coffee,

I should have ice cream.'





Since running into the manager just a little while ago,

I kept looking around me.




"Right... he'll be busy filming during the day,

and resting in his room at night...

Don't worry, I'll enjoy my own trip!!"




I still hadn't even had my first meal, so I was very hungry.



In Canada, I used to often go to famous crêpe shops run by French people,

but...

Crêpes in Paris

must be even tastier, I thought

as I moved my feet.





As expected, places known as must-try spots

had long lines, whether in Korea or France.




Normally, no matter how good a place was,

I wouldn't wait in line to eat there,

but today was the first day of my trip,

so I wanted to act a little differently.





A warm Americano and a sweet crêpe

were truly the perfect brunch.




'Let's go break the second stamp!!'




With the satisfying taste of the crêpe,

I was looking forward to the ice cream

the hotel concierge had recommended.




Luckily,

I could go into the ice cream shop without waiting in line.




A group of people was coming out,

so I was waiting outside the door.




I made eye contact with one person in that group.

My heart sank in an instant.





'...No...why is Hunji coming out from there..?...'




Me and Hunji,

the two of us, like ice,

unable to say anything or do anything,

froze in place.





That was when it happened.

A young, pretty girl with an actress-like aura

hooked her arm through Hunji's and said,




"Oppa, let's go quickly."




The girl grabbed Hunji's arm

and pulled him toward her,

and the two of them drifted out of my sight.





I instantly went stiff as stone.

No thought came to mind,

and why I had come here, why I was standing there,

it felt as if all brain activity had stopped.




Soon I realized I was blocking people's way,

and, having completely forgotten about the ice cream,

I sat down on the bench in front of the shop.





Not long after I sat there

someone stopped in front of me, gasping for breath.





When I slowly lifted my head,

I realized that someone was Hunji.




"Did you come to France?"




"No....I'm here on a trip.

A book just finished..."



"Did you come alone?"



"Yes..."



"Which hotel are you staying at?"



"The same hotel as Hunji."



"How do you know the hotel I'm staying at?"



"I saw the manager at the hotel front desk earlier."



"The room I'm staying in is 1108."



He looked straight into my eyes.



"Come by tonight, for sure."


"Okay?


"It's a promise.. "


"Please, I'm begging you."




After saying that,

he disappeared again.




Even after he left,

I sat there for a long time.




Once I came to my senses a bit, what I thought was...


'Who was that girl?

Was she an actress filming a commercial together?

Are they close enough to hook arms like that?'


Those ridiculous questions...





After that sudden meeting with him,

all desire to go anywhere vanished.




I was suddenly exhausted, as if all my energy had drained away.

I didn't want to go anywhere.



Without even getting to try the ice cream,

I headed back to the hotel.




I took a shower,

and lay down on the bed.




'Room 1108...'



I still couldn't decide whether I should go or not.


I couldn't sleep because of that girl.




'So what if I don't know who that girl is...

what does that have to do with me...'




But if I went back to Spain like this,

it felt like I'd be going back with an unfinished task.

Just that thought made me feel like I was going crazy.

 


After tossing and turning for a long time, I finally made up my mind.



'Right... I should go and ask who that girl is.'





"This is Paris, after all.

A place where you can kiss an old lover, or have a one-night stand."