We decided not to cross the line.

Episode 75. A New Connection

I finished my meal quickly,

and wrote an email to Hunji before taking the train.

If not now,

I felt like I’d never be able to say anything at all.





I even thought about leaving a note in front of his room,

but the staff were also staying at that hotel,

so I was worried someone else might see it first.





[Title: You don't have to reply.


Hunji...

I'm sorry I couldn't keep our appointment today.

I was so happy to see you after all these months.

I thought I had mostly sorted out

my feelings for you by now,

but maybe I was mistaken,

or maybe until I was fully over everything,

we shouldn't have met...

I think it was probably the latter.

Let's not contact each other until we've sorted out our feelings.

I won't be checking my email anymore.

Let's... both be well on our own,

and later...

when seeing each other no longer feels like anything,

let's meet then.]

 



After sending the email, I closed my laptop.


Then someone spoke to me in Korean.





"Excuse me, do you have a moment?"




I looked up,

and it was the very man

whose constant looking at me had been bothering me since earlier.





"What is it?"





"Did we perhaps run into each other yesterday?"





"Hmm...I don't remember you..."





"In front of the ice cream shop..."




As I quietly searched my memory,

when I had run into Hunji and stood there dazed,

someone had shoved past me and I’d lost my balance.



There had been someone who caught me then,

though I hadn't seen their face clearly,

and it might have been him.




"Were you the one who caught me yesterday by any chance?"




"Right?

After that yesterday, you were sitting on the bench for quite a while,

so I thought maybe something was wrong.

I stayed nearby for a bit,

in case you needed help."





"Really? I didn't realize you'd paid that much attention...

thank you."




I stood up and pulled out the chair opposite him.

Grateful, I thought I should at least treat him to coffee.





As he sat down, he said,




"Thank you.

Are you traveling?"





"Yes...I'm waiting for the train to Rouen.

If it's okay with you, would you like some coffee?

I just finished eating too, and was about to have some."





"Sure. Then I'll order."





He immediately ordered two coffees from the server.




"You're from Korea, right?"




"I...I'm staying in Spain right now."




"Ah...really?

I immigrated to France when I was young.

I live in Paris.

I'm waiting for a train to Rouen, for vacation."




"You're going to the same place as me.

I've never been to Rouen before—have you?"

 


"No...it's my first time too."




Then the coffee arrived.



"You helped me yesterday too,

so it's not much, but let me pay for the coffee."




"No...you really don't have to do that.

Then...

let's have lunch together after we get to Rouen.

As a welcome for you visiting France,

I'll treat you."




"What? No..."



Flustered, I even waved my hands in protest.




"You're turning me down so firmly

that now I'm embarrassed. haha

It's not because you dislike me, right?"




At his awkward laugh,

I felt even more sorry.




"No...it's not that..."




"I was going to that restaurant alone anyway,

so if you come with me, I won't be as bored.

I looked up a famous restaurant in advance."




"Ah...yes..."




Situations like this, where I couldn't refuse or accept,

always made me flustered and uncomfortable.




After having a quick coffee with him,

we walked together to the train platform.




He said he had immigrated to France when he was young and lived there,

but that his parents had recently moved back to Korea,

and he was living alone in Paris.




"May I ask what you do for work?"




"I...draw."




"Ah..."




"I also lecture at a university."




"I see..."




"But...

from your expression,

it seems your feelings show very clearly."





"Pardon?"




"Yesterday too, and today too...

you looked very sad.

When you were sitting on the bench yesterday,

you were talking briefly with some man..."




Without answering, I looked at the man

with growing unease.




'Did he perhaps recognize Hunji...'




"Even if you don't say anything and just stare,

your face seems to be speaking.

Stay still for a second.

Inside, aren't you thinking this right now?

Is this guy flirting with me right now?

How do I get rid of him?"





"What? No, I wasn't..."




"Haha...I'm kidding."



Seeing him laugh so cheerfully, I relaxed too.




Since we were taking the same train,

we checked each other's tickets,

and his seat was next to mine.




"Wow...this isn't a coincidence you see every day.

Right?"




He looked amazed

and smiled, waiting for my reaction.




"I guess not..."




Honestly, whether he was sitting next to me or not,

I didn't care.




Thinking about Hunji, who would be filming in Paris,

I couldn't focus on anything.




On the train,

hoping he wouldn't talk to me,

I took out a book and opened it,

and he, perhaps sensing what I wanted, quietly listened to music

as we headed to Rouen.




After arriving in Rouen,

we got into the rental car he'd arranged in advance,

and headed out for lunch.




During lunch,

he talked about various episodes, saying he could really feel

just how hot K-pop had become in France recently.



"So my dating life got way easier.

If I tell French girls I'm a Korean guy,

I get bonus points right away,

and if I even sing, they line up. haha"




While drinking water, I couldn't hold back my laughter,

and spat it toward him.




"Pfft!!! Oh no...I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

Wipe yourself with this."




"Ah...it just so happens I was hot, so this worked out.

Thanks to you, the heat's completely gone. haha"





"I'm sorry. What do I do..."




"It's okay.

Thanks to you, I got to see you laugh too."




Just one line from him made me feel so much more at ease.



"That delicious lunch was so good.

Thank you."




"I should be the one thanking you—I was about to eat alone, bored out of my mind,

so it was a fun meal."



He paused for a moment, then continued.




"I'll take you to the hotel.

Where are you staying?"




"How about going out with me?
 
I'll help you forget that person."