New Connections
'I did it... I... I survived...'
A faint sense of victory welled up inside me at the fact that I'd made it through that hellish agony. But the feeling didn't last long.
The kid Little Areum, who'd just completed the exact same course as me, was casually unbuckling her safety gear like it was nothing. Hell, she was beaming ear to ear, practically skipping over to hug her parents.
"Mom! I wanna go again!"
"......"
Post-nut clarity crashed over me like a tidal wave. What the hell was all my struggling even for?
That's when the staffer shouted out loud.
"Alright, everyone! Next up, we'll head to the ATV experience area!"
ATV? Did this guy seriously think I could ride a four-wheeler in my current state?
I shook my head vigorously. Sure, it'd probably be fun. But my body? No way in hell it could handle it.
What I needed right now wasn't more thrills. It was peace for my body and mind. Total, absolute rest.
Stumbling to my feet, I pulled my smartphone from my pocket. I opened the map and started scanning the nearby area.
A quiet place... somewhere peaceful...
Hm, a temple? Yeah, a Buddhist temple. I'd head up there, clear my mind. Being near Buddha might even ease this muscle hell a bit, right?
I drove up to the parking lot at the base of the temple. From there, the entrance looked mysteriously inviting. The chirping birds and rustling leaves in the breeze soothed my soul right away.
This is even better than I thought.
Grinning in satisfaction, I got out of the car and headed toward the temple's One-Pillar Gate.
"...Huh?"
Something was off. Stairs? Stairs...?
An insane number of them stretched out before me. Well... guess I'd climb 'em?
I took a slow step onto the stairs.
"Huff... huff... How much farther is this gonna go...?"
Every single step was pure torment. The muscle pain that had just started to fade crept back up relentlessly.
I was practically crawling by the end. My lungs burned, and cold sweat dripped down my back again.
When some grandpa breezed past me with effortless steps, I nearly gave up right there—but I pushed on and finally reached the main hall courtyard.
Half out of my mind, I collapsed onto the nearest bench, gasping for air.
As I sat there drenched in sweat, staring blankly into space, I heard it: swish, swish.
A steady broom-sweeping sound. I turned to see an elderly monk with kind, deep eyes quietly sweeping the courtyard.
I watched his serene movements in a daze. Then, he paused, glancing my way.
"Looks like we have a precious guest."
Is he talking to me?
Caught off guard by the sudden words, but figuring I'd come here for this anyway, I bowed politely in greeting.
"Oh, hello..."
"You seem quite exhausted. Are you alright?"
"Ah, yeah... Just resting a bit, and I'm feeling better."
But why's he staring at me like that...? Super awkward...
"And yet, ma'am, is there anywhere you're feeling discomfort?"
"Pardon? I said resting made it better..."
Gasp. Did he see right through my muscle pain? Was this temple some deep inner-power hotspot?!
"Well, it's a little stiff, but I can bear it..."
The monk smiled gently at my reply and introduced himself.
"I am Myeongun."
"Ah, I'm Han Areum."
He pressed his palms together in prayer, so I awkwardly mirrored him.
Myeongun Monk sat quietly on the bench beside me. Without a word, he gazed off at the distant mountains in the same direction as me.
After a long silence, he spoke again.
"'Fate ()' cannot be hidden."
Fate? Like, connections? What was he even on about? I just stared blankly at him.
His gaze shifted back to me. Those deep eyes felt like they pierced straight to my soul.
"Your outer form has donned a new fate, yet your heart still gropes for its old place."
My heart plummeted.
'New fate...? Old place...?'
Reading my confusion, he continued.
"When the outer vessel changes, the inner must adapt to fit. It will take time, but do not reject too harshly becoming accustomed to this new form, new thoughts."
"...Pardon?"
"But forgetting is no good either. Explore this new samsara through proper harmony."
Right then—
Whoosh! A fierce wind roared down from the peak, scattering fallen leaves across the courtyard.
I instinctively squeezed my eyes shut, then opened them. The elderly monk beside me was gone.
Instead, a young monk was silently sweeping a short distance away.
I stood and approached him.
"Excuse me, monk—do you know where Myeongun Monk who was just here went?"
The young monk paused his sweeping, tilting his head.
"Myeongun... that's my dharma name. And who might you be to know it...?"
What?!
Did I see a ghost...? No, ghosts in a temple? Buddha'd smack me.
I gave the young Myeongun Monk an awkward prayer bow and hurried out of the temple.
The descent still hurt like hell, but my whirling thoughts left no room for the pain.
Back at the car, I slumped into the driver's seat, trying to replay the eerie encounter.
What'd he say again... outer and inner... something about adapting...?
And what? New samsara? The old monk's kind face and deep voice stuck crystal clear, but his exact words faded like a dream.
I shook my head, no clear answers coming.
Haa, what kinda nonsense was that? Hallucinating from exhaustion?
It was such a bizarre experience. I tried shaking it off, but that old monk's voice kept echoing.
Yet the meaning floated just out of reach, refusing to stick.
Even on the way to my destination, the fish market, it wouldn't leave my mind.
"Hoo... Whatever, forget it."
Overthinking a dead end? I was here to camp—time to enjoy, not dwell.
As I approached the market entrance, a child's wail caught my ear from nearby.
"Waaah... Mommy... I don't wanna go home..."
Hm? That voice rings a bell.
I turned to see Little Areum from the zipline, sobbing her heart out.
...What's going on?
My feet moved toward her on their own. Seeing her face smeared with tears and snot, my chest ached.
Normally I'd just be curious and move on... but then the monk's words resurfaced unbidden.
'Do not reject too harshly becoming accustomed to this new form, new thoughts.'
...Sigh, whatever.
I approached Little Areum, crouching to her eye level.
"Areum, why are you crying?"
Even to me, my voice sounded way too gentle—kinda threw me off—but no showing it in front of a kid.
She looked up through wide, tear-streaming eyes.
"Sniff... Pretty big sis...? They say we hafta go home... No pension..."
"Huh? Can't go to the pension? Suddenly?"
Her dad, standing awkwardly nearby, answered instead.
"Ah, hello. We met earlier, right? Sorry about that. See, there's been an issue with the pension we booked. The previous guests trashed the room so bad they called—impossible to check in today."
"What? How bad could it be..."
"The owner sent pics with the refund apology. Wanna see?"
His phone screen showed a horror show: leftover food scraps dumped in the sink, reeking of rot; walls stained purple like someone showered in wine; floor littered with what looked like cigarette ash or some black powder.
"Those fu—"
I nearly swore, but swallowed it seeing the crying kid.
"...Some real jerks, huh."
But Little Areum kept bawling pitifully. Ruining a rare family trip—had to hurt her little heart bad. Seeing it, I wanted to cheer her up somehow.
What to do...?
Then an idea hit.
"Um... have you ever tried glamping?"
The parents shook their heads, puzzled.
"No, never..."
"Hold on a sec."
I whipped out my phone and called the campground I'd booked.
"Hello, owner? This is Han Areum, booked for tonight. Any spots left for a glamping family of three? A caravan would be ideal."
[Yes, we have a caravan available by chance.]
"Thank you!"
I hung up, flashing the couple a big smile.
"Glamping—I'll show you how. There's a spot open at my campground. Wanna give it a shot?"
"Huh? But we don't have any camping gear..."
"Glamping's plug-and-play—no gear needed. I can even lend you mine if you want. And it's a caravan, so comfy like a pension."
Surprise and gratitude lit their faces.
"Really...? We'd be imposing too much..."
"No worries. How could I just leave with the kid crying like this?"
Little Areum, mid-sob and glancing around, nearly made me chuckle. I crouched back down to her level.
"Areum, wanna go camping with big sis?"
At my words, Little Areum stopped crying cold, staring at me with huge round eyes.