Flower Viewing
Flower Viewing
For some reason, a familiar scene from our neighborhood came on the evening news.
The segment was a bit disjointed, but the news was announcing that the situation had finally been resolved.
"Looks like they caught the rapist."
"Phew... I feel so much more at ease now."
Perhaps because she was worried about me, A-ra, who had been on edge, let out a sigh of relief.
Because the culprit hadn't been caught, she hadn't allowed me to go anywhere but school for two weeks.
So I just went from the apartment's underground parking lot to school by car, and from the school parking lot back to the apartment's underground parking lot.
We hadn't been able to go on any dates.
- Next up in the news. The cherry blossoms along the Han River are in full bloom.
When it's spring... cherry blossoms...
And cherry blossoms mean flower viewing...
Packing a 5-tier lunchbox, grabbing a picnic mat, and having a flower viewing picnic by the Han River...
Then a stroll after eating, walking around the Han River holding hands.
That sounded like fun.
Should I at least ask A-ra about it?
It would be really nice if we could go.
"Noona, are you free this weekend?"
"This weekend?"
A-ra took out her phone to check her schedule.
I held my breath as I watched her.
"Yeah, this weekend is a day off."
Phew.
That's a relief.
As I let out a sigh of relief, A-ra tilted her head and smiled at me.
A-ra's eyes looked as if she was asking, 'Is something up?'
It was a look that didn't expect a date invitation at all.
"Then, would you like to go flower viewing by the Han River with me? I'll pack a lunchbox."
"Really? Noona wanted to go flower viewing, how did you know?"
"Who knows? Maybe it's telepathy."
It seemed A-ra had been wanting to go flower viewing as well.
Well, how could she not think about it, being stuck at home in this warm, cozy spring weather, unable to go out?
It wasn't an event that A-ra, who loves going out and eating, could simply pass over.
"How about Han River flower viewing this weekend?"
"I'm in favor~"
"Then I'll prepare a lunchbox. Is there anything specific you want to eat?"
"Hmm... A lunchbox-like lunchbox?"
The only lunchboxes I knew that were like a lunchbox were convenience store lunchboxes and osechi-style lunchboxes.
Or wait, was Han-sot lunchbox also one of those lunchbox-like lunchboxes?
"Like a lunchbox with karaage, or rolled omelet, or octopus sausages?"
"Yeah, that kind of feel would be great."
"Phew... It's been a while since I've had to show off my skills."
I wasn't sure how well I could make it, but since A-ra wanted it, I had to try my best.
First, I needed to buy a 5-compartment lunchbox container online.
"What about anything else?"
"Like sandwiches?"
Sandwiches would be good.
A base packed with vegetables, then loaded with ham and cheese...
"Sandwiches sound great. It'll give off a picnic vibe too."
"Hehe, right?"
"And... assuming we bring Lil' One too..."
We had to bring Cesar and a bowl.
There were a lot of things to pack for a family flower viewing trip.
"Should we go on Saturday, or Sunday?"
"Ah, Sunday won't work."
"Why not?"
She was resting on Saturday, so it couldn't be work, since she wouldn't be working on Sunday.
Was she planning to just rest comfortably and play some games?
She seemed to be enjoying the racing game steadily, so it felt rewarding to have bought it for her.
However, the reason that came out of A-ra's mouth was an answer different from what I'd expected.
"Don't you know there's a new Sunday drama starting this Sunday?!"
"I didn't know."
I wasn't very interested in dramas.
So, whenever Jeong Hwan-yi and Lee Min-ho talked about dramas, I couldn't join in.
I just sat there blankly listening to their conversation, without ever saying a word.
Come to think of it, A-ra liked dramas quite a lot too.
I remembered her crying once after watching some drama before.
"Haa...... How can a boy be so uninterested in dramas."
"I still watched those ones before, though."
"Which ones?"
"Giant, and Comrades."
"..........How did you even watch those ones."
"My mom watched them a lot, so I watched them with her."
Giant was a drama about a construction company, and Comrades was a drama about the 6.25 Korean War.
Those two were masterpieces among masterpieces.
"Truthfully, I'm more into subculture stuff than dramas."
"Tsk... Anyway, Sunday is a historic moment, so it won't work."
"Alright, then I'll get things ready for Saturday."
"Okay, I'm counting on you. Lil' One~ Wanna watch a drama with Mommy?"
"Woof!"
Yeah, you just watch the drama with Mommy and leave Daddy out of it.
This is why they say raising a daughter is pointless.
***
"Wow... Look at the cherry blossoms..."
"They really are in full bloom."
A-ra, who was holding Lil' One's leash, got out of the car and dashed over to a tree laden with cherry blossoms.
Along with her, Lil' One also ran out, glad to be with Mommy.
Lil' One was still a dog, after all.
Today, we were lucky that the clouds were moderately scattered, making it perfect weather to sit outside.
It was truly optimal weather for flower viewing.
"Seong-hwan-a, you come quickly too."
"Just a minute. I have to get the picnic mat and a few things ready."
Seeing me unload the luggage from the trunk one by one, A-ra quickly gave an awkward smile, scratched her head, and came over to me.
I slung the picnic mat over my shoulder and tried to lift the lunchbox, but it was so heavy I felt like I would fall over.
"Oh right, should Noona carry the lunchbox?"
"Yes, please."
"You don't need to say please..."
A-ra lifted the wooden basket that I had failed to carry.
And with just one hand, at that.
How on earth could she lift that with one hand?
It was amazing every time I saw it.
"What did you pack in here?"
"The lunchbox, some drinks, sandwiches... Lil' One's food and bowl... and a Tablet PC?"
"There's not even that much in it?"
"No, it was heavy the moment the drinks went in."
"Well... Men can be like that."
Now, A-ra had given up on comparing things to her own standards.
Because the differences in stamina and strength between men and women were just too big.
"Where would be a good spot to set up?"
"Should we set up near the river?"
"Then... there's a bench over there under the cherry blossom tree, let's go that way."
The spot I headed toward was a great place for viewing the river, and it had benches, making it a good spot for eating.
And, most importantly, it was under a cherry blossom tree, so we could enjoy the flowers quite well.
"If there's a downside, it's that we can't spread out the picnic mat because of the slope."
"It's fine. Lil' One can just sit on the bench."
"Do you think it'll be okay?"
"If we put the picnic mat down on the bench, we won't get it dirty, right?"
Oh.
A-ra had suggested something I hadn't even thought of.
As expected, idols were full of ideas.
But, there weren't many people for a weekend.
Usually, the Han River was overflowing with people at this time, wasn't it?
"Is it because the weather's overcast?"
"Or maybe there's a festival or something going on, and it's only quiet over here."
It had been noisy with murmuring from earlier, noisy enough to wonder if a festival was being held.
And on this side, we could only see people taking walks.
"Hmm..."
A-ra started thinking deeply.
She looked like something was on the tip of her tongue.
"Ah! Now that you mention it, there was a flower viewing festival going on over there!"
"A festival?"
So there was a place holding a festival in the spring.
I'd never heard of that despite living nearby.
"It's less a festival, and more like a gathering people do among themselves, kind of like a club."
"Aha... Then let's just enjoy ourselves. There'd only be noise if we went over there anyway."
"Yeah, it's quiet and nice since it's just us."
A-ra smiled as she took out the picnic mat and spread it over the bench.
Maybe because we'd come right around lunchtime, she was clearly looking forward to the lunchbox.
The reason was, when I was preparing the lunchbox at home,
I had banned A-ra from entering the kitchen.
She'd be surprised when she found out what I'd prepared.
"What do you want to start with? The lunchbox? Sandwiches?"
"The lunchbox, of course!"
"Woof!"
A-ra and Lil' One answered simultaneously.
Could Lil' One's reaction even be considered an answer?
But, Lil' One.
I'm sorry, but your meal is Cesar.
"What on earth did he prepare that he built up so much anticipation?"
"Curious? Go ahead and open it."
Perhaps because she was looking forward to it, she flipped open the lid of the lunchbox inside the wooden basket in one go.
The inside was packed full of dishes anyone would call fancy.
Fried shrimp, pork cutlet, meatballs, sweet and sour pork, rolled omelet, stir-fried Vienna sausages and vegetables, kimbap, and even inari sushi.
I'd made a few takoyaki as well, but their shapes weren't pretty, so I'd selected and packed only the pretty ones.
"Oh... Our Seong-hwan really put some effort into this?!"
"It's all homemade."
"Really...?"
Even if it was a lunchbox for flower viewing or a picnic, it was for A-ra to eat, so how could I possibly use frozen food?
It was a completely homemade lunchbox, started yesterday and finished this morning.
"I have my pride as a cooking Qtuber, so I don't use frozen food."
"Waaah... I think I really married well..."
"If you say that after looking at the food..."
"That's not what I meant. I meant I'm glad I married you, who touches my heart with these things."
"Ahem... That's what you should've said."
I almost sulked for a moment, but I flashed a smile at A-ra's quick correction.
I took out the wooden chopsticks and a small plate from the wooden basket and handed them to A-ra.
"Please, eat up."
"Well then... Thank you for the food."
A-ra reached for the inari sushi with her chopsticks.
As expected, A-ra was reaching for the inari sushi first.
Watching this, I took out Lil' One's bowl, opened a can of Cesar, and put the food in the bowl.
"Lil' One, let's eat."
"Woof!"
Lil' One, who had been staring at the bowl for a good while, tilted her head.
Usually, I mixed Cesar with kibble, but today there was only Cesar, so she seemed puzzled.
"If it's not enough, Daddy will open another can for you."
"Woof! Woof!"
"It's good? You like it?"
Before eating, Lil' One came over to me and licked my cheek.
She seemed to be in a very good mood.