Chapter 130: Memories
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 130: Memories
Shin A-young’s answer left me speechless.
"Just one heat pack?"
It was a transparent lie. I didn't even need to look at her Mini-Me to know that.
“…….”
I glanced down at her left pocket. Seeing the plastic wrapper poking out, I let out a hollow laugh. Anyone could see it was another heat pack.
As I was debating whether to call her out—
— “…Ah, his expression softened.”
Her Mini-Me looked up at me, its lips curling into a smile of pure relief.
“…….”
I blinked and instinctively touched the corners of my mouth.
‘…Was my expression really that bad?’
I thought I’d kept it under control. I’d tried to act the same as always, but I guess I hadn't been as subtle as I thought. Or perhaps it was simply because it was Shin A-young; she always seemed to notice.
“Let’s try going this way.”
Just as we were about to start our walk, Shin A-young pointed in a completely different direction—an area I had never visited before.
“Shall we?”
I decided to follow her lead without question. Sometimes, there was a certain charm to wandering aimlessly, letting the path lead the way without a map. There was no better way to clear one's head.
As we strolled along, chatting about nothing in particular—
— “…Hmm? Is this the place?”
Shin A-young’s eyes narrowed slightly. Her Mini-Me scanned the surroundings and let out a low hum.
— “Ah, right. It is.”
I asked quietly, “Is this a path you know?”
“Ah… yeah. I used to come here often a long time ago.”
“Here?”
“I lived around here until elementary school.”
“Really?”
So the house she lived in now was one they’d moved into later. Then again, her family was wealthy, so it wasn't surprising that they’d moved to a larger estate.
“See that stone wall? That’s my old school.”
Shin A-young pointed toward a wall running along the road. Beyond it, I could catch a glimpse of a long, low-rise building.
“…Hmm.”
The school she attended as a child. I found myself getting curious.
“Want to go inside for a bit?”
“Is it okay to just walk in?”
“It’s the weekend, so the playground should be open to the public.”
At least, that was my understanding. Still, rules varied from school to school. I walked over to the main gate and found an information sign.
“Let’s see….”
I scanned the notice and nodded.
“It’s fine. It says we can enter.”
The sign stated that using the playground was permitted as long as visitors didn't enter the buildings. We passed through the gate and stepped onto the school grounds. Despite it being the weekend, the playground was peaceful. Only a few kids were scattered about, playing soccer.
— “Wow… it’s been so long.”
The Mini-Me walked slowly across the dirt-covered playground. Perhaps finding her old school awkward after all this time, its footsteps were even clumsier than usual.
“This place looks exactly the same as it did back then.”
She came to a halt at the swing set.
“Up we go.”
Shin A-young sat on a swing and gripped the chains. She began to kick her feet, slowly building momentum. Her movements were practiced; after a few pumps, she was soaring high into the sky before dipping back down, repeating the rhythmic motion.
I raised an eyebrow at the sight. “You’re pretty good at that.”
“I have my ways,” Shin A-young replied with a triumphant smile.
— “I didn't have anything else to do, so I used to play like this by myself every day.”
The Mini-Me on my shoulder nodded. It was a somewhat melancholy reason for her skill.
“Shall we look somewhere else?”
“Sure.”
Shin A-young nimbly hopped off the swing. Her feet left deep divots in the sand. Setting aside the clean landing… she really did get more mischievous when it was just the two of us.
After exploring the playground, we headed back out. Being near an elementary school, the street was lined with stationery stores and discount ice cream shops.
“Wow, this place is still here too….”
Shin A-young’s pace slowed in front of a snack stall. I slowed down with her.
“Is this a place you know?”
“I used to come here to eat all the time after school.”
Shin A-young looked lost in nostalgia.
“Back then, if you ordered tteokbokki, they’d throw in a seaweed roll for free. That’s why I came so often… I wonder if it’s still the same.”
“Mhm.”
“Want to try some?”
I nodded.
“Hello.”
As we stepped inside the tent, the sweltering heat immediately began to thaw our frozen bodies. I looked at the food display.
“What do you want?” I asked.
“Let’s get tteokbokki and some fried snacks to share,” she answered immediately. It was a practiced selection.
It was also the perfect amount. Since we hadn't had dinner yet, a light snack was exactly what we needed.
“Ma'am, two servings of tteokbokki and one order of fried squid, please.”
The elderly woman moved with practiced ease, her wrinkled hands pouring the bright red sauce onto a plate covered in a plastic sheet. She slid the steaming plate toward us.
“Thank you.”
Shin A-young popped a piece of tteokbokki into her mouth, her cheeks puffing out as she chewed.
“How is it?” I asked cautiously. I was asking if it tasted the same as her memories.
“Mmm.”
Shin A-young nodded with satisfaction and gave a small thumbs-up. It seemed the flavor of her childhood remained intact.
— “…There’s no seaweed roll. Well, prices have gone up a lot since then.”
The Mini-Me tilted its head over the plate, searching for the missing treat. Shin A-young seemed momentarily disappointed, but she turned her attention back to the tteokbokki as if it weren't a big deal.
“…….”
It was then.
— “…Hmm?”
The wrinkles on the shop owner’s Mini-Me deepened. It looked at Shin A-young, then began to peer at her with a peculiar, searching gaze. Wondering what was happening, I focused on the old woman.
She handed us some hot fishcake broth and asked, “…Student, didn't you used to come around here a lot back in the day?”
“…Huh? Do you remember me?”
Shin A-young’s eyes widened. She clearly hadn't expected to be recognized.
“My goodness, so it is you!” The old woman gave a benevolent smile. “Of course I remember. Aren't you that famous actor’s daughter? What was his name… Shin Chang—”
“Shin Jin-seop.”
“Right, that’s the one.”
It seemed she really did remember.
“Yes, that’s right. Have you been doing well?” Shin A-young confirmed with a soft, eye-curving smile. The two shared a brief, warm reunion.
“Goodness, time flies. You’ve already grown up into such a fine young lady.”
“Oh—no, not at all.” Shin A-young tucked her hair behind her ear, her posture becoming elegant and refined.
Watching this, the old woman chuckled. “My, my—your expression has brightened up so much. When you were little, you used to walk around with such a scowl.”
“Pardon? Me?”
“Oh, don't go playing innocent now.”
I blinked, intrigued. “She was like that?”
“Oh, she was so prickly! I thought she was a little baby hedgehog!” The old woman stirred the tteokbokki sauce with a ladle, the wrinkles around her eyes crinkling. It was the look of someone fond of the memory. “It’s been years, but I still remember it clearly.”
Shin A-young’s childhood. I was fascinated. How could I not be?
Slurp.
I took a sip of the fishcake broth and asked, “…What was she like when she was little?”
“Hey…!” Shin A-young tapped my arm repeatedly, but it didn't hurt. My curiosity was far greater than her protest.
“When she was little, you say?” The old woman began to unpack her bundle of old stories. “When was that… When I first saw her, I wondered who this cute-looking kid was, loitering in front of the shop.”
“…Hmm.”
I figured she was pretty even as a child. There was no way she wouldn't have been. As the praise began, Shin A-young’s Mini-Me blinked, its protests gradually calming down.
However, one must always listen until the very end.
“And then that little girl, with her eyes glared wide, would come in all by herself to eat tteokbokki.”
“…….”
The scene formed naturally in my mind. I imagined a young Shin A-young, chewing her tteokbokki with a fierce expression and puffed-out cheeks. I guess she was just as sharp-edged back then.
“Goodness, but she ate that tteokbokki so well. She could easily finish two servings by herself. It was so cute that I’d always give her an extra seaweed roll.”
“…Is that so?”
So that was the reason she got the free rolls. When I glanced sideways, Shin A-young’s earlobes were bright red. It seemed she’d had no idea.
“…….”
“…….”
Shin A-young’s shoulders flinched when our eyes met. She jerked her gaze away. As if making an excuse, she blurted out to the old woman, “…Ma'am. I—I didn't have no friends back then. I only came alone because everyone else was busy….”
“Who said otherwise? I just said you came alone.”
“…….”
The old woman didn't yield an inch. Shin A-young put on a silent, beaming smile, but her eyebrows twitched; the mask was almost cracking.
— “…This old lady keeps saying unnecessary things….”
The Mini-Me twisted its lips in dissatisfaction.
“…By the way, is this student your boyfriend?”
Clatter—
Shin A-young froze. Her eyes darted around like a malfunctioning machine.
“……Huh? Y-Yes?”
“Isn't he your boyfriend?”
“No, well, that is… Ahem.” She let out a light cough. “…He’s a, a friend.”
Before I knew it, her lips were curving into a soft arc.
— “…Does it look like that to other people?”
The Mini-Me’s lips twitched, a laugh leaking through its closed mouth. She pointlessly brushed down her bangs. Her mood was lifted so easily. She was like that sometimes—her emotions could be resolved by something incredibly trivial.
Then again, that was a very Shin A-young-like reaction.
“…….”
I watched her innocent display and let a faint smile play on my lips.
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(!Signboard!)
(Illustration below!)
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Little Shin A-young