A Date Under the Plum Blossoms

On the way to our meeting spot, I steeled my resolve once more.

Just eat and go straight home.

No matter ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠what temptations Ye-na threw at me, I wouldn't give in.

Well, if it were that easy, I wouldn't be chanting this mantra to myself in the first place...

"Eun-woo~!!!"

The girl waving at me and calling my name was so lovable I could hardly stand it.

Today's Ye-na was dressed in a black dress and cute Mary Janes.

And even the black over-the-knee socks I'd begged her to wear back when we were dating...

It was the perfect combination that hit all my tastes—I couldn't help but want to applaud.

But this damn mouth of mine spat out complaints instead of compliments.

"P-people are staring... At least wear a mask..."

"Masks make me feel stuffy. I hate them."

"Then at least a hat..."

"I got all dressed up nice, and a hat would ruin it. Rejected!"

"Fine, do whatever... Let's just go."

"Okay! Oh, wait—come here for a sec first."

With that, her soft hand grabbed my wrist.

Ye-na led me to a spot where plum blossoms announcing the start of spring bloomed beautifully.

"I took a walk while waiting, and it was so pretty here I wanted to show you. Remember that super pretty plum tree by the school gate when we were in school?"

"Yeah... I remember."

How could I forget? She'd make a huge fuss every time after school, insisting we go take pictures...

Secret from Ye-na, but those photos we took together are still set as my laptop wallpaper.

"Hehe, then let's take a picture for old times' sake."

"Give me your phone. I'll take it."

I reached out for her phone, but instead, Ye-na placed her small hand on mine.

"T-together..."

"...Okay."

Only after I agreed did she pull her phone from the small crossbody bag she was wearing.

As I stretched my arm out to take the photo, Ye-na pressed right up against my side.

Our shoulders touched with a soft thud, and her sweet scent brushed my nose, making my face heat up.

"T-taking it..."

"O-okay..."

Click.

"Pfft, our faces look so funny..."

Just like Ye-na said, we both had flushed red faces, trying desperately not to laugh—it was a sight.

"Should we take individual ones too...?"

"Yeah..."

Click.

Click.

After the photos, we headed straight to the reserved restaurant.

This place was run by a famous chef who'd gained fame on a TV show, known as a pasta hotspot.

TV shows are mostly hype, but since the tip came from Kim Ga-young, it had to be legit.

"Reservation under Lee Eun-woo."

- Yes! Confirmed.

The server guided us to our seats, and we opened the menus.

"Anything you want to eat? They say the pasta here's pretty good."

"Hmm... Can't decide. I want carbonara, but also aglio e olio..."

Her pouty lips and serious pondering were so cute I struggled not to laugh.

"Pfft... Just get the dinner set and share."

"R-really? That's okay?"

I nodded.

She lit up and ordered, making me burst out laughing again.

I bit my lip to hold it in, but laughter kept leaking out, so Ye-na puffed her cheeks and got sulky.

"Why do you keep laughing...?"

"Hoo, I won't anymore."

"Idiot... Laughing at me and then saying that is against the rules..."

She whipped her head away, making it clear she was properly upset.

But she kept sneaking glances to check my reaction—way too obvious.

She probably wanted me to hug her like old times.

Whenever she got sulky like that, I'd pull her into my arms and pat her butt.

But we're not dating now, so that kind of touch ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was off-limits.

Still, maybe as childhood friends, a head pat was okay?

I cautiously stroked her hair.

Her lips quivered upward at the touch.

She tried desperately to suppress her smile, but failed.

Finally, Ye-na surrendered.

"Hng... I'll forgive you just this once..."

After finishing the dinner set, we ordered ice cream for dessert.

It was amazing how her slim waist still had room after pasta and baguette.

"Haa... So full."

"You ate a ton at once. Of course you're full. Wanna walk it off to digest?"

"Yeah..."

We left the restaurant and strolled along the road, matching our steps.

"Eun-woo, can I ask you one thing...?"

"Sure."

"Why'd you suddenly become a reporter? You never once said you ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wanted to back then."

"Oh... I never planned to be one. Truth is, I wanted to be a hunter. After graduation, I enrolled in a hunter academy down in the provinces. But I hit the wall of my talent limit, wandered around, and naturally ended up as a hunter reporter."

"I see..."

Her face darkened, sad that I'd given up on being a hunter.

"It's not that depressing. It's old news—five years ago for me. I'm satisfied with my job now. If I'd become a half-baked hunter back then, I might not be talking to you like this."

"Hey... Don't even joke about that..."

She swatted my shoulder, genuinely upset. Living so close to death, she hated even jokes like that.

"Okay, okay... Won't say it again. What about ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you, Ye-na? Happy with hunter life?"

"Honestly, I don't know. I've just been obsessed with reuniting with you, so I didn't think much about myself..."

"..."

I had nothing to say.

A simple "sorry" couldn't cover what mindset she'd lived with as a hunter.

"It's fine. Now I have a new goal. I said it at the press conference, right? I want to be someone you're proud of. Am I someone you're proud of now, Eun-woo?"

"...Of course I'm super proud..."

"Hehe, good. Glad I worked hard..."

She gave a wry smile and stepped ahead, then stopped and faced me.

"Eun-woo, I won't cling and demand you love me anymore. I realized the more I obsess, the further we drift. Instead..."

She hesitated, then smiled and spread her arms wide.

"Before I enter the Tower... can't you hug me and tell me to come back safe?"

"......"

I couldn't refuse her request.

I knew exactly what she meant by it.

I slowly approached and gently pulled her into my arms.

Her body trembled against me.

I patted her back, and her arms around my waist tightened.

"Don't get hurt. Come back safe..."

"Yeah..."

That short embrace with Eun-woo felt like owning the world.

I'd just declared I'd stop obsessing, but his warmth made me want to forget and yell, 'Lee Eun-woo, you're mine—don't even think about hugging another girl!'

But I can't do that anymore.

Let me have more patience. Trust Eun-woo.

The man I love wouldn't hold a woman he didn't have feelings for.

So... I'll believe what he said at the restaurant—that the person he loves is me.

How hard was it to reunite with him? I can't lose him to the same mistake.

I slowly pulled away from his arms and looked up at him.

Our eyes met, and he quickly turned away, avoiding my gaze.

His eyes were a bit red—he must have gotten emotional too.

To spare his pride, I'll pretend I didn't notice.

We started walking again without a word.

After the successful date with Eun-woo, I got home and drowsiness hit me like a wave.

I flung off the dress and over-knee socks I'd carefully put on and collapsed into bed, surrendering to pleasant fatigue.

How much time passed?

When I came to, it was already dark outside.

"Hng... How long did I sleep...?"

I checked my phone.

8:00 PM, Sunday.

That date snapped me out of my daze.

I couldn't even remember the last time I slept this deeply without pills.

No nightmares of Eun-woo's scary words either...

Which led to this.

"I wanna hear Eun-woo's voice..."

He said he was heading to the provinces for coverage today—probably done by now...

I felt bad interrupting his work, so I started typing a message.

Click.

"Hehe, so shy."