Not Doing This?
A month had passed, and February had arrived before we knew it.
Even though there was less than a month left of vacation, which might have been sad, right now I was filled with such immense joy that I could forget that sadness.
It was the 3-night, 4-day trip to Japan with just Chae-yeon and me.
Finally, that day had come.
For a whole week, we’d talked on video calls every single day without missing one, preparing everything we needed. If there was something we needed to buy, we’d go to the mart together to shop.
I wanted to live together for that week to prepare, but honestly, that was close to impossible, so I gave up cleanly.
Was it because the trip was so exciting?
Chae-yeon and I spent the entire dawn on a video call, chatting non-stop for six hours. Thanks to that, we ended up pulling an all-nighter before departure.
“Son, let’s head out.”
“Yeah, Mom.”
Mom offered to take me to the bus terminal, so I headed there comfortably. When I got out at the terminal and looked around, Chae-yeon’s family had already arrived and greeted me.
“Jung-woo, you’re here?”
“Hello, Aunt. Hello to you too, Uncle.”
“Yeah, have fun.”
“Yes!! I’ll go have a safe and fun time.”
“You’ve grown up now, going on a trip alone with your girlfriend.”
“Mom, I’m off.”
“Okay, have a good trip. Chae-yeon, have a good trip too?”
“Yes, Aunt!!”
After greeting each other’s parents, we went inside the terminal. Since we had to travel nearly four hours to the airport, we stopped by a convenience store to buy water and sleep masks, then waited for the bus.
“Ah, I’m really looking forward to this. I want to go to Japan right now.”
“Yeah. We have to ride the bus for nearly four hours, then wait three hours for the flight.”
“Plus two hours on the plane…”
We’d tried to plan it so we could catch the flight as soon as the bus arrived, but no matter how much we thought about it, this was the best plan.
In short, we’d arrive in Japan tomorrow morning. Since we were departing in the afternoon today, we had to spend the whole day traveling.
Even though it was a bit disappointing, traveling itself was part of the fun of the trip, wasn’t it? We planned to enjoy that fun properly today.
While chatting as we waited for the bus, it arrived, and we immediately loaded our suitcases and sat in our reserved seats.
“I really don’t think I’ll be able to sleep on the bus either.”
“Same. Maybe because I’m so excited, my mind is clear.”
Our chatter didn’t even last ten minutes after the bus departed.
In other words, what we said before the bus left was nonsense.
After chatting for about ten minutes, we naturally put on our sleep masks and fell into a deep sleep. For nearly four hours, no less.
When I took off the sleep mask and opened my eyes, we had already arrived at the airport.
“Pfft!! Aren’t we so funny?”
“We said we probably wouldn’t sleep, but we went straight into deep sleep.”
“Still, getting a good rest like this is nice too.”
“Now what do we do for three hours?”
“Hmm… Shall we eat first?”
“Let’s do that.”
Since neither of us had eaten anything but a light breakfast, we went inside the airport to find a restaurant. Since we’d be eating Japanese food for the next three nights and four days, we narrowed it down to Korean food.
“Yeoni, what do you want to eat?”
“I want… the buckwheat noodles and dumplings set!!”
“Then I’ll have the ham bomb soft tofu stew. That looks delicious.”
After receiving our ordered food, we brought it over and started our meal. We wanted to talk while eating, but we’d been hungry for too long, so the conversation didn’t flow.
“Ah, now I feel alive.”
“I’m full. As expected, people need to eat to live.”
“Pfft!! I didn’t expect those words to come out of Jung-woo’s mouth.”
“I’m human too. Even if I don’t have an appetite, when I do eat, I eat properly.”
“Still, I’m glad to see you eating well before the trip.”
Even after eating our fill, we still had plenty of time left, so we wandered around the airport. As a place where many people had to stay for long periods, there were surprisingly many places to spend time.
“Jung-woo, look at this.”
“It’s really pretty. But the price…”
“Even if we can buy it cheaper at the airport, we still can’t afford it.”
“Are you interested in luxury brands, Yeoni?”
“No, I’m not. There are plenty of cheaper clothes than luxury brands, so there’s no need to buy and wear them.”
“Same here. I’m doing fine with the clothes I already have.”
We couldn’t buy anything, but we browsed luxury stores and were shocked by the price tags.
“Why doesn’t Starbucks have any ades? I really hate Starbucks.”
“What was it again? They said they stopped selling them due to environmental pollution or something.”
“That’s all bullshit. If carbonation causes environmental pollution, then what else is there to drink in this world?”
We went into the Starbucks at the airport, looked at the menu, and vented our complaints.
“Jung-woo, is there anything you really want to eat when we get to Japan?”
“Pudding!! Japanese pudding looks so delicious.”
“Ah, right. We definitely have to eat that yellow, jiggly pudding with chocolate syrup on top.”
“What about you, Yeoni?”
“I want soup curry. It was the most delicious thing I ate during my last trip to Japan.”
“Soup curry? I’ve never tried that.”
“Let’s try it when we get there. It’s really good!!”
Sitting in chairs, we looked at our phones and even made a list of foods to eat.
We spent time doing various things, and before we knew it, it was time to board the plane.
Since it was the moment we’d been waiting for so long, the two of us, filled with excitement, completed the boarding procedures and quickly got on the plane.
“Now we’re really departing.”
“In two hours, we’ll be in Japan.”
“I’ve gone on trips with friends plenty of times, but this feels really nerve-wracking. Even though I’ve been to Japan a lot.”
“Maybe it’s because the person I’m going with is different?”
“Yeah, I think so. Let’s go have fun!!”
“Yeah, Yeoni!!”
Just before the plane departed, I remembered the wish coupon I’d won from our last bet. Since this was our first trip together, it would be nice to start it off special.
“Yeoni, remember that wish coupon I got last time?”
“Yeah, I do. Why?”
“Want to use it now?”
“Now?! What kind of weird request are you trying to make…”
“It’s not that weird. Just call me ‘self’ even if there are people around.”
“That’s your wish?”
“Yeah!!”
“Pfft!! Puhaha!! Ah, that’s so funny. Self, want me to tell you something?”
“Uh, yeah. What is it?”
“I was planning to call you ‘self’ anywhere once we arrived in Japan anyway.”
Huh? That means…
I used my wish coupon to ask for something she was already planning to do?
In other words, I got my nose cut off while my eyes were open.
“Since our self used the wish coupon, I’ll use it starting now. You can think of it as using it a little early.”
“Can I cancel…”
“Customer? According to the rules, once used, refunds are difficult. I’ll grant your wish properly, customer.”
“Ah, my wish coupon. My wish coupon flew away right in front of my eyes!!”
“You’re an idiot. You dummy. Why did you say it so soon without watching the situation a bit more?”
I regretted it too. If I hadn’t used it knowing this, I could’ve created more fun situations in Japan.
Why couldn’t I endure that one moment and make this mistake?
I regretted it while hitting the airplane armrest, but the spilled water couldn’t be put back.
“Self, try repeating after me? I am an idiot.”
“I’m not going to repeat it.”
“You won’t do this? Honestly, just now, anyone could see you were an idiot.”
I’d been played. As Chae-yeon endlessly laughed at my frustration, I had no choice but to silently endure that mockery.
[Dear passengers, our flight will be taking off shortly. Please remain seated with your seatbelts fastened.]
Following the flight attendant’s announcement, we fastened our seatbelts. After some time passed, the plane slowly moved along the runway.
In just two hours, we’d arrive in Japan.
Then, our first trip with Chae-yeon would finally begin.
Sitting in the moving plane with that thought, my heart started pounding like crazy.
“I want to arrive quickly and see the accommodation.”
“Because of the hot spring?”
“Yeah!! I’m really looking forward to the hot spring. You can’t resist a hot spring in this cold weather.”
That was true. There’s nothing better than soaking in a warm hot spring when the cold makes your body freeze.
Honestly, I was looking forward to the hot spring the most, just like Chae-yeon.
The sight of enjoying warm hot spring water while watching the snow fall in pure white.
Just thinking about it made the corners of my mouth curl up on their own.
“Besides the beer festival, there are a lot of other festivals too. It’d be nice if one happens exactly when we’re there.”
“Then there’ll be more things to see, which is good.”
“Self, look over there. The clouds are so pretty!!”
“They are. Even though Japan is a close country, there’s a lot to see in the sky.”
As we chatted about various things, the plane eventually arrived in Japan.
After landing, when the flight attendant gave the announcement, we quickly gathered our things and got off the plane.
It was definitely because it was winter in Sapporo. The word “cold” came out of my mouth naturally.
“Ugh… It’s cold. But my mood is good!!”
“Then shall we head out now?”
“Yeah!! Let’s properly enjoy our Japan trip!!”