Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: Pork Noodle Soup
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"You're having pork noodle soup too, right?"
"Yeah, but water first."
The moment I set my big bag down beside me, I gulped down the water the server had brought.
"Ah! Now I feel alive."
With water finally in me, I really did feel alive.
I'd already drained every drop of water I'd brought while walking to the restaurant, so my throat had felt like it was on fire.
After moistening my throat a bit, I grinned at Hyorin, who was looking at me.
"You should have some water too."
"Okay."
Only then did Hyorin take a sip from her glass.
'Come to think of it, she didn't drink any water the whole way through the forest path.'
Was she not thirsty? Racking my brain, I remembered her offering me her water midway.
"But weren't you thirsty? I feel bad for taking all your water too."
Gulp.
"Me?"
Hyorin took a refreshing sip and smiled as she answered.
"Yeah, not really."
"Really? I thought I was gonna die of thirst, but you were fine."
"My throat was dry too. But it was bearable."
Bearable, even so?
After a march like that, most people would be wiped out and barely able to walk.
But Hyorin had sweated a bit, sure—maybe she worked out regularly?—and held up pretty well.
"You're amazing."
"Amazing? What's so amazing about me?"
Hyorin beamed at my words, then asked me,
"You're having pork noodle soup, right?"
"Someone once said noodles are the best after hiking. I figured we'd go for that, naturally."
"You know your stuff. Excuse me! Two bowls of pork noodle soup and one buckwheat pancake, please!"
The server nodded at her call and took the order.
"Two pork noodle soups and one buckwheat pancake!"
With the order in, we chatted about our next plans, and soon a steaming spread of mouthwatering pork noodle soup was set before us.
Pork noodle soup with buckwheat pancakes.
Maybe because we'd hiked so hard through the forest, but just looking at it made my mouth water like crazy.
"Wow! Looks delicious."
"Right? Noodles are the king after a hike."
"S-So, shall we eat?"
Hyorin chuckled playfully, like I'd said something funny.
"Let's dig in quick. Can't have you going hungry, Kanghyeok."
"You got it! Let's eat!"
And with that, I finally got to taste the pork noodle soup.
Slurp!
Noodles mean broth first, of course.
'Whoa, this is good.'
The deeply simmered pork broth was rich beyond belief.
It hit me once with that intense flavor, like it wasn't noodles but bone broth soup.
Slurp!
"...!!"
Then the chewy yet tender noodles struck again, just like knife-cut noodles.
Too stunned to speak, I savored the bliss—when Hyorin noticed and asked,
"How is it? Good, right?"
Her question sparked one doubt in my mind.
"Yeah. Wait, isn't this your first time in Jeju? How'd you know the pork noodles are this good?"
She'd said it was her first time here, but she talked like someone who'd had them before.
But Hyorin answered casually,
"I had it in Seoul. Jeju pork noodles are so famous, tons of places there copy them."
"Oh, gotcha."
Fair enough.
Scoop.
Answering, I picked up a slice of the star attraction: the braised pork.
I slurped it up with some noodles in one go.
Slurp!
'Whoa, this is the real deal.'
Chewy, soft noodles paired with a thick slab of pork, all swimming in that rich broth—it blended perfectly in my mouth for pure heaven.
That's when I got why Jeju pork noodles were legendary.
Then.
Scoop.
A few slices of pork landed on my bowl.
"Eat these too."
"You sure? Aren't you eating any?"
"Yeah, I don't eat much anyway. This meat's for you, Kanghyeok."
She transferred four out of the five slices from her bowl to mine.
"Whoa, that's a lot."
"Yeah, hate to leave any behind."
"But still, you should have some..."
Hyorin was human too—she had to be hungry.
We'd left at the same time, snacked the same, hiked the same forest path.
Sure, our builds differed, but this wouldn't fill her up.
Just then, Hyorin tore off a piece of buckwheat pancake, popped it in her mouth, and smiled.
"The pancake's good."
No, not the pancake—eat the meat!
Shaking my head at her, I tried giving the pork back.
"Nah, this feels wrong. You're hungry too. You eat it."
But Hyorin must've steeled herself from the start... She put on a sad face and asked,
"Are you... rejecting my gesture?"
Wh-What? That face!
"...Huh?"
"Do I seem like someone who can't even do this much for you?"
Her eyebrows curved down like an eight (八). Her eyes sparkled big and wide, lips pouted out to Seoul Station.
Why make that face!?
Caught off guard by Hyorin's sudden act, I stammered,
"Uh, w-well, I mean."
"So you'll eat it, right?"
"Huh?"
"The meat. Think of it as my gesture and eat up."
She propped her chin on her hands and gazed at me intently.
Scoop.
Normally, I'd tease her to knock it off, but for some reason, I couldn't now.
Couldn't say why.
Just... something.
'I-I can't even speak.'
A weird feeling washed over me. She wasn't her usual neat self—hiking had left her sweaty and dusty all over.
Gulp.
Why did Hyorin seem so...
"Ah, okay. I'll eat it."
Beam!
'Ah...'
Why did that same smile from before feel so different now?
A subtle emotion stirred that I hadn't noticed earlier.
Slurp!
In the end, I buried my face in the noodles and ate in silence.
Thump thump!
If I looked up, she'd hear my pounding heart for sure.
"So, that's what happened that day."
With my story done, Daeun just stared at me with sparkling eyes, silent.
I gave an awkward smile at her expression and asked,
"Why... what?"
But Daeun kept staring straight at my face, saying nothing.
"Food's here."
Mid-conversation, our order arrived—the same tempting pork noodle soup from back then, set before us.
Clink.
"Shall we eat?"
Daeun stayed quiet, but hunger won; she nodded and grabbed her fork.
I'd ordered side plates ahead, so I ladled rich broth and noodles onto one for her ease, then sliced four of the five garnish pork pieces to bite-sized bits.
All set, I placed the plate in front of her and said,
"Eat up."
Then Daeun grabbed my hand as I moved the plate.
"Daddy, meat for Daddy."
"Yeah?"
Suddenly telling me to eat the meat.
I chuckled at her out-of-nowhere comment.
"What, 'cause Mommy said so, you wanna do it too?"
Kids instinctively mimic adults, after all.
Figured little Daeun just wanted to copy.
But.
Shake shake.
She shook her head.
"Daddy bigger than Daeun, hungrier. Daeun eat lil bit."
Just a little?
"No way. If Daeun doesn't eat lots, she won't grow tall. Stuff yourself now."
"But Daddy hungry."
Talking like this felt off. Like our roles had flipped.
Was this how Hyorin felt looking at me back then?
I smiled proudly at my sweet girl.
"But Daeun, you know what?"
"What?"
"That seeing you eat heartily makes Daddy happiest."
She was so lovable, I gazed at her and added,
"So eat this, okay? Daddy's got..."
Scoop.
I tore off some buckwheat pancake and popped it in.
"The pancake's yummy!"
Huh?
That instant, it hit me—I'd just echoed someone else exactly.
'No way, that's why Hyorin...'
Right then, Daeun shook her head just like I had back then.
"Daddy! Daddy eat this! Daeun... "
Scoop.
I stroked her head as she spoke, smiling as I asked,
"You wanted to show Daddy, huh?"
Scoop.
Daeun acting like this.
She was clearly mimicking what I'd done to Hyorin.
Why would she copy that?
Pondering, one answer emerged.
"That Mommy loves Daddy."
Scoop.
Daeun looked at me.
I smiled back at her.
Guess she wanted to let me know.
How much Hyorin loved me, and how she'd shown it.
But.
Shake shake.
"Yeah, no."
Daeun shook her head and asked me. Her next words left me...
"Daeun want noodles not meat! Daeun like noodles more!"
'...Huh?'
I could only stare blankly at Daeun, who preferred noodles.
Bzzz.
"Thank you! Come again!"
We finished the delicious noodles and left the restaurant.
Outside, Daeun patted her bulging belly proudly.
"Daeun tummy full!"
"You ate well."
"Yeah! Noodles super yummy!"
"Right? Daddy thought so too back then. Super tasty noodles."
"Yeah! Yummy!"
I'd remembered and tried a famous Jeju pork noodle spot in Seoul once.
"But nothing beats this place."
No matter how many shops I tried, none matched this flavor.
Wondered if hiking fatigue had amped it up, but no.
Conclusion: this place's noodles were special.
"Let's come again! Daeun wanna come more!"
"Yeah, next chance, come with Daddy."
"Yeah! Love it!"
Chattering happily, she scampered to the parking lot in front of the shop.
She hopped around nonstop, radiating joy everywhere—when.
'Hm?'
Suddenly, Hyorin's words after the meal resurfaced.
She'd said:
-I love seeing you happy after eating.
Seeing me full and content made her happiest.
Recalling her beaming brighter than anyone, my face heated up.
Scoop.
'Ugh, sentimental fool.'
My love, out of reach now, even if missed.
If I could face her then, I'd tell her.
That strange feeling was love. So express it sooner...
'I love you, Hyorin.'
Tell her that.
Scoop.
Recalling Hyorin smiling radiantly in my memories, I called to Daeun.
"Daeun! Let's go see Uncle now!"
"Yeah!"