Christmas (3): Tteokbokki Heaven
After leaving the Botanical Garden with Na-eun, the next place we headed to was straight out of a high school girl's dream.
"Oppa, let's eat here!"
"Here?"
"Yeah! Unless... you hate it?"
"Nah, I'm not picky about food."
"Ehehe, good!"
I could guess why Na-eun was beaming with relief.
This dish was women's soul food—something girls loved way more than guys.
Truth be told, I'd eaten it plenty back when I dated my ex, but I hadn't had any lately.
The dish in question? Tteokbokki.
"Oppa, let's go in!"
"Sure."
The tteokbokki place Na-eun led me into was packed.
Not so full we couldn't eat, but definitely buzzing.
"This place isn't usually this crowded..."
"Eh, a lively spot's perfect for chow time. Plus, it's Christmas—everywhere's gonna be noisy today, right?"
Na-eun seemed to prefer quiet vibes; she'd grumbled a bit at the garden too. I tried cheering her up my way, and she nodded with a small smile.
"Yeah, you're right."
We headed inside and got seated by a window—a cozy two-top with a nice view outside.
"Na-eun, I've never had tteokbokki here before, so mind ordering for us?"
Her eyes lit up at my question. She puffed out her chest, thumping it proudly with her fist.
"Leave it to me!"
Na-eun ordered like a pro. This must be her go-to spot.
The kiosk pinged our order through, and soon a server brought over a pot.
It was overflowing with tteokbokki—wheat cakes, rice cakes, fish cakes, glass noodles, dumplings, the works. Na-eun was already smacking her lips.
"Na-eun, let's dig in."
"Oppa, no eating right away! You gotta let it boil first!"
"Makes it tastier?"
"That's the whole reason we come here!"
I nodded, filing away the tip, and Na-eun grinned brighter, handing me an apron.
"Here, oppa. Can't get sauce on your clothes."
"Fair point."
I slipped it on. A bit awkward, but better than stains.
Na-eun put hers on too... and, well, it was something else.
Her killer figure made certain parts stand out way too much.
A little embarrassed, I turned toward the window, pretending to check the view, then focused on the tteokbokki.
By then, Na-eun had fired up the burner under the pot, and it was bubbling away.
Right on cue, she sprinkled on extra cheese she'd ordered.
"Cheese~ on top~"
She hummed a made-up tune while shredding it in, her voice so sweet and cute I couldn't help laughing.
Should've brought her here sooner if I knew she loved tteokbokki this much.
Curious, I asked, "Na-eun, between mala tang and tteokbokki, which do you like more?"
"Hmm~ Can't pick... but if I have to, tteokbokki."
"Tteokbokki?"
"Yeah! I've eaten it more since I was little, and there's more varieties. You can customize the toppings either way!"
She had a point.
"What kind of tteokbokki's your favorite?"
"This spicy gochujang kind. I love rose too, and carbonara! You?"
"Gochujang and black bean."
Those were my top picks—classic gochujang and jjajang tteokbokki.
I didn't tell her, but rose and carbonara? Not real tteokbokki. Pasta in disguise.
"Black bean? So uncle-like."
She nailed that shot right to my heart.
"How's black bean tteokbokki not delicious?"
"Still uncle vibes~"
Her teasing tone was playful, so no real damage, but I felt a pout coming on. Time for a comeback.
"...Fair. Guys turn into uncles the second they finish army service."
Dead serious. Some might deny it, but every vet's heard "uncle" from another unit at least once.
Army makes you an uncle. Only exemptions escape it—even social service guys get called that.
Na-eun shook her head furiously.
"No way...! You're not an uncle, oppa...!"
"Am too."
"Nooo...! Where's an uncle as hot as you? No beard even!"
"You just said uncle vibes."
"Vibes and actual uncle are different, duh?"
She argued so earnestly, word for word.
This from the girl who'd teased me seconds ago.
Didn't quite get it, but whatever—trying to decode girls just loses you the game. Accept it as is.
(Unless you gotta read between the lines, then do it.)
"Anyway, Na-eun, tteokbokki's about ready. Wanna eat?"
"Oh...! Yeah!"
Her eyes sparkled at the pot. I scooped some for her, loaded with cheese.
"Ooo~ Mr. Thoughtful~"
"Suddenly?"
"Scooping extra cheese? Total sensei~"
Guilty as charged—I knew she'd love it.
Her face lighting up at the cheese was pure kid-on-Christmas-morning.
Skimping on that? Devil move.
I ladled carefully, avoiding cheese for myself.
Na-eun noticed and asked innocently, "Oppa, don't you like cheesy tteokbokki?"
"Not that I hate it."
"Then take some. It's so good."
"...Should I?"
"Yes! Here!"
She scooped extra cheese and tteokbokki into my bowl with a second ladle.
Loved cheese but yielded it? Now she was piling it on me.
Quick on the uptake or slow? Either way...
Na-eun was incredibly kind.
No one else would look out like that.
* * *
Seonwoo oppa started eating the tteokbokki.
He looked like he genuinely loved it—not just humoring me—and it put my mind at ease.
Selfish, maybe, but today's Christmas date was all my picks. Places I wanted to go.
Hoping oppa would enjoy them too, of course.
Why? So he'd learn more about me, the real me.
And if he loved our date? Bonus.
Luckily, he seemed happy. Even considerate.
I noticed him ladling from cheese-free spots to give me more.
But I want us to enjoy together—not me hogging the fun while he holds back.
Sharing laughs, savoring food side by side... that's it.
So I turned down his kindness. Scooped extra for him so he couldn't refuse.
Right call—he's devouring it now.
Even his eating looks cool. Guess I'm that gone for him.
That thought warmed me as I dug in.
The spicy, chewy tteokbokki exploded with flavor, and happiness piled on as I ate more.
Then...
"Na-eun."
"Yeah?"
"Your mouth."
"Mouth?"
Oppa grabbed a tissue and brought it to my lips.
-Swipe, swipe-
!?
His big, rough hand wiped gently at the corner of my mouth.
A mix of fluster and overwhelming bliss hit me. I just closed my eyes and savored it.
Moments like this won't come often.
Not unless I become his girlfriend.