Family Meal
I got into the car to head to my parents' house and entered the address into the navigation system.
"Dogok-dong, Gangnam-gu......."
- Guiding you to your destination.
Once I entered the address, the route guidance started. The route popped up on the navi.
"Oh oh. Nice, huh?"
Once again, I marveled at how amazing the navigation system was. Without it, someone as geographically clueless as me probably would never have even considered driving. It made sense that chauffeurs used to be treated like specialized professionals back in the day.
Anyway, I pulled the car out following the navi's instructions and was about to get going.
'Wonder what that bastard's up to...?'
For some reason, Ahn Seong-hyeon suddenly popped into my head. Why him, out of nowhere? Even I was surprised, but there were plenty of reasons.
Ahn Seong-hyeon was my closest childhood friend, and at the same time, a person directly and indirectly connected to my trauma. Wouldn't my mom and dad be happy if I told them I'd reconciled with Ahn Seong-hyeon?
No, they'd definitely be happy.
A hundred percent.
Because our parents were just as close as Seong-hyeon and I were, if not more so. Especially my dad and Seong-hyeon's dad—they were tight enough to call each other 'brother.' So much so that our moms used to get jealous of each other's husbands. Half-jokingly, of course.
Anyway, that intimate relationship fell apart because of me. When the kids who were the link between the two families drifted apart, things got awkward between the parents too. On top of that, not long after I started refusing to go to school, our family moved once more, and contact was completely severed.
I thought about it for a moment, then sent my mom a text first.
- Can I bring a friend?
= A friend? Of course! You can bring ten!
A reply came back instantly. She seemed a bit excited.
'I don't have ten, though. Actually, wait, maybe I do?'
If you count the hyungs and noonas as friends, it might even be over ten. The club members too. I'd never really counted, but I guess I'd made a lot of friends.
Anyway, having gotten my mom's permission, I called Ahn Seong-hyeon. The call connected before the second ring.
- Hello? Cheol-jin, what's up?
I could sense the bewilderment in Ahn Seong-hyeon's voice as he answered. He probably never expected me to call him first. Even though we'd reconciled, we hadn't contacted each other privately or hung out just the two of us.
"What are you doing? Are you busy?"
- Nah, I was just out walking Cookie.......
My eyes went wide.
"Cookie? You mean that golden retriever Cookie?"
- Uh, yeah, that's right. You remember.
"Of course I remember!"
My voice got a bit louder with excitement.
Cookie was the golden retriever Ahn Seong-hyeon had raised since 4th grade, when he was 11.
I asked, half delighted and half worried.
"Is Cookie still healthy? She must be really old by now."
- Yeah. She's 10 now, so she's a senior dog, but she's super healthy. We go on lots of walks, and at her last checkup they said she doesn't look her age at all.
"That's a relief. I'd love to see Cookie again, it's been so long."
- If you're cool with it, come see her sometime. Cookie'll be happy to see you too.
"Aw, how would she remember me? It's been years."
- Nah. Our Cookie's crazy smart, so she'll remember. You and I used to walk her together every single day.
He was right. I'd been so completely obsessed with Cookie back then that I went over to see her so often, it was hard to tell whether me or Seong-hyeon was her actual owner. Once, Seong-hyeon got so jealous that he bugged his mom for a puppy and got yelled at for it.
Thinking about those times made me want to see Cookie even more.
"Speaking of which, can I come see her right now?"
- Huh? Right now?
I felt him get startled by the sudden suggestion, but I didn't care. Show me Cookie!
"Are you busy?"
- No, it's not that. You'd come all the way here?
"Yeah. Actually, I was calling to ask if you wanted to grab a meal, if you had time. I'll come pick you up. And I'll see Cookie while I'm at it."
- That's fine, but... what do you mean come pick me up? You have a car?
Come to think of it, my friends didn't know I had my own car. Naturally, since I'd never driven it to school.
"Just send me your address on KaTalk."
Anyway, I made plans with Seong-hyeon and started the car.
"Oh for fuck's sake, it's been way too long since I drove."
My driving experience was extremely lacking.
Once when I moved into my studio apartment, and one round trip to borrow my dad's camcorder for the group project with Soyeon noona—this was the first time I'd driven since.
*
Fortunately, the distance from school to Seong-hyeon's place was relatively close. It took about an hour by public transit, and about 30 minutes by car.
I called when I got near, and Ahn Seong-hyeon came out to meet me.
"Cheol-jin, over here!"
I pulled over to the side, and Ahn Seong-hyeon got into the passenger seat. He looked around the interior of the car, seeming genuinely surprised, and said:
"Whoa, you really have a car?"
"Of course it's real."
Did he think I'd made it up?
When I said that with a chuckle, Ahn Seong-hyeon shrugged his shoulders.
"Still, it's surprising. Since you live on your own, I figured you wouldn't have a car."
"Mm. Yeah, you're right. I don't really have much use for it."
My parents bought it for me as a college acceptance gift, but since I live on my own, there's rarely a reason to drive. Honestly, it's a waste of money. I only took it happily because my parents bought it and even pay the insurance.
'Maybe they bought it so I'd come home more often?'
Thinking that, I was a total unfilial bastard. I'd only stopped by the house once, to borrow my dad's camcorder, and that was it. I'd have to stop by more often from now on.
Anyway, following Ahn Seong-hyeon's directions, I parked and went into his house. Might as well see Cookie while I was here. And say hi to his mom and dad.
'What should I say to them?'
Thinking about seeing them after so long made me a little nervous. Back when we were kids, I saw them so often.
"Come in."
I followed Ahn Seong-hyeon inside.
But his mom and dad were nowhere to be seen.
"Seong-hyeon, where are your parents?"
"Huh? Oh, I didn't tell you. They went on a trip."
"A trip? Just the two of them, without you?"
"Yeah. I passed because it seemed like a hassle. Anyway, Mom and Dad probably prefer it when it's just the two of them, right?"
"I see......."
Suddenly, all the strength drained out of my body.
And here I was worrying about how to greet them.
Just then, I heard a Woof! and a big dog came bounding over.
"Cookie, shh! Sit."
"Woof. Heh-hehh......."
Following Ahn Seong-hyeon's hand signal, Cookie sat down.
I looked at Cookie with a somehow deeply moved heart.
Golden, wavy fur.
Eyes that were gentle to a fault, a mismatch with her big frame.
The golden retriever from my memories was right there, unchanged.
"Cookie, you remember hyung here? You played with him every day when you were little."
"Ah, hi, Cookie. Long time no see."
I lowered my posture and looked at Cookie. Her gentle, black eyes looked back at me. I slowly extended my hand in front of Cookie.
Sniff sniff, sniff sniff.
Cookie smelled my hand.
They say dogs remember people by scent, so I was a bit worried. So much time had passed; would she be able to recall me?
Cookie sniffed for a few seconds like that.
"Woof! Woof woof! Woooof!"
Making my worries pointless, Cookie immediately showed how happy she was. She darted back and forth, wagging her tail like a propeller, and then jumped on me.
I fell backward and hugged Cookie.
"Haha, you little... you remember hyung!"
"Woooof! Heh-hehh!"
Cookie licked my cheek. Her wet tongue against my skin wasn't unpleasant at all. I was just grateful that she remembered me and welcomed me after all this time.
I was hugging and petting Cookie when I jolted to my senses and turned my head. Seong-hyeon was looking this way with the smuggest face in the world.
"Wh-what are you looking at, man."
"Oh, nothing. Just nice to see."
"Ahem. Shut up and get ready. I have to drive some more."
"I'm all ready. We can go right now."
"......."
This bastard, getting ready all quick for no good reason. I wanted to play with Cookie a bit more.
With a regretful face, I looked at Cookie and petted her head. Little one, your fur's the exact same color as Areum's hair. Cute little thing.
"Cookie, hyung will come play again."
"Woof!"
"Eheo, I said I'm coming again, okay?"
As if knowing I was about to leave, Cookie put her paws on my shoulders and clung to me. It seemed she was already sad to part after seeing me for the first time in ages. Oh, sweetheart... I feel the same way.
"Dude, hyung will bring you expensive treats next time. The highest quality. Okay?"
"Heh heh. Our Cookie's got it good."
"......."
Ah man, this guy next to me is seriously getting on my nerves.
I cleared my throat and stood up. From here, it'd take quite a while to get to my family's house. We needed to head out soon.
"Let's go."
We got in the car and pulled out of the apartment complex.
Once we were out on the road, Ahn Seong-hyeon finally asked.
"Where are we going? I was so out of it I forgot to ask."
"To eat something good."
"What're we eating that's so good you gotta drive?"
The corner of my lips curled up. I'd deliberately avoided telling Ahn Seong-hyeon where we were headed. Let him squirm a little.
I pulled up the navi and pressed the [Home] button I'd saved earlier.
- Starting guidance.
Then, Ahn Seong-hyeon's eyes, looking at the navi, grew as wide as lanterns.
"W-wait a minute! Home? We're going to see your mom and dad?"
"Yeah."
"No way, I just threw on whatever! And I'm empty-handed!"
"It's fine, it's fine."
"What do you mean it's fine! Hey! Why didn't you tell me!"
A giggle escaped me.
How many years had it been since this guy called me 'Hey'? I think this was the first time since we met again.
I ignored Ahn Seong-hyeon's demands to be let out and drove on.