Chapter 15: Outing
Exiting the theater, Kim Hyun-soo's face came into sharp focus under the bright fluorescent lights of the lobby. Jung Na-yeon wore sunglasses, hiding her gaze, but through the lenses she scanned his entire body once more—the shoulder line of the black karate jacket, the waistline hugged by the slacks, even the new sneakers. It felt like she was appreciating her own creation, and that creation kept poking at her heart.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Am I handsome?"
"What?"
Hyun-soo's lively demeanor made Jung Na-yeon snap her head up.
"Aren't you hungry?"
"A bit hungry, yeah. It's past dinner time."
Hyun-soo rubbed his stomach and smacked his lips. He had eaten lunch, but watching the movie and snacking made his stomach feel a bit empty.
The late afternoon sun began to slant, and streetlights along the surrounding streets flickered on one by one. Jung Na-yeon's gaze swept across the restaurants on both sides of the street.
"Shall we eat dinner outside?"
"Outside?"
"Yeah, since we're already out."
Originally she had planned to eat dinner at home, but Hyun-soo's words made her hesitate.
On the way to the parking lot, Jung Na-yeon walked beside Hyun-soo.
The hand that had been unable to hold onto him inside the theater this time naturally aligned their strides so that her elbow touched his arm.
The evening breeze blew her hair.
Jung Na-yeon lifted the corners of her mouth beneath the sunglasses and took out her car keys.
"Let's eat outside. I want galbi."
The word "galbi" made Hyun-soo's steps halt.
She pushed up her sunglasses and turned to look at him, joy blooming in her eyes.
"Galbi? You really like meat."
It was a tongue-in-cheek remark, but the corners of his mouth were smiling. Jung Na-yeon pulled out her smartphone and moved her fingers across the search bar.
She searched for galbi restaurants nearby.
The screen changed, and galbi restaurants recommended as top spots began to appear.
Among them, Jung Na-yeon spotted one.
"This one is a 10-minute drive. The reviews are good."
"Let's go there."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Alright."
When Hyun-soo got into the passenger seat, Jung Na-yeon moved to the driver's seat and got into the car.
Then, setting the navigation while humming a tune.
The tension that had clung to Hyun-soo inside the theater seemed to have melted, and her expression was softer.
"Shopping for clothes, getting my hair done, watching the movie, and now dinner. It's a complete date course."
"Yeah."
Hyun-soo grinned.
Even he thought this was a date course for a couple.
Jung Na-yeon felt the words come from her own mouth and cleared her throat once, then raised the volume again.
Upon arriving at the galbi restaurant, the scent of charcoal permeated the parking lot. Jung Na-yeon got out of the car and put her sunglasses into her bag. As she entered the store, two employees guided them to an inner table. Jung Na-yeon naturally sat in the seat next to Hyun-soo, not opposite. She unfolded the menu and leaned it towards him so they could look at it together.
Their shoulders touched again.
"Two servings of seasoned galbi and a bowl of doenjang jjigae. Should I order cold noodles too?"
She looked up at Hyun-soo's face and asked.
"Let's order cold noodles too."
The employee set up the charcoal and the meat came out, so Jung Na-yeon picked up the tongs first. She placed one seasoned galbi after another on the grill, smiling at the sound of the oil sizzling.
"I'll grill it. You just eat."
The hand that flipped the meat was skilled. She placed the appropriately cooked galbi on a plate and slid it in front of Hyun-soo, then laid out lettuce as well. It was a natural touch, like that of an old lover.
Jung Na-yeon felt it too, and the hand holding the tongs paused in the air for a moment before returning to the grill.
"If Na-yeon-ssi grills it, it'll taste even better."
A playful remark. Holding the tongs, she looked up at Hyun-soo's face. Unable to hold back, laughter burst out.
"Flattery will get you everywhere."
While giving a reprimand, the hand flipping the galbi on the grill became even more meticulous. Jung Na-yeon called the employee and ordered an extra bowl of cold noodles.
"Let's share the cold noodles. One is enough."
"Originally I was eating alone, but since you know my intention, I'll do it that way."
"Intention? What intention do I have?"
She gave a reprimand, but the area around her eyes reddened.
"Give me a lettuce wrap."
"Wow, this man is really..."
She clicked her tongue, but she was already spreading the lettuce on her palm.
She placed a piece of well-cooked seasoned galbi on it, dipped it in the sauce with her finger, then topped it with garlic slices and a green chili. Jung Na-yeon rolled the lettuce and brought it to Hyun-soo's mouth.
"A."
The hand extended with the words "Open your mouth" was natural.
Like she had done it many times.
Sauce stained the tips of Jung Na-yeon's fingers, and the hand waiting near Hyun-soo's mouth trembled slightly.
A middle-aged couple at the next table glanced over.
Noticing the gaze, her cheeks flushed, but she didn't withdraw her hand.
When Hyun-soo ate the wrap, Jung Na-yeon wiped the sauce from her fingers.
Then she bit her lower lip, trying to hide the smile trying to escape the corners of her mouth.
"Tasty?"
She asked while already spreading the second lettuce.
"If Na-yeon-ssi wraps it, it's even tastier?"
"Na-yeon-ssi."
That title pierced clearly through the charcoal smoke and into her ear. Jung Na-yeon stopped wiping her fingers with a tissue. In the mall, she had been called "noona," but now Hyun-soo was calling her by name.
In the early days of dating, even her husband had called her that. After marriage, there was no longer any calling by name.
"What? Even if it tastes good, the feeling is good."
This time she added two more galbi. For someone who ate well—or rather, someone who said it tasted good—Jung Na-yeon was generous with the wraps.
Her heart was beating like charcoal on the grill.
She shared the second wrap, and Hyun-soo ate it with relish.
"Eating while calling the giver's name makes it even tastier?"
She teased in response, but the end of her voice trembled slightly.
The cold noodles arrived, so Jung Na-yeon cut the noodles with scissors, added mustard and vinegar, and stirred.
She picked up a bite, tasted it, nodded, and pushed the bowl towards Hyun-soo.
"Refreshing. Try it."
The cold air of the broth contrasted with the heat from the charcoal fire, and Jung Na-yeon watched Hyun-soo eat the noodles.
On her own plate, she had not placed any meat, only continuing to fill Hyun-soo's plate.
After the meal ended, they headed to the counter to pay.
Jung Na-yeon pushed open the store door.
The evening breeze blew her hair scented with charcoal, and under the streetlight, the red tips of her ears were not hidden.
While walking to the parking lot, Jung Na-yeon's steps were slower than usual.
"Tonight really tasted good."
"Because of me, you had a proper feast?"
"Yeah, I met a good woman."
"What nonsense."
She lightly tapped his shoulder, but the corners of her mouth were smiling.
Bought clothes, got hair done, watched movie, galbi too. She had said it was a date course, so she couldn't pretend otherwise now. She took out the car key and pressed the button, and the Grandis's hazard lights flashed twice.
Sitting in the driver's seat, Jung Na-yeon did not start the engine.
With both hands on the steering wheel, she stared blankly at the front windshield, then turned her head to look at Hyun-soo in the passenger seat.
The streetlight shone obliquely into the car, softly outlining the face line.
The karate jacket she had chosen fit perfectly on his shoulders.
Jung Na-yeon pretended to buckle her seatbelt and leaned her body towards him.
"Today..."
She stopped midway and closed her mouth.
After hesitating for a long time, she continued in a low voice.
"Calling me Na-yeon-ssi feels good... better than noona."
The moment she uttered those words, Jung Na-yeon hurriedly started the engine, and the engine sound covered the silence inside the car.
In the rearview mirror, Jung Na-yeon kept her mouth closed, but her cheeks were flushed red.
"Yeah?"
Hyun-soo answered with a smile.
"Our way is a bit lacking, but to digest it, shall we buy two Americano and walk while drinking?"
"Walk?"
"Yeah, at the Han River Park."
The words "walking at Han River Park" made Jung Na-yeon's heart flutter. The hand that had been about to put the gear into drive after starting the engine stopped.
Her face reflected in the rearview mirror was smiling.
Jung Na-yeon cleared her throat once and touched the navigation.
"Han River Park... Is the Yeouinaru side closer?"
She checked the search results and set the route, her hand movements faster than usual.
On the way to the Han River, Jung Na-yeon discovered a drive-thru coffee shop and turned on the blinker to turn the car.
Lowering the windows, the employee asked, and Jung Na-yeon ordered two iced Americano.
A moment later.
She moved forward, received the coffee, and handed one to Hyun-soo.
Then her hand brushed his, and realizing the touch, she folded her fingers and brought the straw to her mouth. The cool coffee flowed down her throat, and the heat that had been rising seemed to cool down.
"Tasty coffee."
"Mm..."
After a short exchange, the vehicle entered the Yeouinaru parking lot.
After parking the car, Jung Na-yeon opened the mirror and smoothed her hair once.
The wind blowing over the Han River was cool.
Holding an Americano each, she and Hyun-soo stepped onto the riverside walking path.
Under the streetlights lined at regular intervals, the shadows of the two people overlapped and separated repeatedly.
Sipping Americano one sip at a time while walking, Jung Na-yeon's gaze lingered on the Banpo Bridge lights scattered over the Han River surface.
"The wind feels good."
A short word, but the voice was languid.
It meant comfortable.
Each time she took a step, Jung Na-yeon's elbow bumped Hyun-soo's arm, and this time she didn't pull away. Instead, she held the coffee in her left hand and let it hang naturally.
The tips of her fingers were swaying next to the back of Hyun-soo's hand.
It was a silent signal that it was okay to hold it.