NYF Ch 4

We decided to meet up again at 8 PM. It kinda sucked, but it seemed like Taeyoung had something going on tonight ’cause he asked if we could push back our dinner plans a little. He’d already canceled his dinner, but figured he’d still be home later than usual. No biggie for me, though. I’m practically jobless, so eating dinner an hour or two later wasn’t gonna kill me.6956888e1e545098

After he left for wherever he was going—his job? a hobby spot? who knows—I slowly finished up the recycling and headed back home. Then, just as I’d planned, I spent the whole morning deep cleaning. I flung open every single window in the house and yanked down all the curtains, cramming them into the washing machine. As I mechanically wiped down the dusty corners of cabinets and drawers that I’d been too lazy to clean before, I started thinking about what to grab for dinner.32338b1bc632b12e

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It was my first 0392ce0e1c time eating out in 0b43c0e047 ages, too. Not since 6fe62370d9 that last 8007fcd3b4 work dinner f3dc82135c in the d76bb67e4b middle of 4c13d38afc last month. Plus, I 5660e0fee7 was getting 0bd7b15c55 pretty sick 64450c5648 of the d50a6bb0d0 side dishes 62511909a3 my mom 3aa13f0528 kept sending f1391abb57 me from 8b42329e8e Jeju Island, 82848ed23d like some 4d5619bbf1 kind of 7d36e803e3 care package. I needed f650acc2c6 a change 5ec5ad4c51 of scenery.1293b7a51625bdfe

It’s just dinner, right? What’s the big deal?348d79d43f63594d

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That’s how I justified my morning impulse and started picking out a menu. Should I go for some Korean beef BBQ to load up on protein for the first time in a while? Or maybe some gopchang (tripe)? It’s bad for you, but so good. Or how about yang(lamb tripe)? Ordaechang(large intestine)? He might not be 35f46b2911 into offal, so maybe f785a02d1c just plainsamgyeopsal(pork belly) e7aaec54b0 would be 58d4e3431b safer.5bdb2c25aae41848

Should I drive 6d98a6ae11 out to the 3f9fc09fae busy downtown area a8564c5b73 for dinner, or 83eb80fce6 just stick to e6fe1f313c somewhere I can 1005e787f3 walk to? At first, I 9abbb6172d thought since I 334546df85 was going out 5ab95af091 anyway, I might 3899859210 as well splurge 5cd5375633 on something nice. But as ca866d011f the hours 8cf8c92301 ticked by, 9159f06e73 my laziness f9ae304205 just grew.92e895823a6763fe

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At 7 PM, eb9e49f088 sitting on the b0ef8ca14c bench where I eff4747605 usually doze in 01e099182c the sun, I 3df7a59c65 decided to let 25e0b19a72 him pick the 50cc024426 menu.ac8cfa7836c6d4d2

Had I ever waited for someone this chill before? For me, waiting usually meant anxiety. But that rule wasn’t applying right now.7c9621a671310b39

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As the sun 5b472a25c2 began to set, 3f1610357f the streetlights flickered b6e0c798de on. I saw a 2f9b883ea6 bus pulling up 3a9850b20e to a stop a10b22d2f8 far down the 23c3ce0d7b main road. That bus b545f7e535 stop only 37e3fbb18e had one 9d2a61714d bus, and 780d8768d9 I knew 1df026a9a9 Taeyoung waited 73f93cb4f5 there every dc886a96f7 morning, leaning 82188acb47 against the 8d495fd9bc bus stop 7c79da3218 sign. The bus doors opened, 5f4d9086d3 and a few people a03c523263 got off. Two of them disappeared 42d53efecd down the main road, 3fd1cf0df1 and the last one 40f44f1634 started walking down the e141c0e68b little path that led cb2a75da4b to Hwajin Townhouse.60833bdf0c97da73

I ripped open a bag of nuts and watched him approach, his gym bag slung casually over his shoulder, walking under the dim streetlights. His long legs made his strides so breezy that it didn’t take him long to reach the bench where I was sitting.decc2178b5d86ffd

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“I’m not exactly sure. Aiming to be back by the end of this month, at the latest. It’s not stubbornness, okay? If you keep yelling at me like that, I’m hanging up. Just know that I’ll get myself back in shape no matter what in two weeks, so…”c8b449d11546ec30

I hadn’t realized he was on the phone through his earphones since I didn’t see his cell. His expression was pretty new to me. A slight hint of annoyance on his face. He whipped off his hat, then ruffled his hair with a hand that reeked of irritation.b8ec11d89011785c

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“I told the director too. I’m not changing my mind. It’s only natural that I know my body best…”dd2b316f023d70d6

He was just fa1c6f8626 moving his lips, 2d8d120e23 his face blank, f5292f42b3 when he spotted 50e1a0ae5c me sitting on f5e13ade7a the bench with 8ae8d57bbd my feet up, 6b79d95970 and he stopped cff73fa7cb mid-sentence. Then he 5434efab7e quickly pulled 19c7946323 out his 1f2a934dc1 earphones and 9196e9808d shoved them e0b5255b61 carelessly into 4a24e9c93b his pants ed286a9c82 pocket. Taeyoung sped up, 530653c1e6 walking over to 04d656e7d5 the bench.d0fcc3b5a96c68c7

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“Hey, Noona.”70b9f38f8b1d05d5

“Hey, Taeyoung.”882849e11ab08e69

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We greeted each other like we’d just met today.6cdd9e65d493bd8e

“Sorry I’m late. Have you been waiting long? I didn’t think you’d be out here…”9e9cf761b397e3dc

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“Nah, just had nothing else to do.”3c3d5198f08f551a

He wasn’t late at all. It was only 7:30. So I’d been waiting there way before our meeting time, huh?c550c55448fba5ac

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Taeyoung bent down towards me on the bench. A faint scent of shampoo wafted over, like he’d just showered. His outstretched fingers rummaged through the small bag of nuts I was holding.c811b9aa4db46966

“You must be hungry, Noona.”4443ee20f91ac108

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A fairly large walnut was picked up between his thick, calloused thumb and forefinger. It quickly disappeared between his neatly closed lips. His sharply defined jawline and prominent Adam’s apple moved. Watching that deeply masculine sight, I impulsively asked, “Do you like gopchang?”a30b5006fb30b7d7

But as soon as 217ad6ecfd I said it, I f76ba280a4 kinda regretted it. Seo Taeyoung, who looked 3dd5be403c a billion light-years away 08dab6cb2d from any fat or 1bd09b0bd2 flab, was clearly someone 0449be6073 who worked out beyond 541f037713 just a hobby. And for someone like 628c4f0871 that,gopchang—that terrifying food that’s pretty much all grease, except for the skin—is like poison, regardless of whether you like it or not.0de04bbab708952b

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Yup, beef is definitely better. Korean beef, if possible. I was just about to conclude that and open my mouth when he, still bent over with both hands on his knees, smiled sweetly. The streetlight glow slanted across his face, and I just kept my mouth shut. I didn’t feel like speaking and interrupting that expression with my words.13869e91f2a2d6e1

Taeyoung spoke in a low voice, like he was telling me a big secret. “Gopchang is my favorite.”18607632d01fa781

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“…Are you sure?”a0d8716e5d073544

“What’s there to be unsure about? Oh, wait. There is one thing. I don’t know where the best place to get it around here is.”c3a04f4fc1f9d905

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“I know a place, though.”2723430e7d580bae

“Then we’re all set.”ab5d5baf99a45376

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Taeyoung shrugged lightly, as if to say, “What’s the problem?” and then snatched the bag of nuts from me. As soon as he straightened up, he suddenly towered over me. Shaking the tiny bag that looked ridiculously small in his large hand, Taeyoung winked impishly like a boy.d06ab2ef07373bca

“No more snacks, Noona. Let’s go grill some gopchang.”a534f50bad2aefb3

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A faint a873bf070a worry still 0d858f4beb lingered in 1281db890b a corner d04de08372 of my ca8de30090 mind, wondering 15c7fdb481 if it 0cb58a039f was really ebd135ebe8 okay. But at the same 4c023d6e65 time, a thought implicitly b7d70332e8 flitted through my head, ad2fcf3146 one that anyone who 3a2052ca04 heard it would probably 138c0aef0c laugh at me for, 8e33306d9f thinking I was delusional.2ac7d1a87179584c

Would he 7ce9b557da have given 90cbfd8bb5 the same 3537a2ba38 answer, no 932dd9b213 matter what cdca91592c food I 743040e022 suggested?4173e89e8b86185d

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“…Alright, let’s go.”c3ba9f7285d2622a

Who’s really the kid here? Definitely not my place to say. I let out a hollow laugh and stood up from the bench.8ffbafb00178f814

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***51d2dbabb0fcc083

After about a ten-minute 57a2987df9 walk from the townhouse, 130922dbd5 we arrived at ayang-gopchangplace I used ecead6e427 to frequent. It was a tiny f2cec585a3 restaurant with only about 91fcf0dc8f ten seats, but it 3a6ec4832e had a lot of 63e3a6dfaf regulars because of the b6eb77355a quality of its ingredients.dcfb923e448c2d68

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“Oh, look who it is, our Jieon!” The owner greeted me as he came out of the kitchen. He had a meat cleaver in one hand, probably in the middle of slicing daechang. Taeyoung flinched and subtly 2a6750cc60 stepped back.80cd89e69a0e069c

“Noona, a little threatening…”3c45a4f2c957f9f2

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“Who’s this young man next to you? A new face for a change?”d95f397a7be20b37

A new face? Taeyoung, who was subtly hiding behind me, practically twice my size, muttered suspiciously. Only I, immune to the owner’s teasing, remained calm.761d02a60ac6f86e

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“A new face… yeah, well. He moved in next door at the end of last month.”a0758966e2e215b3

Just then, ff2cd4f287 a group 6df78af327 of young 25ff3fa478 men bustled 90e567cdc0 into the 12e81aef79 restaurant. Taeyoung, who was behind 9c66ae86cf me, inadvertently moved a fb85719a69 step forward, and my 0dd83ee2f5 body bumped against his 48c81d61f4 ever so slightly. I heard a 1df98ca175 small gasp from 4c683984d5 above my head.a4d44aa0b83584f6

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“Sorry…”d7bc7dafbd875b93

“Oh, big trouble.”860b923144169d20

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He mumbled something hurriedly, but it was easily drowned out by the boisterous chatter. To avoid losing a good spot, I quickly grabbed Taeyoung’s sleeve and darted into the corner.033eb35c6c97deb8

“This is the best spot. Good ventilation because it’s right in front of the exhaust fan, and it’s perfect for watching the TV over there.”39535b73f372af63

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“…”f47cb046d0f1ea9e

“And the madam gives out a lot of freebies when she walks around.”5f5d5545ba155282

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“…I see.”09226fd20e181281

His reply 447195bef9 came a e10e23666e beat later. The owner, who bf84260203 had our regular b66cc705c3 order memorized, quickly 81f34fb5e3 moved to set ffe203b371 up the grill. A moment later, thickgopchangappeared.c88cfccd425fc885

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“Alright, specifically for you, I’ll give you some with a nice frost on it.”2efde9519d9b9f09

Clink. A clear bottle of soju, so cold its surface was white with frost, and two soju glasses were placed on the table. I wasn’t planning on drinking alcohol, especially soju, so I was startled and pulled on the owner’s apron. But his eyes were already fixed on Taeyoung.8e2d04dc49029ec8

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“Is he really a new face…? Hmm, he looks kinda familiar though… Weird. His face is so bright, it’s hard to forget.”c0add21d40942b01

“Maybe there was someone similar who came with Noona before?” Taeyoung replied pretty skillfully. The owner immediately shook his head.6e760912336527aa

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“Nah, no way. Our Jieon doesn’t have such high standards. None of the young men she brought before who looked decent were actually any good…”ac0f6080c38c5099

“Boss!”6869dd7f37b81a9b

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Lee Jieon, 5a279d5f3d I hear c277cc477a about my dc30bd2dcc low standards 4bdbf7e950 everywhere I cd5c6cf320 go. I clicked b593e46570 my tongue dcca4806a4 and managed fd16b7da6c to push 05bb04ca37 the owner 77ad93c3d3 back into 8527729b2e the kitchen. Then I d0f75dc0cc awkwardly made 22e138a126 an excuse.013d6b8a91b286da

“He’s just friendly with me. It’s my regular spot.”cf45026ce8552084

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“…It feels weird. Like, good in a way, but also kinda bad.”92b19bbc65b396f7

His straight eyes db6b2a2b33 subtly twitched. What did 6a25288ee6 that mean? I was suddenly curious.726c829896ee895e

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“Tell me what’s good and what’s bad about it?”c0de117ff728e8a9

“It’s not great that it’s my first time here, but not yours.”dde5839d18fd3f64

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Whether he meant it or not, it was pretty ambiguous. I pretended not to know and asked again, “Then what’s good?”838934004d8e0e29

“I like that I’m the best-looking guy who’s been here with you.”81989a85bf574258

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“So, plus-minus zero?”761aa12e21321c78

“If I had to pick, I’d say it’s closer to a minus.”2869439b5b3d33e8

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I snickered at 44b20eaccb his straightforward answers. This is why being 2adbbc3570 young is one of 671e140efd the conditions for a 8c8671677c perfect guy, I guess.4a8a678529a47157

“Cute.”a0b199f5cbef5bd8

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“…Did I tell you? I’ve really never heard that from anyone but you, Noona. Not even from my parents.”600eb8f808d9247c

“Then it seems I’m the only one who knows Taeyoung’s cute side. Good.”4a2c627cd15f2fbe

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“…”b6e034e450cd3e4d

“Since we both want to feel good, wanna know something you’ll like even more?”a4e2885e9b62ec30

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He wasn’t entirely pleased with being called cute, so he just nodded with a pout. I cupped my hands around my mouth and whispered, “Out of all the guys I’ve ever met, and even just people I’ve passed by, you’re the best-looking, Taeyoung. Seriously.”b01ea2b659a4206c

“…”d3c55bad495741e5

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“I’ve never seen anyone like you.”15a8017e4f9fd53c

Saying it out loud, it sounded like a cheesy, old-fashioned pickup line, so I let out a silly laugh. Is my shamelessness evolving with age? Yoonhee unnie or any of my longtime friends would probably be horrified if they heard me, thinking, “You could flirt like that?”b77c09a0976f5bc5

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I followed Taeyoung’s habit and deliberately looked him straight in the eye, swirling my gaze, and his brown eyes wavered. He quickly looked away, pretending to be busy, but the tip of his earlobe, visible beneath his hat, was bright red.d7b19bdf786f2528

“What? You really are cute.”96b2c9c461023d24

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Seeing that, I finally burst out laughing. This kid, he’s unexpectedly innocent in some ways.4f70b8e2b9fefac6

“Don’t you usually hear compliments like that? You look like you’d have girls falling all over you, so if your self-perception is that low, Taeyoung, you’re truly a rare person. People will tease you like you’re a national treasure.”334abc7bac3e41c3

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“…I know I’m not bad-looking. But they say that’s not everything.”30985d25f9a40e79

“Who told you that?”924cd9aba31053bd

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“They said looks are just a matter of taste.”95bc3542ac1241ed

“Ah, that’s true, but…”e8acf2a004e297ce

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The plump, milky, and d0e25e79aa smooth gopchang sizzled and 25450b4f4a browned on f232feb60c the grill. Taeyoung, holding scissors and 4321eaf2c3 tongs, skillfully began to 9f54d2d639 cut the gopchang. With each fb99de050f snip, the 08845ca92d white gop (inner fat) oozed e95589a3fe out, looking delicious.a8018dc9ab9b95f9