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With full bellies and an airy ambiance of laughter, the trio decided to split ways for the rest of the evening. Geon-woo and Woo-jin decided to pay Mr Moon a visit to see if he could get in touch with Mr Choi to schedule a date and time for Geon-woo to plead his case, while Nari came to the realisation that maybe she should pay Ms Yoon a long-awaited check in.
So as the day ticked by and the sky dulled to a muted orange with specks of yellow over the horizon, Nari found herself before the cafรฉ.
The initial pang speared through her chest at the sight of the sickly yellow caution tape criss crossed across the windows. The tables were still sprawled out carelessly and remnants of glass shimmered under the evening waves. It looked lifeless.
Nari lifted the caution tape, sliding her body beneath it while glass shards crunched from under her boots. She paused, her fingers dropping the tape as shuffling grew louder until the smaller woman, a bag and broom in hand, emerged from the door. Startled, Ms Yoon dropped the broom when she saw an unexpected figure, shuffling nervously at the entrance.
“Nari “Ms Yoon sighed in relief as the woman sent her a sheepish grin, guilt swelling in her belly at how fatigued and sad the older woman looked. “Dear, you startled me”
“Sorry for dropping in unannounced Ms Yoon” Nari apologised as she took careful steps towards her, gently picking up the broom in her fidgety fingers.
“Nari” Ms Yoon said, closing the gap between them as she placed her delicate hands over Nari’s, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. ” I’m so sorry about everything. Geon-woo told me you left the hospital, I wanted to check if you were alright. I’ve been so worried. Are you okay my dear, nothing broken. Let me see” Ms Yoon rushed, a panic hitch in her voice as she gently titled Nari’s face to gauge for any injuries.
Nari gently cupped her hands, lowering from her face but keeping it encased in her grip. “I’m okay Ms Yoon. I promise” she consoled as Ms Yoon looked relucent but nodded softly. ” I’m sorry about your cafรฉ” she said as Ms Yoon looked forlorn at her precious store. All of Geon-woo’s hard work, all their efforts to make her dream a reality. But Ms Yon was grateful that it was only the store that was destroyed and her children were still alive and breathing.
“We will have it back on its feet in no time” Ms Yoon assured gently as Nari nodded.
” Did your father visit you at the hospital? ” Ms Yoon asked as Nari’s face fell, Ms Yoon immediately felt a wave of sorrow and bitterness when she shook her head no. To be honest, Nari didn’t want to face her impassive and callous excuse of a father. Wanting to stay in the warm presence of Ms Yoon, someone who actually cared for her, felt a lot better than returning to her cold and unwaning apartment. Nari felt that bitter tang of grief creep up on her. The tears blurred her vision and Ms Yoon didn’t waste a second to usher into her arms. Nari placed her head in the crook of her neck while Ms Yoon’s hand ran gently though her hair, sweet nothings falling on her lips. And Nari let herself grieve, for her mother, for her father and for the life she was about to throw away all because of Kim Myeong-gil. But Ms Yoo didn’t need to know that so she just held Nari closer until her shudders stopped.
Nari was the first to step out of the embrace, picking up the fallen broom that slipped from her grasp and squeezed Ms Yoon’s hand.
“Let’s make this place a bit more presentable” she said and Ms Yoon sent her a small smile. Switching on the radio, the two were quick to clean up the cafรฉ. Lifting up tables, setting chairs straight. Sweeping the glass until all they had left was to rehang a fallen painting.
Nari stepped back and admired the cafรฉ, it was nowhere near in terms of refurbishing it to its former glory, but it retained some of its charm. Nari sent Ms Yoon a grin and the older woman retreated to the kitchen, made two cups off coffee and took a seat at one of the slightly less broken tables. And for a brief moment, things seemed to look up for her.
It was just short of noon when Nari received a text from Geon-woo telling her to meet at the cafรฉ so they could visit Mr Choi. Geon-woo was clinging to every shroud of hope that Nari was right about these people, because he wasn’t so sure what he would’ve done if this fails. Woo-jin said he had a back up but it was very unlikely. They didn’t question him further.
When she arrived, the two men were talking in nervous chatters, or more like Geon-woo expressing his nerves while Woo-jin rolled his eyes and dismissed him with a flick of his hand. Between them were two scooters, one for Woo-jin and one for Geon-woo. As she approached, she raised her brow at the mode of transport.
“You suppose there’d be a car amongst the three of us” Nari said as Woo-jin jumped three feet in the air, not having heard her creep up on them as Geon-woo’s gaze shifted to hers, his eyes disappearing behind his smile as she crossed her arms across her chest, her foot tapping the tar unrhythmically.
“This seemed more convenient” Geon-woo said before he felt a flush of embarrassment. “We uh, only managed to get two though” he told her as Woo-jin snorted from the side.
“I see, I can walk-” she said before Woo-jin raked his hand down his face with a loud smack and a disappointed groan to leave his lips.
“You two are insufferable” he said before jutting a finger in her direction. “Hop on behind him, now, or we will be late” Woo-jin ordered as both Geon-woo and Nari’s eyes widened, their ears turning a rosy pink.
She silently asked for permission, Geon-woo sending her a sheepish nod in return which resulted in an award winning smirk from woo-jin.
“You can-” Geon-woo alluded as Nari placed her foot on the scooter, the other dangling just above the road while her arms slowly wrapped around his mid-section. They both tried to hide the sudden eruption of butterflies in their stomachs.
“Where are we going exactly?” she asked as Woo-jin hopped on his scooter.
“Some restaurant” Woo-jin said and Nari had to tighten her arms around Geon-woo when his fingers circled around the throttle and then they were off.ย
Ms Yoon and Nari make me sob. I love them๐ญ
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