14th Newsletter

Hi there 

This is your A.thentic Jong Hee

This is the 14th newsletter for you.

How have you been? 

I hope you’ve been doing well. 

Finally it’s June now. 

The weather here in June officially starts summer season, but the temperature is still around 21-25 degrees Celsius. It’s not too hot, not too cold, just perfect to go out and walk around. 

So I went out to my favorite cafe street, called ‘Haeridan’ in my town, Haeundae. 

It’s around 20-30 minutes by walk from my place. But I like to walk to there, because the walking views are really neat and pretty. 

This cafe is famous for sweet dessert. My wife and I ordered Pecan cookie, Financier, and Kouign-Amann. They were all great. I liked them. 

And at first we sat on outside table in a dessert cafe, I wanted to get fresh air outside with coffee and sweetness but unfortunately some people walked by and smoking. So we went to inside the cafe. 

Now, before showing you the next story, let me explain something. 

The place called 'Yongdu’ mountain mentioned in the story is a real location. It's where I was born and raised until my teens. The mountain marked with a circle on the left side is ‘Yongdu’ mountain. It means 'the head of a dragon' in Korean. I actually played around that mountain when I was young. When I actually grew up there as a child, there weren't tall apartments like that.

Below that mountain is the neighborhood where I was born and raised, with apartments visible now. My parents still live there. If you look closely at Yongdu mountain, it's steep like a cliff. From there, mountains spread out like a folding screen, and a beautiful river flows beneath. Beside the river is a field, just like the one I imagined.

The area marked with a circle on the right is the pine forest. There are many pine forests in that city. In the hope of reference, I'm posting a photo taken when I went there one or two years ago to see the cherry blossoms on the opposite high mountain. You might see me drenched in sweat because the mountain is high.

(I also have some videos taken in my hometown on my Instagram. I'll post it here next time I find it)

Okay, now I will share the next part of the love story of my piano album. It’s about the song ‘I started to like you’. And I uploaded the video with no.4 piano song ‘Confession of Love’. 

You can keep listening to the both piano songs while you read this story.

Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQ1Tzw0wkOw

Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9Reh_wONeU

Hope you enjoy this story. 

Thank you for reading.

I will see you next time. 

Thank you and have a nice week. 

From A.thentic Jong Hee

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

#3. I Started to Like You

A few days passed. Inside the fertilizer store in the town, a few customers were shopping, and the staff were busy arranging goods and handling payments. The owner, Han, emerged from the back of the store and spoke to one of the employees.

"Lee, did you deliver the fertilizer to Mr. Jang's weekend farm this morning?" 

"Yes, boss." 

"And the payment?" 

"He said he'll settle it all at the end of the month." 

"Always on credit... It's driving me crazy. Can't you refuse?" 

"How can I say that, boss? They've been our regular customers for over ten years."

Han clicked his tongue and told the employee, "Keep an eye on the store." 

"Yes, boss."

Han left the store and walked to the adjacent parking lot. He opened the door leading into his house.

As he entered the house, a small yard appeared, and a few steps led up to the front door. He entered to find his wife bustling around doing housework. Someone quickly exited the bathroom and entered a small room, then moved into the kitchen. A clattering sound followed from the kitchen, and then she emerged—it was Jane! Han saw Jane.

"Jane, where are you going?" 

"Oh, Uncle, I'll be back soon."

Han noticed the canvas bag Jane was holding, seeing a coffee tumbler inside it.

"Where are you going again?" 

"I’ll be back soon, Uncle. Auntie, I'm leaving now."

Her aunt, who was folding laundry, called out to Jane as she left through the front door.

"Be careful." 

"Yes," Jane replied as she hurried out, with Han watching her with a worried expression.

Out on the street, Jane slung her canvas bag over her shoulder and walked briskly. She crossed a one-way street and walked out of town until a pine forest appeared in the distance. Seeing the forest, her expression brightened. She continued down a narrow alley between small houses, which led to a dirt path toward the forest. Fields with vegetables lined both sides of the path. Just outside the town, fields and greenhouses where crops were grown were easily visible.

Jane's pace quickened as she entered the dirt path. The late afternoon spring sky was incredibly blue.

Soon, Jane entered the pine forest trail. Clear birdsong echoed pleasantly through the forest today. She followed the trail, looking up to see a bench with someone sitting on it. It was Hyun. She quietly approached him.

Hyun, who was sitting and reading a book, turned his head at the sound of footsteps. Jane was approaching. He closed his book and stood up.

“Hi. I'm out of breath..."

Jane, slightly panting, stood before Hyun.

“Hi… You could've taken your time. I'm here until sunset, so you can come anytime." 

"No, I did take my time."

Jane approached the bench Hyun indicated and sat down quietly.

"Would you like some water? Wait, let me see if I have any cold water..."

Hyun rummaged through his bag.

"I have some," Jane said.

She took a water bottle from her canvas bag.

"I brought water and coffee."

Jane drank some water as Hyun watched her quietly.

Meanwhile, back at Han's house.

"Why does she keep going out?"

Han spoke irritably to his wife.

"Why do you care? Let her do what she wants. You don't need to control everything," his wife replied gently.

"She's supposed to be resting. Why does she keep going out?" 

"She's an adult, not a child. Let her do what she wants. Why are you so concerned?" 

"Because I'm worried." 

"Just leave her alone. Please. She's already going through a tough time."

With a sigh, Han got up and headed back to the store.

Back in the forest.

Jane and Hyun sat on the bench. Next to Hyun were his book and a tumbler, and next to Jane was her tumbler. Now more relaxed, Jane opened her tumbler.

"I said I'd bring you coffee, but you keep bringing yours." 

"How can I not?" 

"Would you like to try this? I ordered my favorite beans online. It's from a famous café brand. Let me see your tumbler."

Jane just took Hyun's tumbler, opened it, and poured some coffee into the lid from her tumbler. Hyun watched her blankly as she handed him the lid.

"Try it."

Hyun reluctantly took a sip.

"How is it? Do you like it? Or is it not to your taste?" 

"No, it's good." 

"Really? That's a relief. You can have all of mine if you like." 

"No, it's okay." 

"Let me see yours. Is it the same coffee?" 

"Yes. I don't really have fancy coff..."

Before he could finish speaking, Jane took the tumbler lid that wasn't hers from Hyun and poured his coffee. She drank it without hesitation.

"Oh, you like this slightly sour taste, right? It has a fruity note. This is expensive coffee... Where do you get your beans?" 

"At the local supermarket..." 

"Oh, really...?"

Jane's face reddened slightly.

"Shall we take a walk, Hyun?" 

“Oh, okay..”

Jane put the tumbler lid back on, placed it in her bag, and slung it over her shoulder. Hyun also rises slowly. 

"Shall we go to the field again?" said Jane. 

"Would you like to?” said Hyun.

Hyun puts his tumbler in his bag, slings it over his shoulder, and walks with Jane.

"Isn't farm work busy?" she asked. 

"It's fine. I finished today's work." 

"You're lucky, Hyun." 

"Why?" 

"To live in such a nice place. It's peaceful and beautiful here..." 

“…Is it?"

Hyun led Jane through the forest to the green field. After a short walk, they passed through the pine forest, down a small path, and emerged in the field from a few days ago. Jane gasped in awe, her face lighting up.

Jane walked further into the field, saw a large rock, and sat down. Hyun sat beside her.

"It's so beautiful here..."

Jane sighed, her eyes tearing up slightly as she looked at the scenery. Hyun remained silent beside her.

"It feels like a different world... It's so different from where I was... Why didn't I know about this place? My uncle never mentioned such a place..."

Listening to Jane, Hyun finally spoke.

"Do you see the mountain to the right, across the river?" he pointed.

"Yes," Jane replied. 

"People call that ‘Yongdu’ Mountain. They say it looks like a dragon's head." 

“Oh, really?” 

"If you look from over there, it really looks like a dragon's head." 

"Wow... that's amazing..!”

Jane's face brightened with childlike wonder, and Hyun watched her silently.

"My uncle runs a fertilizer shop in town. 'Sungjin Fertilizer.' It's quite big," 

Jane said. 

"Oh, that's your uncle's place... I wasn't mistaken then..." 

"What do you mean?" Jane asked, turning to him.

"When I went to the store, I thought I saw you in the parking lot... I thought I was mistaken..." 

"Oh, really? Why didn't I see you...?"

A cool spring breeze crossed the field, passing by the two. They sat quietly, looking ahead, surrounded by silence. The distant sound of birds from the mountains echoed, carried by the wind.

"So where did you live before coming here, Hyun?" 

"I lived in ..Seoul.” 

"Oh, you're from Seoul too? Did you come here for your parents?" 

"Yes. My father passed away ten years ago, and only my mother is left. Someone had to take care of the farm." 

"Was it hard? Moving here from Seoul?"

Jane took a sip from her tumbler, looking at Hyun with curiosity.

"It was okay... My mother was here..." 

"Didn't you miss Seoul?"

After a pause, Hyun replied.

"I wasn't very attached to my life in Seoul, so not really." 

"I see..."

Jane nodded, then fell silent, lost in thought, gazing at the landscape. Hyun, too, remained silent, looking ahead. White clouds slowly drifted over the mountains, carried by the wind.

Several days have passed since then. Inside Hyun's house. 

Late afternoon, Hyun finishes his work at the barn, changes his clothes, and prepares to go out.

“Going out again? You need to eat dinner,” his mother asks, worried.

“I’ll be back soon. Just going for a walk,” Hyun replies.

“Why do you go out so often these days? What do you do out there alone? Just rest at home…”

“It’ll be quick,” Hyun says, hesitating while packing his bag.

“I’ve made a friend…”

“A friend? A friend who?” his mother asks, surprised.

“It’s just… a good friend.”

“I don’t understand.. Anyway, It looks like it might rain, so take an umbrella.”

Hyun looks outside, the weather is clear with no sign of rain.

“It’s not going to rain.”

“Just take it. If it rains, come back quickly. Don’t get wet and catch a cold.”

Hyun takes a folded umbrella from the shoe cabinet and puts it in his bag.

“I’ll be back soon, mom”

Hyun leaves the house. His mother watches him leave, worry etched on her face.

Hyun walks towards the pine forest. The cherry blossom petals on the embankment road have mostly fallen, with green leaves now more prominent on the branches. Petals are scattered on the path, creating a pink trail.

As Hyun enters the pine forest, a cool breeze, moist and chilly, brushes his face. Suddenly, the moist wind turns into heavy rain. Startled by the sudden shower, Hyun quickly takes out the umbrella from his bag. 

Looking ahead, he sees a woman sitting on a bench along the path. It’s Jane. As rain falls through the pine trees, Jane, without an umbrella, holds her fabric bag over her head to shield herself. Hyun runs towards her with the umbrella. Hearing someone running, Jane turns and smiles.

“Here, use this,” Hyun says, covering her with the umbrella. Catching his breath, Hyun stands under the umbrella with Jane.

“You didn’t have to run,” Jane says.

“It’s okay. You didn’t get too wet, did you?” Hyun asks, concerned.

“I’m fine. It’s lucky you brought an umbrella. I didn’t expect it to rain so suddenly.”

“Me neither. If my mother hadn’t mentioned it, I wouldn’t have brought it.”

“Thanks to your mother, I’m saved from the rain. Please thank her for me.”

Jane smiles. Despite the umbrella not being small, the heavy rain forces them to stay close under it. Jane looks up at Hyun, smiling, and he, feeling awkward, looks away because she looks so beautiful.

In the pine forest, the two of them stand under the umbrella, the sound of falling rain around them. With nothing to disturb them, they remain silent. Jane, noticing Hyun’s silence, also turns her gaze away.

As the cold wind blows, the air becomes cooler.

“Aren’t you cold?” Hyun asks, concerned.

“I’m fine, for now,” Jane replies. 

Hyun nods quietly, still unable to look at her and staring into the distance. After a while, the rain eases.

“The rain is letting up. Let me walk you to your uncle’s place. It might rain again. Shall we go?”

They start walking towards town in silence.

“Hyun…” Jane breaks the silence.

“Aren’t you curious about me?”

After a pause, Hyun answers, “I am, but I’ll ask slowly.”

Jane nods quietly. After a moment, Jane asks, 

“What was difficult for you in Seoul?”

Hyun pauses to think about Jane's question. At that moment, a sound echoes in his ears.

"Fine, let's just stop, okay? Just stop it now!"

He remembers himself shouting into the phone, with the sound of a woman crying on the 

other end. Trying to shake off the memory, Hyun briefly shakes his head.

“If you don’t want to talk about it, you don’t have to. I was just curious,” Jane says.

“My story… it’s not very interesting,” Hyun finally says.

Jane smiles quietly. 

The rain starts to fall gently again as they walk under the umbrella.

“This place is beautiful, even in the rain,” Jane looks around and says.

“Yes… I didn’t realize it until you said so,” Hyun replies.

“Really?”

Jane laughs at Hyun’s unexpected comment as they walk along the path.

After a while, they arrive at the fertilizer store. Hyun walks Jane to the door.

“We’re here already,” Jane says.

“Yes… I hope you don’t catch a cold. Stay warm and rest, Jane.”

“Thank you. Take care, Hyun.”

Jane enters the house, and Hyun leaves.

“I’m back,” Jane calls as she enters the house. Her aunt comes out of the kitchen, drying her hands on her apron, looking worried.

“Didn’t you get wet?”

“I’m fine. Someone lent me an umbrella.”

“Someone? Who?” her aunt asks, surprised.

“A friend…”

“A friend?” her aunt repeats, puzzled.

At that moment, her uncle, Han, enters the hall and calls her.

“Jane.”

“Yes, uncle?”

"You..."

Han hesitates for a moment before speaking.

"Yes?" Jane asks again.

“Have you… have you been seeing that guy?”

“Who?”

“The late Mr. Kim’s son.”

"Who is the late Mr. Kim's son?" Jane asks. 

"Who is Mr. Kim's son?" Aunt, who was next to her, also asks in confusion.

“The one running the farm down the hill,” Han replies to her aunt.

“Oh, Hyun? Yes, he’s just a friend.” Jane says. 

“A friend?” Han repeats, puzzled.

“Who is Hyun? The son from that farm family?” her aunt asks.

“Why do you meet him? You came here to rest, not to make friends like that,” Han scolds.

Jane remains silent.

“Is he your friend?” her aunt asks again, confused.

“Don’t see him. He’s back from Seoul, working on his father’s farm, but he’s not reliable. He lacks social skills,” Han says coldly.

Jane listens quietly.

“Did you become friends with him? How?” her aunt asks.

“Don’t meet him. This village is small, and rumors spread quickly. There’s nothing good in it for you.”

Han turns to leave, but Jane’s voice stops him.

“He’s a good person.”

Han turns back, surprised.

“He’s diligent and kind,” Jane continues.

Han is at a loss for words at her unexpected defense.

Several days later, Hyun’s farm. Hyun starts his pickup truck.

“Go inside, mother,” Hyun says, leaning out of the driver’s window. His mother nods, waving him off, and watches his truck leave the yard. Baekdu, their dog, eats in the yard.

Hyun sees his mother still standing in the yard through the rearview mirror.

“Go inside…”

Hyun sighs softly.

Hyun drives towards the town, soon arriving at the Sungjin Fertilizer Store parking lot.

A while later, inside the store, Hyun picks out pesticides and other items, then heads to the counter to pay. Lee, the store clerk, tallies the items.

Hyun pushes the cart towards the parking lot when he hears a voice.

“Can I see you for a moment?”

Hyun turns to see Han standing there. Hyun nods silently in greeting. Han approaches him.

“You know my niece Jane, right?” Han asks bluntly. Hyun hesitates before replying.

“Yes.”

“You’ve been hanging out with her recently? With Jane?”

“...Yes.”

“Why?”

Taken aback by the abrupt question, Hyun can’t respond immediately.

“Why are you meeting her?”

“...Just… occasionally.”

“Why occasionally?”

After a moment, Hyun answers, “Because she’s a good person.”

“A good person? You meet her because she’s a good person?”

“….”

“And you?”

“….”

“Are you a good person for her?”

“….”

Hyun remains silent under Han’s harsh questioning. Seeing his hesitation, Han sighs.

“Stop seeing her. Don’t meet her just because you think she’s good. My Jane is here to rest, not to be troubled by someone like you, do you understand that?”

“….”

“Don’t meet her. That’s all I have to say.”

Han turns and goes back into the store. Hyun stands there, stunned, before slowly returning to his truck and driving away. As Hyun’s truck leaves the parking lot, the door to Han’s house quietly opens. Jane steps out, having heard everything her uncle said to Hyun. Her face is clouded with sadness.

A few days have passed since then. 

The late afternoon sunlight is streaming down over the pine forest. At that moment, Hyun is walking out from the farm. The cherry blossoms that bloomed along the embankment path have all fallen, and a green hue now tinges every leaf. Hyun walks along the forest path and arrives at the bench. He sits down, takes out a book and a tumbler filled with coffee, and starts reading. A cool spring breeze passes over his head.

After some time, Hyun checks his watch and turns his head towards the opposite side of the path. The sun is setting, casting a reddish glow through the forest. Shortly after, his cell phone vibrates in his pocket. Hyun answers the call.

“Yes.. Okay… I'll come in now, Mother."

Hyun ends the call, closes his book, puts it along with the tumbler back into his bag, and stands up. He heads home.

A little later, inside Hyun's house.

His mother sees Hyun coming in and speaks to him.

"Come have dinner. It's all set. You just need to serve the rice."

"Okay, I'll wash my hands first."

After washing his hands in the bathroom, Hyun sits at the kitchen table. His mother hands him a bowl of rice and says,

"Why do you keep going out at this time? Who are you meeting?"

"It's nothing. I used to go out after finishing my work in the afternoon."

Hyun answers while eating. Then,

"But you only went out on weekends before. You never used to go out like this on weekdays, especially when you have no friends."

“...."

Hyun remains silent, just eating his meal.

"How's your knee? Is it hurting?” asks Hyun.

"It always hurts…"replies his mother. 

Their dinner time deepens into the evening.

The next day has come again. Late in the afternoon, someone is sitting on the bench along the forest path. It's Hyun. Once again, he's engrossed in his book. After checking the time, he slowly gets up from his seat. Glancing briefly in the opposite direction of the path, he then heads straight home.

A few more days passed like that. In the forest, on the bench, Hyun is sitting and reading a book. After a while, he checks his watch, closes the book, puts it in his bag, and stands up. He starts heading home, but a voice calls from behind him.

“Hi…”

Startled by the voice, Hyun turns around. It's Jane, standing behind him.

"Oh, hi…” Hyun greets her warmly, but Jane's expression is not bright.

"It's been a while, hasn't it?" Jane says cautiously.

"Yes, it has been a while," Hyun responds.

An awkward silence falls between them. Breaking the silence, Hyun speaks up.

"Have you been well, Jane?"

"Yes," Jane answers.

"Okay, that's good to hear. I was a bit worried, thinking something might have happened to you. Or maybe you went back to Seoul..."

“Okay..” Jane says again.

Another silence ensues. Then Jane speaks.

"Actually..." Jane starts.

"I wanted to apologize."

"Apologize? For what? To me?" Hyun asks, puzzled.

"Yes, for making you hear those bad things from my uncle because of me..."

Hyun thinks for a moment.

"Oh, that?"

"Yes. I'm sorry about that. It was because of me..."

"No, it's fine. You don't need to apologize. Really, it's nothing, Jane."

"I felt really bad because I caused trouble for you, someone who's so busy..."

"No, you don't have to say that. It's not like that at all, Jane."

"I heard my uncle saying those things to you that day, and I wanted to apologize immediately..."

“.…?"

"But the next day, you didn’t come here. So I thought you were really upset because of me, and I felt even more sorry..."

"Oh, that... I was just very busy that day. Did you come here the next day? I didn't know. I'm sorry if I made you wait."

"No, it's fine... Actually, because of that day, I realized I had been acting recklessly. I caused trouble for someone who is very busy, made you hear unpleasant things from elders... I won't do that again. I'm really sorry."

Jane bows her head deeply in an almost 90-degree bow. Hyun, feeling uncomfortable with Jane's repeated apologies, also feels a bit hurt by her overly formal apology.

"Jane, you don't need to..." Hyun barely manages to say quietly, but Jane interrupts him.

"I've caused you so much trouble. I'm really sorry. I'll be leaving now."

She bows again and slowly turns to leave. Hyun stands there, staring blankly at her as she walks away. Jane walks slowly along the path. Watching her retreating figure, Hyun murmurs quietly to himself

"But... what should I do..?”

I've already started… to like you…."

The cool evening breeze, carrying the hues of the sunset, touches Hyun's face.

<The End of Scene>