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The 25th Newsletter
Korean food, snacks and Part2 of the story of #6. "Condition of Love"
Jong Hee Kim
November 18, 2024
Hi there
This is your A.thentic Jong Hee.
And this is my 25th Newsletter for you.
How are you?
And how’s everything going with you? 💖
I hope you’re doing well.
What’s the weather like where you are now? Is it autumn or spring?
Here in Korea, we’re deep into the autumn season. 🍁🍂The temperature today is 12 degrees Celsius, and in Seoul, it’s 8 degrees. Interestingly, today’s temperature is 8–9 degrees lower than yesterday’s. It’s been warm lately, but today it suddenly dropped. According to the forecast, it will rise again in a few days to around 14 or 15 degrees.
With these fluctuating temperatures, I’ve caught a cold. It’s mostly due to lack of sleep, and these days, I can’t go to the gym to work out. But I’ll recover soon! Please take care and avoid catching a cold. 😷
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Today, I will share a little about Korean food, a guilty-pleasure Korean snack, and Part 2 of the story behind the song Condition of Love (Track #6).
First, let me introduce two Korean dishes: 소고기국 (Beef Soup) and 순두부찌개 (Soft Tofu Stew).🍚🥘
When I went out for meals on weekends, I usually had Western food or other types, but not Korean food. Before moving here, I often ate those types of meals. However, since moving to this new town a month ago, I’ve completely switched menus. I now have Korean meals instead.🇰🇷🍚
Why? Because of the amazing ‘quality.’ I discovered some incredible Korean restaurants here. So far, I’ve found two of the best ones, and They’re not expensive, yet they’re absolutely delicious. And besides, those foods are so healthy. 💓
Haeundae has many five- and six-star hotels with good food, but these small, local restaurants are on ‘another level.’ Korean national TV programs about food mostly highlight these kinds of local restaurants, which often have long lines of eager customers.
The chefs in these local places are often elderly and have been cooking the same dishes for 30 years or more. 👨🏼🍳 Over time, as these cooks master their recipes, their restaurants gain fame and attract long queues of diners. I feel lucky that Busan has so many of these renowned eateries. One reason for this variety is the history of the Korean War—many people fled south to Busan, bringing diverse culinary traditions from all over the country, including Seoul and even North Korea. This has shaped Busan’s food culture into something unique and rich. 💜💐
But many of these famous chefs are now very old. I saw a TV program about an 80-year-old chef who still works every day. His restaurant opens at 11 a.m. and closes by 2 p.m. Some well-known places only open for a few hours each day. Why? The chefs say it’s because they can only make a limited amount of food at the highest quality. They claim that cooking more ruins the taste. When asked why they don’t retire, these master chefs say they don’t want to disappoint the people who travel from all over Korea to eat their food, even if some leave empty-handed.
And after eating, cooks say ‘thank you’ when people pay for the food, but people usually say ‘No, sir. We thank you’. Because it’s such an honor to experience their incredible food. These chefs didn’t become masters overnight. They spent decades experimenting and perfecting their recipes.🌶🧄🧅
I’ve experienced this a few times myself. When I started to eat, I kept saying ‘Wow. wow… wow!’ I literally felt my eyes open wide.😳👏👏
So anyway, luckily, there are small, inexpensive but great Korean restaurants in my new town. The cooks are old (at least 70 years old), and the quality and taste are amazing. The side dishes they make are traditional Korean home-style meals, and honestly, the taste is even better than my mom's cooking (sorry, Mom).🙏
When I first explored restaurants after moving here, I noticed so many elderly people dining in one particular Korean restaurant here. That’s a perfect sign of great food because older people never eat low-quality Korean food here, especially in a rich town like this. So we decided to give it a try—and we were right. The food was fantastic and absolutely amazing.🌶🍚👏👏
 Side dishes |  소고기국 (Beef Soup) |  소고기국 (Beef Soup) |
 순두부찌개 (Soft Tofu Stew) |  순두부찌개 (Soft Tofu Stew) |
(Sundubu (Soft Tofu Stew) is an amazing food, especially on cold days.)
And now, I want to talk about a Korean snack called ‘Bungeoppang.’ Bungeo means a kind of fish, and ppang means bread. This is literally a ‘soul food’ for me because I loved it as a kid—and all kids loved it. It’s made with sweet red bean filling, and this can be as the hot version of Patbingsu (Red bean shaved Ice).
I guess I just love all snacks made with ‘pat’ (red beans).
Let me show you some pictures of 붕어빵 (Bungeoppang).
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 |  |  I bought it from this vendor shop. |
(It says ‘잉어빵’ (Yingeoppang, another name. ‘Yingeo’ means another fish kind) on vendor shop).
Okay, lastly I will share the part.2 of the story of “#6. Condition of Love”. 🎹
Hope you enjoy the story, and your reply will be my reward. 🙏
So feel free to reply to me anytime.
Thank you for reading 🙏🌹
Have a good day and week ahead
We’ll see you soon again
Bye
Warm Regards
A.thentic Jong Hee
………………………………………………………………….
P.S. In order to focus on the story, I suggest you keep listening to this song while you read. Here are the links:
“Condition of Love”
…………………………………………………………………………..
#6 Condition of Love
Part. 2
Written by A.thentic Jong Hee
Time passes, and inside Hyun's house. After finishing dinner, Hyun, his father, and his mother sit at the table. Other than his mother, who is peeling fruit at the table, no one speaks. The only sounds breaking the heavy silence are his father’s dry, repetitive coughs.
“So...? Are you going to marry that girl?” His father asks.
“Yes...”
“But do you really need to borrow that much money? Is the farm going to be mortgaged to the bank for this? You can’t get married without that?”
“Oh dear, that’s not what he meant...”
Hyun's mother answers from the side.
“If that’s not it, then what is it? The only thing left in our family is this farm, and you want to mortgage it? cough cough..”
As his father raises his voice, his cough intensifies. Hyun finds himself unable to respond.
“Calm down a bit. Don’t you know him? If he’s discussing this with us, it means he’s serious about marrying that girl.”
His mother gently reassures his father from the side.
“Why did you even move?” His father asks.
“Pardon...?”
“Why did you move? You got money for the apartment lease but left a perfectly fine house. Why did you move?”
His father’s voice raises again. His mother interjects.
“Yeah. Actually, I sent a package, but it came back saying the address was unclear. It happened not too long ago. Where did you move? You should have informed us ahead of time...”
“….”
Hyun can’t say a word.
“Did you possibly withdraw the lease money for the apartment and give it all away?”
“….”
Hyun’s father’s words shock his mother.
“Is that true...? Hyun? Really? Did you take out the lease money?”
His mother asks him. Seeing the trembling voice of his mother in shock, Hyun cannot respond.
“I’m sorry...”
At his words, his mother takes a deep breath and closes her eyes momentarily. His father remains silent for a while. After a brief silence, he speaks.
“But that’s not enough, and now you’re planning to borrow several hundred million won (* around 300,000 US Dollars) from us? cough cough”
“….”
Hyun can’t say anything.
“Hyun, why did you do this...? This isn’t like you...”
His mother speaks to him with a sorrowful voice.
“Are you saying you need to borrow several hundred million won to get married?”
His father questions again. Hyun remains silent.
“Is that the condition for marrying that girl?”
His father asks, pressing him. His mother sighs, placing her hand on her forehead.
“That’s not it, Dad.”
In response to Hyun’s answer, his father falls silent for a moment. Then he adds one more thing.
“Can you take full responsibility for this?”
Hyun looks at his father, trying to understand what he means.
“Can you take responsibility for that debt, this farm, and our house? ..cough cough”
After throwing out such a heavy statement, his father starts coughing again. The word “responsibility” makes Hyun lower his head. He can roughly guess what it means and the weight it carries, so he struggles to respond.
Days go by. One night, Hyun and Na Jung meet on a bench in a park. The surroundings are quiet as night falls.
“Why haven’t you answered my calls? You haven’t even replied to my texts, Hyun.”
“I’m sorry. I’ve been busy...”
While Na Jung presses him, Hyun remains calm. Her attitude, standing in front of Hyun with her arms crossed, makes passersby occasionally wonder about the scene. The streetlights illuminating the park only enhance the desolate surroundings.
“So, what happened? You went back home. What did you find out?”
“Well, it’s….”
“What do you mean 'well'? Just tell me clearly what happened, Hyun.”
Na Jung’s frustration escalates, her voice rising as Hyun hesitates.
A bleak crescent moon hangs above the park. Perhaps because of the city lights, the gray clouds in the night sky are clearly visible. The park in downtown Seoul looks peaceful. The streetlights lining the park illuminate the path. Down below, Hyun and Na Jung can be seen.
After a moment, Na Jung turns coldly and walks away. Hyun follows her and grabs her arm, but she shakes off his grip and continues to walk away, leaving him standing in despair.
Time passes again.
In a dark alley in the city, the darkness envelops the surroundings, illuminated only by the streetlight. Hyun and Na Jung are visible. Na Jung stands before Hyun, arms crossed, maintaining a cold demeanor.
“Na Jung, don’t do this. Please... Why...?”
Hyun pleads, but Na Jung’s expression remains unchanged as she stays silent.
“I’ll do better, Na Jung. Please calm down. I’m sorry. So please don’t say you want to break up. Na Jung, I can’t do without you...”
“Oppa... I’m sorry.”
Even while saying sorry, Na Jung’s expression remains cold.
“Na Jung, I’ll do better. Please, Na Jung, don’t say it’s over... I can’t live without you, Na Jung...”
“Hyun... I’m sorry... And I’ll make sure to pay back the money I borrowed from you. Got it? This is the best I can do. I can’t do it, oppa. I’m sorry.”
As she turns to leave, Hyun grabs her arm and desperately pleads again.
“Na Jung... I’m sorry. I’ll do better. I’m sorry. Please don’t do this, Na Jung. Okay? I’m sorry... So please...”
But Na Jung quietly releases Hyun’s hand and says,
“I’ll contact you soon, okay? Once I sort things out at home, I’ll reach out. Take care, oppa.”
“Na Jung...”
Na Jung turns coldly and walks away. Hyun stands there, frozen in despair.
Back to the present, Hyun sits on a bench in a pine forest, lost in thought. He shakes his head as if trying to shake off memories and looks to the side. Beside him, Baek Du is still wagging his tail.
“Want to walk a bit more, Baek Du?”
Hyun gets up from the bench and starts walking down the path with Baek Du. After walking for a while, Baek Du stops on the path, sniffing the ground and wandering around.
“What’s wrong, Baek Du? What’s there?”
As Hyun looks at where Baek Du has stopped sniffing, he realizes, coincidentally, that it’s the place where he had filled in a depression in the path with dirt.
Memories of the first time he saw Jane come flooding back. “Oh my..!” Jane stumbles. Seeing that, Hyun quickly turns his head away from the bench, worried she might feel embarrassed. Reflecting on that memory, Hyun glances at the spot and smiles softly. And Hyun recalls his conversation with Jane by the seaside the previous day.
The beach, yesterday. As they stand facing each other on the shore at sunset, Jane says softly,
"Hyun..."
"Yes..."
"Please, don’t forget this moment... like those footprints…”
“…"
"Even if the footprints are washed away by the waves, I will never forget this moment.”
Present. Hyun walks slowly down a forest path, thinking back on the conversation.
Yesterday again, the beach.
"I am married."
".…?"
"I am… married.”
Hyun looks at her quietly, nodding. Jane repeats,
“I’m married, Hyun.”
“..I see…"
“Aren’t you surprised?”
“…."
Jane calls his name out of frustration,
“Hyun!”
Hyun eventually asks,
“Then…”
“ …..?”
“Are you still married?”
“…Yes…”
“Are you living together?”
After a pause, she answers,
“Yes..”
Hyun quietly nods.
“Why aren’t you surprised?”
“…Just because…”
“...What?”
“Maybe… I thought it could be possible…”
“About me? From the beginning?”
“Not from the beginning… but somewhere along the way… I started thinking you might be married.”
“...Why?”
“Well…”
“....?”
“Because you’re a good person…”
“...Sorry? …” Jane asks again.
“You’re a good person. And beautiful.”
“What kind of silly thing is that, Hyun…”
“….”
“Aren’t you angry? That I didn’t tell you?”
“It’s your first, right?”
“...What?”
“It’s the first, isn’t it…? Being with someone you have feelings for.…”
Jane is left speechless for a moment.
“I told you, didn’t I? That you seem like someone who’s never really been in a relationship…”
“…..”
“That’s how you seem…”
“Hyun…”
Jane looks at Hyun with uneasy eyes. His unexpected calmness makes her feel even more guilty and sympathetic, reflected in her gaze.
Present. Back in the forest, Hyun's gaze grows tender and glistens slightly as he recalls the conversation with Jane at the beach. Suddenly, he misses her voice and pulls out his phone. He finds a message from Jane:
‘Hyun, I have to head back to Seoul right now because of an urgent matter. Thank you so much for yesterday and today… I’ll never forget it. I wish you happiness always.. Goodbye, Hyun..”
Hyun’s expression shifts, and he immediately calls her, but she doesn’t answer. He tries again, but there is no response.
“Let’s go, Baek Du. We need to head home quickly.”
Calling Baek Du, Hyun heads home but dials a number.
“Hello? Hi, Dr. Choi. This is Kim Hyun. I was wondering if you could come a little earlier to our farm... Yes... Yes... Okay, understood. Thank you.”
At the same time, inside Sung Jin Fertilizer's house.
In the second-floor room sits Jane. She holds her phone, staring blankly at the screen displaying missed calls from Hyun. Then, she stands up and gazes out the window.
From afar, she can vaguely see the pine forest. Staring at the forest, she becomes lost in thought.
Last night. The beach. The sunset was fading in the distance, and she and Hyun stood facing each other by the sea.
With tears brimming in her eyes, Jane said to Hyun,
“Today will be a memory I’ll never forget, Hyun…”
“….”
Hyun said nothing, just looking at her face.
Present. As Jane turns her body away from the window, she sees her travel bag and clothes spread out in front of her. She begins to slowly gather her clothes and pack them into the bag. Just then, her uncle, Mr. Han, calls from the stairs.
“Jane, can I come in?”
As Han approaches the door to the second floor, Jane mutters softly.
“It’s Ji Soo…”
The door suddenly swings open, and Han enters.
“Hi, Uncle”
Ji Soo(Jane) greets her uncle with words only while continuing to pack her things.
“Where were you all day yesterday? You didn’t answer your phone. Why was your phone off?”
“I just… went out for a bit…”
Without looking up, Ji Soo responds with just words.
“Where to? Who did you go with?”
“With a friend…”
“Which friend…?”
Mr. Han’s voice gets louder. At that moment, her aunt comes upstairs.
“Why are you acting like that toward her? She’s an adult, doesn’t she have the right to go out without asking for permission? What’s wrong with you?”
Her aunt defends Ji Soo against her husband.
“She didn’t answer her phone. (To Ji Soo) Have you met him again?”
“.…”
At Han’s pressing questions, Ji Soo remains silent.
“I told you not to meet him again. Where have you been until now? Were you together?” “No, honey. She’s an adult. Why do you want to interfere with her life? She can take care of herself.”
“Why shouldn’t I interfere? She’s acting irresponsibly.”
“……”
While her uncle and aunt argue, Ji Soo remains silent and continues packing.
“Do you know that your husband came here yesterday?”
“……”
“Do you know or not? He said he contacted you before coming."
“He must have come…”
As Ji Soo puts clothes into the bag, she calmly answers her uncle’s question.
“But how can you go out with another guy knowing that? Do you think that’s reasonable?”
“I just…”
As she continues to pack, Ji Soo calmly responds.
“I went out for some fresh air… I was feeling suffocated.”
“Suffocated...? Don’t you know that if you act like this, it puts many people in a difficult situation?”
“……”
Despite her uncle’s scolding, Ji Soo remains silent.
“Please stop. Why do you keep doing this to her?”
Her aunt again tries to calm her husband.
"I had a really hard time making excuses yesterday." Mr. Han says.
“Why are you packing? Where are you going?”
“I need to go to Seoul.” Ji Soo replies.
“Why to Seoul?” Mr. Han asks.
“I have some work to do. I need to help with my dad’s company.”
“How can you be so carefree when your dad’s company is so busy?”
Mr. Han presses her again. Then,
“I told him I wanted to quit! I’ve said several times I want to leave the company, but he won’t let me. I don’t want to work for my dad’s company anymore, Uncle!”
At Ji Soo’s raised voice, Han is momentarily taken aback and can’t respond. Then he says,
“You can’t just say that. It’s not just your problem. Don’t you understand? There are many people involved. You know that well.”
After his words, Ji Soo momentarily remains silent before responding calmly again.
“Uncle, I’m tired of hearing that kind of talk now… Can we please stop discussing it?”
Though her tone is low, the tremor in Ji Soo's voice makes Mr. Han speechless as he only lets out a sigh.
“Haah…”
“Please go downstairs. She’s busy packing…Jisoo, take your time packing. Then come down and have some food, okay? Take it slow.”
Her aunt forcefully drags her hesitant husband downstairs. Once the two leave, Ji Soo stops packing and plops down where she is. She then pulls her legs together and buries her head, remaining in that position for a while.
A Little Later, at Hyun’s Farm.
Veterinarian Dr. Choi arrives in front of the barn, with Hyun and Hyun’s mother standing beside him. Dr. Choi, wearing a mask and work clothes, walks back and forth in front of several cows, checking their health by performing rectal examinations and conducting ultrasounds.
He collects blood samples from each cow, labeling them with their unique identification numbers, and places them in his medical bag. Though he is the owner of a veterinary clinic for large animals under the title of a distinguished veterinarian in the country, he is still a vibrant young man in his thirties.
“Are they eating well?”
Dr. Choi asks in a warm southern accent, his tone filled with a sense of responsibility and pride as a veterinarian.
“Yes, they’ve been eating their feed well.”
Hyun responds.
“It seems the artificial insemination went well last time… We need to run blood tests to check for respiratory diseases or viral infections. But from the current condition, they should be fine.”
“Okay…”
Hyun answers while his mother stands behind him, looking worried.
“You completed all the vaccinations last month, right?” Dr. Choi asks.
“Yes, we did.” Hyun replies.
“Then it’s likely not an endemic disease or viral infection. The pregnancy status doesn’t seem bad either. Even the fluid tests show no viral presence.”
“Okay…”
Just then, his mother quietly speaks up.
“Oh, thank goodness…”
“Oh, ma’am. Please don’t worry too much. There shouldn’t be any issues.”
Seeing Hyun’s mother worrying, Dr. Choi smiles reassuringly through his mask. Then he turns back to Hyun.
“First, with the rainy season coming soon, you need to manage the humidity in the barn. If the floor is too wet, it’s not good for the cows’ hygiene. And you also need to maintain the water troughs properly.”
“Okay, Dr. Choi.”
Hyun replies. Dr. Choi then asks again.
“Also, you mentioned there’s a calf that seems unwell?”
“Yes. This way, please.”
Hyun leads Dr. Choi to another barn. As Dr. Choi follows, Hyun’s mother does too, and Hyun says,
“Mom, you can go inside now. We’ll take care of it.”
“Please, it’s okay. Don’t worry about it. Your son is doing well.” Says Dr. Choi.
“Yes… but I’m still worried… We trust you, Doctor..”
“Don’t worry, ma’am.”
Dr. Choi reassures her once more. As she follows the two men, she stops a little distance away and watches from afar.
“This is the calf.”
Hyun points to a small calf in the little barn.
“Oh, is this one? How old is it?”
“It’s about two months old.”
“Ah, two months. It’s a critical time. Let me take a look…”
Dr. Choi steps over the fence and approaches the calf. The young calf gets scared and backs into a corner at the sight of the stranger, but Dr. Choi calmly reassures the calf and checks its condition.
“You said it has diarrhea?”
“Yes…”
Hyun responds. Dr. Choi examines the calf and then says,
“Oh dear, it hasn’t been able to eat properly because it got hit by an adult cow. Poor thing…”
Dr. Choi collects some fluids from the calf's mouth and takes a blood sample.
“Mr. Kim, it looks like this calf is somewhat malnourished. This is a common symptom seen in calves that are with adult cows.”
“Okay…”
“I think it would be good to give it a shot and some fluids as well.”
“Okay.. Please do that.”
When Hyun shows his approval of Dr. Choi’s prescription, Dr. Choi leaves the barn and goes to his car. At that moment, Hyun takes out his phone and calls someone. However, the other person doesn’t answer. As he’s about to hang up, a voice comes through.
‘..Hello…’
From the phone, Ji Soo's calm voice can be heard. Hyun is startled and quickly holds the phone to his ear.
"Hello? It's me, Jane. Are you available to talk?"
‘Yes…'
Ji Soo's voice continues to come through the phone.
"Why didn’t you answer? You made me worried..."
‘….'
"So, do you have to go to Seoul suddenly today?”
‘Yes, I’m sorry. I didn’t get to inform you in advance before leaving suddenly…’
“It’s okay. No need to apologize. But what time is the bus? The one going to Seoul?”
‘It’s at two o’clock…’
“Two o’clock…”
As Hyun checks the time while on the call, it’s already past 1:15 PM.
“So if you go today, how long will you be in Seoul?”
‘I don’t know yet... There’s some business I need to handle for my father’s company... and... I might not.. come back here anymore.’
“..…”
Hyun, unable to say anything, hears Ji Soo's voice from the other side of the phone.
'Thank you so much for everything, Hyun...'
“…..”
Still unable to say anything, Hyun remains silent.
While he is on the phone, the veterinarian, Dr. Choi, arrives with a drip for the calf and busily prepares to administer it in front of the barn. Meanwhile, Hyun’s mother watches him from a distance, observing his distressed expression as he talks on the phone.
"Jane, then I…”
Just as Hyun was about to say something to Jane, Dr. Choi calls him.
“Mr. Kim, then shall we proceed with this?’
Dr. Choi, holding an IV drip, waits for Hyun's final approval.
“Jane, but if we go like this…”
At that moment, Ji Soo’s calm voice comes through the phone.
‘Hyun…’
“…Yes?”
‘My name is.. Ji Soo…’
“Huh..?”
Hyun asks again, confused by Ji Soo’s sudden statement.
‘Please remember my name, Ji Soo…I wanted to be Ji Soo to you…’
“But right now…"
Hyun was about to say something, but then Dr. Choi calls him again.
“Alright, then shall we proceed?”
In the meantime, Ji Soo’s final words come through the phone.
‘Goodbye, Hyun..’
And with that, Ji Soo hangs up. Hyun is left standing there, dazed. However, since Dr. Choi is preparing to give an IV drip to a sick calf, Hyun, still in a daze, walks toward him.
Dr. Choi skillfully ties the calf’s head to a post with a rope, calming the frightened calf while administering the drip. The startled calf flinches but settles down quietly under Dr. Choi's soothing hand.
“I’ll finish quickly. Don’t be scared.”
As Dr. Choi reassures the calf, he checks to ensure the drip is working well. He then inserts another syringe into the tube for additional fluid.
“Is everything going well, Dr. Choi?”
Hyun approaches and asks.
“Yes, everything should be fine. Once we finish the drip and stabilize it, it should start to feel better. We’ll keep an eye on it.”
“Okay…”
While replying, Hyun checks the time. He feels anxious, realizing it’s taking longer than he expected. His mother, watching from a distance, goes inside the house.
Jin Sung Fertilizer.
In Ji Soo's room, she finishes packing her bag and heads downstairs to the living room, where her aunt is waiting.
“Have you prepared everything, Ji Soo?”
“Yes, Aunt”
Ji Soo comes down to the living room.
“Are you sure you don’t want anything to eat?”
“I’m fine, Aunt…”
Ji Soo answers with a smile.
"But you're leaving now, and your uncle isn't planning to take you to the terminal. Where is he now?.. Pathetic..”
“It’s okay, aunt. It’s just nearby. It’s only a few stops on the bus. There’s no need to worry.”
“Gee..Anyway, my Ji Soo, have a good trip. Call me when you arrive, okay?”
“Yes, aunt. I’ll keep in touch.”
With that, Ji Soo grabs her bag and steps out the front door.
Hyun's Farm.
Veterinarian Dr. Choi is still administering the drip to the unwell calf, and Hyun stands nearby. He looks at his watch. It’s past 1:45. Hyun grows anxious.
“Doctor, will it take more time?’
“Ah, yes. It's all done. It should be ready to clean up soon.”
“Okay…”
Dr. Choi pulls the drip needle from the calf and starts putting away the equipment into his bag. As he heads to his car, he adds,
“Just keep an eye on its condition, and make sure it’s eating well.”
“Okay..”
“And maintain hygiene with the water and the ground.”
“Understood.”
Just as they reach the car, Dr. Choi remembers,
“Oh, I left the ultrasound machine in front of the barn. I’ll go ge.…”
“I’ll bring it, Doctor.”
Before Dr. Choi finishes speaking, Hyun runs toward the barn with all his might, surprising Dr. Choi. Shortly after, Hyun returns, carrying the small ultrasound machine.
“This is it, right, Dr. Choi?”
Breathless, Hyun asks.
“Yes, that’s correct… I could have gone…”
“No, thank you for today, Dr. Choi.”
“Okay, please observe the condition of the cattle well and contact me anytime, Mr. Kim.”
As Dr. Choi gets into his SUV car, he says.
“Yes, understood. Thank you so much.”
“Okay, take care, Mr. Kim.”
After the farewell, Dr. Choi drives off. As soon as he leaves, Hyun calls out loudly to his mother at the entrance.
“Mother, I’ll be back shortly!”
With that, Hyun rushes to his car, quickly opens the door, starts the engine, and speeds out. Only then does his mother open the window.
“Where are you going in such a hurry? Be careful…”
With a worried look, she watches Hyun’s car speed down the road.
Inside Dr. Choi’s Car.
Dr. Choi hums a tune while driving. Suddenly, a pickup truck speeds past him, startling him.
“What the…?”
He glances at the pickup and then thinks,
“Isn’t that the Mr. Kim’s car? Where’s he off to in such a hurry?”
Hyun checks his watch, speeding down the road. Memories of the morning conversation with his mother come to mind. She had quietly asked him,
“Hyun, can you still like that person under those conditions..?”
After a moment, Hyun replied,
“Mom, if I’ve already… really, really liked someone, there shouldn’t be any conditions attached to that, right?"
Driving fast, Hyun glances at his watch. It’s 1:52. PM.
At the Same Time, at the Bus Terminal.
Ji Soo, looking at the clock, briefly glanced over in that direction and then looked at her phone. After staring at her phone for a moment, she finally boards the bus to Seoul in front of her.
Terminal Parking Lot.
Hyun jumps out of the pickup truck and looks at his phone; it reads 1:57 PM. He sprints toward the terminal where the buses are waiting. Dodging people, he rushes through the terminal hall and out to the bus stop. Just then, he sees the bus to Seoul pulling away right in front of him. He tries to chase after it, but there's no way to catch the departing bus. From his gaze, the bus gradually moves further away.
On the Bus.
Inside the bus, Ji Soo is sitting by the window, feeling helpless. She hoped, perhaps, that Hyun might show up, but he doesn't appear, and her heart aches. As the bus begins to leave the terminal, tears begin to fall from Ji Soo's eyes. She misses him so much. The thought suddenly rises from deep within her heart.
She wants to get off the bus immediately and run to him, but thinking of how her actions would only make things harder for him in the future, she struggles to calm herself. She tells herself, ‘This will be for the best for him.’ But she can't stop the tears from flowing. His touch, his smile, and the warm look in his eyes as he gazed at her... Already, she misses him so much.
Then, a voice from another passenger breaks the silence.
“Who’s running like that? It's dangerous…”
At those words, Ji Soo, eyes full of tears, turns her head to look out the window. In the distance, she sees someone running toward the bus. As the bus is waiting at a red light before leaving the city, someone is running along the sidewalk. It’s Hyun! He’s running toward the bus caught at the traffic light. Shocked, Ji Soo presses her face against the window to see him more clearly.
“Hyun…”
She calls his name in a low, pained voice. Just then, Ji Soo’s phone rings. Hyun, standing on the sidewalk, is calling her from outside the bus window.
“Hyun…”
She answers the phone, calling his name with a trembling voice, tears in her eyes. Hyun speaks, breathlessly.
‘Will you… come back again…?’
Hyun's voice was heard through the phone. Ji Soo asks with a voice soaked in tears.
“…What..?”
‘Will you… come back here..again?’
“Hyun…”
At his words, Ji Soo chokes up, unable to speak. Just then, the traffic light turns green. The bus is about to depart again. Over the phone, Hyun’s voice echoes.
‘I’ll miss you... Ji Soo…!’
Ji Soo, holding the phone, looks out the bus window at Hyun, standing on the sidewalk.
‘I’ll miss you… Ji Soo.!’
Hyun says once more.
“Hyun…”
“Come see me… Come back to see me…”
“…..”
As those words are heard, the bus is slowly starting to depart. Hyun, breathing heavily, speaks loudly into the phone again.
“Come see me! Come back to see me, Ji Soo!”
Then, after a moment, her voice comes through the phone.
“I’ll come… I’ll come back.. to see you, Hyun…”
And the bus continues to pull away, slowly growing more distant.
Just then, a cool breeze from the forest brushes past Hyun, carrying the scent of the forest with it. Amid the bustling city, surrounded by many people and buses, only Hyun and Ji Soo feel the peaceful fragrance of the flowers, an intimate, comforting scent from the forest.
<The End of the story in Track 6>