Summer Night's Dream
Episode 10 - Chuu Day

Nara walks out of her room after replying to Ji-Ho's message last night. "You still here?" He was surprised to find Chul Goo still there, sitting in the living room eating cereal alone. Chul Goo just nodded. Then Nara took the cereal in the kitchen, mixed it with milk in a bowl and joined Chul Goo beside her.

"I'm bored. Let's go on a date," a voice came out of Chul Goo's mouth as he spoke.

Nara made an 'ok' mark with her finger, instantly agreeing. He knew when Chul Goo said 'dating', the meaning of the word was not the real meaning and only a joke. Chul Goo just wants to be accompanied somewhere because he is bored and does not want to go alone. In addition, actually Nara also wanted to invite him out, because he felt guilty for rejecting Chul Goo this morning, even though Chul Goo had come very early. That's why he told Ji-Ho to meet tomorrow.

A message from Ji-Ho returns as they eat cereal in silence. Nara smiled happily again, for the umpteenth time today, even though the day still counted early. He was very happy to get a second chance, a chance to go on the road with his idol. Perhaps God was sorry to see her so frustrated after rejecting Ji-Ho's first invitation. Oh, and this time Ji-Ho doesn't say that her invitation is a date, which is why Nara also immediately accepts it. At least because Ji-Ho doesn't mention dating, her heart doesn't get so overburdened. Well, let's just say they're going for a regular walk, as a friend, as he's going to do with Chul Goo today. Nara typed in her reply, “Ok, I will send you my address later. I'll go with Chul Goo today. He asked me to accompany him somewhere,”

In just a few seconds, a reply appeared again, “Chul Goo? Seo Chul Goo's? Your friend last night? Where are you going?”

Nara pensively reads Ji-Ho's reply. True, he did not know Chul Goo would take him anywhere. "Seo Chul Goo, where are we going?" nara asked at last while slowly elbowing the arm of Chul Goo who was still busy eating.

"There was. Somewhere. Relax, not some strange place. Trust me, you must like it" Chul Goo replied as he chewed. Nara only snorted at the ambiguous answer of her friend. But he did not ask further. He was sure it would be a waste if he asked again.

“Iya, that one. I don't know either. He hasn't told me anything,”

Nara put her phone on the table and brought her bowl to put and the sink after her meal. "I'll be ready now. Wait for me," he shouted as he walked into the room.

After 30 minutes, they were in Chul Goo's car, ready to go. "Where are we going?" nara asked again. He put his seatbelt on and turned to Chul Goo who was ready to go by hand on the steering wheel.

"Secret," Chul Goo flickering one eye made Nara moan amusedly and finally shut her mouth.

Chul Goo just laughed at Nara's reaction. He wanted the place they were going to be a surprise for Nara. He found this place after struggling to find it on the internet last night. The last remaining summer festival in August. Each season, Seoul will be bombarded with a variety of festivals, but usually held only at the beginning of the season. The summer festival for this year takes place on average from the beginning to the end of June, while it is now in July, so most of the festivals are over and rarely held. But fortunately Chul Goo got information about this one remaining festival and could take Nara there. Nara would have liked it. That's what Chul Goo thinks.

"So, should I close my eyes or what about this surprise?"

"Nope. Not necessary. You don't know how to walk in Seoul" Chul Goo tongue-tied, mocking Nara.

"Ha-ha is so funny," Nara laughed sarcastically in reply.

Chul Goo laughed again. She is happy to meet Nara through this program. Despite only meeting Nara a week ago, he felt very close to this girl - yes, even though they had often spoken via text since 2 months ago. He feels compatible with Nara, the conversation even jokes they always connect. And again, he really likes to see Nara's expression as she starts to annoy or humiliate him. It makes him very nervous.

"We've arrived?" nara asked as Chul Goo pulled her car over after driving for about 20 minutes.

"Yet. We gotta get out of here,"

They got out of the car and started walking. Nara still had no idea where they were going. The place where Chul Goo parked his car was next to the pedestrian sidewalk, and on the other side of the sidewalk was lined with various kinds of cafes and restaurants. It seems like nothing special.

After walking a few meters, suddenly Nara can hear the sound of loud music not far from them. The voice was mixed with the sound of the screams and cheers of many people. Nara felt that something was wrong, her heart becoming a beat faster. He grabbed Chul Goo's sleeve to stop the man's footsteps.

"Why? Come on, we're almost there" Chul Goo lowered Nara's hand from her sleeve and clasped the hand that had begun to cool down. He leads Nara to follow in his footsteps, "Come,"

The sound of music and the crowd of people grew louder and louder, it seemed like they would soon arrive in the crowd. Nara closed her eyes. He could feel through Chul Goo's hands as they swerved to the left. The sound of the drum beating approached Nara's ears many times. He opened his eyes and there it all was. Music, stage, people, crowds, cheers, dances, drum beats, festivals, and Nara are in the middle of it all. His breathing became quick and shallow. He could feel his legs squeezing, so he wrapped his hands around Chul Goo's arms.

"You okay?" Chul Goo realizes that something strange is happening to Nara. Nara's hand on her arm trembled.

"Please," that's all that can come out of Nara's mouth right now. He looked at Chul Goo with his eyes beginning to glaze over.

"Well, let's go somewhere else" Chul Goo takes Nara's hand off her arm and turns to embrace Nara and take her away from the festival. "How about we eat tteokbokki ? There's one store near here that sells delicious tteokbokki, "Chul Goo's trying to distract Nara from whatever she's going through right now. Nara nodded her head in agreement.

They continued walking for 15 minutes with Chul Goo who did not stop chattering and joking about any topics that came to his mind to calm Nara down. Nara could laugh now that the memory of the festival had begun to erode from her mind.

"Hmm.it looks like you just wait here," Chul Goo stopped and pointed to a bench not far from them. Nara looked around, but she did not see any tteokbokki shops around them. Now they are among the rows of shops on the left and right side of the pedestrian street.

"Tteokbokkinya shop behind this shop," Chul Goo seemed to be able to read Nara's mind from her gestures."But this hour must be a long queue. And it looks like the store is full if we want to eat inside, and still have to queue. So you just wait here while I buy that take away,"

"OK, alright," Nara smiled with gratitude. "Thank you Chul Goo-ya,"

Chul Goo just nodded with a warm smile back, then half ran away from Nara to go to the shop she meant.

Nara sat on the bench that Chul Goo meant, alone, waiting for Chul Goo to return. His eyes looked around him. Not far from her, a child danced around with a paper plane in his hand, an old woman was preparing to open her street food store, a group of men were trying to open up to whatever event - - with desks, chairs, stereos, and posters prepared -, people were passing by, a group of High School girls walk in giggling laughter at each other. His memory drifted to a few days earlier. He remembered this place. He's been here once with Juno. He remembered Juno saying that the name of this street was Samcheongdong, and perhaps the tteokbokki shop that Chul Goo visited was Mukshidonna, one of the famous tteokbokki shops here. Juno also discussed it when they came to this street, but back then they did not go to that store.

The beep sound that signaled the incoming message resuscitated Nara from the daydream. He grabbed his phone from the bag and opened his new message. “Where are you now?” the message was from Ji-Ho.

“Di Samcheongdong,”

“What's wrong?”

“Umm...for now no. I was just waiting for Chul Goo to buy tteokbokki,”

"Good morning everyone!!" a loud shout greeting the entire people on the street shocked Nara, and probably everyone around. Nara lifted her face from her phone screen and looked for the origin of the sound. The voice came from a group of men who were preparing for an event. It was not far from him, only a few dozen meters away. This time, when everything he had seen was being prepared, a man with a mic in hand stood beside a tall poster. The poster shows a woman, who as Nara remembers is an idol star, Ji Yeon from T-Ara. In addition there is another large board that says 'Guerilla Date and Free Hug'. Nara nodded, beginning to understand what was happening.

But it was too late, many people started to gather. The area around him within a minute had already started to be filled with many people shouting Ji Yeon's name. Nara was caught in the middle of the crowd. Nara could feel her heart start to speed, she started to feel dizzy. He wanted to escape immediately from the place, but his legs felt limp. Every time he tried to stand up, his legs weakened and could not hold his own weight so he fell back. He circled his gaze trying to find Chul Goo, but could not find him, especially in the middle of the crowd. The number of people who come is increasing and now their voice is buzzing in Nara's ears like the sound of bees. Nara felt she could do nothing more. So he closed his eyes and ears and muttered the mantra he used to say.

"There's no sound... I didn't hear anything... I didn't see anybody... There is no one..."

"Nara!! Nara!! What was? What's going on?" Nara could hear Chul Goo's voice now. Slowly he opened his eyes and saw Chul Goo kneeling before him with both hands perched on his shoulders.

Chul Goo's expression looked worried. Her eyes twitched left and right waiting for Nara to answer. "What's wrong?" chul Goo asked again because now through his hands he could feel Nara's trembling body.

Nara did not answer. His eyes were glazed over and not until a minute later tears started raining down his cheeks. Cry broke.

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