The Scent of Life (1)
CHAPTER 8 IS COVERED
The next day Min Hyuk said goodbye to Mr. Hong. By the end of the day, he had arrived in Seoul. Upon arriving at the apartment, he immediately called Man Se.
"Man Se" said Min Hyuk.
"Where? Already home?" ask Man Se happily.
Min Hyuk smiled hearing Man Se's voice.
"I'm on break. Clear up tonight. We'll take a walk wherever you want" Min Hyuk asked.
"Yes .. happy rest," Man Se said and hung up.
Min Hyuk hung up. Man Se smiled happily because he could meet Min Hyuk again later tonight. Man Se was at a riding club with Woo Jin.
Woo Jin came over smiling as soon as he saw Man Se who was ready with his horse. They took turns practicing riding in the arena. Both were equally great at controlling horses, and overcoming obstacles in the arena. At first Man Se was not able to ride, but with Woo Jin's guidance, Man Se can be as good as that. Min Hyuk and Seo Woo are actually also members of the riding club, but they rarely do the exercises together because of their respective busyness.
"We are racing to the hill there," Woo Jin asked as he pointed at a hill not far from Ranch.
"Come on!" man Se answered and then drove his horse out of the arena towards the hill near Ranch.
The view there is beautiful. Woo Jin and Man Se race up the hill, and Woo Jin wins. When they got there they got off the horse and sat down on the grass under the tree.
"Aaaah .. is really fun here," said Woo Jin unwinded and laid himself on the ground. Man Se smiled as he looked into the distance. The green hills lay before his eyes.
"Yes, it's beautiful here" said Man Se.
"How is your relationship with Kang Min Hyuk?" ask Woo Jin.
Man Se turned to Woo Jin.
"We've started dating. Until now it's fine. I'm not sure in the future, whether we'll be okay" said Man Se
Woo Jin sat down, then looked at Man Se.
"Come to me whenever you want. I'm ready to accompany you. Oh Man Se, I love you," said Woo Jin honestly though his heart was pounding, gathering all his courage to reveal what had been in his heart all this time to Man Se.
Man Se laughed.
"You must be kidding me. If Min Ji knew, I would have killed him."
Woo Jin smiled.
"You don't believe what I'm saying?" ask the man.
"You know how Min Ji loves you so much. I don't want to be the backstabber of my best friend" Man Se explained, "Sorry," Man Se said again, then his gaze returned to the green hills in front of him.
Woo Jin just bowed. Man Se's rejection really broke her heart right then and there. But Woo Jin is not the vengeful type. He smiled back at Man Se and rubbed Man Se's head like his own sister.
"Let's go back," Woo Jin asked.
***
Min Hyuk opens the car door, and they glide away to Dream World to see festivals, sightseeing and dinner.
At Dream World they try to ride some rides that challenge adrenaline. They screamed loudly as Roller Coster went down speeding. Eventually they got tired and sat in the garden. They look happy together.
While drinking they sit talking.
"How was the trip to Jeju? Pleasant?" ask Man Se.
Min Hyuk nodded then smiled.
"There's something for you. Wait," Min Hyuk said as he pulled something out of his pants pocket. Min Hyuk took out an ornate necklace of sapphires and shells he bought from the little girl in Jeju. Man Se smiled widely. Min Hyuk put the necklace around Man Se's neck.
"Thank you, beautiful necklace," praised Man Se while looking at Min Hyuk's hand-off necklace.
"Marry me" said Min Hyuk proposing to Man Se.
Their eyes stared at each other. Without them realizing there was someone who was taking their photo from a hidden place.
***
After Dream World, Man Se and Min Hyuk drive to a two-story building on the outskirts of the city. The building looks like an old unused restaurant. A man was waiting at the door.
"Doctor Hyun" said Min Hyuk.
Doctor Hyun smiled, then they shook hands.
"Hello," said Man Se while bowing.
"Miss Oh," Hyun Soo replied, bowing slightly, "Come on," Hyun Soo said, opening the glass door and letting them in.
Once the lights are turned on, it looks like a neatly arranged cafe room. A surprise prepared by Min Hyuk for Man Se. In the middle of the room has prepared a table with a dinner menu. Man Se was happy at the surprise Min Hyuk prepared.
Before they ate, Doctor Hyun gave them a memory book, then photographed them both using an ancient Polaroid camera. Before long the photo was ready and then inserted in a memory book that read Cafe Promise And Memories on the first page.
"It's amazing" Man Se said.
"There's something I want to show you" Min Hyuk said, giving a code.
Man Se smiled. They look at each other. Secretary Park walked into the room while carrying a map. The document was transferred to Man Se. The girl opened it. An official document to register a marriage. Man Se covered his face, in surprise.
"Oh Man Se, marry me," Min Hyuk asked while kneeling in front of Man Se.
Man Se was moved, he shed tears, then nodded. Min Hyuk smiled happily. They agreed to marry administratively, without parental consent. They hide the bond until one day it will be revealed to both parents.
"This building belongs to Doctor Hyun, but I've bought it to open a culinary business like I planned. I want to quit Kang Group and stand on my own feet" Min Hyuk explained.
Man Se was willing to accompany Min Hyuk his entire life, but there was something still stuck in his heart. Would Min Hyuk be that easy to take off his position in the Kang Group.
After dinner, Man Se and Min Hyuk enjoy a night together. Sinking in a sea of serotonin. Carving their stories behind silent walls.