The Best of Tomorrow

It’s so delicious.

As I was eating, an apron was placed on the table. When I gave a questioning look, Seon-jae’s mother, who had placed the apron, said, “The broth will splash on your school uniform, so wear an apron and eat.”

“Oh, yes, thank you.” I took the apron and hung it around my neck.

Chamisul was used for cooking in every restaurant and perhaps, that’s why a lot of them were mass-bought aprons. The apron Seon-jae’s mother gave to me was the same as the one I wore at Jagam Snacks bar.

(T/N: Chamisul is a type of plum soju/alcohol, used in cooking.)

I fastened the apron and held the spoon near my lips. I carefully placed the radish kimchi on top of rice and scooped the miso soup with a small amount of chili peppers.

I covered my mouth, biting into the sour kimchi. At that moment, one more dish with fried sausages and eggs, was placed on the table.

“It’s supposed to be served only once, but this one’s on the house.”

“Oh, my. Thank you.”

I can’t believe Seon-jae’s mother gave me a free meal. I jumped out of my seat and bowed my head.

Seon-jae’s mother waved her hand as if it was nothing much. “Does it taste good?”

“Yes, it’s very delicious!” I placed down the spoon and raised my thumb.

“I’ve never seen a customer eat so happily. I feel good.”

Listening to those words, I thought I should eat more.

“Are you a high school student?”

“Yes.”

“These days, don’t the students eat a lot of hamburgers and not haejangguk?”

“Oh, I like beef bibimbap (mixed [veggies, egg, and meat] cooked rice), seonjiguk (ox blood soup), and boned haejangguk (hangover soup) the most.”

Seon-jae’s mother laughed heartily, when I recited the names of the food I like with wide eyes.

“You have similar taste to mine. If you go further from this alley, there’s a Korean beef butcher. Yukhoe bibimbap there is really good. Have a meal there next time.”

I nodded as if I would visit the restaurant tomorrow. If I had a notebook and a pen, I would have written down the name of the restaurant.

“I think you are about the same age as my son. I wish he had a girlfriend like you,” She let out a sigh.

My mouth dropped open. I quickly covered it and blushed. “No, I wouldn’t dare.” I placed my hands on my cheeks, remembering the word, ‘girlfriend’.

“Hehe,” I said with a stupid smile, and lifted the spoon to eat.

Auntie, I’ll be the one to come to this restaurant and bow down to thank you for giving birth to Ryu Seon-jae, in the near future.

I apologise in advance for crossing the line.

I opened my previously shut eyes and swallowed the morsel.

The door of the restaurant opened while I was absorbed in eating.

“Auntie, I’m here!”

I, who was dipping chili pepper in the miso soup, saw who had come in and almost spewed everything I had in my mouth.

It was Baek In-hyuk.

My hands lost their strength and dropped the chili pepper. I couldn’t find it again, so I raised my apron and hid my face.

I’m done for.

This time, it was actually a misunderstanding!

I knew this place was Seon-jae’s, but I didn’t come to see him. Ryu’s ‘Haejangguk’ was really delicious, and I wanted to eat something like that today.

That’s all!

Now Baek In-hyuk saw me eating here, if he informs Ryu Seon-jae, ‘Hey, I saw her eating at your restaurant.’ And this was what Ryu Seon-jae would think. I knew his secondhand country ID, I even knew the restaurant his parents run.

I couldn’t swallow what I had in my mouth and almost cried.

“In-hyuk, you want to eat?”

“I already ate at school.”

“You don’t have practice today, do you?”

“Yes, today is my day off.”

I quickly packed my bag and covered my face with the apron. I took a sip of soda and took out my wallet. Cider was 1,000 won and bone soup was 7,000 won, but there’s only 10,000 won in my wallet. I couldn’t help but put 10,000 won on the table and got up.

When I slowly walked to the door and grabbed the handle, someone pulled the door from the outside. As I was holding the handle, I was pulled along with the door and my head hit the chest of the person who opened the door.

I lowered my head and saw the feet of the person standing in front of me. White sneakers, gray school uniform pants. The person who stood close to me smelled of lilac.

It was the smell of Ryu Seon-jae’s gym suit.

Seon-jae, yes.

My face stiffened at the thought of encountering someone I shouldn’t meet. With my head lowered, as I moved to the right, Seon-jae also moved in the same direction. Then I didn’t move anymore. So this time, I moved to the left, but Seon-jae moved in the same direction.

There was a strange silence. I felt like he was staring at me.

“This.”

Seon-jae raised his hand to point at the apron that covered my face.

I breathed in with a gasp. I ran quickly with my face covered with the apron.

“Huh? She is running with the apron.” It was Baek In-hyuk’s voice.

Someone jumped and it seemed to follow me. I sped up my pace and ran faster.

‘Auntie, I’ll definitely return your apron! I didn’t steal it!’

Although I left Ryu’s restaurant, I continued to run. The apron I was holding fell from my hand, got caught around my neck, and fluttered like a cloak.