The Smile You Bring Me

Comforted

Ji Pyeong opened the door on the passenger seat and removed his gift for Dal Mi before he let her in. He called a chauffeur service before he entered the car because he had consumed too much alcohol for him to drive. As Ji Pyeong hung up, he saw Min Ah laughing inside the car, "why is she laughing?" he asked himself.

 "Why are you laughing?" he asked when she joined her inside.

"Did you see his face when you suddenly appeared?" she answered with a fake laugh, and tears were building in the corners of her eyes.

Ji Pyeong stayed quiet and let her talk more.

"It's funny how he stayed quiet even after you lectured him! It's so not him!" she relayed.

"Maybe he knew that I was right. That's why he didn't say anything," he said.

Suddenly, a man knocked on the window, and the driver he called arrived. Ji Pyeong and Min Ah transferred into the back seat.

"Where are we going, Sir?" the driver asked.

Ji Pyeong looked at Min Ah and asked where she lived, "Where do you live? I will drop you there," he said.

"You want to go for round two at my place?" she offered.

Ji Pyeong agreed, and they headed to Min Ah's apartment.

******************

At Min Ah's apartment.

Min Ah prepared their soju and snack while Ji Pyeong was in the living room and looked at the pictures on display.

"Wow! I remember this!" Ji Pyeong said— in awe —as he pointed to an old photo of them together.

Min Ah smiled as she joined Ji Pyeong in the living room. "Yeah! that was our first night together!" she candidly said as she placed bottles of alcoholic drinks on the table. 

Ji Pyeong turned red. Then, Min-Ah sat on the floor, and she told him to sit down —he obeyed and sat opposite her. 

"Why are....?" Ji Pyeong asked first. But Min Ah cut him, "Enough about me! Why were you in the pub? alone?" she asked.

He didn't answer and drank his cup.

"Is it about Dal Mi?" Min Ah took a wild guess.

Ji Pyeong smirked at himself, "I made the stupidest decision to help her win back Nam Do San," he stated and indulged himself in more alcohol.

Min-Ah could see how that decision brought Ji Pyeong pain.

"Don't be too hard on yourself! Knowing you! You probably only think of Dal Mi," she consoled him.

"I am not a good person as you think I am. I am not a martyr. But you know, when I saw her looking down because Do San rejected her. Although it hurts me knowing that her heart still belongs to him, I can't afford to see her that way," he said. And he took another shot of soju.

"Do you regret helping her?" she asked.

"Regret it? Of course! I did...very much. But I think I'll regret it more if I didn't," he said while he laughed at himself.

"Sometimes I hate your selflessness!" she— honestly— said to him and drank too.

Ji Pyeong looked dreamy as he talked to her.

"Back then, those letters we exchanged together; were my only source of strength to go on with my life. But because of me, she was hurt. I feel regretful about that. Since then—I promised myself to protect her. Even if it means I might be hurt in the process. I know: seeing her smile will also make me happy. And it will also make halmeoni happy. You know that she's my only family,"

Min-Ah became 'jealous' in a way when she heard him.

"You know! Sometimes I wanted to ask my parents: why didn't they name me Dal Mi? Or will my life be different if my name is Dal Mi?" she said.

"Why? I like your name Min Ah. 'Min' for smart and 'Ah' for beautiful, which suits you well." 

"If my name is Dal Mi, I think I will have more luck in love!" she said, and she laughed at her words.

Ji Pyeong was already very drunk. Min-Ah was also drunk, but she still could think straight.

Ji Pyeong moved closer to Min Ah, "what are you talking about?" he said. 

He held her face. Both of them became silent as they looked into each other eyes. He wanted to kiss her, but she stopped him, "This is not right!" she said.

*******************************

In the morning, Ji Pyeong woke up in a different place with a bad hangover from last night.

"Are you awake? Here, drink this!" Min Ah gave him a hangover medicine.

Ji Pyeong didn't hesitate and drank the bottle.

"Last night...did I do...something I am not supposed to do?" he carefully asked.

"You don't remember?" she mocked.

Ji Pyeong shook his head, "I am too drunk! Sorry! If I did something inappropriate last night," he said, ashamed of himself.

"I don't remember what happened last night either. But I am sure: that nothing you're worried about happened," she assured. 

She placed a bowl of hangover soup, haejangguk, on the table for Ji Pyeong. He somehow relaxed and dug into the food she prepared.

"You're such a nice cook!" he complimented.

"Thank You!" she replied.

After Ji Pyeong ate breakfast with Min-Ah, he said goodbye to her. And he also went back to his apartment. He felt energetic going to work at Sandbox. Though he doesn't remember everything that happened that night, he clearly remembers how he felt comforted by her.