Detective Jeon (2) : He, Never Left | JJK

Ch3. Pie

To the evening star, I asked
Shall I see the spark spreading love
Will it batter my heart?
Or burn it into ablazed ash. . .

~~~ ••• ~~~

[ YEOUIDO HANGANG PARK ]

Jungkook was walking on a narrow path in grass, cut out of concrete sidewalk when he heard someone calling his name from the other side of the ivy bridge area. He turned around and found Jieun smiling at him. She was wearing a black checked half shirt and beige colour trousers.

"Jal jinesseoyo?" said Jieun holding a small basket in her hand made out of bamboo and cane.

"Ne. Jal jinesseoyooo." Jungkook took the basket from Jieun in one hand and offered the other arm to hold as a sign of courtesy. Jieun placed her arm around his and they began walking over the unmetalled path. "Tell me how are you, Jieun?"

"I'm good! Completed my degree and now I'm back!"

Jungkook tilted his head towards her and said, "The question is for how long?"

"As long as I want!" she said cheerfully.

After sometime, Jieun pressed his arm in the most earnest manner possible and said, "Mianhae, Jungkook. Did I disturb you?" Jungkook made her sit beside him on their favorite park bench.

There was no such thing as 'favorite' but somehow they ended up sitting there. It not only had the best view of the Han river but there was a cherry blossom tree above it. Years ago, when Jieun was a high school student, she saw Aera sitting here for the first time. Aera was immersed in painting a landscape view. When Jieun saw that artwork, she instantly made the distinction between the beautiful rough thick brushstrokes from simple ones. What started as a chance meeting turned into Jieun joining Aera's weekly art classes at her Gangnam studio.

"Aani! I'm glad you called." Jungkook opened the basket that filled his nose with the delightful warm smell of freshly baked apple pie. "This looks good!" He took out the plates and some napkins.

"Gomawoyo!" Jieun picked up the pie and placed neatly pre-cut pieces into two plates.

Jungkook took a large bite and it melted in his mouth. "Umm... the crust is so fluffy. Well cooked! The apples inside is caramelized perfectly. Jieun, how do you keep the same consistency every time?"

"Ah! Jungkook, stop! I've been making them since I was a young child."

"Still... How perfect!" He closed his eyes and took another bite. "ee masisseoyo!" [It's delicious]

" sam phi " [ three P]

"phi?" He got confused.

"Practice, Precision, and a lot of Patience are required while baking. That's what Jimin used to say," said Jieun as she continued to take another small bite.

Jungkook waited for Jieun to finish her piece of pie then asked for another. She happily served a large portion to him. "Are you okay, Jieun?"

"Ne! Ne!" She packed the rest of the pie back in a box and carefully placed it inside the basket. Jungkook took out two fresh orange soda cans that he bought on his way to Hangang Park. He passed one to Jieun.

Both of them stayed quiet for some time and looked at the tiny waves rolling on the surface of Han river. As the sun went down, street lamps began to light up one by one like large fireflies. A pleasent breeze touched Jungkook's face and lifted his hair from the forehead. It's nice to have someone to share silence with, thought Jungkook. With Jieun he doesn't have to fill the void with nonsensical forceful chitter-chatter. A conversation without words, where the presence from each side is understood through its absence is rare indeed.