Lessons From Romance

Break

So Namjoo's father was no longer on earth. Luhan could only imagine how she was feeling and he felt even sorrier for her. Namjoo wasn't a reckless one nor would she do anything without thinking all the possibilities through, but after Kai's leave he wasn't sure about that anymore. Learning about her father without enough time to cope with losing Kai, he was pretty sure Namjoo wasn't in a good state.

Hadn't she told him more than once that all she had was Kai alone?

If he was no longer here, no one would go after her. Her so called 'hero' had left his post, he recalled her crying.

"Depressing idiot," he muttered underneath his breath turning around the bend toward wherever it was her father's home was located.

It took half the day into half the night to reach that quiet village surrounded by tall green grass swaying with the wind. Seeing that the road up ahead was too thin for his car to come up and come back down he did the only option left; parking his car at the very side of the village. Other than his vehicle he didn't see any others in sight so deeming that he was safe from theft walked away from it.

The birds were only starting to croak, but he could smell the aroma of food preparation and steaming rice drifting through the countryside air. It was definitely different out here than in the city. How would he describe it...refreshing...clean?

The home she passed looked like little toy models on a set, all identical in size and shape. As he neared a home with a dog sleeping outside the voice of a mother speaking to her husband became visible to his ears. So the villagers were up after all. Where was Namjoo's father's home?

Luhan had expected his home to be one of those he'd passed, but after pausing by to ask a passing man about Kim Hyu Woo he was told to walk all the way north till he saw a gateless home. As the modern homes disappeared from sight Luhan felt as if he were walking into some kind of dense forested area. The dirt became even more plenty and the aroma of herbs and greens wafted his way.

After a few numerous steps he finally paused and turned to peer into the barren yard of the first farmer's home. Luhan allowed his eyes to trace every inch of the traditional home in this worn down environment, the pale walls streaked with dirt and cobwebs. The sheds on either side didn't look in any better shape compared to the home. It was just a sad house.

He suddenly thought about how heartbroken Namjoo had been when she'd first glanced at the home. To know her father lived her by himself until he passed.

"Namjoo?" He called out.

No one answered him, so he stepped forward and knocked on the door. Dust filtered onto his hand and withdrew it back to shake them off.

"Namjoo, are you there?"

Luhan was about to slide the door open when a voice caught him from behind, "Who are you?"

He spun around to see a woman with tanned skin and hair pulled back into a strict bun, peering at him curiously.

"I asked who you are young man," the woman sounded almost threatening.

"Oh...I'm," Luhan began a little flustered, "uh...have you seen a girl come by here? Her father used to live here."

The woman's eyes lit up in recognition of his explanation, "Namjoo?"

"Ah...yes...she's my friend," Luhan explained, "do you know if she's still here?"

"I saw her walking out this morning. She's probably at the ocean."

"Ocean?" Luhan repeated; his brow creasing.

He'd come all this way and Namjoo was elsewhere. After getting some directions from the woman earlier he started down a long trail winding through the woods filled with looming trees and chirping birds. Almost twice he barely tripped over some long tree root hidden underneath wild shrubs.