Page 88 of You Had Me At Annyeong!
‘Well, an urban myth, so to speak.’
Haneul doesn’t care much for such things but knows Timira will feel better once she has gotten it off her chest.
‘What sort of myth?’
‘Um, it is said that couples who walk along this wall are fated to break up.’ Timira looks AND sounds sad as she speaks the words.
Haneul smiles.
She thinks we are a couple!
‘Why are you smiling?’
‘Well …’ Haneul isn’t sure of what to say. He’s unable to hide his happiness.
‘Well, not that you and I are a couple …’ Timira mumbles.
Can she read my mind?Haneul wonders.
‘If we are not a couple, then why are you worried about the myth? It’s just some silly rumour anyway!’ Haneul is now teasing.
Timira fumbles for words and speaks in a small voice.
‘You are right. I should not be worri—’
Timira doesn’t get to finish her sentence. Haneul grabs her hand and grasps it tightly with his before bringing it up to his face and kissing it.
‘We won’t break up.’
Timira’s heart misses several beats even though her brain tries to reason that since they aren’t together, they cannot really break up. But when has reason won against the heart?
Oh, lord. I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe. My head, my head, why is it spinning so hard? I should sit before I pass out. Is this really happening?
They have now reached the banks of the Han River. Timira can feel the water in the air. As they approach the river, voices reach her ears. A slight din at first that later turns into a cacophonous riot. The sweet smell of cotton candy and the spicy aroma of tteokbokki fill up her nose and engulf her senses. They have been walking for a while now.
‘Say, Timira, shall we sit here and get some rest?’
Timira is relieved to hear the words. She hasn’t walked such a distance in a long, long time.
Timira nods her assent and they head towards the benches right by the river, beyond the grassy mound where adults lie sprawled about and children play.
They find an empty bench and Timira quickly parks her posterior.
‘Will you be okay by yourself for a couple of minutes? I’ll go grab us some coffee. It’s colder by the water than elsewhere in the city. I’d hate for you to catch a chill.’
No man other than her father has ever shown such concern for her. Timira is naturally awed and can only look at Haneul in amazement.
‘I’ll be back in a jiffy, okay? Sit tight!’
Timira nods as though she is in a trance. Haneul starts to walk away but stops and turns back only a few steps later.
‘It’s very chilly. This’ll keep you warm,’ he says to Timira, wrapping his overcoat around her.
What a cute burrito she looks like, he thinks to himself as Timira blinks her big, button-like eyes out of all the layers she’s covered in, feeling more bewildered than ever.
This guy is straight out of a book! Or a drama! How can any of this be real? If it’s too good, it must not be real.
She pinches her cheek. As hard as her near-frozen fingers would allow.
