Page 23 of Perfect Happiness
“They’re chasing after us,” Yuna shouted as she struggled to keep up with him.
Eun-ho wrapped his arms around Yuna’s shoulders as they burst through the front gate of Nikita House.Once inside, he used his back to push the heavy wooden door shut.Just as the door shut, they could hear dogs ramming up against the door.From their barking, Eun-ho could guess at least four dogs had followed them here.
It took a while for the dogs to quiet down.As they waited for the dogs to retreat, Eun-ho held Yuna’s shoulders as he leaned against the door, even though there was no reason for them to wait like this, with their bodies glued to each other for so long.
“There goes my Nuga Bar, I guess,” Yuna said as she freed herself from Eun-ho’s embrace.
Eun-ho dropped his arms in an awkward, delayed manner.“There go my peanuts.”
Nikita House was less a hotel than it was a collection of bungalows.The administration office was located at the entrance to the hotel, and guest rooms were located in independent huts.Judging from the way the paths diverged, it looked like a large resort.
“Where’s your room?”Eun-ho asked.
Yuna led him along a path to the right of the office.Her hut was opposite a café.Eun-ho stopped in front of her door.This was his moment to say something—something that could connect them.He needed to ask her for her number or make an excuse to see her tomorrow.
“I bet they sell ice cream at that café.But I doubt they’ll carry Nuga Bars.”
Eun-ho pointed to the café which was still open.
Yuna let out a slight laugh.“I don’t know.You don’t think we’ll run into another pack of dogs, do you?”
Unfortunately, they were chased out of the café as soon as they stepped inside.The café was closing, the employee said.
Now there was no reason for them to stay together anymore, no place for them to be together.They couldn’t huddle together in a flurry of snow, and yet he couldn’t suggest they cuddle up in her warm room together.Eun-ho decided it was time for him to go.It was better to gain her trust than it was to scratch an itch.
“I was thinking of going on a northern tour tomorrow,” Eun-ho said.“Do you want to come with?”
“Only if you buy me a Nuga Bar,” she replied as soon as he asked.
The next day, Jinu suffered from a bad hangover that included headaches and vomiting and was incapable of joining Eun-ho and Yuna, let alone leaving the hotel.
On his way to Nikita House by himself, Eun-ho brought Yuna another Nuga Bar.He practically danced down the sunny street, which was now free of hungry dogs.
There are times when everything just seems to work out.Times when it seems like the heavens have big plans for you.This was one of those times.Eun-ho felt like the universe was sending him a sign.Fate had helped him last night by sending him vodka, a Nuga Bar, and a pack of hungry dogs.
*
“Dad!”
Noah opened the front door and ran out to see Eun-ho, who was just getting out of the elevator.
“Noah.”
Eun-ho caught Noah and lifted him into the air.Noah’s five-year-old body lifted into the air as if gravity had momentarily been turned off.Noah’s arms and legs, which were constricting Eun-ho’s neck and waist, were as thin as the stem of a cosmos flower.His heart was racing like a small rabbit’s heart, and his breathing was irregular, as though he had just run for gold at the Olympics.
Eun-ho had been lost in thought the entire drive over, but now he was abruptly brought back to reality.He had almost forgotten that his son had asthma, that he was a shitty father who was incapable of raising his own son.
“Did you miss Daddy?”Eun-ho asked with his face pressed up against Noah’s cheek.
“Yes,” Noah said before immediately launching into a question.“Dad, in forty days, I can join a soccer team, right?”
Eun-ho didn’t know what he meant.Noah leaned back to look Eun-ho in the eye.There was a shadow of apprehension pulled over his clear, black pupils.
“Forty, right?Or forty-one?You said I could go when I turned six!”
Had he said that?Eun-ho frantically searched his memory.He had no recollection of making such a promise.
“That’s what the doctor said last time.”
