There were tons of restaurants in Koendori; the area was popular among young people and the restaurants there was serving food that was tailored to young people’s taste.
“Do you come here often?”
“No, only once.”
Gun-Ho and Mori Aikko entered a restaurant in Koendori.
“What do you want to eat?”
“Ochazuke.”
Ochazuke is a Japanese dish with cooked rice and fish—it is served with hot green tea poured on top of them.
“Do you want to drink too? Since we are wet with the rain, maybe we want a glass of sake?”
“No, I prefer Bīru (beer). Hayashi Bīru please.”
“Haha, really? Sure. I will have Bīru as well.”
Gun-Ho looked around the restaurant. The restaurant was filled with young people. He could see lots of people at Mori Aikko’s age—they were talking and laughing with their friends while enjoying the food.
‘I’m sorry, Mori Aikko.’
It was getting warm inside the restaurant. Gun-Ho thought it was a good idea to order a beer.
Gun-Ho placed a piece of blank paper on the table and started communicating with Mori Aikko by writing again. Gun-Ho started talking about his past life such as his time with military service and working at a factory in Hwaseong and Pocheon City.
“I used to be on the guard and I had to hold my rifle like this.”
Gun-Ho described his life to her by writing. He even drew some pictures to help her understand his story. Mori Aikko was all her ears while resting chin in her hand.
“Oh, it’s already 9 o’clock. Let’s go home.”
The rain was continuously pouring down.
Gun-Ho tried to grab a taxi but it wasn’t easy at this hour in the rain. After spending some time trying it, he finally grabbed a taxi.
“Let’s go to the New Otani Hotel, please.”
“Geez, you are so wet with the rain.”
The kind and old taxi driver turned on the heat for them.
The couple arrived at the hotel.
“Why don’t we go to my room first to dry you up before you go home?”
Mori Aikko seemed to hesitate.
“Don’t worry. I’m not going to bite you. Let’s go.”
Gun-Ho grabbed Mori Aikko’s wrist and led her to his room. She followed him while staggering; she seemed to be a bit drunk.
Gun-Ho had her sit on a chair in his hotel room.
“You are feeling cold, right? I will get you some hot tea.”
Gun-Ho quickly pushed the button of his electric kettle to start making boiling water.
Gun-Ho helped Mori Aikko sit straight before handing her a cup of hot tea.
Gun-Ho stared at Mori Aikko who was having the tea. Her silk blouse was wet with the rain and revealed her curvy body line. Her hair was wet and some of those hairs were stuck on her face. Gun-Ho swept those hairs up over the top of her head. He was standing so close to her that he could hear her breathing. He couldn’t resist his urge anymore and abruptly hugged her tight.
“Mori Aikko, I love you. I will protect you as long as I could breathe.”
Gun-Ho pressed his lips against Mori Aikko’s red lips. She didn’t resist but closed her eyes instead.
“I will protect you forever.”
Mori Aikko was lying down on the bed; she seemed to be exhausted. Gun-Ho started undressing her slowly, one piece by another. Finally, they spent the night together.
Mori Aikko was actually a virgin.
Gun-Ho’s bed in the New Otani Hotel room got stained in red.
It was about 3 or 4 am when Gun-Ho woke up and heard Mori Aikko weeping.
Gun-Ho brought a towel and wiped the tears off her face.
“Don’t cry, you silly girl. I told you that I will protect you forever. Don’t worry about anything.”
Gun-Ho clasped her again and kissed her hotly and for a long time.
The next morning, Gun-Ho heard Mori Aikko taking a shower.
Gun-Ho was getting dressed with Yukata while listening to her taking a shower. He thought for a moment that he wanted to marry her and live with her for the rest of his life.
Mori Aikko came out of the shower while wiping her face with a towel. She was wearing a Yukata. She smiled brightly at Gun-Ho as if she had never cried in the middle of the night earlier.
“You look prettier after the shower.”
Gun-Ho said while smiling.
Gun-Ho took a shower as well. He felt refreshed once he washed.
Once he got out of the shower, he found his room cleaned up.
“Huh? How come the room is so clean?”
It seemed that Mori Aikko cleaned Gun-Ho’s room while he was in the shower. The room was cleaned neatly and the bed was well arranged.
“You are like a Japanese woman from the Edo period.”
Gun-Ho hugged her tightly.
Gun-Ho went down to the restaurant inside the hotel with Mori Aikko to have breakfast. The breakfast was served in a buffet style.
Gun-Ho was wearing a white shirt. He sat face-to-face with Mori Aikko at the restaurant table. Mori Aikko quickly stood up, then brought a juice and a napkin for him.
“Thank you.”
As Gun-Ho smiled at Mori Aikko, she smiled back at him broadly.
Gun-Ho felt like he was a married man and was having breakfast with his wife.
“This is how I would feel like once I get married.”
Gun-Ho was wondering if he could marry someone else while leaving this little and poor bird alone.
After having breakfast and a cup of coffee, Gun-Ho sent Mori Aikko off at the hotel lobby. Mori Aikko’s hair was well arranged and she was already wearing light makeup. People at the lobby glanced at her while noticing her shiny beauty.
“I will let you know what we would do about your future through Mama-san Segawa Joonkko. This is my business card with my number on. Don’t lose it. And give me your number here.”
Mori Aikko wrote down her phone number and gave it to Gun-Ho. Gun-Ho kissed on the paper where she wrote her number down. She laughed while covering her mouth.
“I will call you.”
Gun-Ho waved his hand to her. Mori Aikko turned around before she entered the revolving door and waved back to Gun-Ho. Gun-Ho stood there while waving at her until she disappeared.
Gun-Ho went back to his room and packed his stuff to get ready to leave. He then walked out of the hotel and headed to the airport, and while doing so, he made a phone call to the Korean restaurant owner—Ji-Yeon Choi in Akasaka.
“Hi, this is Gun-Ho Goo. I met Mori Aikko yesterday, and I put her hair up.”
“Oh, really? Congratulations. You are very good, President Goo.”
“I want you to discuss the sponsorship matter of Mori Aikko with Segawa Joonkko for me.”
“People say in Korea that if you did a good job of making a good match for a couple, you would get a new suit from them.”
“Haha. Of course. I won’t forget how hard you tried to help me.”
“Haha. I’m just kidding, President Goo. I do wish you prosperity with your business. If you get Mori Aikko a place to stay, I guess you will be able to see her more often. Remember, only a hero could have a beautiful woman. Congratulations, again. Hahaha.”
On the plane back to Korea, Gun-Ho felt great. He felt like he could fly. Everything would be fine, he thought.
