goreme valley

"where's the other female tour guide?"

doyoung and i return back late, now because of my own mistake. i could feel donghyun's anger arising as we get closer to reaching the surface, and the more i felt it the less i wanted another breath of fresh air. i'd rather stay underground.

"yah, i asked you to make sure he comes up in time! why is it so hard for you to do such a simple task?!" he scolds me merciless.

doyoung eagerly takes my side. "give her a break."

"maybe you should give her a break." he has now lost his patience, tempering on a disobedient customer. "you have been giving her a hard time, you know that? why don't you listen?"

"yah, it's not his fault." i resort to clarify. "i fell, my toes were numb, we took a short break."

"you know, this is why i never take you to cappadocia." he scoffs. "just rest. driver! take us to göreme."

i usually sit with donghyun during our bus trips, but for now i sat alone.

doyoung? he always sits alone.

i took care of the room keys for the residents of göreme valley. from the single rooms of broke travelers to grand complexes for families of four.

"yeah, here's your keys, thank you~"

"the twin beds are unavailable. would you mind the double bed instead? yes? okay. here you go."

"hm. where is kim doyoung-ssi—"

"yes?" doyoung suddenly appears with the familiar luggage of his.

i lend him the last key. "you've booked for the single bed. the only one in this group to book this type of room is you."

he smiles. "you're not being very honest."

"and why is that?"

"obviously you've booked for the single bed too, right?"

i simper. "wrong. i'm not even gonna sleep here."

"wait, what?"

"i'll be staying at a small inn close to the complex. it's suitable for cheapskates and penniless tour guides like me."

"but you can still stay here, right? are there any rooms available?"

"doyoung-ssi, i have no intentions of sleeping here on the first place."

he pauses. "would you mind to stay just for a moment? come to my room with me?"

i raise my eyebrow in suspicion. "excuse me?"

"nothing, it's just.. i would like to express my fascination, but recently i have realized that i don't like taking to.. myself."

"so you're lonely?"

"i am.. in dire need of attention."

"you're hilarious."

"i'm just being despicably honest."

"and i'm just gonna be extremely selfish," i concede. "i had too many plot progressions for today, and i am exhausted. i had my fun following you around for today, kim doyoung-ssi, so now please allow me to have some time for myself."

he nods. "i understand."

"thank you, for not disappearing." i say to him, expressing my gratitude. "and thank you for saving me in the tunnels earlier on."

"it's my pleasure," he grins. "i'll be keeping my excitement grounded until i see you again,"

"why?"

"because you are the only one who doesn't mind me expressing my captivation towards relatively obscure things."

i laugh. "bold of you to assume such personality from me, but it's nonetheless suits me a lot. i'll take it."