Yuldong Lake

(10:45am)

I'm gonna die.

"Gwaenchanha?" asked Jin Yeong from beside me, his tone amused.

"Are we really gonna do this?" I panted, which was weird because I didn't even run to be out of breath like this.

"Oh," he nodded. "Unless you're too scared to take up this challenge."

I narrowed my eyes at him suspiciously.

"You're using reverse psychology on me," I pointed out.

"Not sure," he shrugged, looking away. "Am I?"

I rolled my eyes. "Fine, let's get this over with."

I caught him smile, before he said, "You don't have to do this. No one's forcing you to jump."

"Shut up, Jin Yeong –"

He raised an eyebrow, waiting for me to finish my sentence.

"– oppa." I chinned up determinedly. "I'm doing this."

One of the staff called to us and spoke in Korean. Jin Yeong chuckled, before replying to him. The rest of the people in this eighty plus story metal thing burst out laughing and it sucked because I didn't even get the joke since I haven't learned full Korean yet.

See, we were going bunjee jumping. I couldn't even remember agreeing to this. But somehow, we ended up here. I honestly think I'd prefer sky diving to this.

Apparently here in South Korea, when couples have dates, it's the job of the guys to prepare the whole itinerary of the said date. That doesn't sound too bad, right? The thing is, though, I don't like surprises. Especially ones that could lead to my death.

As I pouted, not bothering to hide my uneasiness, I felt Jin Yeong's eyes on me.

"Wae?" I muttered, trying to fight the temptation of peeking down.

"Ajussi told us to wrap our arms around each other," he told me a-matter-of-factly. "He said it's the best way to brace the impact."

I frowned. "Ah."

With a smirk, Jin Yeong opened his arms wide. I almost snorted. If he thought I was gonna be shy about this, he should think again. I practically skipped several stages of friendship with him already and quickly advanced to comfy close friend status (I've seen his abs).

I rolled my eyes at him, and played it cool in hopes of hiding my rising giddiness. I stepped towards him and placed my arms around his waist.

"You better be right about this," I told him.

He is super warm.

He chuckled, wrapping his arms around me.

"What's the worst that could happen?"

"The rope might tear and we die," I answered, without skipping a beat.

"I am in awe of your optimism."

"I know, right?" I said sarcastically.

Why wouldn't the nerves go away?

He let out another chuckle. "You ready?"

Closing my eyes, I tightened my hold on him and took deep breaths. My heart was beating so hard and so fast. I wasn't sure which part of me dominated, the excited-I'm-trying-new-things part or the scared-so-much-I-might-beep-in-my-pants part.

"Game," I nodded.

"Let's count to three, then."

Together, we counted, "Hana – du – se!"

Like I said, this wasn't a Kdrama. No scripted yell of 'I love you' as we fell to our death. Well, okay. Not really death. But it sure felt like it. Imagine when we jumped, all poise trained within me was utterly forgotten.

And I screamed bloody murder.

All I could hear from Jin Yeong was his laugh. At least, based on the vibrations of his chest, it felt like a bunch of laughs – mostly directed at me, no doubt.

I seriously couldn't remember all the profanities I shrieked. I just closed my eyes and hugged Jin Yeong like a freaking koala bear – yeah, with the arms and legs wrapped around him.

Goodbye, dignity.

But then, he put a hand on the back of my head and he braced my face against his chest as we bounced up and down again.

Oh, my God.

Feels overload.

. . .

"I felt like I was gonna die!" I exclaimed, as Jin Yeong pulled me up from the boat.

We were back at the docks, safe and still in one piece. It was such a rush!

"But it was fun," I admitted.

He laughed and turned to me. "Wanna go again?"

I pretended to think about it. "Uh, nah. Once is good enough."

He smirked. "Thought so."

We removed the safety gears and belts, giving them to the ajussi who sorta rescued us before we headed back to the main building.

"Jin Yeong oppa~" I sang, tugging his arm.

"Oh?"

I gave him my most pitiful look, and said, "Baegopa." I'm hungry.

He looked thoughtful for a second. "Do you like seafood?"

"I love sushi?" I offered, because I didn't really like most kinds of seafood.

He grinned. "Nado." Me, too.

I practically bounced on my feet from the excitement.

"Let's go for that!" Then, I remembered something I watched from a Kdrama, and my eyes twinkled in delight. "I wanna try eating a live baby octopus."

His eyes widened as he stared at me in disbelief.

"Jinjja?" Really?

"Ne," I answered seriously.

He kept his eyes on me for some more before his face turned calculating, like he was trying to figure me out again.

"Jinjjaru!" I repeated, laughing.

He nodded. "Ara." Got it.

"Gaja?" I asked excitedly.

He released a smile, like I was the most interesting thing he ever encountered. Of course, that could just be me imagining things.

"Oh," he said.

And so, we went to a seafood restaurant and I let Jin Yeong order for me. It was more of a fish market place. Maybe that was why he asked me if I was cool about eating here, but honestly it didn't bother all that much. Like I said, everything about South Korea fascinated me. 

Oh, and he also ordered the octopus thing. I heard it was a delicacy. It was supposed to be cut to pieces while it was alive, then people eat the tentacles – while they were moving. 

We shall see if it lives up to its tale.

"Are you ready for this?" he asked me, when the food arrived.

"Of course!"

From my peripheral vision, I could see him studying my face as I picked up my chopsticks. I ignored him and checked out the plate of tentacles. I wonder what it would taste lik – 

Oh, my God! It moved! It just moved!

It was as if that one tiny movement triggered the rest, because they were all suddenly squirming. I could only stare in awe.

Whoa. This is so cool.

"You're supposed to eat it," said Jin Yeong teasingly.

That snapped me out of my reverie, reaching out and trying to pick up one but the metal chopsticks were just too slippery. Urgh. I was too hungry for this.

Can I just ditch the chopsticks and use my fingers instead?

Jin Yeong raised a hand. "Jeogiyo!" Excuse me!

When the Ajumma came to us, he asked something in Korean. She nodded, bowed, and left. And then, she came back with a couple of wooden chopsticks.

"Kamsahamnida," I said gratefully, as I took the chopsticks from her. Holding this kind of wooden chopsticks reminded me so much of Japan – of my second home. It was comforting.

Finally, I was able to pick up a small (moving) tentacle and bring it to my mouth without hesitation. I chewed . . . and chewed . . . and chewed. It was like gum.

With an elbow on the table and a hand on his cheek as he watched me, he said with an amused expression, "You can dip it in the sauce, you know."

I swallowed first, before replying, "I like to take things as they are. No complications."

"But sometimes, you need to spice things up." He tilted his head, the corner of his lips turning up. "You never know how incredible some things are when they're unexpected."

"How can you be sure?" I asked.

He stared into my eyes, his expression so warm that I wanted to melt right then and there. And when he spoke, I swear it took all of me not to jump on him and smother him with my hug.

"I'm experiencing it right now."

With my heart beating fast, I could hardly think. But in the end, I managed to get rid of my nerves and reply with barely more than a whisper.

"Nado." Me, too.

At that, his face lit up as his lips stretched into a smile.

"Joh-eun." Good.

_____________

Ermehgerd! XD

Dedicated to toyangestimo for her comment last chapter! Thanks to all who commented about Jin Yeong! How about Yuki now? ;)