Matcha Latte

Everyone has a different pace of love.

Some people burn brightly for a moment and cool down quickly,

while others fall in love slowly and maintain their warmth for a long time.

Love is not something you do with your head, but something you feel with your heart, so its pace can't be adjusted through effort.

It's not entirely impossible, but it requires tremendous sacrifice and patience from one person.

He and I had a similar pace of love.

Like walking side-by-side at a pace that wasn't breathless but not boring either.

We texted each other every day, from the moment we started work to the moment we went to bed, and sometimes we even called each other.

Through this process, we were able to explore each other, and when we found "Oh! You too? Me too!" we were so happy that our hearts clicked.

On days when we worked late, he would drive me home,

and on weekends, we would have brunch at a cafe nearby.

We met five times and gradually grew closer to each other, and our liking for each other grew stronger.

When he suggested we go somewhere further this weekend, we decided to go on a trip to Jebu Island.

He didn't have a car very often, and even in a “썸” relationship, I hadn't been in a car alone with him for a long time, so I was actually more nervous than excited.

But I didn't want him to know I was nervous.

We met early in the morning and left, and he had already prepared a warm drink for me in a tumbler.

He's so thoughtful. Manner points plus one.

Not long after we left, the sun was shining brightly on a cloudy day, and my eyes were quite strained.

Of course, I didn't bring sunglasses, and it was awkward to touch the sun visor in someone else's car, and I couldn't even ask. "Ah... my eyes are so strained," I thought, when he, who was driving, said, "Just a minute, are your eyes strained?"

He lowered the sun visor on the passenger side, not to block the sunlight, but to shield my eyes.

My heart sank. Manner points plus one again.

When we arrived at Jebu Island, the salty air filled the air.

We walked along the beach for a while, had some noodles, and went to a nearby cafe.

He ordered chamomile tea, and I ordered matcha latte. After a while, the drinks came out, but instead of a pale green green tea latte, a deep drink closer to green algae that had boiled in hell was full of the teacup.

I was so surprised, but thankfully it tasted good.

We sat on the terrace overlooking the beach and continued our conversation.

How much time had passed? Suddenly he got up and disappeared, then came back with a napkin.

"On your mouth... I thought you might need it."

"Ah, what's on it?"

I smiled and wiped my mouth with the napkin, but oh my god, the napkin was stained green.

It wasn't so much on my mouth as it was smeared on it, so why didn't I know?

The thick matcha latte, like a boiled beef bone soup, had been lingering on my mouth the whole time.

He probably thought I would lick it off or wipe it with a napkin, and he must have given me a napkin because he couldn't watch it anymore.

I was so embarrassed I couldn't speak.

Ah… I messed up.

This is how I've been talking? Not even white foam, but this green foam?

Why did I have to order matcha latte out of all the menu items?

"Shall we get up now?"

3 pm. It was still early, but it felt like we were already leaving.

Is this how our “썸” is going to end?

I was a little depressed as I sat in the car alone for an hour and a half on the way back to Seoul.

I don't know if he sensed that atmosphere or not.

"I came out early in case there was traffic, but it's a little too early to just go home.

I was thinking of going to Hongdae, is that okay?"

I thought he was driving me home because he was disappointed, but I was happy about the extended date.

Ah, I really like this guy.

I was sure I didn't want to let him go after our date at the second cafe.

I have to get this guy.