<Welcome to the Marriage Information Company> Is Real Marriage Possible? [22]

Matcha Latte

Everyone's pace of love is different.

Some people fall in love quickly, flare up intensely, and cool down just as fast,

while others fall in love slowly and maintain a warm feeling for a long time.

Love isn't something you do with your head; it's something you feel with your heart, so its pace can't be adjusted through effort.

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

He and I had similar paces in love.

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

We exchanged messages frequently, from the moment we started work in the morning until right before we went to sleep each day, and occasionally had phone calls.

Through this process, we were able to explore each other, and whenever we found common ground – ‘Wow, you too? Me too!’ – it was so exciting.

On days when I worked late and finished late, he would drive me home,

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

We got closer with each of the five times we met, and my fondness for him grew stronger.

When he suggested we go somewhere a bit further this weekend, we decided to take a trip to Jebi Island.

He didn't have a car very often, and even during the ‘썸’ (썸: a Korean term for the ambiguous stage before a relationship) stage, I hadn't spent much time alone in a car with him,

so to be honest, I was more nervous than excited.

But I didn't want him to notice my nervousness.

We met early in the morning and set off, and he had brought a tumbler filled with warm tea for me to drink.

He's so thoughtful. Manners points plus one.

Not long after we left, the sun was quite bright on a cloudy, sunny day.

Of course, I hadn't brought sunglasses, and it felt awkward to casually use someone else's car's sun visor,

and I couldn't ask either. I was just thinking, ‘Oh, the sun is so bright’ when he, who was driving, said, “Just a moment, is it blinding you?”

and lowered the sun visor on the passenger side to block the sunlight.

My heart sank. Manners points plus one again.

When we arrived at Jebi Island, the salty scent of the sea filled the air.

We strolled along the beach for a while, then had kalguksu (칼국수: a type of Korean noodle soup) and went to a nearby cafe.

He ordered chamomile tea, and I ordered a matcha latte. The drinks arrived a short while later,

but instead of a light green tea latte, a dark drink, almost like green algae that had boiled in hell, was filling the entire teacup.

I was so surprised, but luckily, it tasted okay.

We sat at a table on the terrace overlooking the sea and continued our conversation.

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

“You might need this around your mouth.”

“Oh, is something on my mouth?”

I smiled and wiped my mouth with the napkin, and then saw – oh no, the napkin was completely stained green.

It wasn't just a stain; it was like I had applied it. Why didn't I notice?

The thick matcha latte, like a slow-cooked beef soup, had been lingering around my mouth the whole time.

Maybe he was just watching, thinking I'd figure it out myself, whether I licked it off or wiped it with a napkin, and

couldn't stand it any longer, so he gave me the napkin. The shame was indescribable.

Oh… I'm ruined.

Was I talking like this? With this green foam? Not even white foam, but this green foam?

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

“Shall we leave now?”

It was only 3 PM, and it felt a bit early to go back already.

Is this how the ‘썸’ ends?

During the hour and a half drive back to Seoul, I was alone in the car, blaming myself and feeling a little gloomy.

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

“I left early because I was worried about traffic, but I feel a little sad to just part ways like this.

I was going to head towards Hongdae (홍대: a district in Seoul), would you be okay with that?”

I thought he was just dropping me off because I was a total mess, so I was overjoyed that our date was extended.

Oh, I really like this guy.

During our second cafe date, I was certain that I didn't want to lose him.

I have to get this guy.