Whispering Winds and Winter Wonders

"Sunday is my favorite day," I exclaimed, bustling behind the coffee counter. "It's the day when more people come to the coffee shop."

"I'll have a cappuccino, Ayoung," one of the customers called out.

I turned around to see Du Ho standing there. "I thought you were gone," I said, handing him the cappuccino.

"No, a few more days," he replied with a smile. "You make it delicious, wow."

"Yes, yes, I can prepare delicious coffee," I responded.

As the crowd grew bigger, I realized we needed more hands. Thankfully, I had two high school kids working with me now.

Du Ho joined me to make and distribute coffee. It felt good to have him around, sharing this time with me.

We worked tirelessly until the evening. After paying the two new kids their salary for the day, I closed the shop once they left.

"You can come to our house after grabbing a bite and having some Soju," I suggested to Du Ho.

"Sure," he agreed.

Du Ho and I headed to my place, carrying Devil pork, tteobokki, and Soju. As we entered, I welcomed him, saying, "Welcome to my humble abode."

"It's just like before, isn't it?" Du Ho remarked as he looked around.

While Du Ho explored the house, I tidied up, picking up the stray Soju bottles and cleaning the place.

"Ayoung, why do you drink so much?" Du Ho asked, his voice tinged with concern.

"I drink to chase away the loneliness," I replied with a smile.

"Was there a problem between you and Minsu?" Du Ho inquired, digging deeper. I accidentally broke a bottle of Soju and sighed,

"There are no problems between us. We've been apart for a while now. Maybe it will always be like this."

"Don't worry, everything will be fine. Give it time. But don't let it destroy you, Ayoung," Du Ho comforted me, gently patting my head. We sat down, enjoying our Soju while listening to songs. Du Ho's eyes fell upon a bonsai plant.

"Is it still here?" he asked a hint of sadness in his voice.

"Yes, it's still here," I responded, sensing his sentiment. We emptied our Soju bottles, toasting each other. As the night grew late, Du Ho left for the hotel he was staying at.

In the middle of the night, I woke up and began sketching my new story. Drawing my own tale wasn't challenging for me; it helped contain my drunkenness, even though I lacked the strength to fully control it.

Autumn faded away, and winter took its place, bringing along the cold. The coffee shop attracted more people seeking warmth. Du Ho continued working with me, lending a hand.

"Are you looking for Kyun Mi while you're here?" I asked Du Ho one day. His face appeared perplexed. "No, just for business matters. I'm only needed for the ceremony," he clarified.

I felt a pang of sadness for him. It seemed we both found ourselves caught between two places, searching for solace. We shared countless cups of coffee together.

One day, a stranger entered the coffee shop. It was none other than Lawyer Kang.

"I know what's going on," Lawyer Kang declared.

"Yes, I know, but the decision hasn't changed," I responded.

"Ayoung, it's Halmoni's final wish," Lawyer Kang revealed. His words struck a chord within me. If I didn't fulfill her last wish, perhaps she would be disappointed. I knew I had to accept it.

"I will come, but give me a few days. I need to make up my mind before I come," I whispered.

"Thank you, Ayoung. I'll prepare the necessary documents," Lawyer Kang acknowledged.

I clung to the hope that everything would turn out fine. Du Ho was still unaware of this development. After Lawyer Kang left, Du Ho brought me a Dalgona coffee.

"You seem hungry now, let's have this," he said, seemingly unfazed by any problems he faced.

"Sit down, I have something to tell you," I said to Du Ho. I explained that I needed his help. I could sense a renewed sense of hope within me.

"Ayoung, shall we take a walk together and contemplate our decisions?" Du Ho suggested. We didn't have many friends in Jeju, only each other. We had been inseparable since our high school days.

"That's a great idea. Let's make a list," I agreed.

"And what about the coffee shop?" he inquired.

"I leave this one for do uncle"

That day, after finishing our work, we returned home. We packed our bags with shoes suitable for hiking and reduced our belongings.

Du Ho provided me with details about the places we planned to visit. Other than eating, walking, and drawing, I had no interest in anything else. I knew that life felt complete when I could indulge in these simple pleasures.

Our first destination was Hallasan Mountain, blanketed in snow. Du Ho loved mountaineering during this time, so it wasn't difficult for me to join him. However, I couldn't endure the cold for long.

"I can't go any further, it's too cold," I admitted, sitting down. We enjoyed a cup of coffee we had made using a hot water bottle from halfway up the mountain.

"Don't you take photos like before?" I asked Du Ho.

"No. I stop it "

Finally, he opened up. "I truly feel sorry for him, but I don't have the answers. I know he doesn't have them either," I said, handing him the small camera I had. "Do whatever you want with it. Feel the happiness," I encouraged him, observing the glistening tears in his eyes.

"Thank you, Ayoung," he whispered, accepting the camera.

"Ayoung, I have something to tell you," Du Ho spoke up.

"Okay, go ahead. I'm all ears," I replied, eager to hear his story.

"Ayoung, are you angry with me?" he asked, pain evident in his voice.

"No, I'm not angry. I understand everything now. Let's keep going," I assured him.

With that, we continued walking, taking it slow. Du Ho eventually knelt down on the snow and began to cry.

"I couldn't take care of you. I couldn't keep you. I couldn't even fulfill my promise to our friend. I'm a fool. I'm sorry, my Ayoung," he confessed between sobs. I swiftly embraced him, comforting him.