16-1
by Han Yong-un
The next day.
It was still before noon, but Sun-young was already at the station.
The telegram clearly stated this.
〈Arriving tomorrow afternoon〉
However, there were several trains coming in and out of Incheon throughout the day.
Since it only said afternoon, she couldn't know exactly what time the train would arrive.
So Sun-young chose to come out early and wait.
The train came in several times.
Every time the platform shook with the sound of steam, Sun-young's heart raced as well.
Just seeing the train coming from afar—
It felt as if it was bringing happiness and rushing towards her.
But even when the train stopped and people poured out—
There was no Dae-cheol among them.
Still, Sun-young did not feel resentful.
Because there would be another train.
Even the time spent waiting a little longer felt somehow happy.
Only when the day was almost over—
Did Sun-young finally spot the face she had been waiting for.
Dae-cheol getting off the train.
Sun-young's heart raced greatly for a moment.
She hurriedly ran towards Dae-cheol, who had not yet noticed her.
“Teacher!”
But as she got closer, she couldn't continue her words.
Dae-cheol's face turned surprised as soon as he looked back.
“Why did you come all the way here?”
His voice was filled with joy.
Sun-young laughed without even catching her breath.
“I’ve been here since the morning.”
And she said with a slightly pouting face.
“Why did you come so late?”
“I’m sorry.”
Dae-cheol said with a smile.
“You didn’t have to come.”
But Sun-young was already looking at the luggage in his hand.
In one hand, a bag.
In the other hand, a basket of apples.
“Let me have that.”
Sun-young opened her arms and bent down.
“I’ll carry it.”
Dae-cheol smiled for a moment and handed her only the basket of apples.
The bag was carried by herself until the end.
Sun-young held the apple basket and her eyes sparkled.
“Oh my, are those apples?”
She looked into the basket and smiled brightly.
“These look really good!”
“They are a famous product from the origin.”
Daechul said.
“You like apples, don’t you, Sun-young?”
At those words, Sun-young's eyes smiled first and her mouth smiled later.
“I was going to bring a little more, but it was too heavy to carry.”
“Oh, even this much is a lot.”
Sun-young said while gently touching one apple.
“It seems like you now remember me as someone who likes apples.”
Daechul chuckled.
“Does that mean I’ve given you a nickname?”
“That’s how it is.”
Sun-young said playfully.
“Sun-young who eats apples well.”
“Isn’t that a decent nickname?”
The two of them walked out together from the station.
After looking around for a moment, Daechul said.
“Shall we go to the old inn?”
But Sun-young immediately shook her head.
“No.”
She said in a slightly excited voice.
“It’s far and not fun.”
Then she looked at Daechul and smiled cautiously.
“I’ve found another place.”
Daechul's gaze slightly changed.
“A room?”
“Yes.”
Sun-young pointed towards the alley with her hand.
“It’s not an inn, just a quiet house that I know well.”
She had a proud expression for no reason.
“The owner is an old woman living alone, so it’s comfortable.”
Daechul looked at her for a moment and then smiled.
“You’ve even thought about that.”
Sun-young blushed for no reason.
“Here, this way.”
She hugged the apple basket and walked ahead.
The house that Sun-young guided them to was really quiet.
It was not far from Suk-ja's house, but the atmosphere was completely different.
A small tiled house.
Although the yard was not large and there were not many rooms, it was clean without any clutter.
The old landlady had a gentle demeanor and spoke little.
She welcomed the two of them naturally, as if she had known Sun-young for a long time.
The guest room had already been tidied up neatly.
The moment they stepped inside the room—
Sun-young first looked at Dae-cheol's face.
And soon her eyes became cloudy.
“Teacher…”
She said cautiously.
“Your face looks very worn out.”
Dae-cheol chuckled and touched his cheekbone with his hand.
“Is that so?”
“Of course.”
Sun-young's voice was filled with concern.
“You've been going around and struggling, haven't you?”
She hesitated for a moment before asking.
“In your letter, you mentioned worrying about money… What happened in the end?”
Dae-cheol smiled bitterly.
“What do you mean what happened?”
He said with a sigh.
“Is it that easy to find money in this world these days?”
Sun-young nodded immediately.
“That's right…”
And then she spoke with a frustrated expression.
“People with money don't care about others' situations.”
She paused for a moment and then chuckled.
“They say the rich are like pigs.”
After saying that, she seemed embarrassed and burst into laughter.
Dae-cheol laughed too.
“That's just blaming the world for no reason.”
He shook his head.
“In the end, it's all due to my lack of ability.”
Then he suddenly gazed quietly at Sun-young's face.
“But Sun-young, you…”
He looked a bit surprised.
“Your face seems to have actually improved, doesn’t it?”
Sun-young smiled while cupping her cheeks with her palms.
“What are you talking about?”
She spoke as if she was deliberately complaining.
“I've lost weight in the past few days.”
“Why?”
Sun-young averted her gaze for no reason.
“It's because I'm impatient, I guess…”
And she added in a slightly smaller voice.
“I sent a letter and am waiting for a reply.”
At that moment, her face turned red again.
Dae-cheol looked at her silently for a moment.
Sun-young quietly opened her mouth, unable to avoid his gaze.
And she began to share everything that had happened during that time, one by one.
The fact that Mr. Song had died.
The fact that money had come from the inheritance.
The fact that Suk-ja had allowed her to extend the deadline.
The story that now there was nothing to hold them back from getting married at any time.
And—
The feeling that she wanted to escape the life of a concubine as soon as possible.
Sun-young spoke without hiding anything.
Dae-cheol also shared his circumstances.
The fact that he completed the gold mine application as soon as he arrived in Seoul.
The fact that he had no choice but to go down to the mine right away.
The story that after that, he had been running around trying to secure funds for exploration.
And—
The story that he eventually came down to Incheon after receiving a letter from Sun-young.
The two of them talked for a long time.
However, Dae-cheol still had realistic worries in his heart.
“Marriage…”
He said slowly.
“I also want to do it as soon as possible.”
Sun-young's eyes wavered.
“But if I want to work in the mine, I might have to keep moving around for a while.”
Dae-cheol spoke honestly.
“Even after getting married, it won’t be easy until the family is stable.”
Sun-young did not hesitate at all.
“It's okay.”
She said immediately.
“I can suffer alongside you.”
And she smiled quietly.
“If it really doesn’t work, I can be alone.”
Dae-cheol looked at her with surprised eyes.
Sun-young calmly continued speaking.
“I can do sewing, laundry, or anything.”
She clasped her hands tightly.
“As long as I don’t interfere with your work.”
And she spoke very slowly.
“No matter how hard life is…”
Sun-young's gaze wavered.
“It's much better than living as a concubine without a teacher.”
The room fell silent for a moment.
Dae-cheol looked at her for a long time.
And—
It was only that evening.
The hearts of the two were completely united.