WOP Ch 7.2

The wind blew.

Following the direction of the spring breeze that brushed his cheek, the man turned his head. The street he looked back on was bustling with cars and pedestrians. It was the same street he had walked along for a while after leaving his office.

Bzz—

Feeling a light vibration in his pocket, Kang Taejung took out his phone and checked the screen. A familiar name was etched on the display. Quickly scanning the message, Kang Taejung typed a reply with practiced ease. Only after pressing the send button did he pick up his pace with a relieved expression. He needed to hurry to make it to his appointment on time.

❄

After walking for another twenty minutes or so, a red brick building appeared at the corner of the street. It was a small leather craft workshop with a striking vintage sign and minimalist interior. His destination.

The clear chime of a bell rang as he opened the varnished wooden door. Hearing the sound, the workshop owner, who was eating a meal further inside, looked up. About to stand, the owner recognized the frequent visitor and simply nodded in greeting, gesturing for him to browse freely. Returning the brief nod, Kang Taejung began to walk slowly. With only him and the owner present, the shop was so quiet that even the slightest breaths were audible.

As befitted a workshop renowned for its craftsmanship, every item on display was made with care. His gaze, as he examined the goods, was meticulous. He was considering the person who would use them. Time passed steadily as he hesitated to make a decision.

His gaze, which had been scrutinizing the items, considering materials and colors, finally settled. His eyes landed on a vintage-colored camera bag. Perhaps made for someone working in the field, it was a simple design made of a lightweight material instead of leather, but the interior was surprisingly practical. At that moment, someone’s face vaguely surfaced in Kang Taejung’s mind.

“….”

His hesitant fingertips twitched. His tightly closed lips held an ambiguous expression, neither smiling nor frowning.

After a brief silence, his hand, which had been frozen in mid-air, slowly moved.

His fingertips touched a small pocket finished with leather, contrasting with the light, rough material of the bag’s body. The texture of the leather was smooth, as if tanned thousands of times. Traces of the wild remained only as a primal memory. It must have taken countless hours of patient work to achieve this.

After another moment of hesitation, his fingertips withdrew.

A hollow laugh escaped him involuntarily.

It was a superior product in many ways, but Kang Taejung knew he wouldn’t buy the bag. Because he could never give it to the person who could use it.

He heard news from time to time.

He hadn’t actively sought it out, nor had he consciously avoided it, but news of the other person’s life naturally flowed in through various channels. It was always just that they were healthy and doing what they wanted, but that was enough. His interest had to stop there.

Sometimes, while watching the news out of habit after work, he would feel a pang of discomfort upon hearing about wars breaking out in unfamiliar countries.

However, unlike in the past, when he would simply avoid such news and wallow in distress, he now took an interest in the cruel events happening in those unknown lands, sometimes feeling worried, sometimes feeling sympathy. It wasn’t that he wasn’t bothered, but knowing that these feelings stemmed from his self-inflicted trauma, he didn’t suffer as he had before. And he knew that even these feelings would eventually fade with time, leaving behind only a trace.

He suddenly thought of someone who might be somewhere in a brutal environment, risking their life to document a reality that must not be forgotten.

Are you still the same?

Are you still looking at the world with the same unwavering gaze?

Have you learned to cherish your life a little more?

Unasked questions swirled in his mind. The weight of the emotions behind those questions wasn’t light. But their hue had changed significantly from the past.

We won’t see each other for a long time.

That vague assumption solidified into a near certainty as time went on.

Their lives revolved at different speeds, in different orbits, and the environments surrounding them were different as well.

But,

Even so…

I think of you suddenly.

Like a fleeting impulse felt amidst everyday life.

Bzz——

At that moment, his phone, tucked away in his pocket, vibrated loudly. He easily guessed who it was without looking.

“Hmm.”

With troubled eyes, Kang Taejung checked the message on the screen. The sender’s characteristic warmth was evident in the gentle words and the thoughtful length of the message.

After typing a long reply, Kang Taejung shifted his gaze back to the display he had been interested in earlier. Items he had initially come to see came back into view. After searching for a gift for someone else for a while, his hand finally stopped at a particular display. As if rewarding him for his time spent deliberating, there was a product with the exact design he had in mind. A satisfied smile spread across his face. Without hesitation, he picked up the item and turned slightly. At that moment, a gruff voice echoed through the shop.

“Have you made your choice?”

The owner, having finished his meal, walked leisurely into the shop. His long hair, gathered and tied back, gave him an unconventional look. Kang Taejung smiled brightly, as if accustomed to the owner’s appearance, and handed him the item he had carefully chosen.

“I’ll take this wallet. Could you wrap it, please?”

“A gift, I presume?”

Kang Taejung scratched his cheek for a moment, then nodded at the question.

“Yes. Thank you.”

“Of course. Just have a seat.”

The owner spoke cheerfully and walked quickly towards the wrapping counter. Kang Taejung watched him for a moment, then pulled up a chair and sat down.

Clatter.

A breeze, slipping through the slightly open door, rustled the window. Enjoying the sensation against his cheek, he closed his eyes, leaning against the wall. Taking advantage of the midday lull, a strand of deeply buried emotion stealthily surfaced.

Those feelings directed towards someone he likely wouldn’t see for a long time, someone he likely wouldn’t be able to speak to for a long time.

I may never be able to completely forget you.

With a little more affection,

With a little more friendship,

With a little more of the feeling of family, shared over a long time, I send this to you.

Be happy.

I will do my best to be happy too.

His gently folded hands loosely intertwined. The scent of blooming spring flowers spread through the air. As if chasing traces of cherished memories, his heart curved, tracing a distant trajectory.

At the turning point of a life that had been sometimes painful, sometimes happy, he finally shrugged off the burden from his weary shoulders.

Spring.

A brilliant spring was passing by.