Emergency Instinct - Chapter 56

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Their meeting was instinct before reason.

Was that why? As they began dating, only more instinctual physical conversations increased.

When their eyes met, their lips collided first, and they had never properly talked about each other’s hearts.

I need to stay sharp today.

If I get swept up in the hot passion, we’ll never be able to have a proper conversation.

“Let’s go. I made a restaurant reservation.”

As Ji-an stepped out the door with determination, Tae-jun, who had been waiting, checked the time and said. But Ji-an quickly shook her head.

“No. Today I have a course planned.”

“You do?”

“I’m the one who asked for this date. That’s okay, right?”

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll know when we get there. Oh, we’re taking the bus today.”

“…!”

He hesitated as if surprised.

“It’s a place where parking is difficult.”

Ji-an pretended not to notice and walked ahead energetically.

Tae-jun made an awkward expression for a moment, but eventually followed obediently.

“Won’t you be cold?”

“I’m fine. By the way, you have taken the bus before, right?”

“In school, three or four times.”

Tae-jun answered as if it were nothing, but honestly his memory was hazy.

He didn’t prefer complicated public transportation, but seeing Ji-an’s somehow resolute face made him want to go along with her wishes.

“Let’s go.”

Ji-an suddenly linked arms with him.

Her warmth drawing closer wasn’t unpleasant, so Tae-jun let himself be led.

This kind of date isn’t bad either.

It was a first. Ji-an approaching first without caring about others’ gazes. Taking the lead like this too.

Today she seems ready to surprise him in many ways.

They boarded a bus that arrived right away and traveled for about ten minutes.

The inside of the bus, being pushed this way and that, was uncomfortable, but strangely he didn’t dislike it. Every time the bus swayed, the sensation of leaning against each other was quite thrilling.

“Here!”

Suddenly Ji-an pressed the bell and pulled Tae-jun off the bus.

Before he could ask where they were going, she led him into an alley.

The place they stopped was in front of an old snack bar.

For an anticipated first date location, it seemed like an extremely humble taste.

“You can eat tteokbokki, right?”

“I’m not confident with spicy food.”

Tae-jun hesitated while looking at the old sign.

“Then we’ll get the mild flavor.”

The option of not eating didn’t seem to exist from the start.

Ji-an pulled him inside and sat side by side on plastic chairs.

“One mild, one spicy. One each of fried food, sundae, and fish cake please.”

She ordered everything on the snack bar’s menu without asking.

“You’re going to eat all that?”

“It’s not that much.”

Finding his surprised face amusing, Ji-an smiled even brighter.

Soon food came out one after another on green plastic plates.

At her expectant gaze, Tae-jun had no choice but to pick up a piece of tteokbokki and eat it. It naturally wasn’t a taste he liked. It was stimulating and probably not good for his health either.

“It’s okay, right?”

“…Well. It’s alright.”

He couldn’t bring himself to say it was delicious.

“This is my favorite restaurant.”

Ji-an said proudly and began eating in earnest. Even though she kept drinking water because it was spicy, her chopsticks didn’t stop. That sight was so cute that Tae-jun found himself eating along.

“Do you see that study hall over there? In my senior year, before important exams, I always came here to eat tteokbokki.”

“Why tteokbokki of all things?”

“Eating spicy food wakes you right up. Before important exams, I always eat it. I ate it the day before my medical license exam too, and I got the highest score.”

Ji-an, who spoke as if revealing a great secret, had already emptied her bowl.

At her proud and boastful appearance, Tae-jun quietly suppressed his laughter.

Actually, he wasn’t sure if it was really a great restaurant.

Ji-an caught his interest more than the food. Her appearance eating with sweat beading on her nose, and her forehead scrunching every time it was spicy were quite cute.

Unable to hold back, he reached out and gently wiped the sweat from her nose bridge with a tissue. And also her lips that were swollen from the spicy taste.

“I’m fine.”

Even after all that biting and sucking, Ji-an seemed embarrassed as her face quickly turned as red as the tteokbokki.

It was fascinating every time he saw it. Why was she more embarrassed by these small touches than intense moments?

His gaze naturally fell to her plump lips, and Ji-an averted her eyes and asked.

“What’s your favorite food?”

“I like most meat dishes.”

“That’s too broad. Don’t you have a favorite restaurant?”

Ji-an’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

He didn’t have any particularly meaningful restaurants. But at her expectant gaze, he thought carefully and answered.

“Hmm. There’s a yakiniku restaurant I really liked and went to often. Though I haven’t been there in a few years.”

Pleased with his answer, Ji-an’s face brightened even more.

“Then, let’s go there for our next date. Yakiniku? I’ve never tried it, but I’m looking forward to it.”

“Then we should eat it. I’ll arrange my schedule. A day trip is possible, but while we’re at it, let’s stay overnight and go to hot springs too.”

“W-wait a minute. Is it outside the city?”

“Fukuoka.”

“Ah. Japan. Wow, the scale really is different. Haha.”

At Ji-an’s awkward laughter, Tae-jun suppressed his laughter and asked.

“Don’t tell me you’re saying no now?”

“No, I have hospital schedules too. It’s not possible right now. Let’s put it on hold. We’ll talk about it again after Mother is discharged.”

Ji-an, who spoke quickly as if flustered, stood up abruptly.

“If we’re done eating, let’s go now. To the next course.”

“Where’s the next course?”

“I’m not telling you. You just follow me.”

Ji-an headed toward the entrance as if running away from him.

How cute.

Tae-jun suppressed his laughter at her intense reaction and followed leisurely.

“Oh, I’m paying for everything today.”

Ji-an took out cash from her wallet, paid the bill, and headed out first again.

What on earth is she thinking with that little head of hers?

Did she get her salary or something?

Tae-jun couldn’t hide his bursting laughter and followed her, watching her back.

Come to think of it, this seems like the first time he’s walked behind someone.

Coming outside, the darkness had grown thicker.

When the wind blew, she seemed cold and turned around to link arms with him tightly.

Perhaps because he was conscious of it, when her body temperature was fully transmitted, he grew hotter and hotter.

“This way.”

She pulled him around the street corner. Then, from somewhere, the smell of baking bungeoppang fish bread brushed his nose.

“Oh? Wait a minute. I absolutely have to eat that.”

Ji-an instantly unlinked their arms and ran toward the bungeoppang.

So I’m less important than a fish-shaped pastry?

A slight disappointment crept in at the empty feeling, but soon she returned holding the paper bag.

Even with the most wonderful man in the world by her side, Ji-an’s attention was sold elsewhere. She kept her gaze fixed only on the fish-shaped pastries, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Don’t tell me she’s drunk on tteokbokki?

He suddenly remembered how she had acted like a child when drunk, and even felt suspicious.

“Head? Or tail?”

Ji-an asked excitedly, holding up a steaming fish-shaped pastry split in half.

Tae-jun, who had been pushed aside from her interests, carefully pondered as her attention returned to him before opening his mouth.

“Head.”

He naturally reached out his hand. But suddenly Ji-an said she knew it, hid the head, and popped the tail into his mouth instead.

“Just eat the tail.”

Suddenly chewing on the tail, Tae-jun furrowed his brow.

“If you were going to do this anyway, why did you ask?”

“It’s fun. You can also guess someone’s personality and preferences.”

“Can you really tell such things from just a fish-shaped pastry?”

“Of course. People who eat the head first, which is full of delicious red bean paste, are proactive people who choose sweet things without hesitation. They want to enjoy good things first and quickly. Just like you.”

“Then what about the tail?”

“People like me who eat the tail first have cautious personalities. They start with the crispy texture and enjoy eating bite by bite. Having patience until they eat the sweet part at the end. They enjoy that process.”

Ji-an gave quite a detailed answer, then lifted the corners of her mouth and bit into the head of the fish-shaped pastry filled with red bean paste.

Tae-jun couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief.

He never knew there could be such deep philosophy in a single fish-shaped pastry.

“But Ji-an, if you like the tail, why did you eat the head that I like first?”

“Hmm. Putting myself in your shoes? I think we need to get to know each other’s favorite preferences.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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