Tell Me That You Like It

“You’re traveling alone?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Didn’t you come on a trip with your friends?”

 

“Fabio and Marco first met in a hostel. I was hanging out with them today because we’re Italian. They have a different route than me. Fabio and Marco are on a pilgrimage to Santiago, so they will leave for Saint-Jean tomorrow.”

 

A pilgrimage to Santiago meant walking to the Cathedral of Santiago, where the remains of Saint Jacob, the 12 disciples of Jesus, were said to be buried.

 

There are several ways to walk to Santiago, and one of them was the French road from Saint-Jean to the Pyrenees.

 

“I thought Fabio and Marco were Lucino’s friends.”

 

“The two are friends who came to play Camino together. I’m in the same hostel, so I hung out with the two for a while today.”

 

Lucino drank up the half-remaining beer in one breath. He glanced at Anna’s empty glass.

 

“I’ll have another drink, what about Anna?”

 

“I’d like to drink more, too.”

 

The male employee brought two more beers to Lucino’s order. Lucino offered Anna a toast. In a dazed mood Anna bumped her glass into Lucino’s beer glass.

 

The crackling of the glass was heard cheerfully.

Anna’s heart had been beating fast ever since she heard Lucino ask her to be his travel companion.

 

No, maybe her heart was pounding before that.

 

Throughout the conversation, Lucino’s blue eyes were stuck on Anna and did not leave.

 

Sitting close enough to smell her body for smooth communication, her body was reflexively tense.

 

“Isn’t it a pity to go back as soon as you arrive in Madrid?”

 

“That’s true.”

 

“The place Anna was going to is also the place I was going to go anyway, so go with me.”

 

She looked at him with slightly crooked eyes. However, even though she stared into his piercing blue eyes, Anna couldn’t sense any malice within them.

 

His blue eyes were only clear and transparent.

 

She was grateful to him for following her to the police station and buying her a beer like this, and she could accept it as a courtesy or sympathy.

But the seductive suggestion he was making now seemed to go too far.

 

“Why are you suggesting this? What would you do if I went back to Korea and disappeared without paying back the money?”

 

“Anna won’t do that.”

 

“When did you meet me for you to be so sure?”

 

“I don’t think anyone who finds someone else’s passport will lie.”

 

“Ah… Did you see that earlier?”

 

“Yes. Accidentally on the way to the hostel.”

 

“I see.”

 

Anna pondered for a moment, staring at the white foam floating over her glass of beer. Lucino’s proposal was really sweet. He was too tempting to refuse. But is it okay to hang out with someone you just met for two weeks?

 

Besides, she can’t believe he was just lending her money without a price… It was natural to suspect that there was an ulterior motive.

 

“Don’t think complicatedly. Regardless of Anna’s answer, I’m going to rent a car and go around, and I was a little worried about driving alone, so I met Anna then I thought it would be nice if someone could be my companion.”

 

Lucino’s face, smiling with his eyes bent round, did not seem to have an insidious feeling even if he washed his eyes and looked for it.

 

It was just endlessly fascinating and distracting. Strangely enough, it was a smile that caught people’s eyes and made them keep looking.

 

“It’s too bad for Anna to go back to Korea like this, right?”

 

“That’s right. It’s very unfortunate.”

 

Anna nodded.

 

She didn’t even want to imagine going back to Korea like this. She felt that two weeks was short, but going back as soon as she came… It was really harsh.

 

“There’s nothing hard to think about. I think my suggestion is just something that can happen while traveling. If it’s not fun to go around with me, you can go around separately. I’ll lend you money. If Anna doesn’t like it, well, I won’t suggest it anymore.”

 

Lucino did not suggest it anymore. He just drank his own beer and stared at her.

There was no pressure in the gaze. All that was left was Anna’s choice.

 

Does she accept Lucino’s offer or does she go back?

Anna, who had escaped from her melancholy by an unexpected opportunity, began to think more calmly about Lucino’s suggestion.

 

He didn’t look like a man who would harm a woman. No. In a sense, he did look like he would harm a woman’s heart.

 

But he didn’t look like a scoundrel who did bad things on purpose and with malicious intent.

 

Anna recalled the look and tone of the female employee at the reception earlier who was treating Lucino.

 

She was kind but strangely businesslike, but when Lucino talked to her, her attitude changed completely like a paper flip.

 

She answered Lucino, with a completely different tone than when she spoke to Anna.

 

It was the same now.

 

The women sitting at the other table were constantly glancing at Lucino. She couldn’t help but notice because her eyes stung.

 

Anna had never received this much attention in Korea and had never met a man who attracted people’s attention like Lucino.

 

She couldn’t believe that a man who attracted women’s attention so much would show rational interest in her, who was neither of the same race nor exceptionally pretty.

 

All this way, she flew this long distance and it’s ridiculous to go back right away.

 

At a time when there are even people who are reaching out to help…

 

But could she really accept Lucino’s suggestion? It seemed like a nuisance.

 

What if she became too conscious of Lucino’s reactions and ended up not being able to do what she wanted properly?

 

She felt dizzy, whether it was because of fatigue or maybe due to the theft incident that happened today. It seemed like just two glasses of beer made her feel intoxicated.

 

Anna was at odds. She hesitated because she couldn’t answer his words quickly.

 

Meanwhile, Lucino ordered more beer. A little later, the serving staff brought a new beer.

 

“One more drink?”

 

“Thank you.”

 

Anna, who took a glass full of transparent golden liquid, drank it willingly. Lucino’s blue eyes were thickening as he looked at Anna drinking beer like water.

 

“By the way, Lucino, didn’t you make a reservation at the hostel?”

 

“Yes, I didn’t. I like to move freely, too. That’s why I’m going to rent a car.”

 

“I see.”

 

“I didn’t make a reservation on purpose. If there’s a place that feels good, I’d like to stay a few more days and spend some time leisurely.”

 

Anna was astonished at Lucino’s reply.

 

He was like a man who looked straight into her heart and then spoke. The language, culture, and environment of living are different people, but it was amazing that the way of travel matched.

 

No matter how hard she thought about it, her choice was only one.

 

No matter how many times she thought about it, this wasn’t the case. You should be wary of accepting candy given to you by a stranger in a foreign country. No matter how sweet and delicious the candy looked, it was right to refuse it.

 

She didn’t borrow money even from people she knew, but borrowing money from people she didn’t know… It was impossible.

 

Anna, determined, answered Lucino.

 

“How can I send money back to you from Korea?”

 

Anna was surprised when she said it herself. The mouth did not carry out the decision made by the head properly.

 

She whispered arbitrarily. It was a mistake. It was an obvious mistake and had to be corrected, but her lips refused the order that the head was giving.

 

She didn’t want to go back now. How did she come, but she didn’t see anything and she didn’t want to go back. As soon as she let out the decision that her heart had made, she felt quite at ease.

 

And she felt much better.

 

There was nothing more Anna could lose when she lost her suitcase and money. If she go back early, she would miss the chance to travel.

 

And she felt like a fool to miss the opportunity to spend time with someone like Lucino.

 

Lucino laughed at her yes answer.

 

Strangely enough, her heart pounded when she saw his smile. She felt like something invisible was crashing in the middle of her chest, and, not knowing what, she lifted her hand and pressed her hands near the place.

 

Was she drunk from three beers?

 

Anna’s drinking capacity was not that weak. But now, her mood was soaring as if she had just blown a bottle of soju.

Anna’s mood improved to the point where she wondered if she could be this excited after losing all her money and her suitcase.

 

The time she spends with someone who makes her eyes happy just by looking at him will probably become a memory she will never forget even when she returns to Korea.

 

She had no ability to predict the future, but the moment she saw Lucino’s picturesque smile, she knew for sure that the next two weeks were going to be a lot of fun.

 

“I’ll give you my account number. It’ll be easy if you send it by PayPal.”

 

PayPal was a famous site for its online account transfer service. It was a site Anna had never used before, but had heard of.

 

Anna’s face, which had been immersed in her sadness just a moment ago, was blooming brightly like a rose flower in season. Lucino was caught off guard by the obvious change.

 

It was this face that he wanted to see. He wanted to see Anna shining with joy, not with a miserable, downcast expression.

 

A corner of his heart filled with unknown satisfaction.

She smiles more beautifully than when she cries. He wishes she kept smiling so much.

 

“You are pretty.”

 

Without realizing it, he said something from the bottom of his heart. He couldn’t stand it without saying it.

 

“Yes?”

 

Her previously rounded eyes and complacent expression quickly transformed as her eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected compliment. The change was indescribably cute.

 

“Anna is much prettier when she smiles than when she cries.”

 

“Ah… Th-thank you.”

 

Her face was flushed and her mouth was still turned up as she stuttered.

 

From the first time he saw Anna there was something about her that strangely caught his attention.

 

There was not a single blemish on her white skin, which was as shiny as silk. Her clear, transparent eyes were pure, and when she smiled, her eyes curved like a crescent moon floating in the night sky.

 

Her black eyes, which showed their emotions as they were, were shining beautifully all the time like high-quality black pearls.

 

He didn’t know why, but he wanted to see her smile more. And he became curious about her. He wanted to find out more about her. So he suggested that they travel together.

 

“Well, by the way… There’s a problem.”

 

Anna, still flushed, hesitated and spoke with difficulty.

 

“What is that? Feel free to say it. I’ll help you as much as I can.”

 

He encouraged her to confide easily in him without hesitation. Whatever the obstacle, he wanted to help her.

 

“Actually, I don’t think I can pay you back until two or three months after I go back to Korea.”

 

In fact, she had spent all the money she had saved to travel here. Anna exchanged a large amount of money into euros because she didn’t want to struggle with money when she went on a trip. She currently had very little cash left in her bank account.

 

“You can take it slow. It’s not urgent.”

 

“But, are you sure you’re okay?”

 

“What is it?”

 

“If you want, you can take a photo of my passport. And I’ll give you my address and phone number! And my work address.”

 

At Anna’s words, the corners of Lucino’s mouth rose upward. It was a relaxed smile that made people feel comfortable.

 

“Yes, if Anna feels comfortable doing so.”

 

The money he told her he’d lend was a small sum for Lucino, but Anna didn’t know it. Lucino was also in a cheap hostel like herself. She thought it would be normal to stay in the cheapest hostel.

 

“Thank you.”

 

“I think the trip will be fun for me too, thanks to Anna. I don’t think it’s as lonely as when I was walking alone, and we can take pictures with each other.”

 

The two laughed at each other’s gaze.

 

What Lucino said made sense. She was excited all day today and visited museums, walked around the streets, and took a lot of pictures with a selfie stick, but there were times when loneliness struck her.

 

Maybe that was why she was more excited when Lucino asked me if she would go to the club together.

 

“Anna, how many days did you reserve the hostel we are in now?”

 

“Three days in total. I’m going to check out tomorrow.”

 

“That’s very good. That’s the same as me.”

 

“So, what should I do tomorrow? If it’s okay, how about checking out first and going to Segovia? My luggage is at the hostel, ah, that’s right. I don’t have any luggage, really.”

 

Anna was about to suggest that she leave her suitcase at the hostel and move on, but stopped. She cried because the theft had just occurred, but then forgot about it for a moment.

 

“How about we get up late, slowly, and Anna buys what she needs, and then we go to Segovia for lunch? I think it’d be nice to go out to Toledo right after you’ve got some local food. Even if we check out, we’ll be able to get the luggage loaded in the rental car that we’re going to take tomorrow.”

 

Segovia and Toledo were small towns near Madrid, within a good distance of a day trip from Madrid.

 

“That’s a good idea.”

 

“Then, shall we go in and sleep?”

 

Although they used the same hostel, the two would sleep in their respective beds.

 

However, it sounded strange to Anna to ask if she would go in and sleep. Is it because they were going to spend time together?

 

Or was she drunk from drinking three beers too fast? Anna shook her head to get rid of the strange delusion she had when talking to Lucino.

 

Lucino beckoned the clerk to pay, and the clerk approached him.

 

“Do you need anything else?”

 

“I need a bill.”

 

“Yes, please wait a moment.”

 

Strangely enough, the smile of the male employee was strange.

 

A moment later, an employee brought a white receipt into a brown clay pot the size of the palm of one’s hand. It was then that Lucino, who was about to put the money, including the tip, in the clay pot, stopped.

 

“What?”

 

There were two square things underneath the receipt. When Lucino picked up the receipt, what was underneath was revealed.

 

It was two condoms that the employee who was laughing mischievously brought along with the receipt.

 

Anna blushed when she saw it. Lucino’s words about going to bed already sounded strange, but it seemed as if she had hit the nail on the head.

 

“Well, I think that person was mistaken about something!”

 

In contrast to Lucino, who looked amused, Anna was very embarrassed. She had read many reviews of her trip to Spain in Korea, but she had never heard of bars offering condoms as a service.

 

“Do you want to take it?”

 

“Yes, yes?”

 

“When will you ever get a condom at a bar again? This is also to commemorate the trip, so Anna takes it. If you go to Korea and tell your friends, everyone will laugh.”

 

Lucino burst into laughter and picked up two condoms and put them in Anna’s hand.

 

“Oh, no… I guess I…”

 

She had to say it wasn’t necessary, but she couldn’t get it out of her mouth. However, she also threw the condom that Lucino had put in her hand on the floor.

 

Smiling, he seemed to tease her with embarrassment. After finishing the calculation, when Lucino got up from his seat and prepared to go out with his overcoat on as if nothing had happened, Anna was forced to get up in a hurry.

 

The sound of the chair being pushed back came out as loud as a scratch in Anna’s ear. She accidentally put the condom in her pocket when no one said anything.

 

“Shall we go?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Anna avoided looking at Lucino’s face because she was embarrassed. The whole way back to the hostel, she couldn’t bear the heat of her face. She went back to the hostel without looking at him.