A Child Who Resembles Me [EN]: Chapter 51

51. Nice to See You Again

Friday evening.

“Mommy. Have a good trip. And buy lots of presents.”

Yena waved to her mom, who was leaving on a business trip. Jung-oh had been crying the whole time she was packing, but Grandma promised to buy her a bubble wrap toy, which cheered her up enough to say goodbye.

“Don’t worry about the kid and focus on your work. Be careful with the food!”

Guksun didn’t forget to give her departing daughter some words of caution.

“Okay. Take care, Mom. Our princess, listen to Grandma!”

Jung-oh also said goodbye cheerfully and stepped out the door.

During the few days Miran was hospitalized, Jung-oh was incredibly busy.

As Miran’s substitute, she shuttled back and forth to the hospital, consulting with Miran, managing the filming schedule with Deputy Manager Park Young-gwang, and coordinating to ensure there were no disruptions to her current work while she was away on the business trip. It was a tight schedule.

She couldn’t relax for a moment. She had to do her best to ensure that the client didn’t think the quality of the production had deteriorated due to Miran’s absence. Jung-oh continued to review the vast amount of data even on the plane.

After a long 15-hour journey, including the layover, Jung-oh arrived in Melbourne, Australia. After spending a day traveling by plane, it was Saturday at 2 PM.

Jung-oh headed to downtown Melbourne, guided by the location manager, without even unpacking at her accommodation. All filming locations would be checked in advance on Saturday, and filming would take place for three days from Sunday to early Tuesday morning.

Stepping on this land for the first time in seven years, Jung-oh looked up at the buildings in the city from the car and sighed. Almost nothing had changed from seven years ago. It felt like she had gone back to seven years ago.

The fact that the buildings and shops were still there, in the same scenery, gave Jung-oh a touching sense of comfort.

The location manager asked.

“I heard you lived in Melbourne before, Deputy Manager?”

“Yes. It was only for a few months, seven years ago.”

“Still, the buildings haven’t changed much, so the memories must be fresh.”

“That’s right, really. I’ve changed, but this place is the same.”

Jung-oh captured the scenery of Melbourne in her eyes and heart.

Saturday’s overwhelming day quickly passed, and Sunday arrived. On Sunday, preparations began at dawn, and filming started at 9 AM. The filming took place in a building rented on the beach, and it was quite difficult to control the surroundings.

While filming was in full swing, Deputy Manager Park Young-gwang asked with concern.

“What should we have for lunch? Director Jung Ji-heon will be here soon too.”

Jung-oh felt her shoulders stiffen at the mention of Ji-heon’s name.

Jung-oh had heard around Wednesday that Ji-heon would be joining the filming team. It was an inefficient business trip where he would cover his own airfare and accommodation.

It was said that this decision was made purely to please the client, and as expected, the executives at Soritelcom were very pleased.

‘They may be happy, but the Max Planning staff are a little uncomfortable. I’m probably the most uncomfortable of all,’ she thought.

Although she was full of complaints inside, Jung-oh didn’t show it and started searching the internet.

“The client mentioned wanting to eat local food. I wonder if any restaurants are open? Do you have any recommendations?”

“Just a moment.”

Jung-oh checked the map and smiled brightly. Her favorite restaurant was still there.

“Oh. This restaurant is still here.”

“Where?”

Jung-oh showed Deputy Manager Park Young-gwang and the planning team leader a picture of the restaurant and explained.

“It’s called ‘The Crown,’ and it’s a restaurant I really liked. They have a lot of dishes, it’s delicious, it’s close by, and it’s open on Sundays. Their meat pie is amazing…”

Oh my god!

Jung-oh’s words suddenly stopped.

That restaurant had a wall filled with customers’ photos.

‘I took Jung Ji-heon to that restaurant. And the owner took a picture of us there…’

A photo of Jung Ji-heon and me might be on the wall somewhere…

“If it’s that amazing, we have to go. This place looks really good, Deputy Manager Lee.”

However, Young-gwang, who had already fallen in love with the photo, gave his approval with happy eyes.

Jung-oh stood up.

“Deputy Manager, can I go somewhere for a moment? It’ll take an hour, no, about 40 minutes.”

“Huh? Is something wrong?”

“Yes. I’ll make a reservation for the restaurant on the way.”

“Okay, okay. That’ll work.”

Jung-oh left the building and quickly ran. She still knew the way to the restaurant like the back of her hand. She even bought a hat on the way and wore it low.

The Crown.

The restaurant was the same as it was seven years ago, from the sign to the interior. Seeing that scenery again made her heart ache, but she didn’t have time to appreciate it. Jung-oh sat in a corner of the wall where the photos were attached and ordered a drink.

It wasn’t lunchtime yet, so the restaurant was quiet. Jung-oh quickly scanned the wall, watching the staff.

‘Oh my god! There’s the photo!’

The photo was attached slightly below Jung-oh’s eye level, so it was easy to find.

Jung-oh tore off the photo when people weren’t looking. Soon, her drink came out. Jung-oh gulped down the drink and left the restaurant, successfully making a table reservation.

Huaaa.

Her heart was racing like crazy with urgency and guilt. Jung-oh took out the photo she had put in her pocket and sighed deeply.

‘How could this relic have remained until now?’

Jung Ji-heon, with his chestnut hair at twenty-six, and Lee Jung-oh, with her long hair at twenty-three.

The photo showed them with relaxed smiles, looking like siblings for some reason.

‘What were we so happy about back then that we smiled so beautifully?’

* * * * * * * *

Ji-heon, who had finished his schedule in Korea and boarded the plane on Saturday night, arrived in Melbourne on Sunday morning.

According to his passport, he had traveled to Australia after being discharged from the military seven years ago. Melbourne seemed to be the last destination of that trip, but there were no traces of him for about three weeks after staying in a hotel in Melbourne for three days.

He spent money and time to travel, but since he had no memory of it, there was nothing to reminisce about.

Nevertheless, he felt strangely familiar with various parts of Melbourne, and his eyes stung a little.

Ji-heon checked into his hotel and immediately contacted the planning team leader.

[Yes, Director.]

“Team Leader, I’m out by the beach, but I can’t see the building very well.”

[Deputy Manager Lee Jung-oh has just gone out.]

As soon as the team leader finished answering, he saw a woman running lightly like a butterfly from the front.

It was the time for Jung-oh to get closer.

In the middle of the day. In the middle of the sun.

Lee Jung-oh was in the somehow stinging scenery.

She, who had been running lightly, found Ji-heon and moved her steps slowly and carefully. As if conscious of him.

She approached very slowly and greeted him with a businesslike expression, without any sign of welcome.

“Director, you’ve arrived.”

‘Is what happened between us now nothing?’

‘Is one kiss not enough? Is that how much my presence means to you?’

No one was watching, but she was drawing a line as if she was being very polite, so Ji-heon had no choice but to give a corresponding answer.

“Yes.”

“The clients are over there. Let’s go.”

Jung-oh turned around and took the lead.

She tensed up, wondering if he would grab her wrist at any moment, or if he would suddenly kiss her like he had done recently.

He has an indescribable aura. A charisma that seems to align everything around him according to his will, like the pattern shown by iron filings near a magnet.

In vulgar terms, he’s a ‘strong guy.’

So she couldn’t stand close to him. She kept her distance and asked him as they passed the road.

“Have you had lunch?”

‘Say you have. Say you have. Say you have,’ Jung-oh muttered in her heart.

“Not yet.”

“We’re all going to a local food restaurant, is that okay with you?”

‘Say no. Say no. Say no.’

“Yes. Anything.”

Hua.

‘Is she finally going to end up going to that restaurant?’

Jung-oh deeply regretted recommending the restaurant to Deputy Manager Park an hour ago.

Ji-heon greeted the clients and checked the site.

It was exactly lunchtime, so he left the site to the production director, and Jung-oh moved to the restaurant with the clients, the planning team leader, Deputy Manager Park Young-gwang, and Ji-heon.

Her heart continued to pound as she walked to the restaurant. Her mind went blank as she stood right in front of the restaurant.

“Aaaah…”

Jung-oh held her stomach and groaned.

“I suddenly have a stomach ache and need to go to the bathroom. Don’t worry about me, go in and eat.”

Ji-heon frowned at her clumsy acting, but Jung-oh nonchalantly spoke to the planning team leader and slowly backed away.

“I made a reservation under the team leader’s name. Then, please take care of it…”

After Jung-oh ran away, Young-gwang sighed as if worried.

“How can she recommend a good restaurant and not be able to eat herself…”

“Deputy Manager Lee recommended the restaurant?”

Ji-heon asked.

“Yes, Director. Lee Jung-oh said it’s a restaurant she used to go to when she was on a working holiday.”

Ji-heon nodded quietly and moved his steps. He was displeased that she kept avoiding him.

The restaurant was already crowded. The planning team leader told the owner his name, and the owner guided them to an empty table. Ji-heon was the last to enter the restaurant.

“Oh?”

However, the restaurant owner suddenly recognized Ji-heon’s face and his eyes widened.

Ji-heon pursed his lips and stared at the owner. The owner’s face soon brightened and he grabbed Ji-heon’s hand dearly with a big smile.

“Nice to see you again!”

“Do you know me?”

Ji-heon asked in English.

“You came to our restaurant a few years ago, don’t you remember?”

“Ah, I’m sorry. I don’t remember.”

Ji-heon smiled bitterly with a look of disbelief, wondering how the owner could remember him visiting the restaurant a few years ago.

“Oh my. I even know your name. Mr. Jung. My memory is the best in this neighborhood.”

The owner felt sorry that Ji-heon didn’t remember and added more.

Ji-heon looked at the owner again at the title ‘Mr. Jung’. The owner pointed to the wall with photos attached.

“I took your picture and put it up here, and the customers went wild. How’s your girlfriend?”

“…Girlfriend?”

“The person you took a picture with, isn’t she your girlfriend? Did you break up?”

“There was someone I took a picture with?”

“Just a moment. I’ll find it.”

The owner scanned the wall with shining eyes. But soon the owner tilted his head.

Pointing to the exact spot where Jung-oh had taken the photo, the owner said to the employee.

“Huh? I’m sure the photo was attached here until recently. Where did it go? Did it disappear while cleaning?”

‘Of course.’ Ji-heon nodded with an indifferent expression.

“Oh my. I’m sorry.”

However, even after apologizing to Ji-heon, the owner couldn’t give up and looked at each photo on the wall one by one. And.

“Oh! Here it is!”

Finally shouted again.