I woke up earlier than usual due to my excitement. Today, I'm on a date with Min! She called me last night. She offered to spend a day with me to thank me for solving the case.
I had no reason to refuse, so naturally, I said yes. I rushed out of bed, calling for Mars, only to find him missing.
I wanted to tell him I'd be gone for the day, but he was a no-show.
Too bad, he won't have breakfast then. While I cooked, a cold breeze blew against my back.
I quickly closed the window before my eggs became overcooked. I was about to have my meal when I heard scratching.
Irritated, I glanced over, only to see Mars' figure outside. Huh, now I understand. But I showed no mercy, leaving him outside and furious while I finished my breakfast.
I ignored his shout and went to the shower.
A little punishment won't hurt him. It was early February and still winter, but he had thick fur to keep him warm.
When he left the window open, he didn't consider me at all. I was dressed in a new black suit I bought in Scotland, with a fancy thick beige overcoat and a woolly scarf from my mom.
"I'll get you for this," Mars threatened as I opened the front door. He slunk inside as I snickered. I slicked my hair sideways, then backward, wondering which style looks best as I gazed in the hallway mirror.
Mars would usually tell me his opinion, but he stayed silent. I guess he was still pissed. "I left you some food in the fridge.
Each is marked, so don't eat everything all at once," I said as I pulled on my shoes.
Despite being a cat, Mars was proficient at opening doors. "Are you out working? I thought you didn't have a client today?" Mars demanded.
"I don't. I'm going on a date," I smiled broadly. I stood and waved. "Probably a gratitude date," Mars muttered snidely.
I pretended not to hear him as I closed the door behind me. I whistled a tune while sauntering leisurely down the road.
We were meeting in the park, cliché, I know, but she suggested it. I checked at the large fountain where we had arranged to meet.
There she was! I guess she was just as eager as I was. Of course, she would be. I'm a gorgeous male. Just look at those envious stares from the other women.
"Good morning. Did you wait long?" I asked, flicking my hand through my hair. "Good morning. Yes, I did." She said with a flickering smile.
Huh? Shouldn't she say I just got here? I laughed flirtatiously and said, "Sorry, I must've taken longer than I thought. Shall we go?"
"Don't worry, it's not your fault. I just finished my errands faster than I thought," she comforted me.
Not feeling any better, I held out my arm, and after taking it we both proceeded to the train station.
Min had decided to take me on a tour in Busan to visit the temples and explore the culture, as I hadn't yet fully experienced the South Korean experience.
I did go to a K-pop concert, but she wrote that off, saying it was kids' stuff. We travelled to the beautiful city of Gyeongju.
I was surprised when I found out she had already booked tickets weeks ahead of time.
Does that mean she's thinking of a permanent relationship? Am I that great of a guy? I guess I underestimated myself too much.
The city was as amazing as she told me. It was more impressive than modern architecture.
Presently, there is no artistic taste in architecture, I thought. At least I had more taste for clothes than they did for building houses.
"At its peak in the ninth century BC Gyeongju boasted one million inhabitants and a hundred eighty thousand homes," the tour guide announced knowledgeably as they led our small group around the stone structures.
"That's not impressive. The Chinese Han dynasty had twenty million people!" a Chinese native mocked as he sneered.
The tour guide looked unfazed as they continued, "The city today still has significant archaeological remains, including the Cheomseongdae observatory, Bulguksa temple, Seokguram Grotto, pagodas,
and many huge earth-mound royal tombs within which spectacular gold crowns and jewellery pieces have been excavated, fully justifying the capital's other name of Geumseong, or 'City of Gold.'," the guide declared proudly.
"Oh? Are you saying Gyeongju is the lost city of El Dorado?" He giggled. Some of the other tourists coughed but kept straight faces. Darn this guy. He's ruining the whole tour.
The guide was expressionless, but his eyebrow was raised at the group's childishness. Min pulled on my sleeve, so I marched to give the dolt a piece of my mind.
Tapping the fool, I began to rebuke him.
"Can I ask what you do for a living?" I asked innocently.
"Huh? I'm a salesman, what's it to you, Blondie?" As he fumed, I grinned. "You make a living on commission, so I bet you don't make nearly as much money as the tour guide.
He earns more money and has more freedom than you. His country also treats people better than yours." The more I spoke, the redder his face became. Fury or shame? I didn't care.
"Unless you have something to brag about, I suggest you shut your mouth," I finished. The Chinese glared after me as I returned to Min. "Stupid (censor)," he grumbled.
It didn't offend me, but it did get him kicked out of the tour. At least it's quiet now. We were now led to the village, and Min was excited again.
I guess I should buy a souvenir for Mars. Oh, a doughnut shop!
I bought us a box of selected doughnuts from a nice shop lady. I promise, I didn't flirt with her. Min is here with me after all.
The tour guide gave us an hour to spend with ourselves to go shopping, so Min and I went all out. I still had money left in Janett's case, so I spent it all on this date.
She kept getting flustered each time I paid, but I told her it was my Valentine's present for her.
"Isn't it a bit expensive for a Valentine's?" she asked as she piled her gifts on top of each other when we sat down for lunch in a small restaurant.
"Of course not. I bet you missed a lot of Valentine's days during your time at the institute. This is just my way of helping you catch up," I winked.
She blushed and avoided my gaze as she ordered her food. Aw, she looked so adorable when she acted shy.
We ate and chatted the time away. It was very enjoyable. I watched a lot of television shows where people went on dates to the movies or dinner, but who knew a date in a cultural city could be so fun?
Later, at two o'clock, we met the tour guide at the mounds and walked while he spoke. I slipped my hand into Min's, which she, to my delight, held tightly.
The sun was setting when we approached the lake.
It was a romantic sight when the group stood on a bridge, taking pictures of the sunset and the water.
Min and I stood at the back and just listened to the water and the people's excited jabbering. "Did you have fun today?" I asked her.
"Except for that one guy, today was good," she replied. Naturally, it was, she was with me.
"If you want, we could go on another date." I hesitated. Come on, say yes. She turned and looked at me. "That'll be difficult," she refused. What? Why?
"I don't follow," I rubbed my head in confusion.
"Today was nice, yes, and you are a nice person. But I don't think a relationship will work," she reiterated, "but I don't mind staying friends."
"Please pretend I'm a dim-witted person and speak clearly." I reached back and brushed my hair. I was feeling a bit pissed.
We were ignoring the laughing group and an exasperated tour guide as we spoke. She continued softly,
"I have spent years in the mental institution and have seen many kinds of people. So I can assess people's personalities more clearly now.
This morning, I saw you as just another nice guy, but as time passed, you became a nice guy with arrogance and narcissism.
I want to be with someone who loves me, not someone who only loves himself."
Damn. She reminded me of my mother. Mom said almost the same thing this past Christmas. I calmed myself down.
I let out a deep breath and responded, "I guess it's understandable.
Especially in your case." It's fine. It's fine. "Let's just enjoy the fireworks and go our separate ways."
I felt a bit sulky as she ruined my day. We stood in silence as the fireworks went off and the people shouted in exhilaration.
The train home was just as quiet.
Min tried to return the gifts, but that made me feel even more insulted, so she took them with her, promising she'd send a White Day gift.
Wait, what's a white day? Anyway, I was still sulking as I arrived home.
I live in a small house, just big enough for one person and his cat companion, so when I slammed the door, it immediately alerted Mars, who was in my room.
"Is there an emergency?" he panted as he skidded to a halt. I threw myself onto the couch and moaned, "No, Mars. It's just me. I'm depressed."
He clamoured on top of me and sniffed. "What do you think you're doing?" I complained.
"Nothing much. Just looking for a red mark-"
"Piss off!" I slammed a pillow against Mars and stormed off, leaving behind a laughing cat.
*
Jason McNeill sat frustrated in front of several files that his son had given him. Amelia didn't sit too far from him, reading a book.
"That boy. Where have we gone wrong?" He fell back into his chair with his hand on his forehead. Amelia rested her book on her lap and comforted him.
"We haven't done anything wrong. We gave him a proper education.
He was taught to be a proper investigator, so he had everything he needed to be a good and helpful person. Mars always helped his growth too."
"That's the problem. We indulged in him too much. He had everything he could have wanted. I can see in his writing, his ego is a bit too inflated," his father grumbled grimly.
"It's too late now. We just have to hope he does his best and helps the Otherworld like he is supposed to," Amelia tapped her book sternly. Jason coughed.
"Yes, I know. But still," he held up the documents, "all this work he has left for me!
Even though I told him not to, he still writes his reports like it's a personal journal!" he cried, frustrated.
Amelia lifted her book and continued to read. "He's a smart boy, even with his narcissistic traits. And Mars will keep him in line.
After all, if Nathan ever goes overboard, Mars could stop him by transforming into his original form."
"Only if he hadn't taught the boy everything by then. He already taught Nathan CLAW before he should've."
"That was an emergency. He still hasn't learned SHADOW and HUNT yet, now, has he?"
Jason rubbed his brows. "You're right. I'm worried about nothing. I guess our best bet is that he'll meet a nice girl that'll calm him down someday, since he got dumped by the Sung girl."
"That was a shame."
"You have that right."