Swiss Stakes

Encounter

Se-ri read once in a magazine that a good haircut was almost like having plastic surgery, the transformation that a few snips could do was life-changing⁠. She didn't necessarily believe it, especially if the physical features were already there. Like for Jeong-hyeok who stared at his reflection back in Seoul after his hair makeover, almost as though it was a stranger looking back at him. Se-ri kept teasing him that he resembled a model.

So Jeong-hyeok also told Dong-il exactly that with his new look.

"Does 'Seri's choice' do hairdressing?" Jeong-hyeok asked her casually, now joining them at the table.

"No, but maybe I should think about it." Se-ri said chin on hand, thoughtful nods.

"Se-ri dong ji," Dong-il pointed. "Your ice cream has melted."

"Oh." Se-ri looked at the sludge in her cup.

Jeong-hyeok hailed a wait staff, "Hend Si e Menucharte?" At Se-ri, "Do you want that again?"

"No." Se-ri was still scavenging for unmelted portions in vain, "Maybe I'll try the strawberry. Dong-il?"

The boy politely declined with a shake of a head.

"I hett gärn e Strawberry und..." Jeong-hyeok flipped the menu, "Espresso. Danke."

"How did it go with Sol-mi?" Se-ri might as well call out the elephant in the room and get it out of the way.

Jeong-hyeok took time to choose his words, "The hotel allowed her to play. They saw how good she was."

Se-ri couldn't help but think there was a bigger iceberg but realized Dong-il was listening and it was not fair to both scholars to be discussed so openly, so she would let it slide.

Jeong-hyeok then talked to Dong-il about his rehearsal arrangements the next day. He called a cellist friend who spoke some Korean to help the boy practice and also serve as a temporary mentor along the way. The ice creams were served and while Se-ri found hers delectable, she couldn't help but stare at Jeong-hyeok's espresso ice cream.

He offered it to which Se-ri gladly took a spoonful. Her eyes lit up, "This is delicious! Do you want to try mine?"

As Jeong-hyeok and Dong-il continued talking about the lectures and schooling with Jeong-hyeok encouraging the boy to make friends with the South Korean scholars to help him adjust faster in his studies, he kept pushing his cup over to Se-ri as she stole from his ice cream more than necessary until he ended up with her strawberry flavor.

Dessert consumed, they dropped Dong-il off to his hotel and said their goodbyes, leaving Se-ri at the passenger seat and Jeong-hyeok asking where they should go. Se-ri didn't feel like going home yet and wanted to walk around Unterseen, the small medieval town near Interlaken.

"Isn't that journalist staying in the area?" Jeong-hyeok asked as they strolled along the wooden chalets and houses.

"Yes, but..." Se-ri examined herself from scarf to white sneakers, "We did our best with our outfits today. I had the sudden thought that I won't let him control us and the next days will be busy. Today let's do what we want." She stretched out her right hand for him to take, their fingers interlacing.

Se-ri also took that time as her cue to ask more probing questions. "So what really happened with Sol-mi?"

And Jeong-hyeok was preparing for it as he inhaled deep, "I warned her not to go out of line."

"And?"

"She was headstrong about it, she said..." He trailed.

Se-ri squeezed his hand, "Said what?"