4. Thawing (3) The Lost Item

I suggested we eat together, and Do-Hyeon led me to the swimming pool office. The office, about eight square meters, was neatly arranged with a white office desk, computer, and various items, like Tetris blocks. One wall was a glass window, offering a clear view of the swimming pool. We sat facing each other at a round table in this space of blue emptiness and transparent separation, unfolding the paper bag. Inside a small box, six canelés were neatly arranged.

"People can only buy six each. I wanted to buy more..." Do-Hyeon said. I handed him one, and he also placed one in front of me.

"Yes, it was always like that before."

As I finished one canelé, saying "delicious" several times, he was looking at me with his characteristic comfortable smile. My heart, usually not easily excited, began to flutter.

"Canelés are rough, dark, and hard on the outside... but how are they so white, moist, and soft inside? The bigger the contrast, the more interesting the mix of taste and texture. This place really has the best taste."

I was exhilarated. Do-Hyeon, still holding a canelé in his hand, offered me another after I had finished one. "Coach, please have one too." He finally took a bite upon my urging.

"Canelés were originally made in Bordeaux, France."

I spoke while watching him eat.

"Bordeaux... famous for its wine, right?"

"Yes. The winemakers there use egg whites for 'collage' to filter impurities from the wine, leaving only the egg yolks. They donated these yolks to a nearby monastery. The nuns mixed the yolks with other ingredients to make these canelés. It's a fascinating story every time I think about it. I feel warm inside whenever I discover that great things often start from coincidental moments. Someday, I want to travel to Bordeaux and Arles in France. Bordeaux is in the southwest and Arles in the southeast. It takes about seven hours by train, and from Arles, I could even go to Cannes and Nice. It would be a journey across the south of France. Imagine the beautiful scenery!"

I was lost in my words and suddenly realized Do-Hyeon's unwavering gaze was fixed on me.

"Sorry, I got excited eating something I love after a long time."

I said apologetically.

"No, it's interesting."

His smile seemed as genuine as the raw stories I had just shared.

That day marked the beginning of us asking each other many things, often and for long periods. When he asked where I lived, I gave him my address, and he told me he lived in a residence on the third floor of the sports center. Do-Hyeon was curious about the type of person I liked. I loved a senior from my graduate school, a person always more positive than me. When asked what I do in my free time, I honestly said I mostly lay in bed. He said he spent his time looking for lost things or reminiscing about his hometown.

His favorite movie was "My Own Private Idaho." It was a film released over 60 years ago. Because of this, I also grew to love that movie. I recommended some of Wes Miller's old films to him.

It took over a year to complete the beginner and intermediate swimming classes. During this time, an unusually warm spring passed, and ironically, a terrible darkness and cold came with the summer. Café McEwan couldn't survive the year and closed down.

There were no more people wanting to learn to swim in the indoor pool. It was inevitable. The sea was icy, and walking had become a luxury... The once bustling world had suddenly gone mute. Our conversations seemed to be eroding as well.

However, less than a month after the last lesson, Do-Hyeon called.

"Hee-jae, register for the advanced class. There's still much to learn."

His words sounded like, "There's still much conversation to share." Or perhaps there was another reason, a reason to keep teaching me or to stay close to me...

Hallucinations continued to visit me often. Even while floating in bloody visions, I couldn't remember what I had learned, but the idea that there was still more to learn gave me hope. It was the same with our conversations.

"I'll register, Coach. Let's continue, us."

Whatever his intentions, I willingly became his last student.

I paced the living room, unable to sit or stand still. If Do-Hyeon had taken the teleporter, he might never return. Suddenly, I resented the way he had left, braving the grey snow and darkness to fix my car. In retrospect, he had approached me intentionally. Convincing me to learn swimming, layering questions and conversations, all had been a ploy to steal the teleporter. All his past actions perfectly matched my suspicions.

Without the teleporter, I had no way to meet Sun-woo. To go to Chicago, I needed to fly, but the airport had been closed for a long time.

I had easily trusted people... The fact that I lost Do-Hyeon was as painful, if not more, than losing the teleporter.

I took a deep breath. I needed to clear my mind and think about what to do. I couldn't chase after Do-Hyeon, who had fled in the car. I had to find another way to meet Sun-woo. I opened the curtains and looked outside. Do-Hyeon's SUV was still in front of my house. If he had any compassion for me, he would have left the car keys inside. Without a car in this neighborhood, I was as good as stranded on an island. I headed to the kitchen to get my jacket.

Then, I heard a car crunching snow in the yard. Looking out again, I saw headlights approaching the house. It was my car. Do-Hyeon got out of the driver's seat. He waved at me through the window, then pointed to the neatly replaced window and smiled. I wondered if I had wrongly suspected him, but decided to remain cautious. The teleporter was definitely missing. I forced a smile as Do-Hyeon entered the house, holding three different flavors of ice cream.

"I stopped by the mart next door while fixing the car. They had some left, so I bought it. Now, ice cream and all frozen foods are hard to come by."

I handed back one of the ice creams Do-Hyeon had brought. However, he refused to take it, along with the repair fee for the window. Was he doing this because he had taken the teleporter? My suspicions lingered.

"Actually, I've forgotten something."

"What is it?"

Do-Hyeon's expression was the epitome of 'what is it?'

"It's about this big, white, and somewhat thin."

I described the teleporter with my hands. Do-Hyeon tilted his head slightly.

"Is it a phone?"

"No, not a phone. It looks somewhat similar, but it's something warm and unique..."

"What do you use it for?"

"Well..."

My lips twitched, and my gaze shifted restlessly. I couldn't give a precise answer. Do-Hyeon seemed to notice my discomfort.

"Did you lose it in the house? Let's look for it together. It's good to start from nearby places when you lose something."

He scanned me from top to bottom, then began looking around the empty living room. I had already searched the entire house, but I didn't mention it. I too followed Do-Hyeon's gaze to the places I had already checked. In truth, it was an act. He might have hidden the teleporter and was pretending not to know, so I was carefully observing his actions.