Chapter 115 Your Love Poem, My Love Poem,

Sitting by the house, listening to the humming sound coming from the pond, Hajime's worries finally disappeared. During this time, he didn't think about much else, he just focused on the humming sound. He found that the humming somehow helped calm his mind and heart. 

In Hajime's previous life, he always had trouble sleeping, but since Kenji came into his life, his sleep got better, and then when he and Kenji broke up, his old sleeping habits came back. He sighed, breathing in the air that was circling around him. 

"It would be great if I could live in this little house all my life and listen to this humming."  Hajime closed his eyes, leaned against the wall, and whistled along with the humming tone. 

Michio came out of the house and said, "You can do it after you help us save Tangzang." He sat next to Hajime. "It's not just you, every one of us thinks the same as you." He stood up. "I'm going to prepare dinner." 

Hajime opened his eyes and quickly stood up. "Why are we sitting at home when they're having all the fun in the market? I bet they're probably enjoying a treat right now." 

"Even if we go to the market, we don't have money," Michio said. 

Hajime said, "We don't need to buy anything, we are just going sightseeing." 

Michio said, "But the sun will set soon." 

Hajime took Michio's hand and said, "Although you are a monk and reciting Buddhist scriptures is very important to you, you also need time to enjoy life outside of books occasionally." 

When Hajime and Michio were walking on the street, they happened to encounter a group of people surrounding a stall on the roadside. 

Hajime said, "Michio, let's go see what they are doing over there." 

Michio said, "Why?" 

Hajime said, "That's what sightseeing is all about. Turning your nose up at other people's problems. Come on..." 

The three Tanzanies and the two women made their way down the street towards the large crowd.  U-ri and Abrafo had gone ahead leaving Yul behind with the two women. 

Walking side by side with Yun beside him, Yul felt his heart trembling with unexplainable happiness. You had never felt this way before, not even when he was with Abeba.  He has a good relationship with Abeba.  Abeba was kind to him, but Abeba never made his heart flutter.  When he saw Yun for the first time, his heart was trembling with excitement. Although Yun didn't talk to him at that time, he wanted to have a long talk with her. 

When two men ran across Yul, Yun and Bi, Yul stopped suddenly and grabbed onto Yun's hand, preventing her from taking a step forward. 

Yun looked up at Yul, smiled and said, "Thank you." 

Bi cleared her throat and said, "Dear Sir, you can let go of my lady's hand now." 

Yul apologized and quickly let go of Yun's hand. 

U-ri turned around and said, "Hey, come on." 

Yul, Yun, and Bi stopped a few steps away from the crowd.  Abrafo turned around and said, "What are you doing standing there? Come here quickly." 

Yul said, "I'm staying here. You two go on." 

Abrafo walked back to Yul and said, "You're so boring, let's go take a look." He grabbed Yul's hand and dragged Yul toward a group of people surrounding the stall. 

Yun and Bi had no choice but to follow Yul and Abrafo to the stall surrounded by young people. 

Abrafo quickly pushed some people aside and they walked to the front of the stall. On the table lay beautiful handmade combs, small round mirrors, lip balms, paper lanterns and hand-held sandalwood folding fans. 

Teacher Li said, "As you all know, tomorrow is the day when we celebrate love. The things you see on the table are not for sale, but if you can come up with a love poem that satisfies me, I will give it to you." 

Abrafo looked at U-ri and said, "Hey old man, this is your domain. Quote some love poems so we can win some free stuff." He looked across the table and saw Hajime and Michio standing on the other side. 

Abrafo shouted, "Michio!" He waved at Michio to get his attention. 

Michio raised his head and saw Abrafo standing with Yul and U-ri. "Hajime... Hajime... the other one is on the other side," Michio said. 

Hajime looked across and saw Yul, Abrafo, and U-ri standing on the other side of the table. "I told you, they're here to have fun and not for work," Hajime said. 

Michio asked, "Should we go over there?" 

Hajime said, "No, the table is not that big, there is no need to stay next to them." 

A man stood not too far from Hajime said, "I got one for you." 

Teacher Li said, "Alright, let's listen. Now please calm down and listen to this gentleman's poem." 

The man looked at the young woman standing next to him, and he quoted, "You are my love, my life, the air I breathe. You are my soul, my happiness, everything I need."  The young man took a step back from the young woman and bowed to her. "Thank you, my lady, for agreeing to my hand in marriage." 

Teacher Li clapped his hands happily and said, "Very good... this teacher is very satisfied with your poem. Go ahead and pick something for the young woman." 

The young man turned to the woman and asked, "Which one do you like?" 

The young woman said, "Your poem, so is your prize. I like whatever you choose." 

The young man grabbed one of the small round mirrors and said, "Here, take it." 

The people clapped loudly. 

Teacher Li said happily, "We still have a lot of things on the table." 

U-ri said, "I'll give it a try." 

Teacher Li smiled, "Sir, there is no age limit for my table. Please share your poem." 

U-ri quoted, "If you were my rose, then I'd be your sun, shimmering sunlight when the rains come. If you were my fish, then I'd rather be your pond, immersing in love from old sun to new sun." 

Teacher Li applauded, "Well done, sir, well done, you choose the price." 

U-ri reached out and grabbed a comb. "I need one of these," U-ri said with a smile. 

Hajime looked at the things on the table and thought that Yul might like this sandalwood fan. "I have one," Hajime said. 

Yul, U-ri, Abrafo, and Michio were all surprised when they heard Hajime's words.  Michio grabbed Hajime's arm and said, "Are you sure?" 

Teacher Li looked at Hajime and said, "Oh, this young gentleman let us hear your poem." 

Hajime looked at Yul and quoted, "I've been through a lot of sorrow, I've been forced to endure pain. I have had some secrets that I never could explain. So, if I give you my heart, please handle it with care. Don't go throwing it to the ground and leave me in despair." 

Teacher Li clapped his hands and said, "This is also a happy poem. Secret love poems are always happy. Please give us another one." 

Hajime asked, "If I quote you another poem, can I get two prizes?" 

Teacher Li said, "Yes." 

Hajime said, "Well... let me think about it." He thought for a while, and people were still waiting patiently for Hajime to say something.  "Oh, okay here we go." Hajime cleared his throat.  "You are my heart, my lungs, the brain that helps me thinking, you are my arms, my legs, my boat that keeps me from sinking.  So, if you are my rose, then I better be those thorns, protecting you from others' evil tones. If you were my fish, I would rather be that river, protecting you never ever to suffer." 

U-ri looked at Hajime and smiled at him. "You little rascal..." he whispered. 

Teacher Li clapped his hands and said loudly, "Ah, I have never seen anyone do this. You took the words of these two gentlemen and reversed the words and order. Smart move, very smart move."

He smiled. "What are the two items you like." 

Hajime said, "I want that fan and mirror." 

Teacher Li grabbed the handle fan and round mirror and handed it to Hajime. "Young man, maybe this year you will find true love," he said to Hajime with a smile.  "Best of luck." 

Hajime chuckled and took the two prizes he won from Teacher Li. "Thank you, I really want to find my true love," Hajime said. "This is for you." He handed the mirror to Michio. 

Michio smiled and said, "For me?" 

Hajime said, "Everyone is tired of being your mirror when you are shaving your head." 

"Thank you for your thoughtfulness," Michio said, taking the mirror from Hajime's hand. 

Yun looked at the table and saw the Lantern of butterfly and flower.  She said, " In the tapestry of destiny, we were entwined, as soul mates, our hearts forever aligned. He was made for me, a perfect match divine, our love written in the stars, destined to shine." 

Everyone in the stall was shocked, because they had always known that Yun had never said a word since she was a child, but now she suddenly quoted a poem from a past poet in front of everyone. 

Yun reached out and grabbed the lantern from the table and handed it to Yul.  "For you," Yun said.  "If you are lost, light this lantern and it will show you the road back home." 

Yul took the lantern and said, "Thank you." 

Yun smiled at Yul and left with Bi. 

The five Tanzanies started walking home, Yul and Hajime followed behind the other three. 

Hajime said, "She surely is pretty."  He bumped Yul's left shoulder.  "What is her name?" 

Yul said, "I don't know.  I didn't ask." 

Hajime smiled at Yul and said, "If your heart wants to know her name, you should ask.  Instead of continuing to doubt like now. Although you are a big strong man, in terms of courage, you lost to her." 

Yul asked, "How?" 

Hajime said, "She dares to express her feelings for you in front of so many people, but you don't even dare to ask her for her name." 

Yul said, "There's no need to know." 

Hajime looked at Yul and asked, "Are you sure on that?" 

Yul did not answer Hajime, but continued walking forward, leaving Hajime behind. Hajime looked at Yul's back and murmured, "Are you afraid that I will refuse to leave your side? Or are you afraid that if I know that you have feelings for someone else, I won't help you get that white dragon tail?" 

Yule suddenly stopped, turned around and asked, "Did you drop something?" 

Hajime smiled brightly and said, "No." He quickly ran to Yul. "This is for you," Hajime said, handing the sandalwood fan to Yul. "When I saw this, I thought of you." 

Yul asked, "Why me?" 

Hajime said, "You often light fires. With this fan, it won't take long to light a fire." 

Yul reached inside his robe and handed Hajime a wooden comb. "Here, this is for you," Yul said. 

Hajime held a poorly made comb in his hand. "Did you buy this?" he asked. "If you bought this, you were cheated." 

"No," Yul said, "I had nothing else to do while I was selling hairpins, so I made it." 

Hajime smiled and said, "Thank you. Although it is not as good as other combs on the market, it is more valuable than any comb on the market shelf." He stuffed the comb into his robe.