Brian Blake woke up to the sound of his mother moving about in the kitchen. He yawned and sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes. It was still rare being off from school, and he was looking forward to a leisurely breakfast with his family.

He got out of bed and made his way to the bathroom to splash some water on his face. He dressed in a pair of pants and a shirt, then went downstairs to the kitchen.

His mother, Catherine, was busy cooking a pot of rice porridge on the stove. "Good morning, Brian," she said, turning to give him a warm smile.

"Good morning, Mom," Brian replied, leaning down to kiss her cheek.

His father, Robert, was already seated at the table, a cup of tea in front of him. He looked up as Brian entered the room and nodded a greeting.

Brian sat down at the table and helped himself to a bowl of porridge, savoring the warm, comforting flavor. As he ate, he listened as his parents discussed their plans for the day.

"I was thinking of going into town to see if I can pick up any odd jobs," Robert said. "We could use the extra money."

Catherine nodded, a concerned look on her face. "I know things have been tight lately," she said. "But I worry about you taking on too much work. You're not getting any younger, you know."

Robert chuckled. "I'm not ready to retire yet, my love," he said. "But I understand your concern. I'll be careful."

Brian finished his porridge and stood up. "I'm going to go see Dylan," he said. "We're thinking of working together, maybe as traveling merchants."

Catherine looked up at him, a worried expression on her face. "Brian, are you sure you don't want to study first?" she asked. "There are other options, you know."

Stolen novel; please report.

Brian hesitated, knowing that his mother had something on her mind that she wasn't telling him. But he had made up his mind, and he was determined to follow through on his plan.

"I appreciate your concern, Mom," he said. "But I want to help out with the family expenses. And besides, I'm not really cut out for studying. I'd rather be out in the world, making my own way."

Catherine sighed, but she didn't argue further. Brian knew that she just wanted what was best for him, and he was grateful for her love and support.

He said goodbye to his parents and left the house, heading for the cafe where he was meeting Dylan. As he walked, he couldn't help but think back on all the memories he had of this place. He and Dylan had been coming here since they were kids, and it always brought back good memories.

Brian was excited to catch up with his old friend Dylan. They hadn't seen each other since they graduated from the local academy, and Brian was eager to hear about what Dylan had been up to.

He arrived at the cafe where they had agreed to meet. As he walked through the door, he saw Dylan sitting at their usual table, a broad smile on his face.

"Hey, buddy!" Dylan exclaimed, standing up to give Brian a hug. "It's great to see you again."

"You too, man," Brian replied, returning the hug. "How have you been?"

Dylan hesitated, his smile fading. "I've been good, but there's something I need to tell you," he said. "My parents have decided that I should work for the family business instead of becoming a traveling merchant with you."

Brian's heart sank. He had been looking forward to working with Dylan and seeing the world together. But he knew that Dylan's family came first, and he didn't want to stand in the way of his friend's dreams.

"I understand," he said, trying to keep the disappointment out of his voice. "Your family is important to you. I'm sure working for your parents will be a great opportunity."

Dylan nodded, looking relieved. "I'm sorry, Brian," he said. "I really wanted to work with you, but my parents are counting on me. I hope you can find someone else to travel with."

Brian shrugged. "I'm sure I'll find someone," he said. "In the meantime, I'll just focus on working with my dad as a carpenter. It's not exactly what I had planned, but I'm sure it will be a rewarding experience."

The two friends spent the next hour catching up and discussing their future plans. They reminisced about their time at the academy, recalling their adventures and misadventures.

Despite the disappointment of their lost opportunity to work together, the two friends were still able to enjoy each other's company and the delicious food at the cafe. They ordered a variety of dishes, marveling at the flavors and aromas. Brian especially enjoyed the spicy Korean stew, while Dylan couldn't get enough of the grilled bulgogi.

As they finished their meal, Dylan glanced at his watch and sighed. "I hate to cut this short, but I have to get back to the house," he said. "My parents are counting on me to help with some important paperwork."

Brian nodded, understanding. "I should probably get going too."

The two friends said their goodbyes and promised to keep in touch. As Brian left the cafe, he couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness. He had been looking forward to working with Dylan and seeing the world together, and now those plans were on hold. But he didn't want to stand in the way of Dylan's dreams. He made his way home, deep in thought.