The Algorithm-Recommended Train Trip (5)
Now brimming with confidence, Seon-a believed she could do anything if she just got permission. She openly scanned Chae Ji-hyeon’s body from head to toe. First impressions existed, and first impressions became prejudice.
“I just saw it… and I was shocked.”
Seon-a slowly approached Chae Ji-hyeon’s side. Then, with one eye closed, she measured the hip line with her finger. Faced with a reality that was the complete opposite of the image she had imagined, she let out a low groan.
The Pyeong she had pictured was slender… the kind of woman whose baby would starve if she tried breastfeeding and would have no choice but to use formula. Not only that—narrow hips, a straight waist, and zero appeal except for her face. That was the first impression Seon-a had formed of Chae Ji-hyeon.
But that first impression shattered into pieces. Not a single thing matched. It was as if a truth she had believed was the law of the world had suddenly been proven false. She couldn’t believe it. Or maybe she didn’t want to.
“That can’t be right.”
Seon-a formed a camera with her hands. “Click. Click.” She made shutter sounds while storing Chae Ji-hyeon’s hip line in her mind. Startled by the noise, Chae Ji-hyeon turned to look.
“A-Ah!! What… what are you doing?!”
“You’re… the easy-birth type.”
“Huh? No. No, what are you doing?”
“Bad woman.”
Seon-a felt disappointed. The reason was simple: reality didn’t match the first impression she had built. There was truly no other reason. What Seon-a feared most was when someone turned out different from what she had assumed. It was terrifying.
If she decided someone was kind, then in her world they were kind. If she decided someone was bad, then in her world they were bad. She lived with those prejudices.
“Ugh… this is bad. Bad woman.”
She wanted to argue. Why? Why?! But Seon-a had grown. She was no longer the rude Seon-a of the past. She mustn’t say mean or rude things. Other people didn’t, after all. Touching was fine if she asked permission. But words were different. No one said those things. She had to hold it in. Instead, she only muttered her frustration.
“Seriously a bad woman.”
“W-What’s so bad about me?”
“Seriously a bad woman.”
“What… what’s so bad about me? Tell me.”
“…”
Seon-a slowly drew closer to Chae Ji-hyeon.
“Why? Why are you doing this?”
“You really want me to say it?”
Seon-a’s eyes were round and glistening, like someone who felt deeply wronged.
“Um… go ahead and say it.”
“This…”
Seon-a slowly lifted her head and spoke.
“Easy-birth hips… baby comes out whoosh whoosh. Chest is also phone-Pyeong level… baby comes out whoosh whoosh… and the hips… shocking…”
“…”
“I thought you had narrow hips and a straight waist… but you don’t. I’m disappointed.”
“…”
“If you’re this perfectly proportioned… it’s cheating. You’re not allowed to give birth whoosh whoosh!! There is no God.”
“…”
Seon-a was deeply disappointed that the Pyeong she had imagined was so different from the real Pyeong. But the disappointment didn’t last long. Chae Ji-hyeon immediately made a phone call somewhere.
***
Why… what did I do wrong? Let me think. She told me to speak, so I spoke. What’s the problem? If she had told me not to, I wouldn’t have. But she asked me to, so I was honest.
“Yes… Mom. That’s not it. You see… no.”
“Seon-a.”
“No… yes. I was wrong.”
“Then you should be handcuffed.”
“No… what about Seon-a’s lawyer?”
“There isn’t one.”
“But I worked so hard to earn money…”
“You’re being scolded right now. Are you coming home?”
“Uh… I was wrong…”
“Make sure you apologize, and never say anything like that again. I’m hanging up now.”
She spent over twenty minutes being scolded by her mother. Mom gave her no chance to explain and just kept pressing. Seon-a had no choice but to surrender. Summarizing what Mom said: don’t say mean things. Fine, I won’t. Yeah, I won’t. You already scolded me, so I won’t. I’m sulking now. I was just complimenting her objectively. Well… okay. Okay. I won’t. People who can’t hear compliments like the ones I give are the ones losing out!!
“Now we have to get off.”
“Huh? Why?”
Pyeong suddenly grabbed Seon-a’s hand and pulled.
“We’re getting off to take a bus and eat Chinese food.”
“Eh? But this is a train trip?”
“You haven’t seen this, have you?”
“What is this?”
Pyeong showed Seon-a a piece of paper. It was their itinerary.
“Huh… no way. We’re not just riding the train?”
“Of course not. This is a themed trip where we travel all over the country eating delicious food.”
“What the—?”
Seon-a was completely flustered. She had thought this trip would be like traveling the Rocky Mountains or riding the Trans-Siberian Railway or the Snowpiercer—everything solved inside the train. Apparently not.
“Let’s go. Hurry.”
“Uh… okay…”
They boarded a tour bus and arrived at a restaurant for lunch. The grilled eel was incredibly delicious. Seon-a ate with abandon. It had been so long since she’d had fish. At home she almost never ate it—too much trouble. But eating it like this was really good!!
After finishing, they were given free time.
“I’m not going.”
“Oh… why?”
“I’m tired. I don’t want to go, but if you want to make me get up, try persuading me. Go on, try.”
“You need to exercise. You’ll turn into a pig with just a big chest.”
Seon-a spoke firmly. She had no choice. They asked for it!! She needed strong motivation to move. Even she needed a powerful push or she’d give up right away.
“Heh… that’s too mean.”
“And we have to take pictures while we’re there!!”
The only thing left from a trip was photos. Memories? Those faded with time. In the end, you had to take tons and tons of pictures if you wanted anything to remain.
“Hurry up.”
Seon-a pulled the big-chested pig to her feet. Once standing, it turned out to be Moddeok. They walked diligently along the trail. The fact was, it was winter and very cold. But Seon-a honestly didn’t feel it. She wore thermal underwear, thick clothes, an outer layer, and a padded coat—plus a scarf and mittens just in case. Fully armed!!
In contrast, Pyeong was shivering. Did a single layer of fabric really block the wind? Geez…!! Of course it was cold. That was normal. If you weren’t cold dressed like that, the world was broken.
Seon-a took off her padded coat and draped it over Pyeong’s shoulders.
“Employee love is…?”
“Uh… I’m fine.”
“Employee love is…?”
“No, really, I’m fine.”
“Employee love is…? Employee love is?”
Seon-a was a straightforward person. She never gave what she didn’t have enough of. Since she wasn’t lacking right now, she could give.
“Ah… thank you.”
“Employee love is? Come on. Employee love is?”
“Seon-Pyeong.”
“Hahaha! Again. Employee love is?”
“Seon-Pyeong.”
“Hahahaha!!”
Seon-a stood in a patch of sunlight, spread both arms in a Y shape, and shouted loudly.
“Hahaha! Employee love is? Seon-Pyeong!!!! I’m amazing!!!”
“Oh… please.”
“Hahaha.”
“S-Stop.”
She could hear voices telling her to stop, but no. The knot inside her still hadn’t loosened. She needed to do it two more times.
“Hahaha! Employee love is Seon-a!!! She’s great!!!”
“Stop… please.”
“Stop? Encore!! Employee love is Seon-a!!”
Whew… that felt better. Seon-a looked back. Both of them had their heads down. Ah. She’d been inconsiderate. They must be cold. She’d dragged things out too long. She’d made them freeze just because she felt good… She was growing again. How could she realize something like this so quickly? In the past she couldn’t even imagine it… her mind was working so fast now. This was what social life was like!! She’d learned social skills through streaming. Why did she keep feeling so impressed these days? Hehehe.
“No… Seon-a, let’s go quickly.”
“Ah…! Okay, let’s go.”
“More importantly, why did you suddenly start shouting?”
“Because I wanted to. Want to try too?”
Seon-a offered just in case. Moddeok and Pyeong both let out an “Oh!!” and refused at lightning speed. Probably because of the cold.
“Then let’s go… Ah, before that, let’s take pictures!!”
They decided to take a photo on a pretty bridge!! Afterward they took more than twenty photos and plenty of videos too.
“Oh. This one came out great. Nice, right? We’re good?”
“Hmm…”
What Seon-a hated most was nitpicking over photos. If you took it, it was done. Why argue about quality, pose, expression…? Just be done with it. Let’s go already… She never thought she’d be the one saying that.
“Let’s take it again.”
“Ah… why? What’s wrong?”
“I don’t like this one.”
“It came out well.”
“No. The V sign here is too passive.”
She just didn’t like it. She felt they could do better. After seven tries, Seon-a finally got the photo she wanted. It was just the three of them linking arms, but somehow it made her happy.
“Ehehe. Got it.”
Later she’d print all the really pretty ones as physical copies. This trip was genuinely fun. She never expected she’d go on a trip like this… She was glad.
“It’s fun. Everyone’s having fun, right?”
“Uh… it’s cold. So cold…”
Moddeok… of course she was cold dressed like that. If she’d worn what Seon-a was wearing, she wouldn’t have been. Seon-a stared at Moddeok in disbelief.
“Agh. Let’s go already.”
“Uh…”
“Grab Ji-hyeon and just drag her. I can’t do this anymore. That’s enough.”
“Uh… I was already going to stop.”
“Stop with the nonsense and let’s go. I’m freezing and exhausted. We already took plenty of pictures.”
“Uh… I was going to go.”
“Don’t lie. Just drag her.”
Both of them grabbed Seon-a’s arms and pulled them toward their chests. The difference was so obvious that even with her eyes closed she could tell who was who. They didn’t stop there. Like detectives arresting a criminal, they dragged her along. Seon-a was pulled helplessly. But… hmm… the left side felt nice.