The Hotel (Complete)
Yujin pulls me into her arms and lies back. We spend time pressed tightly together on this vast, luxurious bed. She inhales the scent rising from my body and strokes my cheek. I slip my arm behind her and gently brush through her hair. We stay like that for a long while.
The familiar voices and playful melody drift from the TV. (Aigoo, hyung! What are you doing opening that? It's still cooking!) (Oh dear, they're fighting while cooking. What a mess.) I stare at the ornate patterns on the ceiling, listening to them for what feels like ages.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
After some time passes, a careful knock sounds from the door.
"I'll get it," I say, gently pushing Yujin aside. I straighten my robe and open the door.
"Excuse me. The room servi—"
"Just bring it quickly. We're hungry."
The staff member's attempt to introduce the contents piled on the cart is cut short by Yujin's irritated snap. The employee doesn't flinch; he keeps his smile in place and wheels the cart all the way into the bedroom.
"Yes, I'll leave it right he—"
"Hurry up and get out. You're interrupting us at a really good moment."
Her rude, aggressive tone makes my head throb.
"Yujin, you shouldn't speak to the staff like that."
"Why? It's his fault for showing up at a bad time."
The employee maintains his smile even at her words, bowing politely to both of us in apology.
"I'm very sorry. Miss, young master."
"...No, there's no need to apologize. Thank you for bringing this."
I bow to the employee in his place, offering both apology and gratitude. He bows to me once more before carefully leaving the room.
"Why are you the one apologizing?"
"Then why was the staff member apologizing?"
"Because he acted like a piece of shit."
"What you did was far more shitty, Yujin."
She glances at me, gauging my reaction.
"Fine, I was wrong. Let's just eat quickly."
She pulls the cart toward herself as if nothing had happened.
"Ah, that bastard didn't even open the wine? What a fucking— I mean, that's annoying..."
She checks my expression again. A wave of dizziness washes over me. I press hard on my temples to ease the pain and sit beside her.
"Yujin, it's good that you're trying to be mindful of me and avoid aggressive behavior or speech. But just watching my reaction without understanding what the actual problem is doesn't help at all..."
"Are you mad...? I'm sorry... Here, try this. It's really good."
She hurriedly cuts a piece of meat and holds the fork right in front of my mouth. I gently grasp the fork she's offering so earnestly to cheer me up and continue.
"Promise me that from now on, you'll seriously try to think from the other person's perspective."
"Mmm... Okay. So stop being mad and let's eat together, yeah?"
Yujin forces a smile and meets my eyes. Even so, I know this much means she's trying very hard. Still, in her actions, the negative aspects stand out far more than the positive ones.
...Am I expecting too much from my lover because I'm viewing this through the lens of a counselor, just like the director said?
The thought makes me feel sorry for Yujin, who's desperately trying to please me. I stop lecturing her, open my mouth, and accept the steak she cut for me.
"How is it? Delicious, right?"
"...Yes, it's good. Thank you."
She's making an effort too... She's yielding a lot and adjusting to me... I shouldn't focus so much on her problematic behaviors.
"Want me to cut you another piece?"
"Yes. It tastes better when you cut it for me, Yujin."
I accept the kindness she's offering. That way, the awkwardness between us will fade faster. I won't get angry. I won't only see the negative. I won't try to teach her. She's no longer a client—she's my lover now.
Lover...
I eat another piece of meat she cut for me. Yujin seems to sense that my mood has lifted; she smiles brightly again. Her cute, lovely expression melts away the last traces of negativity inside me. I lean in and softly kiss her cheek.
"I'm not mad anymore. You're too pretty for me to stay upset."
"Then feed me too!"
I take the knife and fork from her. She closes her eyes and opens her mouth. I cut the steak into bite-sized pieces for her.
"Ah~"
She makes the sound to hurry me along. I gently place a piece into her waiting mouth. She opens her eyes again and savors the meat.
"The meat itself is just okay, but it tastes good because Jihyun cut it for me~"
She chews with an utterly innocent smile. Her playful, coquettish expression makes me laugh.
That's right... She's just an ordinary person, a woman who wants to be loved. She simply never had anyone who properly told her these things before. I shouldn't hold her to such high standards.
No. She's ordinary.
I glance at the TV. She's just a normal person...
I glance at her smartphone.
....No.
I gather the empty plates into one corner of the cart so they'll be easy to clear away.
"They'll clean it up anyway..."
"Still, it looks better this way."
"Fine, do whatever you want."
Yujin takes a sip of wine, swishing it around her mouth to taste it. Two empty wine bottles stand beside her as she slowly savors the final glass with visible regret.
"If you want more, it's okay to drink."
"Really? I thought you hated it when I drank a lot."
"No, for some reason it sounds good tonight. I'll have some with you."
"Then order two more bottles!"
Yujin excitedly grabs the phone.
"Yeah, bring two more bottles to our room! Something to snack on without sides~"
After finishing the call, she puts the phone down and rolls around happily on the bed. Watching her, I sit on the edge of the mattress.
"You always talk like you know me so well, Yujin."
She stops moving.
"Did you study up on me or something?" I ask with a smile, stroking her hair.
"...Yeah! I'd get a perfect score on the test~?"
She looks at me and laughs.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"This time I'll get it~"
She gets up from the bed and heads to the door.
"Okay, thank you."
The sound of a cork popping. The sound of the door closing. Her footsteps.
"Yeah! I told them we could just use the glasses we already have. Let's just drink."
"Sounds good."
Clink~ A clean, clear ring. A crisp, sweet taste. Refreshing. The aroma and flavor are so excellent they feel almost perfect.
"Everything you give me tastes good, noona."
"Then follow me around more often! I'll show you lots of delicious things from now on~"
Why does everything she gives me always feel so wonderful? Is the world of the rich just full of wonderful, enjoyable things?
"Noona, can we drink while watching TV?"
"Sure, go ahead!"
I turn on the TV and flip through the channels.
"Aww, looks like the program we were watching earlier is over."
"Yeah, seems like it~"
Hotel exclusive channel, SBS, home shopping, KBS, home shopping, MBC, home shopping, various news channels, sports channels, movie channels, more sports channels, foreign broadcasts for foreigners...
"Do you remember which channel it was?"
"Hmm... I wasn't really paying attention, so I don't know..."
"I can't remember either. Where was it..."
The channels repeat in the same order again.
"I don't know. Let's just watch something else! Should I put on a movie?"
"Yeah, I like watching movies."
I turn on the channel that shows old second- and third-rate movies for free. We drink together, watching a Western film whose plot I can mostly guess even though we started in the middle.
"This really is an old movie. My grandfather used to like these."
"It's probably older than both of us combined?"
I smile at Yujin. She smiles back at me.
This channel is number 49. Earlier, I had found that variety show right after the foreign broadcasts that come after this channel. But now when I check, after the foreign broadcasts it loops back to the hotel exclusive channel that explains the hotel again.
Right... of course.
"Shall we sleep now?"
Yujin presses the button beside the bed, and the lights begin to turn off one by one. From the distant lamps to the soft little lights glowing above our heads. All the lights go out, and darkness settles over us.
Then she moves closer and gently pulls me into her arms. Her breath brushes against my ear.
"Jihyun, good night."
"Good night to you too, Yujin."
I slowly stroke her wavy hair and close my eyes.
Time passes.
But I can clearly feel it. She's lying there with her eyes open, watching me. I keep my eyes shut and pretend not to notice. I act like I'm simply closing my eyes comfortably to fall asleep. I act like I can't feel her gaze.
But she probably knows. She knows I'm pretending. She knows I'm acting like I don't notice.