The Election (1)
May 4th.
Cheerful campaign songs and a recorded voice rang out through the streets.
"Hello, everyone~!"
"Candidate number one! Lee! Na! Young!"
"I will be a president you can count on — a president who stands with all of you!"
I was going to lose my mind.
"Lee Nayoung~ Lee Nayoung~ Lee Nayoung~ Let's go!"
"We're going all the way~ Lee Nayoung!"
I'm losing my mind! I'm losing my mind! I'm losing my mind! I'm losing my mind! I'm losing my lunch! I'm going out to lunch!
Hah...
Because of all the trouble I'd caused, Lee Nayoung had singled me out and demanded I make an endorsement and join the citizen campaign rallies. I agreed without thinking. That was a mistake.
I had no idea I'd be stuck on a campaign truck all day, listening to election jingles blasted loud enough to blow out the speakers.
I'd figured I'd just grab a mic somewhere, talk for three to five minutes, and be done with it.
How hard could it be to mash together everything she'd done as Acting President and declare her presidential material?
Good evening.
My fellow citizens.
I have a confession to make.
I took part in the national debate and spoke about population policy — but the truth is, I was afraid. Could these policies really succeed? Was this truly the best we could do? That anxiety sat in my chest and would not leave.
And as all of you know, I was a participant in the Bright Future Policy. Not long ago, I appeared on a nationwide broadcast. And there, I saw hope. I became certain that the work we are doing will succeed.
Even in this insane world, I saw men and women who loved each other. I saw families being born. I saw people become fathers and mothers, and take responsibility for what they had done.
Everyone! My fellow citizens!
Did you not watch the last national debate as well? When this country was on the verge of splitting in two, who was it that stopped that from happening? Did you not also watch her serve as Acting President?
Was it lacking? And was that lack Lee Nayoung's personal failing? Or was it the inadequacy of the situation we all found ourselves in?
I do not believe Lee Nayoung had any personal failings! I believe that if anyone can overcome this crisis, it is Lee Nayoung! That is why I believe Candidate Lee Nayoung is fit to be president!
I ask you to cast your precious vote — for Candidate Lee Nayoung!
Well... just grab whatever's lying around — things that happened, things that didn't, things the public doesn't even know about — throw it all in a blender, and say something along those lines.
It wasn't as if I lacked confidence in this kind of thing.
"You~ and me, all of us~ Lee Nayoung! Lee Nayoung!!"
Ah...
My ears were actually going to die.
During past elections, whenever a campaign truck rolled by, I used to either get the hell out of there and go hang out somewhere, or shut all the windows, crank the AC, and game my brains out. And now here I was, riding in one of those trucks with earplugs in.
What a country.
"Pretty loud, isn't it, Seonghun? That's elections for you. So do me a favor and give it your all when you grab that mic later."
A politician I'd never met before today, riding in the same truck, turned to me with a good-natured look on his face.
What was his name again?
"Yes, sir. I'll be counting on you to drive us around today."
Student, though...
It had been a long time since anyone called me that.
"Aigoo. You're even better in person than you are on TV. You really worked hard today."
"Not at all. I hardly did anything. Thank you for today."
"No, no, you were wonderful. I honestly thought we'd already won the election."
"Haha... I don't have that kind of power. Well, I'll be heading in, then."
I never wanted to do this again. Not in a million years.
"Alright. Get home safe."
"Yes. You as well."
The noise had been the baseline. On top of that, kids kept slipping past the security staff at the drop of a hat, and die-hard opposition supporters barged in and lay down on the ground. It was chaos. Absolute chaos.
I'd been playing mascot for the men of this country, but I was done. I couldn't take it anymore.
Honestly, holding onto that kind of influence among the men was useful — but it was more trouble than it was worth. Local elections were coming up too, and the thought of being dragged out there to repeat today's experience made me want to dump the whole thing as soon as possible.
So on the ride back, I already started reaching out to the other guys. After everything I'd done, at least one of them would step up as my substitute.
If not... well. I'd just have to keep doing it myself.
Fish #1 Incoming!
"Hey. Hyeongcheol. I've got a great offer for you. Just hear me—"
"No."
"Hey, hear me out first. They say there are three things a man should get his hands on in this life: money, power, and fame. What do you say? Want a piece?"
"No. I've already got enough on my plate with Somin. I'm not adding any more weird shit on top of that."
Wow.
I'd gotten the feeling last time I saw him, and whenever we talked in between — but this guy was well and truly caught.
What happened? Did he cheat, try to walk away, and get dragged back?
"For a guy with that much on his plate, you sure have time to pick up the phone."
"Shut up.... We just had a fight and I'm sitting here alone. I'll apologize later."
"Why'd you fight?"
"I don't know. She said we don't spend enough time together. I thought I was doing my best..."
Holy shit...
Just listening to this was suffocating.
"Right... I was just going to ask if you'd consider running for the National Assembly. Guess you don't have the bandwidth. Good luck with that."
Get mixed up in that and you'd bleed.
"Alright. I'm hanging up."
"Yeah."
He'd been my best catch, too... So much for that.
So who did I call now...
There weren't many guys I could actually trust.
Jiwon?
He used to do that?
Must've had time or money to burn.
I shot back a quick thanks, scrolled through my contacts, and made the call.
"Hey. This is Park Seonghun. I've got something I want to talk to you about. Can we meet?"
"Welcome home~ You must be exhausted from campaigning all day."
"Yeah. I'm back. Did you have a good day?"
"No. I missed you too much to have a good day."
Jesus.
"Where did you even learn to say such sweet things?"
"Mm.... I don't really know~."
Hanna had moved in not long ago, and the place that had become our home was hers now too. The meals the medical staff used to look after, the little household things — she took care of all of it herself, and the sight of her doing it was enough to make me fall for her all over again. The medical staff were happy about it too. Less work for them.
"Oh, you..."
"Just a second~."
I pulled Hanna into my arms — this woman who only ever said the sweetest things — and it felt as if every unpleasant thing that had happened today was being washed away.
God, this felt good...
"You didn't eat dinner, did you? Do you want to eat now?"
"Hm? Sorry. I've got guests coming, so I don't think I can eat right now."
"You do? You didn't mention that."
"Yeah. I contacted them on the way up and told them to come over."
"I'm sorry."
"It's alright. These things happen. When are they getting here?"
"Maybe in about thirty minutes? Could be later."
"Mm... You'll need to shower and get ready, so there won't be time to eat."
"Yeah."
"Then go wash up. I'll make you a sandwich at least and bring it in."
Hah...
My own personal angel, through and through.
"I'm always grateful."
"Don't be. Go on, hurry and shower."
"Yeah."
I let Hanna go and headed into the bathroom off my room, washed myself clean, and came back out. I was still toweling my wet hair dry at the sink when I saw it: a sandwich of ham, tomato, and lettuce on toasted bread, cut into pieces easy to eat with one hand, sitting on the table beside a glass of orange juice.
And next to it, a little memo.
You worked hard today, too.
She did this sometimes — stuck a little note to things with a short sentence or a letter on it. It was so cute I could die.
Still drying my hair, I took a bite of the carefully made sandwich.
She'd spread honey on the bread instead of jam.
Not bad at all, actually.
I took my time with it, savoring the taste, until a glance at the clock on the table told me the guests would be here any minute. I picked up the pace.
Inviting people to my own house and then making them wait... yeah, that was not a good look. At all.
The sandwich had been pretty substantial, and I didn't quite finish it. I just downed the juice beside it and hurried to throw on something decent.
"Your guest is here~."
So they'd arrived.
"Yeah! Coming."
"I'll show them to the living room, so take your time."
"Thanks!"
My hair still wasn't completely dry, but it was dry enough. I left the room and headed for the living room.
"Hey."
"Good evening. I was told you had business with me."
"Yeah. Thanks for coming."
Still like this, huh.
"Come on, we've even had drinks together. You can drop the formality."
"I cannot. That was a mistake on my part. I truly apologize for the disgraceful behavior I showed you that day."
That was an illness. A genuine illness.
"Fine, fine. I get it. Have you eaten?"
"Please don't concern yourself with that."
Wow. Drawing the line right to the bitter end...
Kind of stung, honestly.
"Anyway... Lee Ayoung. The reason I called you here isn't anything complicated. I want you to work with me on something."