An Unexpected Offer
The breeze in front of the conversation café brushed across my face. Ever since the phone call ended, my heart had been beating strangely fast. Through the café's glass window, I could see the glow of laptop screens scattered between tables, cream floating on mugs, and people covering their mouths as they laughed. I hesitated, wondering whether to open the door and go inside, but in the end I decided to wait out here.
I glanced around and spotted a man in a black coat walking toward me from across the street. The moment I saw his face, the image of him with Ji-an from yesterday flashed through my mind.
“Seoyeon?”
He approached and spoke carefully.
“Yes, hello.”
We exchanged light greetings, and then a brief silence fell between us. I filled the gap by asking,
“Shall we go inside?”
“Ah, have you had lunch yet?”
“Not yet. I just left the office…”
“Then would it be all right if we grab a meal at a nearby restaurant first?”
“Oh, yes, that’s fine. I don’t have any plans afterward.”
Ha-jun nodded and walked ahead. I followed half a step behind him. As we walked along the back alley behind Pangyo Station, a small sign reading “Handmade Knife-Cut Noodles” came into view.
“You… must really like noodles.”
I’d expected someone who looked like him to eat pasta, but after yesterday as well, it seemed he frequented noodle shops. I smiled as I said it.
“It’s not so much that I like them… but Ji-an gets so excited whenever he sees noodles. If it rains, he wants janchi guksu. If the weather’s nice, he asks for cold noodles.”
Ha-jun gave a light laugh.
“Ah, so that’s why yesterday too…”
“Haha, yes. That noodle place is basically where we go every time we leave the hospital.”
When we opened the restaurant door, the savory aroma of broth tickled my nose. It was lunchtime, so the place looked full, but fortunately a table opened up and we were able to sit.
“I’ll have the knife-cut noodles. What about you, Seoyeon?”
“Hmm… I’ll have the same.”
As soon as I finished speaking, Ha-jun stood up and went to place the order. I set the water glasses and spoons on the table and fidgeted awkwardly with my cup until he returned after ordering.
“The weather’s gotten quite cold lately.”
“It really has. It was even colder this morning.”
We exchanged a few short sentences, but the conversation kept dying quickly.
“About yesterday… that person…”
“Ah… um, well…”
Just as I thought the inevitable question had finally arrived, the knife-cut noodles arrived at our table.
“…Let’s eat first and talk later.”
“All right…”
The moment the hot broth touched my lips, the dizziness that had been swirling inside me seemed to melt away. I kept trying to bring up the subject while eating, but I only ended up opening and closing my mouth without success. Ha-jun ate in silence, as if waiting for me to speak first. When about half the noodles were left, I finally opened my mouth.
“Yesterday… the hospital thing… it’s because I was the patient. Have you heard of TS Syndrome?”
Ha-jun’s chopsticks paused for a moment. But he soon resumed eating and gave a quiet nod.
“So… I ended up like this. Different from before.”
I couldn’t look him straight in the eyes and only stirred the noodles in my bowl.
“I see.”
It was a plain, simple response. Someone might have called it cold, but to me it felt comforting. His consideration in not pressing further allowed me to breathe easier.
“Doesn’t it seem strange?”
“Why would it be strange?”
His voice was calm. That single sentence left me unable to continue. Ha-jun held out a tissue toward me.
“Sniff…”
I felt the tip of my nose growing hot and quickly took the tissue.
“I’m sorry… It’s nothing, really.”
“Saying ‘it’s nothing’ is something you do after you’ve gotten over it. Please don’t say that.”
He smiled quietly and went back to eating his noodles. Those words settled deep in my heart. It felt like I had been given permission to say, It’s okay if you’re not okay.
The restaurant was still bustling, but our table felt like a quiet island. The conversation hadn’t been long, yet it wasn’t uncomfortable. In fact, I liked this kind of silence. Once we’d finished every last noodle, Ha-jun stood up to pay.
“Ah, I’ll pay separately—”
“No, it’s on me.”
He said it casually as he handed his card to the cashier. I awkwardly raised and lowered my hands, not knowing what to do with them.
“Then… let me at least buy the coffee!”
“Sure, that sounds good.”
He smiled, took back his card, and slipped it into his wallet. When we stepped out of the restaurant, the wind brushed my cheeks. The air had grown colder than when we arrived, and my breath came out in white puffs. Ha-jun walked slowly with both hands in his coat pockets. I walked beside him and spoke up.
“Would Dalrae Café be all right? It’s just a short walk from here.”
“Yes, that’s fine.”
The path we walked side by side was quiet, but comfortable. When we turned the corner, warm light spilled out through the glass windows. The moment we opened the café door, a rush of warm air and the rich scent of coffee washed over us. We were shown to a window seat. Outside the glass, people hurried past.
I ordered a latte; Ha-jun chose an Americano. Even after we placed our order, silence lingered between us, but it didn’t feel awkward.
“You were discharged quickly, Seoyeon.”
“Ah… I had no choice because of work.”
“I see. So you’ll be returning to your job now?”
“…No.”
The mood suddenly grew heavy. I saw Ha-jun’s expression darken rapidly and quickly changed the subject.
“By the way, why does Ji-an go to the hospital?”
“Ah, it’s because of his asthma. He has to go regularly.”
Fortunately, Ha-jun didn’t pursue the previous topic and followed my lead.
“That must be hard…”
“Well, even if it’s difficult, seeing my child’s face is the only joy that keeps me going, isn’t it?”
My child’s face. For a moment, a twisted smile crossed my lips. Noticing it, Ha-jun hurriedly continued.
“Seoyeon… your family must just be confused right now. Don’t worry too much.”
That wasn’t it. My expression hardened even more because my children had been the same even before I changed. I lifted my latte cup as if nothing was wrong, but my hands trembled slightly. Whether Ha-jun sensed the heavy atmosphere or realized his mistake, he turned to look out the window for a moment.
“Still… with time… things will change.”
His voice was cautious. I forced the corners of my mouth upward and nodded.
“I hope so.”
I took a sip of my latte. A bit of milk foam clung to my lips, and I wiped it away with my fingertips.
“Is it all right… not going back to the company?”
I answered in a slightly raised voice.
“I can’t go anymore. I was just fired.”
It was strange that I was the one getting angry. Ha-jun seemed at a loss for words for a moment. His face showed a mix of surprise and regret, but I deliberately avoided his gaze.
“…I’m sorry. I keep making mistakes today.”
“It’s fine. It’s my fault anyway.”
My voice sounded calm, but inside I was anything but. All the things that had built up inside me were rising, yet I didn’t want to explode here.
“No!… It’s not your fault, Seoyeon.”
Ha-jun’s voice trailed off as he spoke. I couldn’t respond to those words. Just a little while ago I had felt good, but now everything had plummeted.
I set my latte cup down and turned my gaze out the window. The sound of the wind seemed unusually loud. I could sense Ha-jun repeatedly starting to speak and then stopping, but I couldn’t bring myself to speak first. After a while, he asked slowly,
“Are you heading straight home?”
“Yes. I don’t have anywhere else to go.”
My answers had grown short, and my voice might have sounded cold. Ha-jun set his coffee cup down and seemed to take a moment to steady his breathing. His serious expression made me think, This connection is probably over now.
“By any chance… are you thinking of working?”
But the first words that came out were completely unexpected. I was momentarily stunned before answering.
“Work?”
“Yes. At my house. It wouldn’t be difficult. You’d just need to handle lunch and look after Ji-an.”
I couldn’t tell whether he was saying it out of pity or because he genuinely needed the help. My lips moved on their own, but no easy answer came out.
“It’s absolutely not out of pity! It’s just that I can’t spend time with Ji-an because of work. And besides, Ji-an really likes you…”
All sorts of thoughts swirled through my head.
“If it feels burdensome, you can refuse.”
Ha-jun spoke gently, but hearing that only made it feel more burdensome.
“Could I… think about it for a bit?”
“Of course! I’m not forcing you at all.”
After Ha-jun finished speaking, I nodded. He smiled with relief, but my heart remained complicated. The atmosphere had grown awkward, and the only sound was that of us drinking our coffee. A short while later, Ha-jun began to tidy up first.
“Then… shall we leave it at that? Take your time thinking and let me know.”
I forced a smile and answered shortly, “Yes.” When we left the café, the cold wind brushed my face. It seemed to make my thoughts even more tangled.
“How are you getting home? I could…”
“No, it’s all right.”
Ha-jun paused for a moment, unable to continue, then nodded.
“Then… please get home safely.”
His voice was low and careful.
I quickly bowed my head and started walking. I felt his gaze on my back, but I didn’t turn around to check. The offer he had just made quickened my steps, and before I knew it I had reached the bus stop.
For now… I have my severance pay and the support money, so I should be fine for a while…
With that thought, I stared out the window.
When I reached the alley in front of my house, my steps gradually slowed. The sun was still up, but the air felt increasingly colder.
Before long I arrived in front of the house. The moment I stood before the door, my heart began to race. I gripped the cold doorknob and simply tried to steady my breathing.