The Season of Shelves and Secrets
Ihyeon wrapped both hands around her mug. "Oh, right. Taegon, did you watch that drama I mentioned? The one where the male lead confesses to the female lead in the finale?"
"I did. I thought that was the end of it, but then a teaser for the next season popped up."
"Exactly! I was so surprised when I saw that. I thought it was over, but to think a new season is starting..."
"They have to make money to cover production costs, so of course they'd do a second season."
"Ugh, not that realistic take! I just loved that confession scene. The part where they hug each other in the rain!! Isn't that so romantic?!"
"If you did that in real life, you'd catch a cold."
"Just play along with the mood for once!"
As Ihyeon grumbled with her cheeks puffed out, Taegon let out a soft chuckle.
"And what would you do for me if I played along?"
"W-well, that's..."
Ihyeon trailed off, dropping her gaze to her mug. Her own face was reflected, blurry, on the surface of the citron tea. A flush of red spread across her cheeks.
"A-anyway! I'm just looking forward to the next season."
"You're changing the subject quite suddenly."
"I didn't! We were talking about the drama the whole time!"
Taegon took a sip of his barley tea, a smile still lingering on his lips.
Ihyeon pouted and sipped her tea.
A time spent sharing trivial stories. It didn't matter that there was no grand topic of conversation.
Whether it was about a drama, the weather, or some minor incident at the Convenience Store—the fact that she was sharing these moments with him made even the smallest chatter feel special.
Ihyeon set her mug down and opened her mouth to speak.
"Taegon, what have you been doing while you're resting lately—"
That was when it happened.
— *Clatter, crash!*
The sound of something spilling over on the kitchen counter cut her off.
Both their gazes snapped toward the sink at the same time.
Three or four spice jars that had been precariously stacked on the counter had rolled onto the floor. The chili powder jar was overturned, spilling red powder everywhere, and the sesame oil bottle had tipped over, its cap rolling away.
Taegon narrowed his eyes and asked, "What happened?"
Ihyeon sighed and stood up.
"There's just no storage space, so this happens all the time..."
She grabbed a dishcloth and crouched in front of the sink to start wiping the floor. The sesame oil, mixed with chili powder, glistened on the tiles.
"It's the chili powder again... maybe because the jar is so big, it's the one that falls most often."
Ihyeon picked up the spice jars. The cramped kitchen was already packed with detergent, a sponge, a cutting board, and a knife block. There was no proper place to stand the jars.
She tried to wedge them back in, but the chili powder jar tilted at an angle, and the sesame oil bottle was pushed to the edge by the cutting board. The moment she let go, they wobbled again.
Taegon stood up and walked over to the sink. He stood beside the crouching Ihyeon and looked down at the counter.
"How many times a week does this happen?"
"Two or three times. My heart drops every time they come crashing down while I'm cooking."
"I bet it does."
Taegon looked at the empty space between the countertop and the wall. His gaze moved slowly along the edge.
"It would be nice to have a shelf, but I couldn't find one that fits. I looked online, but none of the standard sizes were right." Ihyeon grumbled, puffing out her cheeks.
Taegon measured the distance from the edge of the counter to the wall with his eyes.
After they finished cleaning up, they returned to their seats.
"I'm sorry, Taegon. It got so chaotic while we were talking."
"No, it's fine."
"It's a bit embarrassing... if I were better at organizing, they wouldn't have fallen."
"There's nothing to be embarrassed about. It's hard when the space is this small."
Taegon finished his barley tea.
Ihyeon cleared her throat, looking sheepish.
"Still, I should be more careful next time. If this keeps happening, I'll look like someone who can't take care of her own home."
"Your place is plenty tidy, Ihyeon. It's not your fault the space is small."
"Even so..."
"Not 'even so,' I mean it."
Taegon said with a calm expression.
Ihyeon bowed her head slightly and smiled.
"...You always say such kind things, Taegon."
"I'm just stating the facts."
"That's what makes it kind."
Ihyeon's voice grew quiet. She stared down at her citron tea, clutching the mug with both hands.
Taegon watched her for a moment before looking away.
The exhaust fan hummed overhead.
A moment later, Taegon set down his empty mug and stood up.
"I should get going."
"Oh, already?"
"You have to go to work soon, Ihyeon."
"Ah, right... the time just flew by."
Ihyeon looked up at the clock and wrinkled her nose, looking disappointed.
Taegon headed toward the entrance and said, "Thanks for the meal today."
"Thank you, too. Thanks for eating with me."
"We're meal buddies, so it's only natural."
Ihyeon smiled shyly and walked him to the door.
Taegon waved goodbye. "See you tomorrow morning."
"Yes! See you tomorrow!"
The door to the next apartment opened.
— *Click!*
The sound of it closing echoed in the hallway.
As soon as Taegon entered his room, he pulled out his phone and opened the search bar.
'Solid wood same-day delivery'
His thumb scrolled rapidly across the screen.
Next, he searched for 'Sandpaper varnish set' and 'Tools for making wooden shelves'.
He examined the search results one by one and began adding items to his cart.
A few days later.
When Ihyeon arrived at The Villa after her shift, her whole body felt heavy as lead. After standing at the counter for eight hours, cleaning, and organizing inventory, her legs were swollen.
She reached for her door lock.
— *Click, creak.*
The door next door opened, and Taegon stepped out.
Unlike usual, he was holding something in both hands.
A square board. No, it was more than just a board; it had a shape. The light wood surface was coated in clear varnish, and both ends had L-shaped supports folded at right angles.
Ihyeon stared at Taegon, dazed.
"Oh! Did you have a good shift, Ihyeon?"
Taegon greeted her warmly.
He held the object in both hands and offered it to her.
"I made a shelf that fits your place."
Looking closely at the surface, the corners were rounded, and he had even carved a shallow lip at the edge so the spice jars wouldn't slide off.
Ihyeon's gaze shifted from the shelf to Taegon's face, then back to the shelf. Her mouth opened, closed, and opened again.
"You... you made this yourself?"
A look of disbelief spread across her face.
Taegon nodded.
"I didn't have much to do while I was resting. I've always known how to handle tools a little bit."
His tone was casual, but the quality of the shelf was anything but. The screw holes were precise, and the surface was as smooth as if it had been sanded down multiple times.
Ihyeon traced the wood surface with her finger.
The grain was fine and smooth. The texture, carefully polished without a single rough spot, was transmitted to her fingertips.
"You know tools?"
Ihyeon asked, tilting her head.
Taegon hesitated for a moment.
"Yes. Due to the nature of my work..."
He mumbled, trying to brush it off naturally, and shook the shelf in his hands.
"Shall I install it for you?"
"Oh, yes! Yes! Please."
Ihyeon hurriedly pressed the door lock to open her door.
— *Beep!*
She passed through the narrow entryway and headed to the kitchen. Taegon followed her in, carrying the shelf.
Taegon held the shelf against the wall to gauge the position.
"At this height, it should be easy to take the spice jars in and out. What do you think?"
"Oh, yes. That height looks perfect."
"Then I'll fix it here. Can you hold it for a second?"
Taegon said, pressing one end of the shelf against the wall. Ihyeon supported the other end with both hands.
As they stood side-by-side in the narrow kitchen space, their shoulders were almost touching.
Taegon pulled a screwdriver and a few screws from his pocket. While he held a screw in his mouth and turned the screwdriver, he used one hand to hold the shelf firmly so it wouldn't wobble.
Every time the screwdriver pushed a screw in, the sound of *whirrr* echoed in the small kitchen. The muscles in Taegon's forearm tightened, and veins stood out.
Ihyeon turned her head slightly while holding the shelf.
Taegon's profile came into close view. The line of his neck beneath his jaw, his serious face focused on tightening the screw, the muscles visible beneath his clothes.
Her heart always raced just looking at him, but this distance was too much.
'I-it's too close!'
Ihyeon's hands, holding the shelf, were drenched in sweat.
Taegon leaned in slightly to drive in another screw.
At that moment, Ihyeon took a half-step forward to hold the shelf better. The distance between them shrank even further.
Ihyeon's hair brushed against Taegon's chest. The scent of her shampoo reached the tip of his nose.
Taegon's hand, turning the screwdriver, faltered. The screw stopped, halfway in.
"..."
His gaze naturally turned to the side. Since Ihyeon was shorter than him, he could naturally see the top of her head. The white scalp visible through her part, her black hair, the scent rising from the stray hairs tucked behind her ears.
His heart hammered against his ribs.
Taegon hurriedly returned his gaze to the shelf. He put force back into his hand holding the screwdriver.
— *Whirrrrr!*
The screw went all the way in, and the shelf was firmly fixed to the wall.
Ihyeon didn't notice that momentary pause. Her own heartbeat was simply too loud.
"All done."
Taegon said, putting down the screwdriver. He pressed down on the shelf lightly. It didn't budge.
"It's sturdy. You should try pressing it too, Ihyeon. Just in case."
"Oh, oh... yes!"
Ihyeon pulled her hands away from the shelf and took a step back. Her cheeks were flushed red, but she kept her head down so Taegon couldn't see.
"Right, shall we put them up now?"
Taegon picked up the spice jars that had been scattered on the sink. The chili powder jar, the sesame oil bottle, the soy sauce bottle, the salt shaker.
As he placed them on the shelf one by one, they stood straight, held in place by the lip without sliding.
Ihyeon placed the sesame salt shaker down last and stepped back to look at the whole thing.
The colorful spice jars were lined up neatly on the shelf. The red jar, the brown bottle, the black bottle, the white shaker.
The sink looked so clear at a glance. The cutting board and knife block had found their places, and there was even room for the detergent and sponge.
It was hard to believe this was the same sink where she had been walking on eggshells just a few days ago because it was so cramped.
Ihyeon let out an exclamation of awe.
"Wow... it fits perfectly!"
Her eyes, looking up at the shelf with her hands clasped together, were like someone who had just discovered a jewel.
"This is really... perfect! The size is just right, and the height is perfect! Not a single spice jar is sticking out!"
Ihyeon continued excitedly, pointing at the shelf with her finger.
"This lip part here! Is this why they don't slide? And the corners are rounded, so it's safe! Aren't you a total genius, Taegon?!"
Ihyeon looked up at Taegon, her eyes sparkling.
Taegon chuckled.
"If I'm a genius for this, there must be too many geniuses in the world."
"No, by my standards, you're a genius!"
"Aren't your standards a bit low?"
"It's not that my standards are low, it's that you're high-level!"
Ihyeon said, clenching both fists. Her expression, looking up with her cheeks puffed out, was so serious it was as if she were debating the most important topic in the world.
Taegon couldn't hold back his laughter and covered his mouth with the hand holding the screwdriver.
"Don't you think it's a bit strange to define a genius by a single shelf?"
"It's not just a shelf! You measured the size, cut the wood, sanded it, and even varnished it yourself? What do you call someone who did all that alone if not a genius?"
"Well. Someone with a knack for handiwork?"
"It's not just a knack! This is craftsmanship, a master's work!"
"I think 'master' is a bit of an exaggeration..."
"It's not an exaggeration! Look at this finish! These corners! It's much better than what they sell at furniture stores!"
Ihyeon raved, tracing the edge of the shelf with her finger.
Taegon laughed and held up both hands.
"Alright, alright. I'll be the genius and the master craftsman."
"You admitted it, right? You can't take it back?"
"Yes, yes. I won't take it back."
As Taegon nodded in surrender, Ihyeon beamed. Her face, smiling wide enough to show her teeth, was filled with pure, bright joy.
"Ah, I'm really so happy. Now I don't have to worry about the spice jars falling when I'm cooking."
"Was it that bad?"
"Yes! My heart would drop whenever I heard a crashing sound while cooking. Thinking that's gone makes me feel like I have the whole world."
"Like you have the whole world... I think the price of the shelf might go up."
"The price of the shelf?"
"If it's a one-of-a-kind shelf in this world, it's practically a luxury item."
"Oh, a luxury shelf, what are you talking about!"
Ihyeon giggled and lightly pushed Taegon's arm.
She recoiled, surprised by the physical contact she had initiated, but Taegon stood there as if nothing had happened.
Ihyeon secretly looked down at her fingertips.
The sensation of his firm forearm still lingered.
'I just touched Taegon's arm...!'
Her ears turned bright red, but fortunately, Taegon was looking at the shelf.
Ihyeon hurriedly changed the subject.
"B-by the way, where did you get the materials? You can't buy wood and varnish like this nearby."
"I ordered them online. Everything is same-day delivery these days."
"Wow... you're thorough, aren't you?"
"Everything comes up if you search for it these days."
"I wouldn't have even thought to search for it."
"But in return, you're good at cooking, Ihyeon. Everyone has different talents."
Taegon deflected naturally. Ihyeon bowed her head slightly and smiled.
"You're really good at... giving compliments in a roundabout way, Taegon."
"I wasn't being roundabout."
"Yes, you were. We were talking about the shelf, and you naturally transitioned into complimenting my cooking."
"Ah, that's..."
Taegon scratched the back of his neck, looking shy.
"It wasn't so much a compliment as it was a fact."
"See! You're doing it again!"
"Doing what?"
"Packaging a compliment as a fact! That's the most lethal kind!"
Ihyeon covered her face and turned away. Her face was as red as a sunset.
Taegon tilted his head and looked at her.
"Is 'lethal' a bad thing or a good thing?"
"It's... a good thing."
Ihyeon answered quietly.
Her voice had shrunk to the size of a mosquito's, but it was loud enough to be heard in the narrow kitchen.
Taegon paused for a moment.
Then, with a faint smile on his lips, he replied, "Then that's all that matters."
A short silence flowed between the two. It was a pleasant silence.
Ihyeon looked up first and said, "Thank you so much, Taegon. I'll use this for a really, really long time."
"I made it sturdy, so it shouldn't budge for anything."
"'Shouldn't'? I'm absolutely going to use it for the rest of my life!!!"
Taegon laughed out loud at her assertion.
"It's wood, so it's sensitive to moisture. Please wipe it off if it gets wet."
"Yes! I'll wipe it every day!"
Ihyeon nodded vigorously. Her eyes, looking up at the shelf, were like she was looking at the most precious object in the world.
Taegon put the screwdriver and the remaining screws into his pocket and said, "Then I'll be going."
"Oh, already? At least stay for breakfast!"
"You just got back from your shift, Ihyeon. You need to rest."
"I'm fine, though..."
"You're not fine. The dark circles under your eyes are particularly dark today."
"Gasp...!"
Ihyeon reflexively covered the area under her eyes with her hand.
Taegon chuckled and headed toward the entrance.
"Get some good rest. See you this evening."
"Yes... see you this evening."
Ihyeon walked him to the door and watched his back as he left.
The door next door opened, and his broad back disappeared inside.
— *Click!*
Ihyeon stared at the closed door for a long time.
Her chest felt warm.
Feeling her eyes grow hot, she hurriedly retreated into her home.
She closed the door and stood in front of the sink.
The shelf was firmly fixed to the wall. The spice jars were lined up neatly, and the spacious kitchen counter caught her eye.
She traced the wood surface with her finger.
The time Taegon must have spent cutting, sanding, and varnishing this wood came to mind over the smooth texture.
'To make this himself, it must have taken at least a few days...'
That evening, when the spice jars had fallen, Taegon had only asked what happened. He hadn't promised to fix it or said he would do anything about it.
Yet, he had gone back, designed a shelf that fit the size, ordered the wood, sanded it, and varnished it.
Without a word, without telling her beforehand.
'Taegon... why are you being this good to me?'
The corners of her eyes stung.
Ihyeon looked quietly at the chili powder jar on the shelf. The jar that had rolled onto the floor every time until a few days ago was now resting comfortably in its place.
Just a space for spice jars. Just one wooden shelf.
But her heart felt heavier than ten other shelves.
Ihyeon sniffled and smiled.
"You're such a fool, Taegon... if you do things like this, I'll only like you more."
Thinking of Taegon's touch, she rubbed her cheek against the shelf.
"Hehehehehe."
She looked very, very happy.
Taegon was sitting on the sofa in his room, looking down at his hands. Wood dust remained between his fingernails. It was from assembling the boards and rubbing the sandpaper.
Taegon slowly curled and uncurled his fingers.
'Why did I make the shelf?'
The first time the question arose wasn't when the spice jars fell. It wasn't when he ordered the wood online, or when he assembled the boards.
It was while he was finishing the last coat of varnish. Watching the tip of the brush move slowly along the wood surface, he suddenly realized.
There was no mission in his head.
The justification of approaching her to gain the target's trust hadn't crossed his mind even once during the four hours he spent making the shelf.
Instead, these were the things that had crossed his mind:
When he rounded the corners of the shelf, he thought of Ihyeon's hands. The fact that Ihyeon's fingers would touch these corners came to him naturally. He polished it smooth without a single scratch. There couldn't be any sharp parts left. If she brushed against them, she might get hurt.
When he carved the lip so the spice jars wouldn't slide, he thought of Ihyeon cooking. She had said her heart dropped whenever she heard a crashing sound while cooking. He thought it would be good if that heart-dropping feeling disappeared.
Why did he apply the varnish twice? So she could use this shelf for a long time.
Taegon leaned his head against the back of the sofa and sighed.
During the two days he spent making the shelf, everything in his head was Ihyeon.
As he assembled the boards, he imagined Ihyeon's surprised face with her eyes wide open. As he rubbed the sandpaper, he pictured her bright smile.
As he drove in the screws, the scene of Ihyeon placing the spice jars on the shelf and smiling brightly unfolded before his eyes.
He polished the wood imagining her joy. He carved the corners hoping she would be safe. He applied the varnish one more time so she could use it for a long time.
'To break down the target's walls?'
Taegon asked himself.
If it had been an action to gain the target's trust, he could have just bought a shelf and given it to her. Searching for a ready-made product with the right dimensions online and having it delivered would have been the end of it.
That would have been much faster, more rational, and more like Taegon.
As a monitor, that's what he should have done.
Efficiently. Without emotion. Only as much as necessary.
But Taegon had made it himself.
Over two days, he measured, cut, assembled, sanded, and painted the wood.
He worried she might get hurt when he rounded the corners. The depth of the lip was something he agonized over three times because he wanted her to use it comfortably.
The reason he stared blankly at the shelf for four hours while waiting for the varnish to dry was because he was imagining how happy Ihyeon would be.
None of it was an approach for surveillance.
He raised his hands high and looked at his palms.
He had used these hands to choke someone before. He had used these hands to hold a knife. He had used these hands to hold a gun.
Those same hands had carved wood for her.
During the two days he spent making the shelf, what these hands remembered wasn't someone's throat, but her smile.
Taegon clenched his fist and opened it.
It felt like his head wouldn't be cleared even if he exerted his body today.
There were no words left to deny his own feelings.
Taegon buried himself deep into the sofa and closed his eyes.
Even in the darkness, Ihyeon's face was vivid.
The room was silent.
In that stillness, only Taegon's heart was beating faster than usual.