Morning

"……Ah. Th-that so?"

For a second I considered telling her the truth. But I had a feeling that if I did, she'd grab hold of me and beg me not to leave — and her tone had already settled the matter the moment I'd said I was moving out. She'd looked after me in all sorts of little ways since I moved in, so if the place went for three hundred million, it felt a bit like paying down a debt of the heart. Whatever happened once she found out later… well, that wasn't mine ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to know.

"No, I understand. If you can get more, you should take it. Then I'll……."

"……Ma'am. Even so, a week is a little……."

Find a place, unwind the loan, take out a new one — all inside a week? Not a chance. The underwriting alone would take days.

That was only what a landlord was supposed to do, though I was grateful for how fast she'd actually done it. A week was still rough.

"……All right. I understand. I'll look around today, even roughly, and call you back."

"Yes. I'll be in touch."

Two hundred million won was still an enormous amount of money, no matter how you looked at it. Well — she'd handle it. I didn't know anymore. I had more than enough trouble of my own. Even if she found out later and the contract fell through, the place would go fast. A little steep for the neighborhood, maybe, but it sat right on the street and got plenty of sun. I finished the call, let out a sigh, and went back to digging through my phone.

From here on, I'll have to look at places whenever I get a spare minute.

Today was Thursday. If I counted the move itself, plus packing and unpacking, and wanted it done by next Wednesday, I had to hurry. Most of the appliances were included with the unit anyway, so all I really needed were clothes, the bed, the computer, and the game console — and the bed I'd probably have to throw out. Could I even finish by next week? Call a full-service mover for a load this sad and the crew would think I was pathetic. First, find a place. And stop by the bank to see whether the loan could even be changed.

……Should I just hand the whole thing off?

Back when I had a job, every penny mattered, so I'd run around myself. Now, no matter how I figured it, there wasn't enough time. I'd ask a realtor to find me a judicial scrivener and dump all the title work on them. If it really wouldn't work, I'd just tell her I could be out within two weeks. And if the loan got tied up, I could use that benefit loan they said Multimales received and secure another place first.

"Something wrong?"

I hadn't even heard Ra-hee come out of the bathroom. At the question I gave a small shake of my head and answered with a quiet smile. I didn't want to dump needless stress on her. Better to let it pass like nothing.

"Oh. Coming out already dressed, now."

"……I, I just…… thought you'd like it, so……."

"You're right. You look pretty."

At that, Ra-hee clasped her hands and fidgeted, which pressed her cleavage together, and for a second I swallowed. But there was no time left to keep flirting.

"Go on, get changed and come out."

"Okay. I'll be right there."

"Ah, right. Mind if we stop somewhere on the run today?"

"Where? Oh — is it the flyers and the banners?"

"That too."

I watched her head into the bedroom and pull clothes on, noticed the tank top and leggings were different from yesterday's, and asked.

"You brought a change of clothes?"

"……Yes. I was planning to sleep over at your place……."

"So you came fully intending to."

"……I, I did……."

"Underwear too, then?"

"……Yes. Just the same color……."

"Good. Leave what you wore. I'll wash it."

"……Okay……. Ah!"

In the mirror, Ra-hee's cheeks were flushed red. I went over and started rummaging through the bag that held her clothes; embarrassed, she tried to snatch it back, but I kept it out of reach and teased her for a moment. She wasn't really putting any strength into it, and I could feel plain as day that she secretly liked it.

"I-I'll do it, I said……."

"It's fine. Just get dressed."

I let out a short laugh, carried the coffee cup to the sink, gave it a rough wash, and set it on the rack. Then I tossed Ra-hee's clothes and underwear in with the sheets already in the washer and started it. You weren't really supposed to do that, but they were cotton, so it'd be fine. By the time I'd finished tidying a few things, Ra-hee was coming out of the bedroom, tying up her hair.

"Didn't forget anything?"

"Nope. Phone and bag. That's it."

"Let's go."

Stepping out of the entryway, I picked the earlier thread back up.

"I was thinking we might stop by a realtor."

"Oh, you called? She was already up, this early."

"Right? While we're at it I'll drop off some flyers. Have you picked spots for the banners?"

"I hung two, and Changsoo hung two yesterday afternoon."

"What. You were busy, and you still went to the trouble."

"Trouble? I'm still worrying about the flyers, actually……."

"Why?"

"Security at the apartments in that neighborhood is pretty tight. If I just go stuffing them around carelessly……."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

I turned it over for a moment, then nodded. A wealthy neighborhood like that was a first for me too. I didn't even really know how you got permission to go into a complex. Did you have to start with the management office? In the old days you just asked the newspaper.

"People don't even read the paper anymore, do they. They wouldn't."

"Why the paper?"

"Back then, if ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you paid a little and asked them to slip something in with the newspaper, they'd do it."

"They did?"

Ra-hee's eyes went perfectly round, pure curiosity without a shred of malice, and I was slightly wounded anyway.

"……There was a time like that, kid."

"That's amazing."

"We'll swing past the apartments today and take a look. There ought to be places that aren't so strict you can't even get a flyer in."

"Okay."

She probably hadn't meant it that way, but a small gloom had settled over me. I hurried to shake it off, climbed into the van, and drove straight for the gym.

……Still, it's filled up some.

The moment I came up into the gym, what met me at the entrance was the presence of a lot of people. Not packed wall to wall the way Changsoo had made it sound, but enough that I couldn't count them at a glance. Most of them were young women, and the second Ra-hee and I walked in, every eye swung our way.

"I'll change and come out. Let's start with the run."

"Okay. I'll see you out front."

"Yeah. Say hi to Yewon first."

"Okay."

I sent Ra-hee on ahead, and just as I was heading for the office a familiar face caught my eye. The woman Kim Eunji had torn into in front of my place that time. The moment our eyes met, her face went pink and she ducked her head.

"Oh, you decided to come here?"

"Yes……. I, I'm really sorry about then. I'll be really careful……."

"It's fine. That wasn't what you meant, right?"

"Yes……."

She'd been on the treadmill. When I came over and leaned against the machine to talk, she hurried to slow it down. I hadn't noticed back then, but her figure was pretty good — chest full enough to fill out the tank top, a narrow waist wrapped in leggings, and a sizable, lush backside. She had every reason to carry herself with confidence, though her face was the regrettable part, if I had to name a flaw. Looking again, she wasn't seriously unattractive. My standards had just gotten high lately. That was all.

"You've got a really nice figure. You must've kept at it."

"……Yes. I, I worked hard. Ten years, since high school……."

"Wow. That's no joke. Just weights?"

"Yes……."

"Practically a pro. We don't have a personal training program, though."

"I-it's okay. I can do most things myself, so……."

If Ra-hee took on PT on top of everything else, she'd work herself to death for certain. I knew even a neighborhood gym usually had personal training, but given our situation there was nothing we could do. At this point it was a daycare wearing a gym's mask.

"Not too far for you?"

"M-my work is nearby. It's actually fine……."

"Got it. See you often, then. And thanks for coming."

"……Ah, no……. I didn't think you'd actually talk to me."

"Come on, I know your face. And you came because you were thinking of me. You could've gone somewhere nicer."

"……Ah……."

"Then work hard."

"Y-yes……. A-are you going to work out too, Shinwoo……?"

"I'll run first and then see. How long are you here?"

"Ah……. I have work, so only until nine……."

"Got it. Next time let's line it up and go together. I'll see you at the café tomorrow."

"……O-okay……."

I waved at the flustered woman and headed for the office myself. While I'd been talking to her, the women working out nearby had watched with open envy, and the moment I stepped away they rushed over and started asking her this and that.

……Even this much makes them happy. No need to overdo it.

Her expression looked bright, so she seemed satisfied enough. Not that I'd know — I'd have had to actually do fan service before. I scratched my cheek, knocked at the office door, and eased it open.

"Oh, Shinwoo!"

Go Yewon, who'd been flipping through papers, broke into a bright smile, rose from her chair, and came trotting over. I smiled quietly, nodded, and offered a greeting.

"Sleep well?"

"Yes. Did you?"

"I slept fine too. It was getting late yesterday, so I left first."

"Ra-hee said she wanted to go ahead. It's okay. I was a little sad I didn't get to see you, but……."

"Changsoo?"

"He's out handing out flyers right now."

"Huh? Ra-hee said the flyers couldn't be handed out."

"Changsoo figured it out, apparently."

"How?"

"While he was dropping the kids off, he complained to the mothers on the way out — said he wanted to leave flyers in the apartments himself, but the management office refused. And then the complex called us directly……."

"……And they said we could?"

I asked it in a dumbfounded voice, and Go Yewon smiled shyly and nodded.

"Yes. We can't go upstairs. We agreed just to put them in the mailboxes. Some places still won't allow it, they said."

"That's actually better. Better than wasting time going up and down. Anyway — if we're already overflowing with members, is it still all right to hand out flyers?"

"I'm thinking about it, but for now I want to do as much as we can."

"How are the kids? Any saying they want to quit?"

"Mm, five as of yesterday? They say it's hard. Awkward, and hitting the mitts is scary."

"Can't be helped. You can't force something that doesn't fit."

"I know. It's fine. There are still plenty of people willing to wait."

The confident smile on her face was good to look at, so I watched her quietly — and then Go Yewon gazed back at me, put her hands behind her back, and started twisting where she stood.

"……Um……."

"Yeah."

"……I-if I asked you to kiss me, that'd be a bit much, right……?"

"No. It's fine."

She was waiting for it, wanting it, and I leaned in and whispered. At my words her face flushed so red it looked ready to burst. I slowly reached out, wrapped an arm around her slender waist, drew her in, and gently covered her lips with mine. As if she'd been waiting, Go Yewon rose onto her toes, caught my shoulder, and came up to meet me.

"Mm……. Haa……."

"Like it?"

"……Yes……. Please…… hold me……."

"Come here."

I took the hands that had been fidgeting at my waist and drew them around me, and I held her close, arms wrapped around her. Her soft, warm chest pressed and gave against me, and it felt as if my own body were warming through.

"……You're warm……. It feels like I'm being healed……."

"Me too. I like that you're warm. Not too hard on you?"

"These days, I'm so happy……."

"Hang on a little longer. Feels like we've almost found our footing. If anything, it's happening so fast it's startling."

"……Yes. Thank you, Shinwoo……."

I met the eyes looking up at me, stroked her cheek, and whispered.