Maintenance

"......I'm so embarrassed......"

"That's only because you liked it. Makes me proud, if anything."

"......I... I smell, don't I......?"

"Not even a little. You're nothing but cute."

"Hngh......"

I let out a short breath of a laugh at Hyunji's sniffle, wadded the tissues into a pile, and left the house with her. Her walk was a little awkward, so we couldn't go fast—though maybe that was for the best.

"......Oppa."

Hyunji was smiling shyly up at me, happiness spilling across her whole face. I quietly took her hand and answered.

"Yeah. I'm listening."

"Um... could we stop by my place first? I think I smell. And I want to change......"

"Let's. Then I should swing by mine for a minute, too."

"......Your clothes got dirty because of me......"

"Listen to you. I told you I liked it, didn't I? I mean it."

"......I'm embarrassed."

"You were out of your mind enjoying it while we were actually doing it."

"But that's because you're so good, Oppa......"

"The balcony left quite an impression on me, too."

"......Do I... look dirty to you......?"

At that, I looked straight into Hyunji's eyes and answered without hesitation.

"No. I don't think that at all. If anything, you were cuter."

"......I'm glad......"

"I'm never going to tease you for how you looked when you were enjoying yourself, so don't you ever think that. All right?"

"Yes......"

She was getting used to this only by the smallest degrees, and that alone was more than enough for me. If she started putting the brakes on over thoughts like these, we'd be in trouble. My words seemed to have landed; her face flushed pink as she wrapped herself around my arm. We reached the car before long, but Han ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Gyeo-wool was already standing outside it, so I dropped my voice.

"Get behind me."

"Ah, Oppa......"

"It bothers you, doesn't it?"

"......A, a little......"

Worried about the soiled dress, she fidgeted at the hem against her thighs and looked up at me, her face burning. I quietly drew her back behind me, and she clung to my arm and whispered.

"......I really, really love it when you look after me like this......"

"It's nothing. Just stay hidden, then."

"Okay. Hehe."

She pressed in even closer, until I could feel all of her chest against my arm—and I didn't mind that in the least. I quietly smothered the urge rising all over again at the feel of Hyunji's soft, firm body, and walked over to Han Gyeo-wool.

"You were already outside?"

"Ah. You've arrived?"

She'd been on the phone, by the look of it. I wondered if I'd interrupted, but she slipped the smartphone into her jacket, so the call must have just ended. I headed naturally for the side of the car, and only then did Hyunji peek her head out from behind me and call to her.

"Unnie."

"Did you enjoy looking around? Where to now?"

"Um, home. Did something happen?"

"I was just on the phone with Mother. I think I need to stop by the company. Will you be all right?"

"Then drop us off and go straight there. Is that okay?"

"Yes. Is that all right with you as well, Mr. Shinwoo? I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize. I'm the one who's grateful for today. More than that—"

I'd been quietly listening to the two of them, and when Han Gyeo-wool turned the apology on me I waved it off. Then I scratched my cheek and spoke to her.

"Before you go, there's something I'd like to ask."

"If it's the CCTV, I switched it off when you went up."

"......Ah. You did?"

"Yes. If you were asking because you needed the footage, shall I check with you first from now on and decide from there?"

"No, no. I just didn't know how I was supposed to ask."

"Not at all. Is there anything else you need?"

"No. Thank you."

With that I climbed into the back seat beside Hyunji, and we headed for her house in the car Han Gyeo-wool drove. The whole way there Hyunji only smiled at me without a word, fidgeting with my hand, and in that quiet closeness the time slipped past in an instant.

"Oppa, I'll see you in front of the café, then."

"Okay. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Take your time. It's fine if you're a little late."

Less time had passed than I'd expected. I'd figured the weekend roads would be jammed, but maybe we'd gotten lucky. Either way, we had plenty of time to spare. Even if we got ready slowly and left late, we'd probably reach the gym sometime between four and five. Hyunji wasn't the type who took forever to get ready, either.

"Okay. Unnie, thank you so much for today, too."

"Don't mention it. It's the weekend—I wanted to do more."

"Gyeo-wool, thank you."

"Not at all. I only hope you enjoyed yourself today, Mr. Shinwoo."

"More than enough. Eating together was nice, too."

"That's my line. Thank you for being so considerate."

"Considerate, nothing. Let's eat together more often."

"Yes. Have a good day."

She was still stiff, but her face looked a little more at ease than the first time I'd seen her. I was beginning, bit by bit, to read the subtle shifts in Han Gyeo-wool's expression.

"I'm glad you looked like you were enjoying yourself today, too, Gyeo-wool."

"Ah."

"See you later, then. Thank you for today."

"......Yes."

I got out, saw Hyunji off toward her house, and hurried home myself. It would only be a little while, but I was almost glad for the time alone.

......I'm not even sure I'm allowed to feel that way.

The truth was, the house Hyunji had shown me—no, the whole village—had been such a shock that I needed to get my thoughts in order. The scale of it was so enormous that department-store shopping might as well have been nothing.

I just don't want her taking the loss all by herself. Not again.

I truly thought of Hyunji as my family now. She had smashed through the last thin wall I hadn't even known was still standing—enough that I finally understood why a proposal mattered. Until now it had only ever reached me in my head. I didn't want to keep letting her be the only one who sacrificed. She was the kind of girl who could be this ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠happy over a little closeness, or a single night in bed. If anything, it made me want to give her more.

There's not much I can do about Rahi.

If Go Yewon's gym had failed, I would have needed to look out for her a little too, but the response so far was decent. I couldn't say it was fully on its feet yet, but it was nowhere near as dire as Rahi's situation. There was probably a way to bring it up without wounding her pride. I meant to talk it through once I got there today. The house wasn't going to sit in any ordinary price range, and that worried me. Wasn't there some reasonable way for everyone to come out ahead? Anyway.

I hope Rahi doesn't lose heart again.

I remembered her face from before, shoulders slumped, telling me she had nothing to offer me. All I could do was soothe her properly. I clicked my tongue and pulled my phone from my pocket. I'd been meaning to tell the landlord whenever I had a moment. I almost called, but since it was the weekend I sent a text instead—and a reply came right back, drawing a small laugh out of me.

She didn't seem to have caught ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠on yet. If she felt hurt later, there wasn't much I could do about it—it was already settled. I kept scrolling, looking up moving companies. Honestly, a single small truck would have covered everything I owned, so there was no need to hire somewhere expensive. But I had to move as fast as possible, and on a schedule this tight I doubted I could even get a quote for anything short of a full packing service.

It's been a long time since I moved.

The alley looked different as I passed through it. The road I used to walk like a zombie, nothing but the commute there and back, had lately become a street with nothing but good memories left in it. I dug around to see if I still had the number of my old movers, but of course it was long gone. A search turned up company after company, and there were so many I couldn't choose. I had no way of telling which ones actually knew what they were doing.

Choice paralysis, incoming. Oh—right.

Hwang Jiyoung had said she was moving today, so I could just ask her. I found her number and called, and it connected before the ring had gone more than a few times.

Jiyoung's voice grew distant as she passed the phone over, and then an unfamiliar middle-aged woman's came through the speaker.

Mount Cheonggye—do I call that Uiwang? Or Gwacheon? I always get them mixed up.

I finished with the owner, and when Hwang Jiyoung's voice came back on the line I let out a long sigh.

I ended the call with Hwang Jiyoung and sighed. Walking on, I reached the front of my building and looked around. A few people caught my eye, but no one I knew. Even when I raised a hand in greeting, the ones who noticed only grew shy and flustered, barely managing to lift a hand and wave back. Come to think of it, I ought to tell them I was moving.

Well. If I see them later, I'll tell them then.

Still, the decent thing would be to say it to their faces, the people I was actually on terms with. I climbed up to my place, and a pile of boxes was stacked in front of the door. Fast delivery, I thought, and laughed under my breath as I opened the door and carried them inside. After a shower I went to change, then figured that since these were gifts bought for me today, I ought to wear them out. I dug through a box and pulled out a shirt and a cardigan.

......Does it look a little different?

The me in the mirror was slightly awkward, but it didn't look bad. I scratched my cheek, turned this way and that, then grabbed my phone and wallet and headed out.

Ah. Then Bae Jihyun, too.

Only now did I remember her saying she'd come to my place on the day of the shoot. I started to text her not to come here, then closed it again. I'd have to think a little about whether to open that place up. Jihyun herself didn't matter, but I hadn't told everyone else yet.

I'll just come over this way earlier in the morning. Whatever.

It would be a little more of a hassle. I scratched my cheek and called Hyunji, and it connected before the first ring had even finished.

Then my feet stopped as I passed the café. Through the window, I could see Ju Hayeong yawning. She was just gazing, perfectly happy, at the vase where she'd set the bouquet I'd given her. She'd fussed over it so much that only a petal or two had wilted, which was a little cute. There wasn't a single customer in the place. I stood there quietly watching her, then spoke to Hyunji.