Soojung
I stepped into Hyunji's bedroom and, for a moment, lost every word I had.
God, my face is burning.
Hyunji lay on the bed already neatly put back together, sleeping in soft little breaths like a baby bird. Han Gyeo-wool must have tidied her while I was in the shower. I was grateful—I was—but I had no interest whatsoever in being put through humiliation play of this particular kind.
I sat quietly beside her and stroked her hair. She didn't react to my hand at all. The heat had clearly drained out of her by now. A glance at the clock told me it wasn't quite five. That worked out. A few hours was just about the right window to see how long it took her to come back to herself.
...Come to think of it, I'm not even sleepy.
I'd known for a while that the drowsiness had been thinning, but today I didn't feel anything like my usual heavy fatigue. I wouldn't have minded a short nap, sure. Sleepiness at this level, though, I could live with.
Maybe I should tidy up.
With Gyeo-wool having already put the bedroom in order, there didn't seem to be much left for me. I carried the coffee cup out to the sink, rinsed it, and sat down on the living-room sofa.
"Nyaa."
A white puff of cotton leapt onto my lap. Hyunji's cat. It looked up at me, cotton-ball tail swaying, and I reached out, half wondering if I was even allowed to touch it. As if it had been waiting for exactly that, it curled against my stomach and let its eyes drift shut. I took in the small warm weight and pulled out my phone.
Let's see.
I opened my socials and started a post. I'd been about to pick one harmless photo and then another when I noticed Hyunji and Rahee were in every shot, and I hesitated. I had no desire to go poking a bruise for no reason, so those weren't going up. Someone was bound to feel slighted.
"Mind if I borrow you for a second."
"Nyaa."
"Yeah, yeah."
I held the phone out and took a selfie with Hyunji's cat. When I scratched under its chin—as if paying the fee it was meowing to collect—it went still and started enjoying my hand. I posted that along with today's brunch. A corner of the screen was piled with message alerts, but I had no intention of opening them.
And...
I thought about texting Rahee, then decided against interrupting her workout. Scrolling my KakaoTalk history turned up nothing but ads, and I was clearing them without much thought when a name stopped my thumb.
Ah.
Right—after she'd said she was going to the hospital, there'd been almost no word, and I'd forgotten. I opened Shin Mirae's chat. She'd sent a photo of a medicine packet and one from the hospital. I replied with a quick good job, then hopped over to Lee Hyangsook's YouTube to get a feel for the stream.
I'll need to leave by seven, though.
If Hyunji still hadn't woken by then, I was sorry, but I meant to cancel today's broadcast. I wanted to be beside her when she opened her eyes. A few hours slipped past like that, until the cat asleep on my lap flicked its ears. It stretched across my legs and hopped straight down onto the carpet.
She's up.
The rustling from the bedroom said Hyunji was more or less awake. The clock left about ten minutes until seven. Three hours or so to come back to herself. I'd need to check on Rahee too, but for now this seemed like a decent line to remember.
"Haaahm..."
The sofa was comfortable enough that I hated getting up. I yawned, rose, and went into the bedroom. Hyunji had rolled onto her side, and under the blanket her legs were shifting—enough to throw the switch in me all over again.
"Time to get up."
I sat quietly beside her and stroked her cheek. Her eyes opened slowly, her face still lost between dream and waking, and I smiled before I knew I was doing it.
"Oppa...?"
"Yeah. Sleep well?"
"...Yeah..."
"You slept straight through a typhoon and never even noticed."
"...A typhoon...?"
"Something like that. Come on, up. Sleep any longer and you won't be able to tonight."
"...Okay. Waking up to your face feels so good."
"You should shower, too."
"Ah. Right."
At that, Hyunji flushed and drew the blanket up over her face. Only her eyes peeked out at me. I laughed softly, stroked her hair, and murmured.
"I wiped you clean."
"...Th-thank you, Oppa..."
"Gyeo-wool did."
She tilted her head at me, puzzled. I gave her a meaningful smile and got up from the bed.
"Wonder how you're going to look Gyeo-wool in the eye now. Well. Not my problem."
"...Wh-what do you mean? Why are you saying Gyeo-wool's name..."
"Think about it. Anyway, I need to head out soon."
"Ah, w-wait. I'll see you off..."
She hurried to push herself up, then winced, brow tightening as her hand went to her lower belly.
"Does it hurt?"
"...N-no... It's just... it still feels like you're... inside..."
"Wore you out, huh?"
"...I-it felt good... I'm always... the one who comes first... I'm so sorry, Oppa..."
"Don't be. The way you came was incredibly cute."
"...Oppa."
She reached for me like a child asking to be held. I gathered her in and patted her back.
"Stay lying down. Sleep any longer and tomorrow's going to be rough."
"...I'm sorry."
"Sorry for what. It's because of me."
"Still..."
"You were sore last time, too. How bad was it?"
"...I-I'll be fine once I've slept... I don't think it'll be so bad I can't walk..."
"Good. If anything feels even a little off, tell me right away."
"...Okay."
I stroked her a little longer, then slowly let her go.
"...Ah."
"I'll head out, then. Sorry for leaving first."
"N-no. Oppa."
"Hm?"
"...I like you."
"I like my Hyunji, too."
"Kiss me."
"Keep this up and I really won't make it out of here."
"Hurry."
She was sorry in every line of her body that I was the one leaving first. I let out a soft laugh and pressed my mouth to hers.
"So good... You said her name was Lee Hyangsook, right?"
"Yeah."
"I'll watch properly and cheer you on."
"Go ahead. I doubt it'll be very fun."
"I'm actually really looking forward to it."
I stroked her brightly smiling hair and stood up from the bed.
"Rest, then. Text me."
"Okay. Nnh..."
"I told you, you don't have to get up."
"Just... just to the elevator..."
Stubborn to the end, she took a robe from the closet, pulled it on, and followed me out. While we waited for the elevator she wrapped herself around my arm, and I felt the line of her body and her warmth before I spoke.
"You'll be cold."
"I'm not. Your arm is warm."
"If it still hurts tomorrow, go to the hospital. Oh, and—"
"Yes?"
"Buy a test. Keep it on hand."
Color rose in her face. Then she smiled brightly and nodded.
"...Ah, okay..."
"It was from the second week, right?"
"Yes..."
"So that's right when the performance ends?"
"Th-the day after, about... A-and it's pretty common for it to run a little late..."
"All right. Want me to buy one?"
"N-no! I'll get it."
"Okay. Then we'll do it together that day."
I'd said it without thinking, like the obvious thing, but Hyunji's reaction ran deep. Her smile opened so bright that for a second my heart dropped straight through my chest.
"...Really?"
"Yeah. If there is one, it's our baby. You shy?"
"...No. Just hearing you say it... makes me happy."
"Then that's even better."
"...Yeah. Hehe."
The elevator arrived, and Hyunji loosened her arms with obvious reluctance. I'd been ready to ask her where she thought she was going if she tried to follow. There was nothing on under that robe.
"Text me."
"I will, Oppa. Get there safe."
"Yeah. Oh—I put my clothes in that shopping bag earlier, so bring them by sometime. Or I can come pick them up."
"Okay. I'll wash them. But those clothes, where did you..."
"Ah, Gyeo-wool brought them."
"Ah. R-right... Why did she come...?"
"I'm off, then."
"Okay, Oppa. Go carefully. I'm sorry I can't walk you out..."
I waved back at her smiling, waving face, and the doors slid shut. I hit the button for the first floor, pulled out my phone, checked the address Lee Hyangsook had sent, and pressed call. I didn't take taxis much anymore—the fares had climbed—but this time I didn't have a choice.
"Thank you."
I stepped out in front of Lee Hyangsook's officetel. Nice place. She couldn't be doing badly. The rent alone had to be over two million won a month. Unless she owned it. I was switching my phone to silent when a voice called me.
"Shinwoo."
I looked over and found the plain woman who went around with Lee Hyangsook watching me.
"Oh, hello. You were already out here."
"Yes. Hello. Thank you for coming. We're a little tight on time."
"I thought I'd left myself plenty."
"You still need your makeup done. I'll help. Shall we go up?"
I followed her small smile into the officetel elevator.
"I don't actually know your name."
"Ah, I'm sorry. I'm Choi Soojung."
"I see. Nice to meet you."
It was only a light greeting, but Choi Soojung twisted her fingers together as if she were embarrassed. The slightly awkward ride didn't last. We stepped off, she opened the lock, and the moment I saw the inside of the place, words failed me.
"...I-it's a mess, isn't it...? I cleaned. I really did."
"If this is cleaned, the before must have been something else."
"...Ahaha."
The mountain of shoes in the entryway was one thing, but the boxes stacked beyond them were enough to steal your breath. The officetel itself looked spacious. Like this, though.
"M-merch piled up as leftover stock..."
"I see. Where should I go?"
"This way, please."
The living room was the same story, though a path ran through it like a rabbit warren. I smiled despite myself and followed Choi Soojung, and from one of the rooms came Bae Jihyun's voice.
"The stream's already started."
"Ah. So I'm coming in midway? That's all right?"
"We have to gather viewers anyway."
I nodded and stepped into the room she showed me. A generously sized vanity, cosmetics I couldn't name heaped across it, and several black makeup cases. Practically a celebrity dressing room.
"Sit here for a moment."
"Sure."
I took the round stool. Choi Soojung rummaged through the cases and drew another stool up in front of me.
"Your skin is seriously good, though. I can practically see through it. You look so pure."
"You're laying it on thick. I've always been closer to ordinary than pure."
"Please. If you're ordinary, think how many men out there couldn't even lift their heads."
I knew it was politeness, but the praise felt good anyway. I smiled as I answered, and Choi Soojung just looked at me, blank. A little color rose in her cheeks. She cleared her throat, smoothed lotion over my face, and started patting with a puff.
"Goodness. Almost no blemishes, either. I'm so jealous."
"You're completely different from how you were then."
"Ah, on stream... I get really shy."
"Have you two been doing this together long?"
"Yes. At first I only did the editing... and then at some point I basically became the manager."
"Do you enjoy it?"
Her hand paused. Then the brush picked up again, and she murmured it like a secret.
"...Everyone asks about the paycheck first."
"Ah. Should I ask that, then?"
"No. Mm. It's fun. Jihyun takes good care of me."
"So does she pay you well?"
A little puff of laughter escaped Choi Soojung. She nodded as she answered.