The Ex-Boyfriend Sorts Through His Memories
Not long after the MT ended, summer vacation began.
Beyond the window, the cicadas droned without pause. Sihyun sat in the cool wash of the air conditioner, methodically rifling through his closet and drawers.
"There's more than I thought..."
The sky-blue photo album filled with pictures they had taken together. The dolphin-shaped keychain she had given him on their aquarium date. The wallet from his birthday, and a dozen other odds and ends.
He stared at the medium-sized box now packed tight with those relics of the past, his expression complicated.
I should throw them out soon, right?
Partly to clear his head about Yerin's feelings, Sihyun had decided to erase every trace of his first relationship. Even if enduring her gapjil had been a daily routine, there had been good memories mixed in too. The thought of finally putting them away left him with a strange, hollow feeling.
No... some of this stuff was pretty expensive. Would it be better to just give it back?
According to the breakup forums he had checked, some exes demanded the return of every gift they had ever given. He found the idea pathetic, yet the alternative—telling her he had already thrown everything away if she ever asked—felt equally awkward.
I'll leave it for now. If I start dating someone new, I can deal with it then.
Sihyun let out a long breath and shoved the box into the corner of the room with his foot. His thoughts still tangled, he collapsed onto the bed. The moment he closed his eyes, the soft tick of the second hand filled the quiet. Focusing on that sound, his consciousness slowly slipped away.
Sihyun's parents ran a Chinese restaurant. It was never so packed that one could call it a roaring success, but their fried rice was famous enough to keep a solid base of regulars coming back.
As an only son, Sihyun often wandered the shop alone whenever his parents were swamped. With his small frame he would lug the water pitcher around, refilling cups for the customers.
"Our little Sihyun, helping your mom and dad again today?"
"No... I'm just bored, so I'm doing this."
The young Sihyun received endless cooing and the occasional pocket money from the diners. Having no particular greed for cash, he would promptly tuck every coin into his parents' pockets.
It was an ordinary evening like any other. Dinner rush had passed, the shop had quieted, and his parents were finally catching their breath when—
Ding-a-ling~
A girl who looked about Sihyun's age stepped inside alone. Natural brown hair, cheeks still plump and baby-soft.
Sihyun's mother went out to greet her.
"Where are your parents, sweetheart?"
"I came by myself."
"Hm?"
She looked like a kindergartener at best, maybe a first- or second-grader. Coming out alone at this hour for a meal? Sensing something was off, Mother decided to feed the child first and ask questions later.
"What would you like?"
"Double fried rice, please."
"Double? That's a lot of food. Are you sure?"
"I can finish it all!"
The girl declared it with such gusto that Mother found herself wondering whose daughter this was—and half wishing she could meet the parents. Of course she couldn't take money from a child this young. Muttering that there would be leftovers for days, she sighed and went to pass the order to her husband.
Sihyun, who had been roaming the empty dining room, drifted over to the girl's table. He sat across from her and poured a glass of water.
"You came alone?"
She ignored him and gulped the cold water down. When the glass emptied he refilled it. Just then Mother returned with a plate of pickled radish and onions.
"Sihyun, she looks about your age. Keep her company and chat a little, okay?"
With no other customers and nothing better to do, Sihyun agreed. The girl, however, only snorted at the idea of "playing" and nibbled at the radish while staring at the television.
"Where are your parents?"
"Why do you care?"
"Just... you were by yourself, so I asked."
She frowned and shot back,
"Whether I eat alone or with someone else is my business, isn't it?"
"Yeah. I eat alone a lot too when my parents are busy."
The girl's eyes left the news and settled on him. With a prim little expression she tapped her water glass.
"You could just ask them to eat with you."
"By the time we sit down, the place is usually full of customers. Even if we start together, they end up getting up halfway through to work."
Sihyun spoke in a flat, matter-of-fact voice. The girl studied him with a strangely knowing look.
Then the food arrived—double fried rice for her, a regular bowl for him.
"Sihyun, Mom's going to do the dishes. You two eat together, all right?"
He nodded obediently. The girl watched him with clear disapproval, then took up her spoon and regarded the fried egg crowning her mountain of rice.
"I heard the fried rice here is really good. Is that true?"
"I eat it all the time so I can't really tell, but the customers say so."
She nodded, burst the yolk, mixed it thoroughly with the black-bean sauce and rice, and took her first bite.
"Hwaaah...!"
A bright smile bloomed on her face as she kicked her feet under the table. Without pause she began shoveling the food in. Sihyun could only stare, astonished.
"You really can eat."
Whether he praised her or not made no difference. Whenever her throat threatened to stick she drank water; when the richness built up she crunched an onion. At last she set down her spoon, rubbed her full belly, and beamed with pure happiness.
"That was delicious..."
Sihyun, who had been too busy watching to take a single bite of his own, handed her a tissue.
"You've got sauce on your mouth."
"Where?"
Even after he pointed she couldn't quite wipe it off, so he took the tissue and gently cleaned her face himself. Her eyes went round at the unexpected touch. She was just opening her mouth to speak when—
"Good heavens... you actually finished it all?"
Mother returned from the kitchen, stunned. Even grown men sometimes left half a double portion, yet this little girl had cleaned the plate by herself.
"You must have been starving..."
"I always eat this much, though?"
Mother looked at her with pity; the girl only tilted her head in confusion. When the child praised the fried rice, Mother's expression softened into a fond smile.
"Where do you live? It's dark out. Auntie will walk you home."
"It's okay, really. My house is close by..."
Whether the girl refused or not, Mother had already made up her mind to see her safely to the door. Whatever the circumstances, sending a child alone to a restaurant this late was not right. If the parents were home, she intended to have a quiet word with them.
Thud. Thud.
In the end Mother took Sihyun's hand in her right and the girl's in her left, and the three of them walked together. After five minutes through the narrow alleys they reached a modest single-family house. Every window was dark. Realizing the child would be alone until late into the night, Mother felt a lump rise in her throat and gently stroked the girl's hair. The girl flinched.
"O-oh, I just remembered—I forgot to pay! It's a card, so I can't do it out here..."
She looked ready to dash back to the shop, but Mother soothed her in a warm voice and cupped both small hands in her own.
"You don't need to pay. Whenever you're hungry, just come to our place."
"What? But..."
"It's fine. In return, Auntie has a little favor to ask."
"What is it?"
Mother pulled Sihyun—who had been clinging to her leg—into a tight hug and said,
"When you come to eat, would you sit with my boy? His dad and I are always so busy we can't look after him properly."
The girl quietly studied the boy standing there blankly. To someone who ate alone so often, this boy felt strangely familiar. She knew exactly how lonely it was to be by yourself...
"I'll definitely come again tomorrow!"
She nodded with fierce determination.
Brrring! Brrring!
A sudden, loud ringtone dragged Sihyun's consciousness back to the surface.
I feel like I just had a really nostalgic dream...
Still foggy and empty-headed, he groped across the bed toward the sound, found his phone, and answered.
"Hello..."
"Were you sleeping?"
"Yeah."
"Pfft... Vacation just started and you're already turning into a total sloth."
Ever since the MT, simply hearing Yerin's voice was enough to make Sihyun's heart race. He cleared his throat and answered,
"Must be the heat. Anyway, what's up?"
"Um... I have a favor to ask."
"What is it?"
Yerin's voice grew small and hesitant.
"My grandmother's farming and she needs extra hands. It's pretty heavy work, so she told me to bring a guy along... and the only guy I know is you, Sihyun..."
"Of course I'll help. No problem."
"Really...? Her place is out by the West Sea, so it's pretty far, and we'd have to stay a few days..."
"It's fine. Just pick a date and let me know."
"Okay! Thanks, Sihyun. I like you so much!"
She made a loud smooching sound right into the speaker and hung up. Sihyun leaned back against the wall and let out a helpless little laugh.
"Thanks, she says... I'm the one who should be thanking her."
He needed to see her if he was ever going to understand his own feelings, yet ever since he became conscious of Yerin he had felt too shy to simply invite her out to hang. Being able to meet her like this—under any excuse—actually made him happy.
Please... let this meeting finally give me certainty about my own heart...
With that quiet vow, Sihyun began carefully choosing the clothes that would make the best impression on Yerin.