Karma (2)
A voice came through the room phone:
"Your ordered drinks and desserts are ready at the door."
Hyeon Ha-yeon quickly fetched them and spread everything out on the table in the center of the room. The private room we'd booked was spacious enough to lie down and relax comfortably. The tinted glass meant no one outside could see in, and there were no CCTV cameras, so it was perfect for unwinding. Before I started shadowing the Shining Boys, this had been a frequent spot for Lee Ji-yeon and me.
You prepaid at the counter on the first floor and reserved a room. I was a bit surprised the staff member who recognized my face was still working there—must've been promoted to manager by now. I wanted to tell him it wasn't like that as he glanced at Hyeon Ha-yeon, who was innocently picking menu items beside me, and nodded knowingly, but I couldn't.
We ordered two iced Americanos and a few of the cafe's signature desserts. The most popular one was the pink heart-shaped strawberry pancake.
"It's so pretty~"
Recently hooked on snapping photos with her phone camera, she was snapping away enthusiastically.
"It looks even prettier if you drizzle syrup on it first."
"···"
I drizzled some pink-tinted syrup—probably colored—over the heart-shaped pancake and handed it back. The glossy shine made it easy to see why it blew up on SNS.
"···You know your stuff···"
"···"
She blurted it out unconsciously, startled herself, and tried to play it off.
"Oh, wow, it's gorgeous~ Thanks for the meal, Oppa!"
"···Yeah, eat up."
Hyeon Ha-yeon set her phone down and sliced the pancake in half.
*
The room was stocked with board games, a TV, and other entertainment. While watching TV and chatting about trending shows and singers, someone suggested board games. Rifling through the options, I found something between the games that looked like strawberry-flavored vitamins.
"Uh··· that's···"
"···S-someone must've left it behind."
As adults, we both knew exactly what it was. Normally, I'd brush it off, but seeing her face flush bright red and her head bowed low made my own cheeks burn. Sure, Lee Ji-yeon and I had done stuff like that, but··· unnecessary thoughts just heated my face more.
"Sh-should we play this one?"
"Y-yes! Sounds good!"
I shoved the condoms aside and grabbed the most innocuous Jenga, placing it on the table. Hyeon Ha-yeon nodded eagerly without even looking. Thankfully, she played along with my awkward topic shift, defusing the situation.
Up until pulling out the Jenga, things were fine. "···Oppa, look at this···"
"···"
As we took turns drawing blocks, our expressions grew stiffer. The first couple rounds had tame penalties like "take a sip," but they escalated into embarrassingly steamy ones.
We'd barely survived the condom fiasco, and now it was an adult Jenga. Who stocks a wholesome dessert spot with such lewd crap? The penalties weren't vaguely worded—they were explicit, firing up the imagination like no ordinary game.
I worried things might get awkward between us if we kept going. Better bail from the cafe soon.
"···Let's do something else··· No, wanna head somewhere different?"
"···"
Her face flushed, she pondered for a long moment before agreeing. We ended up leaving before our time was up.
The staff smiled warmly at our red-faced rush out the door. I wanted to snap that it wasn't what he thought, but we slipped away quietly.
The cool breeze brought some peace to my mind. My eyes met Hyeon Ha-yeon's as she glanced around at the ground. She flinched and whipped her gaze away. This won't do, I thought.
Today's ultimate goal: lower her guard and figure out why she wanted the day off. It wasn't magic or some physical issue—that much was clear. She didn't seem depressed or troubled, but prying now felt too abrupt.
Original plan was cafe then a reserved movie nearby. With time to kill, I suggested wandering the mall with the theater. She agreed.
"This is pretty~"
Time flew as we browsed. She started shy but soon reverted to her bright self.
The theater building had an outlet with handmade accessories and trinkets—event day, apparently. Movie time approaching, on our final loop, a pair of rings caught my eye. The classic split-pair kind that forms one when joined. Black-rimmed hearts, a bit crudely made, standing out garishly.
"Special student discount~"
The vendor lady spotted my interest and sidled up slyly, halting us.
"This'd look perfect on your girlfriend~ Cheap price, take one~"
"Uh, um···"
Hyeon Ha-yeon ducked her head at the "girlfriend" bit, too embarrassed to deny it, pretending to browse.
"···Want me to get you one?"
"Huh!? N-no, I don't wear stuff like that."
"Try it for once. Your boyfriend's buying it~"
She chuckled, zeroing in on the ring like a psychic and thrusting it at us.
"···Fine, I'll get it for you."
"O-Oppa! Movie time's almost up! Let's go!"
She dragged me off after a vague "we'll be back," and I couldn't shake her free until we reached the theater floor.
She'd picked a rare plain rom-com these days.
"Cheol-su... who's that woman?"
"Y-Young-hee! It's..."
"Oppa Cheol-su, what happened?!"
"Stabbed with a knife... a knife!!!"
The naive protagonist, cheating left and right, finally tormented by jealous women.
Just a B-movie.
"Sniff···"
Desperate stifled sobs from beside me. Glancing over, Hyeon Ha-yeon was bawling, tears streaming from her big eyes.
I couldn't fathom what mindset made someone weep buckets over this. The protagonist, coughing blood, told the crying heroines not to cry and wiped their tears—moved, they finally called 119.
Ridiculous··· I quietly passed her my handkerchief.
She took it, glanced at me, flushed with shame, and dabbed her eyes.
Nearing the end. Protagonist dies; turns out the heroines are pregnant—from his sperm bank donation since he was broke.
"Hic··· Thank goodness···"
She smiled contentedly—story hit the spot, apparently. Made me question if I was the insensitive one.
Credits rolled, lights up. We waited for the crowd to thin, then hit the bathroom. She took longer fixing makeup.
"Oh, you waited?"
"Nah, long line— just got out."
Heading out, I asked her thoughts on the movie.
"Wow··· total masterpiece."
"···Yeah?"
"They loved Cheol-su but had to kill him··· so tragic."
"···But they got kids?"
"Right! He's gone, but raising his child? That's something. If he'd just died pointless, it'd be trash!"
Her eyes still red from all that sobbing. Watching her unique take, I was glad she lacked acting talent. Otherwise, B-movie specialist for sure.
*
"Hey, let's check that out before we go."
"Merch?"
"Yeah, wanna browse."
I led her to the theater gift shop. Spotted something from the pamphlet.
Hyeon Ha-yeon browsed curiously. Gauging her, I quietly asked the clerk.
"Uh, do you have this?"
"Yes, wrap it up?"
"No, just hand it over."
Paid quick, called over her excited self.
"Ha-yeon, here."
"Huh? What's this?"
"Open it."
My gift: merch from the movie. Lock-and-key necklace set. Crude, but from a name brand.
"Oppa··· really for me?"
"Instead of the ring earlier."
Deeply touched, her eyes welled up.
"Oppa, take this one."
She handed me the lock pendant.
"···Why me?"
"It's a couple's necklace! Can't wear both alone!"
Flushing at her own words, cheeks pink, she pushed the lock at me.
"Here, take it."
"···Okay, thanks—I'll treasure it."
"···Me too, forever!"
She beamed at the necklace. Glad she seemed happy.
Chatting idly, we exited the theater. Normally, she'd prefer family dinner, so plan was drop her home post-movie. But surprisingly:
"Oppa, buy me just one drink?"
Who could refuse a girl braving embarrassment to ask? Heart pounding again, I played it cool.
"Booze? Sure, my treat."
"R-really? Thanks, Oppa!"
Her cute giggle made even pricey liquor tempting. At twenty, she must've tried some.
"You drink before?"
"Mm··· once with Mom?"
Just a sip of her mom's beer post-legal age. Basically a newbie. No clue where to take her.
Thanks to Lee Ji-yeon's brutal training, I held my liquor well. Baek Ga-eun outdrank me? Total monster.
"Mm··· wanna drink at my place?"
"···Really? Cool?"
"Don't know your limit. Parties come with debut—better learn now."
"Ah···"
She looked a tad disappointed, but we headed home. Midway, it hit me: Manager taking rookie to his solo pad for drinks··· wait, risky?
"Oppa, what's up?"
She tilted her head, arms full of beer and soju.
With her so eager, how to back out? "···Nothing. Gonna drink that?"
Hasn't debuted yet—should be fine.
*
"Cheers!"
"···"
Glasses clinked satisfyingly. Hyeon Ha-yeon gulped boldly—total warrior woman.
"Ahh~ Refreshing~ ···Oppa not drinking?"
"Huh? Oh··· yeah."
Piles of empties by the table—I realized my huge mistake.
"Whoa, already done··· but one more!"
"···"
She couldn't hold it. Droopy eyes, slurring tongue, rosy cheeks screamed drunk.
"Gotta drink more, but so sleepy···?"
"···Rest up."
"Yeah? Nap time? Just··· a bit···"
She flopped down. Soon asleep, no doubt. Quietly, I recalled our chat.
Around half a soju bottle in, I'd clocked her low tolerance. Drunk, she spilled why she wanted the day off.
"I've never skipped school before···"
"You take care of me like this··· so grateful. No plans, just rest···"
"···And the gift···"
She fiddled with the key necklace, smiling radiantly. Good call on the present.
Even breaths soon came from her sprawled form. Out cold.
"Phew··· clean up?"
Once awake, homeward bound. Carefully, I started clearing bottles and snacks.
Beep-beep-beep-beep
Halfway done—doorbell. I froze, but TV showed a door unlocking. Password changed recently—no one knew. Who'd visit now anyway?
Beep··· beep··· beep···
TV: car ad. Huh?
Beep··· whirr~
"Kim Cho-in, why aren't you picking up···"
"···"
Why's she here?