Winter Break (3): "Why Are You Coming Home Now?"
As U Hana pushed open the front door and stepped inside, a voice shot out from the living room.
"Why are you coming home now?"
She hadn't even kicked off her shoes yet when their eyes locked.
Her mom was glaring at her from the middle of the living room, gripping a bottle of booze tight in her hand.
...I knew it. I had a bad feeling.
It wasn't even that late, and she'd actually hurried back early because of the rain forecast—only to hear that.
Complete nonsense.
Reasons didn't matter anyway.
Her mom was just pissed off and needed somewhere to dump it.
When had her mom started acting like this...? It was crystal clear. Ever since Dad cheated.
From then on, Mom started drinking every night, and now it didn't matter if it was day or night—she was always wasted.
Dad came home less and less. Not seeing him for days wasn't even weird anymore.
They hadn't divorced, but they didn't trust each other, living like they already had.
U Hana wondered for a moment.
They seem to have no feelings left for each other at all... so why not just divorce? Is it because of me? Or maybe one of them still has feelings.
"You look just like your damn father. Act like him too. Makes me sick. I wanna kill you."
Dad had been ridiculously handsome in his youth, or so she'd heard. Even now... traces of it lingered. He just knew it too well.
Before she knew it, Mom was closing in, still clutching the bottle.
Even when Mom got drunk and spewed garbage every time, it rarely turned physical. Especially not with a bottle in hand like this.
Today was definitely different. What the hell had happened while she was out, in that short time?
No "bitch" or "dog whore"—the usual slurs. Her eerie calm made it worse, somehow more unnerving.
U Hana hated her mom. And pitied her too.
She'd learned young that those feelings could coexist, impossible as it seemed.
U Hana slowly stepped back.
"You gonna hit me?"
"No?"
"Then I'm going to my room, so stay back. I'll get out of your sight."
"Where do you think you're going? I'm just gonna make sure you can't run off outside."
"That's hitting me. Stay away! At least put down the bottle."
U Hana took another step back. Her back hit the door.
She kept her voice steady on the outside, but her heart hammered like a drum.
It was scary. The unnatural calm, the way she wouldn't let go of the bottle.
And as U Hana quietly gripped the door handle...
Mom, who'd been stumbling closer, suddenly lunged.
U Hana screamed, twisted the handle, and bolted out of the house.
She ditched her bag and everything, just ran.
At some point, she glanced back—no one there.
"...I win."
In a footrace with Mom.
U Hana panted for a while. Then she looked up.
...It's really raining.
She caught her breath, staring at the fat drops falling.
She held out her palm— not a downpour yet, but she'd be soaked soon if she stayed.
Guess I need an umbrella...
Oh, right. Ditched my bag.
Whatever. She had her phone for payments...
Oh, ditched that too.
Explained why she'd won the race. Mom chasing with a bottle, her light as a feather.
...What an idiot.
And the rain was picking up, turning into the downpour Seo Jae-hyun had warned about.
Why rain now, of all times...? Winter, and not even snow—rain? The world's screwing me over.
At least she'd been out, so not in her white house tee.
If she were, she'd have to drag herself back to the bottle-wielding nutjob mom or huddle pathetically in some alley.
Luckily, no need.
Yeah. She could walk these streets with her head high.
"Haa..."
...As long as "head high" meant wandering without wallet or phone, too broke for a cafe or convenience store to dodge the rain.
Nothing to do but hunt for an empty building's eave and wait it out.
As she searched, people glanced her way. A drenched girl with soggy hair, looking pitiful.
...Not far from school.
She'd run mindlessly down the familiar path to school.
Even for a mild winter day, it was still winter.
Rain seeped through her coat, chills spreading everywhere.
She stopped dead. Her lips twisted down.
The negativity she'd bottled up surged.
This sucks. Why me...?
Then the rain on her face stopped.
A shadow fell. An umbrella.
Someone behind her holding it up.
A passerby taking pity? Or a school friend who knew her?
If the latter... what excuse? I like the rain, was doing it on purpose? Bullshit.
Anyone could see the dark aura pouring off her.
U Hana couldn't even turn in the narrow street.
Just stepped out without an umbrella, heading home... something like that.
"You're getting way too moody, aren't you?"
The voice from behind halted her thoughts.
I know that voice. Too well.
Her mind went blank.
...Why him? Of all people?
Didn't he say he was staying home tired today?
"Weird how I keep running into you whenever it rains."
She hadn't even looked back, but his usual casual tone came from behind, nonchalant.
Hesitating more would just make it weirder.
U Hana turned, head down.
"..."
"..."
She couldn't look up at Lee Min-woo, but opened her mouth.
"Why... why are you here?"
"Saw you on my way."
"...You said you were resting 'cause you were tired."
"Something came up. ...Cold?"
"...Yeah."
"Let's find somewhere warm first."
"...Where?"
No answer from Lee Min-woo for a beat.
She didn't meet his eyes, but felt him scanning her.
Moments later, his voice again.
"My place isn't far from here."
"...Your house?"
"Yeah. You'll catch a cold like that. Better to shower there."
"...Shower?"
"Got my sister's clothes. You can borrow some."
Even as she half-assedly questioned, he answered calmly, unfazed.
He's not usually this nice. Or... is he lately?
Probably 'cause I look depressed.
It wasn't really half-assed—she just couldn't get the words out easy.
Her brain scrambled for a natural way to brush it off, but they stuck in her throat.
Meanwhile, he started walking, and she fell in step beside him naturally.
"It's fine. I got a bit wet too—hair's damp."
Listening to his steady voice, U Hana thought.
...Why isn't he asking anything? Not curious?
Glad he isn't... but it makes me more anxious.
His casual chit-chat gave her a spark of courage to look up.
He was brushing his wet hair. Damp bangs fell below his brows.
"Went to buy an umbrella quick, but the rain ramped up. Lucky, I guess."
"..."
Even now, thinking he looks good? I'm crazy.
Genes were powerful. A girl fresh from her nutjob mom couldn't shake a hot guy, ending up at his place soaked and pathetic, still thinking this.
"Bus? Just two stops."
"...No."
She shook her head slightly; he nodded without a word.
"Cool. Walking's not far anyway."
They walked side by side again.
U Hana felt a prick of guilt—why not ask?—but held back.
What would she say if he did? Crazy bottle-swinging mom at home, ran 'cause she'd smash my head? So I wandered in the rain till your umbrella?
...No way in hell.
She'd just take his kindness. He probably didn't know her home life... but it was exactly what she needed right now.
How'd he know not to send me home, bring me here instead...?
She recalled him at the canteen recently, asking if something was wrong.
She'd acted normal—laughing, joking, fine.
Yet he'd asked carefully, like he knew.
...How'd he see through it? Does it not work on him? All my fake faces... does he read them?
Why him, of all people...?
Her thoughts tangled messily.
Then Lee Min-woo beside her paused for an incoming call.
"Yeah, noona."
A woman's voice faintly from the phone.
"I had so much fun. They doing the full show too? Oh, there?"
Sounded like whatever pulled him out. A show? U Hana tilted her head.
"Ah... joining after-party might be too much. Rain's heavy..."
From the phone, loud enough for U Hana: No excuses! Different voice than the faint one.
People around the caller too—faint laughs mixed in.
"Not an excuse... Yeah, yeah. I'll try to catch the show... Yeah, if I can, I will. Thanks for today."
Call ended. Screen showed "Lee Na-hee."
After a hesitant beat, U Hana asked softly.
"You doing a play?"
"Nah, went to watch. Theater club's doing one over break."
"Theater club?"
"Yeah. Got a friend there."
"Didn't know they did stuff in winter break."
"Yeah. Small one for the first-years to get experience."
"You into that stuff...? News to me."
Come to think, she didn't know much about him.
And at his house... what to say to his family?
Borrowing sister's clothes—would sis be okay?
He has a sister? Huh.
Curious. He never talked about himself.
Chatting like that, they reached his place.
Up the apartment elevator, she followed him in as he opened the door... but the house was empty.
She'd felt a bit better moments ago, but now tension crept into her toes.
"..."
"..."
...No, wait. Why tense? This is good, right? If his mom or dad were here, might be awkward.
Acting weird could make him think I'm weird.
The house felt eerily quiet.
She needed to play it cool... but her feet wouldn't move.
Lee Min-woo had already slipped off his shoes, looking back.
"It's fine, come in. Just wipe the water."
He thought her wet shoes stopped her.
"Ah, yeah."
U Hana awkwardly shed her soaked coat at the entry, kicked off her shoes, and stepped in.
"Shower first."
"Um..."
Seeing her fidget, Lee Min-woo asked.
"Hungry?"
"Huh? N-not really."
"I am. I'll make something—shower and come out. Bathroom's here."
He led her to the master bath.
No way to bump into anyone unless she wandered out.
"Uh... the clothes...?"
"I'll leave 'em in front... Nah, better bring 'em in."
"No, it's fine. Just give 'em to me."
Traipsing around dripping wet felt off.
He nodded and left the master room. Footsteps faded.
"Euuugh... Okay. Calm down."
Embarrassing as hell, but no choice.
She locked the bathroom door and began peeling off the rain-soaked clothes clinging like a second skin.