Date
“I’ll buy the pain patches. The big ones from the pharmacy. And if you’re heading out before dawn, want me to pack you a bento? Filling up on convenience-store triangle kimbap will wreck your stomach.”
“You’d do that for me?”
“What’s there I wouldn’t do? You’re my man...”
Jung Na-yeon opened the refrigerator again and scanned the ingredients she had just bought. Eggs, ham, seaweed. In her head she already calculated that rice balls would come together in no time.
“Make sure you eat before you leave. Hauling boxes on an empty stomach and you’ll collapse.”
“You’re the only one who ever looks out for me like this, Na-yeon.”
“Tch...”
Na-yeon shot him a sidelong glance, pulled out a chair at the table, and sat across from Hyun-soo. The eyes that rested on him softened.
“Honestly, I was a little surprised when you said you were going to get your act together.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
She reached out and tapped the back of his hand.
“But promise me. The moment your body starts hurting, you tell me right away—and only for a month. Within that month you look into something else. In the meantime I’ll keep checking café openings too.”
“Got it.”
Na-yeon held out her pinky.
“Pinky swear. No swear, no dinner tonight.”
Hyun-soo hooked his pinky around hers.
Her finger curled tight around his—a short, firm handshake. She pressed her thumb to his like stamping a seal, then let go.
“Sealed. No backing out now.”
After the promise, Hyun-soo rose and walked to the entrance to put on his sneakers. Na-yeon followed and leaned against the doorframe.
“Where are you going? If you’re heading outside, buy me an ice cream. A Choco Bar.”
“Okay.”
She waved a hand at his back.
Out in the alley in front of the villa, Hyun-soo dialed.
On the third ring a deep, gravelly voice answered.
“Huh? Kim Hyun-soo? Hey, you bastard—you were still alive.”
“Yeah, I was alive. How about you, Ban-jang?”
“Me? I’m fucking busy. You vanish for a month or two without showing your face, and now what wind blew you back? Ran out of money, huh?”
“Well... something like that.”
Park Ban-jang let out a rough laugh. Behind him a forklift horn blared and a conveyor belt rumbled.
“Anyway, I’m looking to do night loading and unloading tomorrow night. Any spots open?”
“Tomorrow night? Night shift means clock in at ten, out at six in the morning. Peak season right now—we’re short-staffed like crazy, so even a guy like you is welcome.”
He laughed again; the sound of him spitting followed.
“Daily wage is 180,000 won, plus 10,000 for transport. Be at the front gate by nine-thirty tomorrow night. Bring your ID—I’ll give you gloves. Wear comfortable clothes and safety shoes. If you don’t have safety shoes, at least put on sturdy sneakers.”
“Got it.”
“Volume’s insane these days. Frozen parcels mixed with appliances, so watch your back. First day I’ll stick you on the sorting line so you can ease into it.”
“Don’t worry. I’m a veteran, remember?”
“That’s how accidents happen, you idiot. Plenty of guys try to play hero, grab something heavy, and drop.”
“Don’t worry.”
“Alright. Then show up on time tomorrow.”
The call ended.
Na-yeon was watching television on the living-room sofa when the front door opened; she turned her head. The moment she spotted the Choco Bar in Hyun-soo’s hand her eyes lit up.
“Oh my, you really bought it?”
She sprang up, snatched the bar, and tore the wrapper open. One bite and she closed her eyes with a satisfied hum.
“Mmm~”
“I decided to do the night loading and unloading starting tomorrow evening.”
Her chewing stopped.
“Tomorrow? Already?”
She looked up at him, Choco Bar still in hand. Chocolate smudged the corner of her mouth, but she paid it no mind.
“Night means you leave at night and come back at dawn. From what time to what time?”
She perched on the sofa armrest.
“Ten to six.”
“Ten until six in the morning? That’s staying up the entire night.”
“Yeah.”
She folded her arms naturally.
“What about food? Eat dinner and leave and you’ll be empty until dawn. Planning on convenience-store cup ramen?”
“Just going to eat whatever.”
Her eyes sharpened, then softened again.
“I’ll pack you a bento. Rice balls and some side dishes.”
Already she was glancing toward the refrigerator, mentally mapping tomorrow’s menu.
“And do you have safety shoes? You don’t, right? Let’s go out tomorrow during the day and buy some. Not the cheap Daiso junk—proper ones. Hurt your feet and you can’t even work.”
“I was thinking I should buy some anyway.”
She eyed his sneakers.
“Pack extra gloves too. Cut your hands and it’ll hurt so much you won’t sleep.”
She took another bite of the Choco Bar and pressed close against his side.
“We promised, so only for a month. Got it?”
“Yeah.”
“From tomorrow, if you’re going to be sleeping alone during the day, I’ll keep quiet so you can rest well.”
Her voice dropped. Melted chocolate clung to her fingers; she ignored it.
“And thank you. For trying to get your act together.”
“Of course I should. For Na-yeon’s sake.”
Hyun-soo grinned.
At that, the corners of her eyes reddened and her lashes fluttered rapidly.
“Hey, what am I supposed to do if you suddenly say something like that.”
She pinched his arm and hid her face against it. The hand still holding the Choco Bar clenched the side of his T-shirt.
“Idiot. If you’re thinking of me, take care of your body.”
“Don’t worry.”
“There you go again with that...”
Her nose tip flushed red; a tearful voice slipped out. In ten years of marriage she had never once heard those words from her husband—just that single phrase, “for your sake.”
“Ah, seriously, I’m about to cry while eating a Choco Bar. Take responsibility.”
Only after a long moment did she lift her head. Her eyes were wet, yet the corners of her mouth curved upward.
“Kim Hyun-soo. Were you always this good with words? Or is it just in front of me?”
“Who knows?”
He smiled.
She rubbed her nose once and let out a short laugh.
“That man never did a single thing for my sake in ten years. Forgot anniversaries, birthdays were just whatever. But you’ve only been here a month and you’re saying you’ll go work for my sake.”
She trailed off, looking at him with moist eyes.
“Tomorrow’s bento is going to be really delicious. Prepare yourself.”
As if changing the mood she rose and headed for the kitchen. She opened the refrigerator, checking ingredients for tomorrow’s bento, then glanced back at him.
“Let’s go buy safety shoes tomorrow during the day. I’ll drive. And for dinner tonight I’ll make the kimchi stew you like, so eat plenty.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah.”
She tied on an apron and beamed at him. Moisture still clung to her eyes, yet the smile was lovely.
That evening Na-yeon prepared kimchi stew and a full dinner for him.
“Go to bed early tonight. Starting tomorrow it’s night shifts, so conserve your strength.”
“But just sleeping feels like a waste. From now on for a month we’ll be spending a lot of evenings apart.”
Hyun-soo said it while happily spooning up the stew.
“What, saying that while you’re eating—what am I supposed to do?”
She cupped one ear with the hand holding her spoon.
“I’m disappointed too. Idiot.”
She scooped tofu into his bowl and looked away.
“Eating together every day, watching TV, then falling asleep... it all became natural. Thinking of being alone at night from tomorrow already feels a little off.”
Her voice grew small. She stopped mid-reach for kimchi and looked up at his face.
“But mornings, right? When you come in at dawn I’ll wake up and set the table so we can eat together then.”
“Mornings will be home-cooked meals?”
“Yeah.”
She forced a bright tone and scooped rice. Yet she stared at the grains on her spoon for a long moment before speaking again.
“During the day you’ll need to sleep, so I won’t disturb you.”
She took a spoonful of stew and blinked. His hand was reflected in her pupils.
“Tonight I’ll make sure you don’t feel any regret, so don’t worry.”
“Really?”
He brightened at once; a smile touched her lips.
“Finish your rice. It won’t taste good if it gets cold.”
After they finished dinner and the dishes, Na-yeon switched off the living-room lights one by one. The laughter from the variety show on the television faded and the house fell quiet. Following Hyun-soo’s back toward the master bedroom, she passed the wedding photograph hanging on the hallway wall without a flicker of emotion.
Only a month ago the sight of it had stabbed her chest every time; now it registered no more than the pattern on the wallpaper.
The bedroom door opened and the scent of detergent drifted out—laundry Hyun-soo had run earlier that day, which she had dried and folded. Na-yeon sat on the edge of the bed first and pulled free her hair tie. Long strands spilled over her shoulders, baring the white skin of her nape.
“Should I turn on the AC? It’s a bit hot.”
“Let’s do that then.”
She picked up the remote, set the air conditioner to low, and laid it on the nightstand. Then she began unbuttoning her thin top from the top down, looking up at him.
“From tomorrow for a month we’ll almost never see each other at night.”
“Yeah.”
The second button came free; white skin below her collarbone appeared under the bedside lamp.
“What you said earlier about it being a shame—I feel the same.”
Her fingers rested on the third button and stopped. She met his eyes straight on.
Her lips were slightly parted; her breathing had quickened.
“Today, I’ll take care of you.”
She drew her knees onto the mattress and moved toward him.
Loose hair spilled over one shoulder; her fingertips caught the hem of his T-shirt and slowly drew it upward.
Cool air from the AC brushed between them, yet her palms were already hot.
“Ah, so today I get special Na-yeon service?”
She gave a soft snort of laughter.
“It’s a special day. From tomorrow for a month we almost won’t be able to touch at night.”
She pulled the shirt up to his chest and slowly ran her palm over his abs.
“Stay still. If you move I won’t do it.”
With a playful warning she stripped the T-shirt completely and tossed it toward the head of the bed.
Then she undid the rest of her own buttons and spread the top open. Through the thin lace of her bra the valley of her breasts showed.
She pushed him down onto the mattress as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Straddling his waist, knees planted on either side, she braced both hands on his chest.
Her long hair cascaded down both sides, framing his face.
“I said service, right? Then I have to do it properly.”
Her lips traveled slowly from his neck to his collarbone, from collarbone to chest. The tip of her tongue grazed his skin, leaving wet trails across his body.
Her fingers found the waistband of his cotton pants, unfastened the button, and drew down the zipper.
“Usually you’re always on top.”
She lifted her head and whispered while looking into his eyes.
Her lips were wet and red; her pupils glittered under the bedside light.
“Today it’s my turn.”
She pulled his pants past his knees and stripped them completely.
The underwear followed.
Then she unhooked her own bra from the front and removed it.
Her bare breasts swayed enticingly under the light.
She slipped off the panties beneath her skirt herself, then slowly lowered her body onto his—the instant they met.
“Huuuuh...”
“Aaaah...”
Both of them caught their breath.
Na-yeon’s hips began to move in a slow rhythm; the bed pressed down in steady time with her.
“From tomorrow, one month. Remember this and endure.”
She whispered the words, breath mixed into them, against his ear while rolling her hips deeper. Beyond the bedroom window, the night of Seoul settled quietly over the city.