Ace
"I'm home."
At the sound of the front door opening and Hyun-soo's voice, Jung Na-yeon came hurrying down the hallway in quick little steps. The slap of her slippers against the floorboards echoed through the house in the early morning quiet.
"You're back? Are you all right? You didn't get hurt anywhere, did you?"
"I'm fine. Didn't get hurt."
Jung Na-yeon cupped Hyun-soo's face in both hands and turned it this way and that, examining him carefully.
"Thank goodness..."
She wrinkled her nose at the mix of sweat and dust clinging to his work clothes, but she didn't let go.
"Your face is all red."
"I was working hard, that's all."
"You must have been exhausted."
She looked at him with open sympathy.
"I'm okay. It wasn't my first time. Were you really that worried?"
"Of course I was~"
"The bento was delicious, by the way."
"You finished it all?"
"Yeah."
"Heh heh..."
The news that he had eaten every bite of the lunch she packed brought a natural smile to her lips.
Jung Na-yeon crouched down in the entryway and untied the laces of his safety boots for him.
"I already drew a bath. Go wash up. I put bath salts in, so soak for a bit—it'll loosen up your muscles."
"Got it."
She stood, took the bento bag from him, and headed for the kitchen. When she opened it and saw the empty containers, a soft smile touched her lips.
He really ate every last bit.
Looking at the thoroughly cleaned lunch boxes made her feel good.
"What should I pack for you today? Do you like bulgogi?"
"I like bulgogi."
"Okay~"
"And I start at six."
The moment Hyun-soo said he had to be back at work by six that evening, Jung Na-yeon's hands stopped over the scrubber.
"Six in the evening?"
She turned around and blinked at him.
"Then you'd have to sleep during the day. You'd only get a few hours."
She wiped her hands on a dish towel as she spoke.
"All right. Then wash up and go straight to bed. I'll close all the curtains and keep quiet. I'll set the alarm for four-thirty."
She took his arm and steered him toward the bathroom, giving his back a gentle pat.
"Hurry in before the water gets cold."
Once Hyun-soo disappeared into the bathroom, Jung Na-yeon went to the master bedroom and pulled the blackout curtains shut from both sides. She remade the bed with fresh covers, fluffed the pillows twice, and set the air conditioner to twenty-three degrees. Back in the living room she switched off the television and put her phone on silent. She poured a glass of milk from the fridge, murmuring to herself as she did.
"If it's like this every day, will his body hold up..."
She set the glass on the table and leaned against the bathroom doorframe, speaking in a low voice.
"Hyun-soo, come out and drink some milk before you sleep. You shouldn't lie down on an empty stomach."
Then his voice came through the door.
"Ah—I meant ten at night."
Jung Na-yeon heard him through the bathroom door and pressed a hand to her chest in relief.
"Oh, ten? Right. I got all worked up over nothing."
She had panicked when he said six, but of course it was ten, just like yesterday.
Leaning against the doorframe, she let out a soft breath of relief.
"Then you can eat breakfast and still get plenty of sleep. When you said six I really didn't know what we were going to do. Still, hurry up and finish washing. I'll make breakfast."
While Hyun-soo bathed, Jung Na-yeon began setting the morning table. When he finally stepped out of the bathroom she was already standing by the table, pulling out a chair for him.
"Dry your hair first."
"Wow, this looks great."
Hyun-soo smiled at the spread waiting for him. He went into the bedroom, dried his hair with the dryer, and came back to sit down.
"Eat slowly..."
Watching him spoon up soup and dig into the meal with real appetite, Jung Na-yeon smiled.
Seeing him come home from work and enjoy the breakfast she had prepared filled her with quiet happiness.
If it had really been a six o'clock start, he would have had nothing but a glass of milk before collapsing into bed.
"If it's ten, you can eat around seven and head out. I'll have dinner ready by six and wake you at seven. You need to go out with a full stomach."
"You're quite the devoted wife, huh?"
"Tch... just keep treating me well from now on."
"I will."
"For the bento I'll do bulgogi like I said. I'll pack plenty of rice, so don't leave any."
"It's too good to leave any."
Jung Na-yeon simply watched him eat.
"Go to sleep now. I'll wake you when it's time."
"I'm counting on you."
"Mm."
She took his hand and led him into the master bedroom. Not a single ray of sunlight slipped through the blackout curtains. Jung Na-yeon lifted the covers and waited for him to lie down, then drew them up over his shoulders.
"I set the air conditioner to twenty-three. If you get cold or hot, the remote's right by your head."
She sat on the edge of the bed and brushed the hair that had fallen across his forehead back with her fingertips.
"You did well on your first day. Really well."
Her voice was low and soft.
"Does anything hurt? Your back? Your hands?"
"I'm fine. I was careful. Feeling good, actually."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
Hearing his answer, Jung Na-yeon gave a small nod and smiled. She pressed the back of his hand once through the blanket, then stood and whispered,
"Sleep well. I'll keep everything quiet."
She closed the bedroom door gently. Beyond it, the sound of her slippers faded toward the kitchen.
And then evening arrived.
"Hyun-soo."
Jung Na-yeon's hand gently shook his shoulder through the blanket.
"It's seven. Time to get up."
"Mmm..."
Hyun-soo's eyelids fluttered and slowly opened.
A thin gold line of evening light slipped between the blackout curtains. Jung Na-yeon sat on the edge of the bed looking down at his face, then pressed a finger lightly into his cheek.
"Dinner's ready."
"You made it?"
"You need to eat well to keep your strength up. Come on, get up and eat. We've got plenty of time until ten, so take it slow."
A faint scent of doenjang and sesame oil clung to her hair. She still wore her apron, sleeves rolled up to the elbows.
"Drink some water first. Your throat's dry, right?"
"Yeah, it is a little sticky."
She stood and opened one side of the curtains just a crack. Outside, the evening sky was bleeding from orange into deeper colors.
"I made doenjang jjigae and grilled some samgyeopsal today. I even opened a fresh jar of the kkakdugi you like. And the bento's already packed with bulgogi, so don't worry about that."
She opened the bedroom door and looked back over her shoulder.
"Wash your face and come to the table. I'll be waiting."
The cheerful slap of her slippers moved down the hall toward the kitchen. On the table a stone pot of doenjang jjigae was bubbling away. A plate of golden-grilled samgyeopsal sat glistening with fat. Washed and drained ssam vegetables filled a basket, and two bowls of rice sat side by side. Next to them the insulated bento bag was already zipped shut and ready.
Jung Na-yeon untied her apron, sat down, and waited for him. When Hyun-soo appeared at the table she picked up a piece of samgyeopsal with her chopsticks, dipped it in ssamjang, and laid it on a perilla leaf.
"Oh, right—check your account later. There should be a hundred and eighty thousand won deposited this afternoon."
Hyun-soo pulled out his phone, confirmed the deposit, and nodded.
"It's there."
She held the wrap out toward him with a smiling glance.
"Your first day's pay. Congratulations, Hyun-soo."
"Feels pretty good, actually."
He smiled too, clearly pleased.
"Eat plenty. Go do well again today."
Her voice carried both playful teasing and genuine pride at once.
"Look forward to the weekend. Since I'm only working weekdays."
The hand offering the wrap stopped. Her eyes went round, then a slow smile curved her lips.
"The weekend?"
She set her chopsticks down on the table and looked at him. Her gaze traveled over his face as if trying to gauge exactly what he meant.
"You said you're only working weekdays, so that means you're free on the weekends. And?"
She tilted her head slightly, one corner of her mouth lifting.
"We're going to spend time together?"
The end of her voice rose a little; the corners of her eyes had gone faintly pink.
"Yeah. So look forward to it."
"Look forward to it, he says. Getting your first pay and already full of yourself."
Even so, she turned the samgyeopsal as if she needed something to do with her hands, avoiding his eyes.
But the smile stayed on her lips as she scooped up a spoonful of rice.
"Honestly, though... I am looking forward to it a little. Being able to spend time together on the weekend."
She blew on the doenjang jjigae and looked up at him.
"Are you going to buy me something delicious? Or are you just going to make me swipe my card again, Hyun-soo-ssi?"
She placed a piece of kkakdugi on top of his rice with a soft expression.
"I'm kidding. Whatever you want to do is fine. Just being together is enough."
"I'll treat you."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
As she scooped her own rice she added, almost to herself,
"To be honest, the weekdays get a little lonely when I'm alone. During the day while you're sleeping I can't even turn on the TV because I don't want to make noise."
She put a piece of samgyeopsal in her mouth, chewed, and continued.
"Once the weekend comes I'll finally be able to breathe a little."
"You can watch TV. You don't have to hold back just because of me."
"Still..."
Hyun-soo knew perfectly well how carefully she was looking after him.
And he was grateful for it.
They finished the meal with good appetites. He stood and gathered the empty dishes. Standing at the sink washing them, he glanced back over his shoulder.
"So what are we doing on the weekend? Give me a hint at least."
"Staying home would be boring, so we should go out."
"Go out? Hmm... then I need to start thinking about what to wear."
Excitement filled Jung Na-yeon's face as she washed the dishes.
After the dishes were done, Hyun-soo got ready for work.
At the front door she held out the insulated bento bag and tapped the strap with one finger.
"For now, just go do well again today."
"Got it."
Then Hyun-soo tapped his own cheek with a finger.
"What?"
"You said 'go do well.'"
The way he offered his cheek left Jung Na-yeon flustered for a second; color rose in her face.
But she quickly ducked her head and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.
"Put your boots on. You'll be late."
The words came out shyly.
She bent down at the entryway to check that his safety boot laces were properly tied, then straightened the shoulder strap of the bento bag for him.
"Eat the bulgogi before it gets cold. I packed a lot of rice."
"I know."
She smoothed a hand down his back once, then stood in the doorway waving.
"Come back safe. Don't overdo it."
Jung Na-yeon stayed right there until Hyun-soo turned the corner of the alley and disappeared from sight.
When Hyun-soo arrived at the logistics center parking lot, silhouettes of people gathering in twos and threes were already visible under the fluorescent lights. Park Ban-jang, standing in front of the temporary office with the attendance book open, spotted him and lifted his wristwatch.
"Nine forty-two. You made it with time to spare."
"I said I'd come, didn't I?"
"Yeah. Looks like you've really made up your mind."
He stamped the attendance book and looked up.
"Back okay after yesterday? The day after the first day is the real test. Muscles seize up."
"Still fine so far."
"Still alive, huh."
Park Ban-jang grinned at Hyun-soo's easy attitude.
"B-line again today. Same as yesterday under Crew Chief Lee Tae-ho."
"Yes, sir."
Park Ban-jang tapped his clipboard and added,
"But the volume's heavier than yesterday."
"Really?"
"That's what I'm telling you. So brace yourself. Monday delivery loads are piled up—peak around three in the morning. Don't fall apart when it hits."
"Yes, sir."
Hyun-soo steeled himself.
Park Ban-jang sat down in the office chair and pushed his glasses up.
"Lee Tae-ho said you were solid yesterday. First time I've ever heard him say that about someone on their first day. So I'm expecting the same today."
"I'll keep the same pace."
"Good. That attitude's right."
He pointed at the wall clock with his chin.
"Line starts exactly at ten. Go put on your vest and wait. Lee Tae-ho will explain today's assignments."
Just as Hyun-soo was about to leave the office, Park Ban-jang threw one more line after him.
"Hyun-soo. I told you the first three days are the real hurdle, right? Today's day two. Hang on until tomorrow. After that, a month's nothing."
"Yes, sir!"
The spirited answer as he walked out brought a smile to Park Ban-jang's face.
Beyond the office door the sound of conveyor belts starting up rolled through the entire center.
When Hyun-soo reached B-line, Crew Chief Lee Tae-ho was already standing in front of the conveyor wearing cotton work gloves. The moment he saw Hyun-soo a grin spread across his face.
"You made it? Showing up on day two means you pass. Half the guys who come the first day never come back."
"That's how it usually goes, but I came here with real intention."
"Looks that way."
Lee Tae-ho clapped Hyun-soo once on the shoulder and looked around at the four other men nearby.
"All right. Today's volume is one-point-five times yesterday. Monday deliveries backed up—war until three in the morning. If you get sleepy, splash water on your face and get back here. Zone out on the line and everything behind you piles up."
"Yes, sir!"
They answered in loud voices.
Lee Tae-ho clapped his hands hard once.
"Focus. Let's go!"
Hyun-soo settled into position with a sharp breath of readiness. Lee Tae-ho gave a satisfied nod and moved to the opposite side of the belt. Exactly at ten a warning tone sounded and the conveyor began to move. The first box slid down. Same rhythm as yesterday. Check the regional code, move to the sorting table, stack. Every time Hyun-soo's hands lifted a box, Lee Tae-ho sent a quick glance his way as if checking the speed.
"Gangnam, Seoul—that way! Northern Gyeonggi—this side! If you're not sure, look at the label twice!"
Lee Tae-ho's voice cut sharply through the machine noise.
About an hour in, the belt speed stepped up a notch. One of the workers beside him dropped a box and clicked his tongue; Lee Tae-ho immediately ran over and filled the gap.
"Don't stop! If it stacks up behind us we all die!"
He shouted and shot a quick look toward Hyun-soo.
Hyun-soo never broke his pace, sorting boxes in steady silence. Lee Tae-ho gave him a small thumbs-up.
"Hyun-soo—good. Keep that tempo."
Past midnight, sweat ran down inside his hard hat and the palms of his cotton gloves grew damp. Lee Tae-ho walked past with a water bottle and spoke in a low voice.
"Your hands are faster than yesterday. Body's starting to remember."
"I can feel it too...!"
He held out the bottle and jerked his chin toward the clock.
"Break at two a.m. Just hold on till then. You brought another bento, right?"
"Of course."
Lee Tae-ho grinned and returned to the line. Boxes kept pouring endlessly over the conveyor like waves.
And then one in the morning.
The peak time Park Ban-jang had warned about began.