An Unintended Weekend Visit
The weekend of an unintended house visit. The dreamlike two days everyone longed for. But—
"I wish weekdays would come soon..."
It was nothing like that for Lee Seol-ah. She was the one desperately waiting for the weekdays to arrive as quickly as possible.
Seol-ah quietly cracked open her bedroom door. She peeked out cautiously, checking if anyone was around. Why did she have to act like this in her own home? She'd long since tossed aside such questions. Dwelling on them only made her feel more pathetic.
Seol-ah hated this life, but she hated the idea of anyone else finding out even more.
She crept forward on tiptoe. The bathroom was past the living room. She lifted her heels, moving with utmost care.
...Ugh, the booze stench...!
A sharp alcoholic reek pierced her nostrils. She glanced sideways, and sure enough, that bitch was slumped there, wasted out of her mind.
"What're you staring at, you little shit?!"
The woman yelled at Seol-ah. Frizzy, unkempt hair, sagging skin, empty bottles scattered across the floor. The classic signs of a pathetic drunk.
She'd been fine enough while clinging to her latest boyfriend, but now she'd been dumped again and devolved into this mess.
Pathetic.
With that thought, Seol-ah headed for the bathroom. Better to escape before the sparks flew her way.
....
"Ha...."
Seol-ah let out a sigh. If sighing added a day to her life, she'd easily live past a hundred.
That thing was her mother? Seol-ah slumped against the bathroom wall, feeling utterly hollow.
She'd married young in her twenties. Had Seol-ah early on and lived happily, or so it must have played out in that woman's head.
But reality had been brutally harsh. Her husband had cheated relentlessly. She'd gotten a huge settlement—hush money, basically.
"Guess I should be grateful she at least left me with money?"
Seol-ah let out a hollow laugh. Her bank account was still flush because of it. She never went hungry, no matter how much that woman blew through her own share. It wasn't out of kindness from the cheating bastard, though—he'd split the cash in ways that kept her from hiring a lawyer if things went south.
"I wanna get out of here... independent already..."
Seol-ah murmured blankly at the wall. She wanted to end this life. She never wanted to see that un-motherly thing again. Or the parade of new boyfriends she dragged home. Crabs walk sideways, after all—and every guy she'd brought in had been married.
"What should I do today...?"
Seol-ah pondered. Two days felt endlessly long, and she had no way to kill time. No Wi-Fi. Data plan on the bare minimum. Nothing else worked. She couldn't even turn on the light in her room. The house got no sun, so any light on sent that woman into a raging fit.
The bathroom was at least safe. She could turn the light on here without it showing.
"Alright, time to sleep it off."
Seol-ah decided. Even if sleep wouldn't come, closing her eyes tight usually did the trick. With that small resolve, she took two deep breaths. To get back to her room, she'd have to cross the living room again. Full preparation was key.
I can do this! Let's go, fighting!
She psyched herself up, forcing the mood higher, and opened the bathroom door.
"This bitch lives here?!"
A bottle flew at her. Seol-ah ducked on instinct, and glass shattered by her ear.
Eh...? No time for fumbling. She bolted from the spot purely on reflex. No room for thought—pure instinct took over.
"Where you going?! I'll rip that face off!"
An enraged voice bellowed from behind. Same old threats, but today they stabbed deeper into her chest.
Her mother hated her. Especially the face that resembled her father's.
Another object hurtled her way. No chance of reaching her room. She veered straight for the front door. No time to grab her smartphone, wallet, or clothes. She crammed her feet into shoes and burst out the door.
"Don't you stop! I'll kill you if I catch you!"
The woman chased after. Seol-ah ran for her life, every ounce of strength she had.
The rain didn't help her at all.
....
How far had she run? She didn't even have the energy to look back.
Rain drizzled steadily. Her crammed-in shoes chafed her feet painfully. Her soaked clothes dragged at her body.
Huff... her legs gave out. Seol-ah collapsed right there, too drained to move.
"I... I won... I won...!"
She had won, sure. But there wasn't a shred of joy in her voice.
Exhausted, she forced her limp legs to carry her to some shelter.
This should keep the rain off.
And then—
"What're you doing?"
She ran into Kang Sung-hoon.
Seol-ah's eyes widened. She couldn't believe this situation.
She'd been seen in her most shameful state. By a friend she'd only recently gotten close to, no less.
"Ah... um..."
Suddenly drenched in rain. The words wouldn't come. Only hollow breaths echoed in the air.
Sung-hoon took in her state, pondered briefly, then—
"...Want me to walk you home?"
But before Seol-ah could respond, his expression shifted as if reading her face.
"No, forget I said that."
He quickly took it back. Seol-ah found Sung-hoon utterly baffling, as always. He strode right into her tightly locked heart.
He must know now—there were problems at her house. As Seol-ah despaired over that thought—
"Anyway, you're a mess, so no cafe... No good spots to rest nearby..."
Sung-hoon was trying his best. He couldn't just leave a drowned-rat friend hanging; it'd make him uncomfortable.
After a moment's thought, he shrugged helplessly.
"For now... wanna come to my place?"
"Huh? Is that a pickup line?"
"Don't joke. You look like you're hurting."
Sung-hoon pointed at her knee. Somehow, her knee was scraped raw.
"...Ow!"
Awareness brought the pain surging. If you hadn't pointed it out, I wouldn't have noticed, she thought resentfully. But she bit it back. Blaming others for her own faults? One person like that in her life was enough.
Seol-ah stood slowly. Her legs had enough strength to walk now.
Looking at Sung-hoon under his umbrella—
"You go ahead."
"Why? Wouldn't it be better together?"
"I'm... all soaked, so getting under the umbrella would be kinda gross..."
Seol-ah trailed off. What was the point of huddling under it drenched? Plus, comparing herself to Sung-hoon up close would be obvious. She refused to walk together.
At that, Sung-hoon—
"Hold this for a sec."
He handed her the umbrella. Before she could speak, he dashed into the rain and threw himself under it.
"There. Now we're even, right?"
He grinned at her. Her heart skipped.
"...Idiot."
Seol-ah whispered. The rain swallowed the words, but they lingered in her ears.
Seol-ah arrived at Sung-hoon's house.
"Come in. Shoes here."
"Pardon the intrusion."
Somewhat tense, Seol-ah glanced around the place.
"Parents?"
"That's a low blow."
"I mean it!"
Seol-ah reacted like always. Seeing that, Sung-hoon felt relieved.
"Both on business trips."
"...Business trips? So right now, this house has just..."
Seol-ah's words faded. Before she could say something weird, Sung-hoon tossed her a towel.
"No funny ideas. Go wash up."
"Thanks, but... clothes?"
"I'll grab some from my sister. That work?"
Seol-ah nodded. At least she wouldn't be wearing his clothes.
She watched him knock on the door labeled "Da-eun" as she headed to the bathroom.
"...Bright."
And clean. Spotless, like it was scrubbed daily—no water stains. Nothing like wherever she lived.
"...Time to wash."
Seol-ah stopped thinking. Right now, she just wanted to soak in warm water.
....
After showering, Seol-ah emerged. Sung-hoon had left clothes by the door; she tossed her wet ones into the washer nearby. A Post-it on the clothes explained the usage.
[Ding! Using rapid mode!]
She started the machine right away. Drying her hair roughly with the towel, she stepped out to find Sung-hoon at the table.
"Thanks, thanks. Would've caught a cold staying like that."
Seol-ah plopped down across from him playfully. He had a textbook open, studying.
Even soaked to the bone earlier, it looked natural on him.
"...Studying?"
"Had some spare time."
Sung-hoon closed the book. Uses his time so well, Seol-ah thought, pondering her next move.
No phone. No wallet. Didn't want to go home. But—
I can't ask to crash here...!
Seol-ah hid her flushed face. Even bubbly Seol-ah had lines she wouldn't cross. And that kind of behavior—
Would make me just like her.
Exactly like the person she despised most. After a moment, she decided to ask Ha-yoon, who knew a bit of her situation.
"Sung-hoon, can I borrow your phone?"
"Calling Ha-yoon?"
"...You got superpowers or what?!"
Her eyes went wide. He'd nailed it again.
Sung-hoon waved it off at her superpower quip.
"Just a guess."
"Denying it makes it seem real..."
"Psh. If I did, I'd be making bank on YouTube."
Sung-hoon joked. Watching him, Seol-ah thought he'd totally do it.
"My turn now," he said, heading to his room for a change.
Then—
Beep, beep-beep-beep, click!
The front door unlocked with an electronic chime. A girl entered, grumbling.
"Why's it raining so much!"
Seol-ah froze at the sight of her. The girl froze too.
A few seconds of silence. Then, both spoke at once.
"Oppa brought his girlfriend home!"
"Sung-hoon has a girlfriend?!"