Partings and Suspicions
Sending someone out of this house was a first for me since I was born. It had been quite a while since I'd last moved, though it wasn't my own move this time. Still, there was plenty to handle. I'd sent people ahead to clean the long-vacant apartment and given the passcode to Hyun-ah. Her expression as she packed alone hadn't looked comfortable at all. It pained me to uproot her family after just a few weeks here, but there was no choice.
I punched in the code on the worn door lock. The place Hyun-ah's family would live in didn't smell musty or look dirty—it was worth the money and the cleaning crew.
"Will this be alright?"
Hearing Yukiko speak in this house felt strangely novel.
"Property prices around here aren't that high. Wouldn't it be better to buy her a different place instead of giving her this one?"
"No need. Houses are for the living."
As I looked around the rooms, a faint perfume lingered in the air.
"Should be fine for three people."
Familiar furniture—a cupboard, fridge, dining table, sofa, TV. All dusty and worn, but usable right away.
"Are you really planning to send them away?"
Yukiko didn't seem pleased. I said nothing, just silently left the house. She looked like she had more to say but held back, just as I had.
"Mom..."
"It's okay. I'm all better now. Must've been tough, huh?"
Hui-ah rushed straight from school to the hospital. Hayeon's complexion had noticeably improved.
"The doctor said I can be discharged now. Tomorrow, I'll make kimchi jjigae for you."
The narrow hospital bed had been Hayeon's entire world for years. Countless prayers and agonies had filled this tiny space just to escape it. But even here, she could glimpse the outside world—through her daughters' stories, the big TV news, and just by looking at Hui-ah's clothes each day.
"Really? I was craving your cooking anyway!"
Promising home-cooked meals upon discharge was Hayeon's routine. It stemmed from guilt over doing nothing for her kids and lingering attachment to her once-proud cooking skills. But every time, her daughters' faces darkened. Their daily life was so impoverished that even basic ingredients were scarce. The eldest scraped by on leftovers from part-time jobs, while the youngest begged snacks from friends or simply endured. Questions about dinner were met with evasive answers. It tore her heart apart.
"But we can't make you work right after getting out. Let's order something delicious!"
It wasn't just meals. Threadbare clothes, skin washed only in cold water, timid voices—they all spoke of her daughters' hardships. Hui-ah today looked worlds apart from the ragged girl of a month ago. New uniform, soft pale skin, a faint shampoo scent from her hair.
"Where would we get the money..."
"It's fine! Seongha's such a great guy..."
But no one was kind for nothing. At first, Hayeon thought it was welfare policy or charity work. But such people would snap photos, drag them around, or just pay medical bills and vanish. No one would care for her family this long. There was always a price. What had her daughters paid to move this man?
"Seongha... he's a good person?"
"Yeah, the best!"
Hui-ah visited daily, but Hyun-ah only popped in briefly now and then. Phone calls offered chances to probe, but Hyun-ah kept hiding what she was doing. "Academy," she'd say, but the girl was used to self-study—no need now. She wouldn't name the academy or what she learned. With clues like that, even oblivious Hayeon could guess the truth.
"Hui-ah, Mom's sorry."
Self-loathing kept Hayeon from meeting her daughter's eyes straight.
"Huh? It's okay—just get better and come home!"
But Hayeon could only imagine what unseen Hyun-ah endured.
"I'm sorry..."
She'd given her daughters nothing, yet they sacrificed everything to save her. Even with the man before her, words failed. What if he got angry? What if the deal canceled, trapping her here? Ugly attachment sealed her lips. She loathed herself. She'd lived enough—most others hadn't—yet she devoured her daughter to cling to life.
"No, really, it's fine!"
Hui-ah smiled brightly. Hayeon forced a smile too.
"If this Seongha's so good... I'd like to meet and thank him sometime."
"Really? Okay, I'll give you his number!"
Hui-ah excitedly shared Seongha's phone number. Hayeon saved it.
"What’s Hyun-ah up to now, I wonder?"
"Sis? Probably at the academy."
Hayeon gritted her teeth. She couldn't sink lower.
Even then, Hyun-ah agonized over and over. She couldn't focus once during class. It was advanced night skills training, but her eyes stayed on the board while her mind wandered elsewhere. A hand landed on her shoulder—Noa's touch.
"You okay? Your face looks off lately."
"Uh... well..."
Hyun-ah turned to Noa behind her. Tanned bronze skin, huge breasts, skimpy outfit, blonde hair. Slave market meant probably still a virgin, but that look screamed "expert on guy troubles"—authoritative and trustworthy.
"Can I... ask you something quick?"
Noa's situation couldn't be great either. With the card from Seongha, buying coffee might get her to listen.
At the nearby cafe, they both grabbed the cheapest brew like it was planned.
"So, what's bugging you?"
Noa wedged her cup playfully between her breasts, slurping through the straw—enough to make Hyun-ah dizzy.
"Um, so... things turned out where I don't have to become a slave. Or probably can't."
"Huh? Isn't that bad? You sure it's okay buying me this?"
Noa set down her coffee in shock.
"No. I think I'll get money..."
"What? Pays but won't use you as a slave? Watch out for that."
Noa paled and raised her voice.
"Heard from others—legally not your slave, he can ghost you anytime."
"No, it's... really fine."
"Even if not, distance kills feelings. Steady allowance now, but it could stop anytime."
"That's okay too."
Hyun-ah had managed her sister's living expenses and mom's bills alone before. Back to that wouldn't be terrifying.
"Checked yesterday—the old gukbap joint isn't hiring new part-timers."
"Oh, right. Korean, so you can work."
Something Noa hadn't considered.
"Yeah. Sis'll be high schooler soon, can do simple jobs. Mom's well enough to work after recovery..."
No real hardship for survival. Without hospital bills, no need to beg so grandly. He might reclaim the house, but the old one wasn't sold. Risky and poor, but they had somewhere to go.
"Then what's the problem? Just say bye and live well."
"It's... ugh... even so, splitting like this feels regrettable..."
Noa smirked.
"Hey, haven't done it myself, but knew plenty guys back then. Kids then, prime age later—war took 'em all."
Guy talk made Hyun-ah cover her eyes with her hands, peeking through fingers at Noa.
"Cute. Anyway, that's it, right? You like him, wanna bang."
"N-no! Wasn't thinking that dirty..."
"Then confess! Been around slaves too long, caught the slave mentality?"
Noa blurted it out.
"Failing slave market doesn't mean deportation. You're cute—yell 'date me!' "
"Th-that's..."
Noa swallowed her inferiority, giving her best advice. Hyun-ah reeled from the rapid-fire talk. Ice melted in her coffee. The girl's face flushed red.