The Thirty-Sixth Assignment — A Daydream of Mortal Affairs ②

"Did yesterday go well? You came back so late I never got a chance to ask."

"Went great, obviously. Had no idea the mortal realm had this much going on. Wish I'd known sooner, that's all. We've already got plans for next weekend."

"A good start, then. That's a relief."

While Seri was chattering away with her clubmates, Changmo was filling Yeoni in on the same meeting. Changmo was delighted, of course — and so was Yeoni. Now that they were both spoken for, a certain fellow-feeling had sprung up between them. It was the kind of reaction a single man like Simyeong, or Yuhwa for that matter, would never have given.

"Did you tell Simyeong and Yuhwa about it too?"

"Those two? Not yet. They're busy enough without me dumping every little detail on them. I'll say something once things have actually gone somewhere."

The two Grim Reapers in question were, in fact, wracked with worry — but Changmo and Yeoni hadn't the faintest idea.

"Ugh… they're going to blow up the second they find out, though. You went and made progress without even telling them. And they're both single, so it's going to sting even worse."

"So what? It's my life. They knew what they were signing off on when they gave me permission. End of story."

If they heard you say that, they'd knock you into next week.

Yeoni shot him a sulky look. Shouldn't he at least lecture the guy a little? The thought of Yuhwa exploding like a wildfire made him feel he shouldn't let Changmo get too carried away. Naturally, Changmo ignored the look entirely.

"Ah! I already miss her. Was it like that for you too, Yeoni? After you and Dayeong part ways — that wanting to see her again, that flutter in your chest?"

"Me?"

The question came flying at him out of nowhere. That intense gaze was enormously uncomfortable. He wanted to offer some advice as the more experienced one in the relationship department, but he didn't have much worth saying. Yeoni answered in a lukewarm tone.

"Not really. Dayeong and I see each other almost every day. We walk to campus together, sit through the same classes, eat together. So hanging out just feels… natural. It's not desperate the way it is for you."

"O-oh. I see."

Not the answer he'd been hoping for. Changmo's face fell — but Yeoni wasn't finished. Advice from a senior in love couldn't just be about himself. He paused a beat, then went on.

"That said, it's just as fun every time we meet. It isn't new anymore, but it always feels good. Cozy, I guess? Even seeing each other every day, I've never gotten sick of it."

"Hmm."

"I think it's a difference of degree. You can be over the moon about it, like you, or quietly happy, like me. Either way, you like the other person just the same."

A smile crept onto Yeoni's own face as he spoke. Picturing himself with Dayeong seemed to lift his spirits. Changmo nodded along. A peculiar camaraderie was taking shape between them. Men with partners, it seemed, really were a species unto themselves.

"Next time you see her, try getting a little closer. Not just the fun stuff — something more ordinary, something warm, the kind of thing that actually brings you together."

Since the topic had come up, Yeoni offered some advice on how to handle the next date. Fun alone would eventually grow stale, or the ideas would run dry. For something to last, you needed more than that. The way he and Dayeong had — childhood friends who'd spent years together, easy and comfortable, before they ever started dating.

Changmo agreed.

"Yeah, I should. I'll think on it. Oh! And if I can't come up with anything, you'll help, right?"

Little did he know that the way of making it happen would be something he could never have imagined.

"Of course. Anytime."

"Just hearing that is a load off. All right, I'd better head out. Letters to deliver today, same as always."

Changmo set down his teacup and stood. That was the end of today's break. From here on, he'd be flying all over, delivering letters. Yeoni thought of the letters waiting for him too, and let out a quiet sigh. Busy, both of them, no matter how you sliced it.

"I've got work today as well. Take it easy out there."

"Will do. See you again this evening."

Changmo vanished first, dissolving into black smoke. Yeoni looked out the window and clicked his tongue. The guy had trusted him enough to leave, sure — but walking out without cleaning up was a little much. He gathered the plates and cups and headed for the kitchen, figuring he'd at least rinse them.

This is a Post Office outpost. That makes it my facility too, in a way.

He'd just set the dishes in the sink and rolled up his sleeves when a strange vibration buzzed at his hip. The Underworld communicator. Delivery wasn't for a while yet — what could it be? Puzzled, Yeoni picked up the phone.

"Hello?"

Simyeong's voice came through the receiver, unaccountably heavy and low. Had something gone wrong in the Underworld? Fear crept into Yeoni's reply.

"What's the matter? You sound exhausted."

"Changmo just left. But what's going on that—"

Anxiety welled up from nowhere. As if to confirm that the dread was real, Simyeong didn't answer right away. He let the silence hang. Then, as though afraid someone might overhear, he spoke in a whisper — a thoroughly shrunken manner, utterly unlike him.

"If Changmo can't know, this is related to the current job, right?"

Something feels off.

Changmo paused mid-flight. He glanced back the way he'd come — toward the outpost. A gloom he couldn't explain seemed to be seeping from that direction. Had he forgotten something? He ran ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠through his preparations. Everything was in order. At least, he was sure it was.

Nah. No way.

Deciding it was nothing, he went on his way.

And just like that, the chance to sense the crisis slipped through his fingers.

"Good heavens."

Having heard the whole story, Yeoni bit down hard on his lip. Blood beaded between his teeth. Simyeong waited quietly for the atmosphere to settle. The room, so ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠still a moment before, was thick with turmoil. Only after a long while did Yeoni collect himself enough to speak.

"When are you going to tell Changmo? He has to know eventually."

His expression had gone grave of its own accord. The buoyant mood from talking with Changmo had plunged, as if he'd boarded a roller coaster and the track had simply given out. Same as Simyeong, he found himself turning over what on earth they were supposed to do.

"I think it'd be better to get it over with than drag it out."

The request to keep it hidden sparked a flicker of resistance. Ever since the affair with Gangnim, the act of hiding something had sat badly with him. And yet Simyeong wasn't wrong, either. He turned it this way and that, and in the end the only choice left was to follow the man's lead. Yeoni's lips twisted slightly.

"I hate hiding things… but I don't have a choice, do I. I don't want Changmo to be unhappy either."

Simyeong apologized in a voice as small as a crawling ant. He'd meant to protect Changmo, and in doing so had asked Yeoni to do something he hated. Even with ten mouths, he wouldn't have had a word of defense. Yeoni was quick to reassure him.

"Don't be. It's just a bad situation. You don't need to apologize."

"It went well. Changmo had a good time, and from what I heard, she seems to like him too. They've already made plans to meet again."

The rest of the sentence turned bitter. When things were going well, the decent thing was to be happy for him. But this damned reality kept getting in the way, from every angle. It was the kind of cursed luck that made you wonder if the Jade Emperor himself had decided to stand in their path.

One unlucky Grim Reaper.

Yeoni and Simyeong both thought the same thing.

A dream.

"All right. I understand."

So that was how it was going to end, then.

A week passed, and the promised day arrived once more.

Changmo was busy picking out clothes again. Nagging had rained down on him — worry about the actual date, not just the outfit — but the desire to look good let even Yeoni's persistence slide right off him. A whistle escaped him; high spirits poured off him in waves.

"For heaven's sake. Did you forget what I told you last time? If you want this to last, you need to think about other things too. Don't just fixate on how you look."

"This is consideration in its own way, you know. That's enough nagging — just look at this. Is this all right?"

Should I just pick something at random out of spite?

The thought crossed Yeoni's mind. But Changmo had asked him to take care of it, and that stuck with him, so he couldn't bring himself to do it. In the end he chose carefully, exactly as requested. A complaint that he'd gone soft-hearted lately came as a bonus.

"Wear this today."

"A shirt and slacks again? Can't I just throw on a T-shirt? Same look every time gets boring."

"You changed the color, so it doesn't matter. This sleek kind of thing suits you. A good outfit is ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠one that plays up your strengths."

"Yeoni's right. And switch up the earrings a bit today, too."

Dayeong chimed in from the side. The pair she held out weren't gold but silver. Changmo, who loved anything flashy, complained — but Yeoni and Dayeong both pushed the silver hard.

"Blue works better with your eye color."

"If it's nothing but flashy, it clashes with the rest of the outfit."

In the end Changmo gave in, or pretended to, and took the earrings. Inwardly he felt a twinge of self-reproach. I'm the one who knows fashion better! Still, he'd agreed to take advice from his seniors in love, so even if he didn't like it, he was going to follow it for now.

"I do know how to dress, you know…"

"Dressing flashy and looking approachable are two different things. Do your makeup the way I showed you last time. You've got it down by now, right? Nice and smooth."

Yeoni grinned slyly. Dayeong went so far as to clench a fist at him. Bratty little pests, the both of them. Teased by kids so much younger it was absurd, Changmo finally laughed.

"All right, all right. I'll be a good little boy about it."

If he was going to do it, he'd do it properly. With that mindset, Changmo went at his makeup with real daring, his hands moving so boldly Yeoni almost worried he'd cake it on. And yet he did it well, which was impressive in its own right. Showing off his competence even in something this small, was he?

Yeoni watched with the quiet pride of an older brother seeing a younger one get it right.

"All set. I'll be off. Going to be a little bolder today."

"And if you can, get a confession out of her while you're at it. Have a good time!"

But even as he said it, Simyeong's words rose to mind, and the cheer turned bittersweet.

"Isn't pushing it too hard a bad idea? Even a confession should wait a while."

Dayeong looked at him, puzzled. This was only the second meeting. Talking about going out already was jumping the gun, wasn't it? Yeoni's face tightened slightly. Then he leaned in and put his mouth to her ear.

"Here's the thing. We've run into a bit of a problem."

At the very least, she ought to know.

About an hour later.

"Seoah. You don't have to go this far, do you?"

"Don't have ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to?! You can hardly tell what kind of person someone is just by looking at their face. I'm going to stick close and evaluate him properly. That's the whole point."

Seri looked at Seoah, who'd tagged along, and felt a wave of awkwardness. The reason she'd come was awkward enough on its own. Vetting the character of a potential boyfriend? Seoah wasn't her mother, and a friend being this strict about it was a lot to take. Seoah, however, showed not the slightest intention of leaving.

"This is her first time meeting a guy, period. If she lets her guard down, she'll get led around by the nose. Neither of them can afford to look down on the other. That's Dating 101."