55
“Seems like my sister-in-law is in an incredibly good mood today.”
“Fucking bitch.”
The younger one muttered a curse under his breath while chewing his side dishes forcefully, as if he might bite through the chopsticks too. The level of cursing is the same whether you’re rich or poor.
“It’s like… she’s acting as if my oldest brother has already been decided as the next hospital director. Honestly, nothing’s been decided yet. She’s strutting around as if she’s the hospital director herself. It’ll be quite a sight if my oldest brother actually becomes the director. …Don’t you think?”
My words must have sparked his imagination because my second brother put down his spoon and got up from his seat. I’d lose my appetite too if I were him. Given his temperament, he was showing remarkable restraint.
I watched my second brother’s back as he stormed out without a word, then turned my head. I pretended not to notice as I met my father’s gaze, which was fixed intently on me.
“It’s not mine anyway, so I don’t care who gets it. As long as it’s entertaining.”
“I’m glad you find it entertaining. I don’t mind you stirring the pot, but don’t let the fire get too big.”
I don’t know how my father manages to exude such refinement in both his actions and speech. I bet even if he were cursing, it would sound cultured.
With my sister-in-law and second brother gone, the dining table became peaceful. In the silence, our father and I enjoyed a leisurely meal for once.
∞ ∞ ∞
“Good work today.”
Lee Gyeongjin greeted me as I left the study cafe, quickly opening the car door. His concern seemed excessive since I’d just come out of the building and it wasn’t even cold.
“Shouldn’t I take you home, young master? The weather’s cold, and it must be inconvenient for you to come out like this every day, especially to a place like this…”
“I don’t want anyone at home to know about this.”
“There’s no reason for anyone to scold you for studying.”
They probably wouldn’t scold me, but if I told them I was relearning English from the basics when I’m supposedly already fluent, they’d definitely find it strange.
Recently, I realized I’d been wasting time, so I decided to study something useful along with my art lessons. If I just kept making excuses that I was uneducated and not smart, living as Cha Sukyung would end up like Min Jaehee’s life.
I somehow found a tutor, but finding a place for the lessons was difficult. When I mentioned that studying at home would be inconvenient, the teacher thought for a moment and suggested a study cafe. He said renting a study room would be good for quiet learning.
That’s how the study cafe became my tutoring location, and now I’m learning basic English from my teacher every day.
If you’re wondering why English specifically, the reason is quite simple. People don’t meet up to solve math problems or discuss scientific knowledge. Among things needed in daily life, besides Korean, English was what remained.
It’s strange, isn’t it? You can get by in everyday life without learning Korean history, but not knowing English causes inconvenience. It’s an ironic situation for a Korean person.
“If you have no other schedules, shall we head home?”
“Hmm, how about we spend some time out and have dinner before going back? The food at home is delicious, but the atmosphere is really unpleasant.”
“Where would you like me to take you?”
“That’s the thing. I wonder where normal people go to kill time. What do other people do when they have free time?”
The ways I knew to pass time were sitting in parks that didn’t cost money, riding the subway around, or watching people on the streets. While doing so, I always honed my sense of how much money people might have in their pockets.
“Does staying at home count?”
“Of course not. I’m out here because I don’t want to eat at home.”
“The people I’ve served before usually spent time at hotel lounges, department store lounges, golf courses, or shopping.”
“Not those either. Isn’t there a way to spend time casually and normally without pressure? What does this driver do to kill time?”
“Usually, I go to cafes, watch movies, exercise, or take walks. The first two are methods I typically use on dates, and the latter two are for when I’m alone.”
“Oh, so this driver has a girlfriend. How long have you been dating? How old is she? Do you have a photo?”
“We should get going now.”
Lee Gyeongjin cleared his throat at my questions and started the car. With no specific destination in mind, the car just kept driving aimlessly on the road.
“I’ve already had coffee so that’s not appealing, and it’s too cold for exercise or walks. Since it would be tiring for this driver to keep driving, we need someplace where we can park the car and space out.”
“Then let’s try the Han River, it’s accessible.”
“Sounds good, I can people-watch there too while we’re at it.”
Staring at the flowing river should be good for zoning out. While Lee Gyeongjin drove, I took out my phone. I called Kwon Yikang again today without any particular reason, as I often do when he rarely calls first. I’m fortunate he still answers even knowing there’s no special purpose to my calls.
“Hello.”
“It’s me. What are you doing?”
“You should check the time before asking.”
“I know you’re at work. But I don’t know if you’re working, in a meeting, drinking coffee, or slacking off, so I’m asking.”
My sarcastic comment was met with cheerful laughter. I wondered if it was okay to laugh so loudly while on the phone at work.
“I’m working, but I can make time to slack off while talking to you.”
“That’s good. Since you never call first even during breaks, I have to call randomly and disturb you.”
“I don’t really have breaks, but I always answer your calls, don’t I?”
“How good of you, so good. You’re bragging about that?”
I tapped the window with my finger as I looked beyond the road, which was congested with unusually heavy traffic today.
This winter has had unusually few days of snowfall. With each passing year, it just gets colder without the romance of falling snow. It’s almost March, so the cold snap should be intensifying soon.
“What are you doing? It’s quiet.”
“I’m in the car, moving. I finished class but don’t want to go home, so I’m killing time before eating dinner and heading back.”
“What are you going to do to kill time?”
“This driver is taking me to the Han River. I’ll space out there while watching people, then go somewhere suitable for dinner.”
I wasn’t sure where that suitable place would be. On impulse, I casually asked Lee Gyeongjin, “What should we have for dinner?” which prompted Kwon Yikang to ask in a puzzled voice from the other end of the phone.
“You’re eating with him too?”
“Huh? What, should I eat alone? You ask strange questions sometimes.”
“You’re going to the Han River together too?”
“Am I supposed to take a taxi by myself?”
I told him he asks strange questions, and now he’s asking even stranger ones. It was odd that he was confirming again after I just mentioned I was on my way to the Han River.
“Want to have dinner together tonight?”
“Suddenly?”
“I think I can leave work early today. This works out well, doesn’t it?”
“Well…”
I felt vaguely suspicious for some reason I couldn’t identify. As I scratched my cheek and let my words trail off, he asked, “Don’t you want to?”
“No, it’s not that I don’t want to. How early can you leave work?”
“Why? Are you hungry? Should I go eat now?”
“It’s barely 4 PM right now.”
That seems like an extremely early departure. Is this possible because it’s his father’s company, or is Kwon Yikang’s workplace one with flexible working hours?
“I was just planning to kill some time anyway. I think you can leave at your usual time. Let’s meet at 6. No, if your work ends at 6, then maybe 6:30?”
“I just need to finish some urgent work, so it won’t take long. I think about an hour should be enough.”
If there’s urgent work, how can he leave early? It doesn’t make sense in many ways, but I figured it’s because I’ve never worked in a company myself.
“Really?”
“How about the traditional Korean restaurant I mentioned before? I don’t know about the nine-course meal, but it’s served quite elegantly.”
“I’m not picky. That’s fine.”
“I’ll contact you when I leave the office. Don’t stick too close to the driver. Don’t move to the passenger seat or sit side by side in the back seat.”
“What’s that about?”
“You’re too casual with your attendants. Keeping some distance is also a form of respect for each other.”
“That’s the first time I’ve heard of such etiquette. Fine, just call me when you’re done.”
“Will do.”
After hanging up, I burst out laughing, which made Lee Gyeongjin glance back at me.
“I have dinner plans now.”
“That’s good.”
“Why? Did you not want to have dinner with me?”
“Not at all. It’s just that you’re the first person who treats me like a young master, so I’m not used to it. And the madam and hospital director probably wouldn’t approve.”
“I don’t want to eat alone. Since you need to eat too, it’s better if we eat together. Actually, I just got scolded for being too casual with you. I was told keeping distance is respectful.”
When I asked, “Is that really true?” Lee Gyeongjin’s shoulders shook slightly as if he was laughing.
“Your boyfriend seems quite concerned.”
“What concern?”
“If I happen to come up in your conversations, please tell him that I’m planning to marry my girlfriend of seven years soon.”
I said okay, but my confusion still remained.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
