Before long, we arrived at Hanwoo Alley, and judging by the way the owner at the counter recognized him the moment we stepped inside, it really did seem like Jun’s regular spot.
“Oh my, Jun’s here. Want a private room?”
“Yes.”
The hall was so wide that I wasn’t sure where to go, but as I followed Jun down a narrow corridor, I saw a row of sliding doors like the ones in traditional restaurants. I’d seen this kind of layout in Korean course-meal or Japanese restaurants before, but never in a BBQ place.
“This is your room.”
An employee who had gone ahead slid the door open to guide us in. As soon as Jun sat down, he ordered with the ease of someone familiar with the place, then glanced between Bin and me, asking what we wanted to drink.
We settled on plain soju, and I looked around at the interior. It was floor seating, but the middle was hollowed out so you could sit comfortably like at a table. Bin sat beside me, Jun across from us.
After the employee left, silence fell, and I was the first to speak.
“Since we’ve met like this, I hope the two of you can get along well.”
“As long as the rent gets paid on time.”
“You’re the one acting like an old man just because you’re the landlord. The interior work starts tomorrow.”
Things had gone sideways from the very first meeting between them, and every word they exchanged bristled with thorns. Trying to mediate, I asked about something that might become a point of friction in advance.
“When do you think the interior work will be finished?”
I’d asked hoping Jun would bear with it during construction, but the moment Bin answered, Jun scoffed again—what would take so long, was he building a whole new structure or something?
“I’ll light the grill for you.”
Soon, glowing red charcoal was brought in and the grill was set on top. Like that blackened charcoal, my insides felt like they were slowly burning too. Hanwoo or not, eating between these two was deeply uncomfortable. I couldn’t take sides, but I also couldn’t just ignore it—that made it worse.
Even though I wished he wouldn’t, Jun turned to look at me.
“Don’t you think so? What do you think, Yoo Du?”
At the same time, both of their gazes locked onto me. I’d been staring at the crackling charcoal, letting their conversation drift past my ears, so I had no idea what they were even asking.
“See? Even Du-seon isn’t saying anything because it’s ridiculous. Honestly, how can someone that lacking in common sense be a landlord?”
“What? Who are you to look down on me? You’re just someone who pays rent.”
“Hey. Maybe I don’t own a building, but I’ve got several houses. Watch your mouth.”
“Houses and buildings aren’t the same. Go ask anyone on the street who’s got it better—the house-poor or a landlord.”
“House-poor? Have you even checked the registry on my properties? They’re fully paid off, no loans!”
“…Excuse me, I’m going to the restroom for a moment.”
It felt like I’d get torn apart if I stayed between them any longer, so I hurriedly left my seat.
Haah… I can’t breathe.
To me, both landlords and homeowners were impressive enough. Whatever competition they had going on between themselves wasn’t something I could stop, nor was I in any position to judge it. Besides, both of their personalities seemed far from ordinary—if I got caught in the crossfire, I had a bad feeling I’d be the one bleeding for it.
“Yeah, let’s just eat quietly.”
If it had been pork instead of real hanwoo, I might’ve just left.
Grill, eat, and get out—that was my only goal as I headed back. Even before sliding the door open, I could hear them still arguing inside.
“Excuse me.”
I didn’t quite have the courage to open it, but just then an employee arrived with food, and I got pushed in alongside them. As I moved to sit down, Jun stretched out his long arm and grabbed my wrist.
“Sit here.”
“Why make such a fuss? Du-seon, just sit where you were before.”
My steps were headed toward my old seat, but the firm pull made me stumble, and I ended up sitting beside Jun.
“He really knows how to make people uncomfortable, doesn’t he? Right, Du-seon?”
No, you two. If you want to talk, talk to each other. Don’t ask for my opinion…
That’s what I wanted to say, but I just smiled instead. Placing the hanwoo onto the grill, I said kindly, “Please, eat,” to both of them.
As the meat sizzled, their silent battle started up again.
The moment pieces finished cooking, they’d flip them over and snatch them first. Even the ones I’d set aside on my side of the grill—Jun would pick those up too. It seemed like he was doing it out of stubbornness so Bin wouldn’t get any, but somehow I was the one suffering for it.
Damn it. Seriously.
After watching that for two rounds, irritation started creeping in. When the employee came to change the grill, I ordered yukhoe bibimbap. By the third round, I finally figured out the timing to grab some meat myself.
“Yukhoe bibimbap is ready.”
Seeing a dish meant solely for me felt oddly comforting. I was mixing it thoroughly when Bin glanced over.
“That looks good. Du-seon, can I try some?”
“Sure. Go ahead.”
I slid the bowl slightly toward him. He took a spoonful and said it tasted even better because I’d mixed it—an absurd compliment.
I still hadn’t even tasted it myself. Just as I scooped up a generous bite of yukhoe and rice to put in my mouth, Jun wrapped his hand around the back of mine. Before I could react, the spoon went straight into his mouth. Chewing, he said, “Not bad,” and took a sip of water. Since the spoon had just disappeared into his mouth, I set it down and pulled out a new one.
“What, is my mouth dirty?”
“No, it’s just… someone else already used it.”
“Am I ‘someone else’?”
“Well… are we family?”
Now Jun was picking a fight with me. I just wanted to eat with a new spoon—why was he making such a fuss? If he was that bothered, he could’ve used his own. I tried to take another bite, but again he grabbed the back of my hand, and once more the spoon vanished into his mouth.
“Hey, that’s enough. Let Du-seon eat too. You’ve got your own spoon.”
Thinking I might have to switch spoons again, I set it down on the table. Jun’s eyebrow twitched—he was tracking even the smallest of my movements with sharp eyes.
In the end, I figured eating from the same spoon wouldn’t kill me, so I scooped up a bite with the spoon that had just been in his mouth. Only then did Jun finally look away and go back to picking up meat with his chopsticks.
Haah…
He was truly exhausting. By the third round of grilling, both of them had noticeably slowed down, and thanks to that, I got to eat as much hanwoo as I wanted. They say good things come to those who wait—it really felt that way.
When Jun asked if I wanted more, my stomach was already filled to the brim, so I shook my head. Even so, he kept placing grilled meat onto my plate.
“That’s enough. I’m full.”
Ignoring me, Jun reached to press the call button to order more, so I grabbed his hand firmly to stop him.
“That’s enough!”
I should’ve been speaking politely, but my irritation surged because he kept ignoring me. My throat felt stuffed with food, and the words didn’t come out gently.
I looked at him like I was scolding a stubborn younger sibling, and his eyes widened slightly. He looked surprised, yet the corner of his lips curled upward—half a smile, half something else.
“I’ll bring your dessert.”
Right on cue, an employee entered, clearing away the charcoal and setting down chilled fruit and sujeonggwa.
I used to never drink sujeonggwa, but at some point I started having it after meals, and the refreshing feeling made digestion easier. If they hadn’t served it here, I might’ve stopped somewhere to buy a bottle on the way home.
“So, where do you live?”
It seemed like they’d finally run out of things to argue about; their expressions softened as they ate dessert.
“Me? Mapo.”
“Hmm. Not too far. Then how about a second round—beer at my place?”
“Sounds good. I do feel like we barely drank.”
“What about you, Yoo Du?”
I’d been sipping my sujeonggwa, relaxing at the thought that I could just go home and collapse into bed, but Jun’s suggestion snapped me back to attention.
“I’m going to go home and rest.”
“Come with us.”
“My place is a bit far…”
I declined politely when Bin asked kindly. Jun asked where exactly, and when I mentioned the subway station way out near the end of the line, he frowned.
“You commute all the way here from there? Why? Why not run a real estate office over there instead?”
I’d heard that same question countless times at local realtor gatherings. Usually, I’d sigh pitifully and explain how I’d tried to find a place closer after opening the shop but couldn’t afford it, so I ended up on the outskirts. But I didn’t want to share those circumstances with these two.
What would you guys know about the struggles of ordinary people?
“I just… ended up there while looking.”
“Then stay at my place tonight.”
Without hesitation, Jun invited me to his home—not just me, but even Bin, whom he’d been fighting like an enemy just moments ago. And Bin, surprisingly easygoing, readily asked if he could stay over too.
Well, if he could use an entire building floor, I could roughly imagine how big Jun’s place must be. How many rooms did he have? How big was his bed? How many bathrooms? Curious, I agreed, thinking it might be a chance to see his home.
We finished our sujeonggwa and stood up. The bill must’ve been huge, but Jun paid with his card and tossed the receipt aside without even looking at it. Once we stepped outside, Bin glanced around and pointed at a convenience store.
“I’ll buy the beer. Let’s go to the convenience store.”
Quite a few people were sitting under the parasols outside the 24-hour store. As soon as we went in, we headed to the alcohol section and looked through the selection.
Just like the rows of cigarettes behind the counter, the variety of beers had exploded—especially imported ones, with plenty of four-for-10,000-won deals that made choosing fun. I was scanning carefully, wanting to try something new, when warm breath brushed the back of my neck.
“Estonian beer tastes good.”
Jun must’ve been trying to whisper into my ear. I stepped sideways, and my shoulder bumped against his chest. Feeling awkward, I tried to move away the other way, but his hand wrapped around my waist, sliding down until it brushed my hip. I could feel his fingers idly tracing.
“I like it.”
“W-What?”
Leaning heavily against my back as if he might collapse, Jun picked up a dark beer and grinned.
Even though he hadn’t meant it for me, I felt strangely embarrassed. His usually cold tone felt loose and warm, maybe because of the alcohol. Perhaps it was the drinks getting to me too—my face heated up at those words.
“Ahaha, yeah… that’s good. That one. Let’s see, what should we get for snacks?”
Wanting to get out of his arms quickly, I twisted my body and walked the other way. I spotted Bin standing near the display of hot bars and lunchboxes.
“Du-seon, pick whatever you want.”
“This is enough for me.”
I picked up a single pack of string cheese. Bin grabbed three more and pressed them into my hands.
“Eat more.”
Just then, Jun came over and grabbed the whole bundle of string cheese.
“I like this too. Just buy all of it.”
Even if he wasn’t the one paying, was it okay for him to just grab things so recklessly? The snacks ended up costing more than the beer.
