Chapter 3

“You’e just home, now?”

It was late, and as she quietly opened the door and headed straight to her room, Eunjae stopped in her tracks at the voice coming from the kitchen. Jiyeon was sitting there in the dark. On the dim table was a single can of beer.

“Didn’t you sleep?”

Eunjae approached the table and spoke, quickly turning on a small pin light.

“Just… I can’t sleep.”

Her sister forced a weak smile. Eunjae glanced at the wall clock. She had come home late, drank beer, and now it was almost midnight. Their parents usually slept early, so the house was very quiet at this hour.

After her divorce, Jiyeon had trouble adjusting to living at home again. She’d lived in dorms since college, passed the teacher’s exam, worked in Gyeonggi-do, and got married, so she’d long forgotten the lifestyle of this house.

“Does drinking help?”

Worried, Eunjae took a beer can from the fridge. She felt bad just leaving her alone and going to her room. Her days were always busy with work, and weekends were spent catching up on sleep.

Even though Jiyeon had moved back after her divorce, somehow, they talked less than before. Maybe it was natural. Her boss at work was Jiyeon’s ex-husband. Any conversation could easily lead to talking about Kiwon.

After a few such incidents right after the divorce, Eunjae became more cautious, and Jiyeon stopped seeking out her younger sister to talk. The first time in ages she had knocked on Eunjae’s door, it was to mention the blind date, just as Eunjae had told Wooseok earlier.

“Beer isn’t really drinking.”

Eunjae laughed softly at Jiyeon’s reply. In this family, it was like all the alcohol genes went to Jiyeon. Eunjae had built up her tolerance through work, but compared to her sister, her drinking ability was laughable.

“But drinking alone without snacks is so sad.”

Eunjae got up again, opened the fridge, and took out some sliced korean melons that their mom had prepared. She put it on a plate, grabbed two forks, and returned to the table. Jiyeon smiled warmly.

“Our Eunjae is so sweet, so why don’t you have a boyfriend?”

There it was again. She always said not to get married, but insisted Eunjae should date. She’d heard it so much she thought agreeing to the blind date would quiet her, but apparently not.

“That’s why I agreed to the blind date.”

Eunjae emphasized her words and handed Jiyeon a piece of melon.

“Really?”

Jiyeon looked surprised, her eyes wide.

“I told you I would. Where do you think my words go?”

“Hey, I thought you’d just say yes and then back out later.”

“Is it because of mom’s nagging?”

“Well… not exactly.”

Eunjae avoided her sister’s gaze as she answered.

“Then what about Wooseok?”

‘Why was that guy’s name coming up here?’

Eunjae glared at Jiyeon.

“What does my blind date have to do with him?”

“Did you tell him?”

Jiyeon double-checked.

“Yeah, just now.”

“What did he say?”

No pause, she asked right away.

“What do you think he said? …He just acted like it was nothing. Didn’t care.”

Eunjae replied, grabbing her beer can. All the things she did to sober up before coming home felt pointless as she wanted another drink. He really didn’t seem too shaken. Was she hoping for something? Eunjae laughed at herself.

“Jung Wooseok just let your blind date go by?”

Jiyeon rested her chin on her hand, deep in thought.

“Sis.”

“What?”

“Don’t you think it’s time to stop linking me and Wooseok?”

Jiyeon gave an awkward smile at her tired tone. But she couldn’t stop doubting. Was there really no emotional exchange between them? Male friend. Jiyeon’s conclusion was that such a thing was impossible.

If people get close, anyone can develop feelings. And they weren’t bad-looking, either. Maybe the timing kept them from moving from friends to lovers, but if other people came into the picture, that was a different story.

“Then why doesn’t he date anyone?”

“How should I know? Maybe he’s… broken.”

Eunjae threw out a random answer and got up. Jiyeon realized her sister was trying to avoid the topic. Maybe it was Eunjae, not Wooseok, who had feelings. Was that why she was trying the blind date? Another scenario played out in her mind.

“Just finish your drink and go to bed. I’m going to my room.”

As Eunjae grabbed her bag and disappeared into her room, Jiyeon frowned more deeply. The beer had gone flat and tasteless. But she couldn’t get up easily. The moon reflected in the veranda window seemed especially bright tonight. Was it a full moon? Jiyeon counted the days in her head and suddenly realized what day it was.

***

The unexpected visitor stood at the door holding a bag full of beer cans. Kiwon opened the front door, sighed briefly, and walked inside. He had been focused on the Jeju Island project drawings since getting home after work. He walked over to the work table set up in his house and sat down. Wooseok, who followed him in, let out a low sigh.

“Senior, do you know today’s your birthday?”

At Wooseok’s question, Kiwon was briefly blank. Then he thought, ‘If you’re going to celebrate, at least bring a cake.’ Seeing only alcohol in his hands, Kiwon let out a laugh.

“Don’t tell me you showed up at this hour to celebrate my birthday. Aren’t you scheduled to go to the Sejong site tomorrow? I didn’t hear about a cancellation, and you show up with alcohol, so… never mind.”

Kiwon swallowed his guesses.

He’s not the type to admit it anyway.

Wooseok went straight to the kitchen with a blank face. He sat at the table, took out beer, opened the fridge, and put the leftovers Kiwon had on a plate. He acted like he knew the house better than the owner.

“Don’t mind me, just keep working. I’ll drink alone and go.”

‘That guy, really…’ 

Kiwon glared sharply at the table. He smiled as usual, but one shoulder looked drooped. Did something happen? Kiwon worried, but wondered who was really in a position to worry about whom.

Kiwon tried to focus on the drawings again, but had to get up. He hadn’t eaten dinner while working, so he needed something. He opened a can of beer and downed it in one shot, making Wooseok shake his head.

“It’s your birthday and you didn’t even eat?”

“A single man just lives however.”

“You’ll die like that.”

“If I was afraid of dying, I wouldn’t live like this.”

Kiwon smiled sadly.

“Order food now.”

Wooseok took out his phone, but Kiwon grabbed his hand to stop him.

“It’s a hassle. Just drink and go.”

They saw each other all day at work, and even after work… Kiwon’s eyes seemed to say, ‘Isn’t this too much?’ Wooseok knew. But he was the only one who would come. His social circle was that small.

“Did something happen?”

Finally, Kiwon saw Wooseok’s odd expression and asked.

“If I tell you, will you fix it for me, Hyung?”

Only at times like this did he call him ‘hyung’. Kiwon pursed his lips, then asked as if something came to mind.

“Is Assistant Manager Shin doing well?”

What kind of company president asks about an employee he saw at the morning meeting? Well, right here. Han Kiwon narrowed his eyes and smiled.

“Why ask me?”

“Didn’t you have a drink together?”

So sharp. Well, maybe it made sense. Wooseok rarely drank before a business trip.

“Did you fight?”

“No.”

“Then?”

“……”

Wooseok couldn’t answer easily. Kiwon found him more human like this, and kept smiling. If he didn’t smile, there was really nothing to smile about these days, so maybe he should be grateful. He just watched his junior gulping down beer in silence.

He was the president of [Seum], but he knew better than anyone who really ran the company. The reason he kept Jung Wooseok by his side since college was just that.

People who could do their job anywhere were rare. And to skillfully multiply efficiency several times over was not easy. Plus, that unshakable mental strength. From Kiwon’s perspective, Wooseok’s only flaw was ‘Shin Eunjae’.

“I told you, don’t play games too much. Or you’ll end up like me.”

He wanted to retort, ‘Is that advice?’ but Wooseok held back. After all, it was the old man’s birthday. If he hadn’t come, Kiwon would just be working alone at home, and seeing it for himself made Wooseok feel even sadder. Why did he get divorced when he didn’t want to?

“I’m leaving.”

“Already?”

As Wooseok got up, Kiwon looked surprised.

“You told me to get lost.”

“Such a temper.”

Despite Kiwon’s comment, Wooseok cleaned up his spot neatly, left a short goodbye, and disappeared. The front door slammed shut, and the house was quiet again. Kiwon started to move toward the drawings, but strangely didn’t want to get up.

This house. Keeping the apartment he had built with Jiyeon without selling it tended to trap him in memories he couldn’t escape. Blowing out candles, making a wish, and quietly looking at Jiyeon across the cake – that day was the most perfectly happy moment in his life.

“Whew…”

Without realizing, Kiwon’s eyes grew hot, and he drank all the remaining beer. Tonight, just getting drunk and falling asleep was the best gift he could give himself.