Chapter 11: Co-habitation Contract (4)

It was said that he learned the guitar to impress women. Although it was with impure intentions, it was something that couldn’t be criticized. Gihyun took up the guitar in ernest and sat next to Minjoo.

“Do you want to listen?”

Minjoo nodded. Gihyun placed the body of the guitar on his lap and tuned it. He strummed the strings with his index fingernail, both up and down. It was somewhat in tune. His long, thick fingers plucked the strings.

A familiar sound emerged. It was “Romance.” Wasn’t it a piece learned as an introduction? As Minjoo thought, Gihyun furrowed his brow.

Contrary to his posture that seemed to promise a lyrical and perfect performance, the actual play was clumsy. Ding ding ding, ding, ding, with notes dropping out occasionally as the chords changed. The combination of his serious face and sloppy performance suddenly made Minjoo chuckle. Gihyun, who usually liked it when Minjoo smiled, frowned this time.

“I should have learned it earlier.”

He would have been very good at it, to the point where someone would fall for him.

Although Gihyun said it as a joke, Minjoo knew he was serious, so she didn’t respond. Gihyun refocused on his playing. The performance continued to be awkward and uncontrolled, like a first love. Minjoo listened quietly to the performance that might seem frustrating or noisy. As she listened, it wasn’t so bad. It seemed to sound okay.

***

Gihyun tried hard to be good to Minjoo. Even if Minjoo just ate and slept quietly, he seemed relieved. Still, he brought something home every day after work, thinking that she might be bored just staying at home.

“People say this is popular these days, so I listened to it and thought it was good.”

One day, he brought a long list of music. He transferred all the music to Minjoo’s phone and also bought a speaker and earphones, placing them next to her. At first, she didn’t think much of it.

The next day, when the housekeeper joked that it was quiet and asked if Minjoo wasn’t bored, she played the music. The housekeeper laughed, saying it felt like being in a café where many young people go. So, she continued to play it. As she got used to it, it didn’t seem bad, and she began listening to it all the time, even when she was alone.

“I thought of it while I was at a bookstore near here.”

Another day, he brought books. A book, a sprout-shaped bookmark, and a cloth book cover were placed next to Minjoo’s bed. The cute bookmark made Minjoo open the book, and she lost track of time for over two hours. She even found herself reading until she unexpectedly came face-to-face with Gihyun coming home.

“Take this with your medicine.”

Even though it wasn’t a bitter medicine, he brought sweet things as well. The housekeeper laughed, saying it was a pity to eat the cat-shaped macarons. She mentioned that it was surprising for the boss to buy something so cute. Thanks to this, Minjoo imagined Gihyun asking for cat macarons, which made her laugh as well.

Then, she suddenly remembered why she had moved into this house.

“Just stay at my house until you’re fully recovered… I won’t show up in front of you again.”

If it’s until she recovers, then what happens after?

Suddenly, a psychological defense wall was built up in Minjoo. She was afraid of getting used to this comfortable life and having unwarranted expectations. Whether it was a reflection of her subconscious or not, that night she dreamed that Gihyun was saying goodbye and leaving again.

She tried to steady her mind. Every time Gihyun diligently made his presence known, she tried not to think about anything. She focused only on hoping that her bones would heal quickly and that she would recover.

However, that day too, Gihyun nonchalantly came home with something else. He placed a box in front of Minjoo, who was sitting on the sofa. Unable to resist his look that urged her to open it, Minjoo opened the box with one hand. A white camera emerged.

“What’s this for?”

To Minjoo’s question, Gihyun lifted the camera and said,

“What is a camera for?”

“To take pictures.”

As if Minjoo’s answer was the right one, Gihyun nodded. Then, he picked up the camera. The lens focused on Minjoo’s hand. Not understanding what was going on, Minjoo stared blankly. Gihyun lowered the camera and showed her the screen.

Minjoo’s hand was in the picture. The guitar performance was terrible, but the photo composition was somehow good, making even the trivial things look great.

“I wanted to take pictures for you.”

“……”

“You said I didn’t take pictures before. I’ll take them from now on.”

The word “from now on” struck deep. Minjoo, without realizing it, said something that had been bothering her.

“…Wasn’t it just to stay here until I recover?”

Whether it was for confirmation or questioning, the tone was ambiguous, and Gihyun didn’t say anything. After a sigh, he spoke.

“Yes.”

“……”

“It should be all healed in a month or two.”

He bought the camera because he wanted to keep it for a month or two.

With this feeble reason, Gihyun took a picture of Minjoo’s face. Minjoo looked at herself on the screen. A thin woman had a sorrowful expression. It made the viewer feel even more saddened.

She didn’t understand why she still had a sad face now.

***

While Minjoo was recuperating at Gihyun’s house, the school semester ended. Minjoo, who had managed to submit her assignments with great difficulty using only her left hand, received a new assignment. Her major professor sent her a message, emphasizing that the class was important and suggesting that Minjoo should at least audit the summer term. Although her right arm was still too weak to lift, she could use her left hand, and though she limped, she could walk without crutches.

She decided she needed to go to school. However, she felt she needed to inform her housemate. Once, when Minjoo, feeling frustrated, went out for a walk, Gihyun, who had returned home in the meantime, was horrified. He pleaded with her to at least let him know whenever she was going out. Given Gihyun’s sensitivity to her whereabouts, she felt she had to inform him in advance.

As Gihyun was about to leave for work, Minjoo brought up the topic.

“I’m going to school starting today.”

“Aren’t university students on vacation right now?”

“The professor is a good person, and he said if I can move, I should audit the class.”

“If he’s really a good person, he should tell you that resting and fully recovering is a priority.”

“He said it’s an important class if I’m going to take the appointment later.”

“Instead of an appointment, we’re planning to set up a daycare at our company, and there….”

“Sorry?”

Gihyun spoke too quickly, so Minjoo didn’t catch what he said. Gihyun, with a look as if he had spoiled a major plot point, shut his mouth and then changed the subject.

“I’ll take you there on my way out.”

“I need to leave later.”

“I’ll wait. Take your time getting ready.”

Gihyun, who had been about to leave, sat down on the sofa. Eventually, Minjoo started getting ready a bit earlier.

Although it was a short distance on foot, it took less than 5 minutes by car. Gihyun, having made a mistake with lane changes, drove around the area. During this time, he continued to chat with Minjoo about how she felt attending school, who she was close with, and if there were any inconveniences. Since the questions weren’t related to Gihyun, Minjoo answered comfortably. It was only after 20 minutes that they arrived at the university gate.

“Where do you attend class?”

“You just walk from here.”

“Since I was late due to getting lost, tell me. I’ll take you to the front.”

Thus, they arrived at the front of the Humanities Building. Seeing the stairs in front of the building, Gihyun furrowed his brows.

“Is this the 108-step kind of thing?”

“Quite a lot, right?”

“Can you make it up?”

“Yeah. I’m really going now.”

As Minjoo tried to get out, Gihyun also got out of the car. To avoid Gihyun insisting on taking her all the way to the classroom, Minjoo deliberately walked energetically. Gihyun, watching anxiously like a parent watching a child at the water’s edge, did not come any closer.

“What time will you be done?”

“About five?”

“I’ll come pick you up later.”

“You don’t have to.”

“If you get hurt again, you’ll need to stay with me longer. Will that be okay?”

“……”

“Have a good time studying.”

The conclusion seemed to have already been reached. Gihyun quietly waved his hand. Minjoo quickly turned her body and began climbing the stairs. She looked back as she climbed. Gihyun was still watching from below. Not wanting to appear weak, she continued walking. After climbing almost to the top, she looked back again. Indeed, Gihyun was still watching from below. Minjoo resolved not to look back this time and walked forward.

She entered the building. As she was about to head straight to the classroom, she decided to check an empty classroom just in case, limping as she went. Approaching the window, she looked outside. Gihyun was still standing there, looking at the path Minjoo had climbed. After staring for about five more minutes, he got into his car and drove away. Only then could Minjoo leave the building.

The lecture was quite interesting, perhaps because it had been a while since she last attended. Although Minjoo’s classmates from her major were not present in the summer session, being alone felt freeing. Unlike the morning classes, the afternoon classes were held in a different building, requiring some movement, but it was not a problem. Just as Gihyun had said, Minjoo was able to enjoy her studies.

Trouble began in the afternoon. The rain that started during class turned into a sudden downpour. Everyone anxiously looked outside at the torrential rain. Minjoo also looked outside, feeling helpless. Although she moved around without crutches, walking in the rain made it difficult. She was worried about slipping. During this time, the professor made a surprising announcement.

“I apologize for the inconvenience. Due to personal reasons and the rain, is it alright if we end the class an hour early?”

While all the students were pleased, Minjoo had a conflicted expression. She remembered telling Gihyun that she would be finished at five. However, she felt a renewed sense of guilt about having to call a personal driver just because the class ended an hour early. For now, she had to leave the classroom with the other students.

To make matters worse, there was a notice on the elevator saying it was out of order. Minjoo headed for the stairs. She carefully descended, holding her phone in one hand and the handrail with the other.

She heard someone running up the stairs. Before Minjoo could look back, a male student bumped into her arm and continued down the stairs. She lost her balance momentarily and barely managed to grab the stair railing. Her phone, rather than her body, was thrown down the stairs.