Chapter 8
“Ms. Haji, do you know him?”
“Come here.”
Before she could answer Hyeseong, she heard Seojin’s angry voice. Unconsciously, Haji showed an awkward smile.
“Ah, that is…?”
As Haji hesitated between the two men, Seojin approached with determined steps. The sound of his footsteps made Haji’s heart race.
“Mr. Hyeseong, I’ll make sure to treat you to coffee next time. Thank you for today. I’ll be leaving now.”
Haji rapidly bowed her head and blocked Seojin’s path. For some reason, it felt wrong for him to get close to Hyesoo.
“What’s going on? Should I get in the car?”
They say you can’t spit on a smiling face, right?
Blocking his way with a bright smile, Haji stopped Seojin in his tracks, and he glared sharply at Hyeseong. After glaring at Hyeseong for a moment, Seojin looked down at Haji and turned away without a word.
Following behind Seojin, Haji glanced at Hyeseong, who looked at her with concern.
‘Beep!’
Startled by the car horn, Haji opened the door.
Sunbae, if you keep honking like that, you’ll be reported for noise pollution.
Swallowing her thoughts, Haji looked at Seojin. Although she didn’t know why he was upset, Seojin’s face was colder than usual, making it hard to start a conversation. The atmosphere in the car felt icy.
Unable to bear the silence, Haji cleared her throat.
“Um, why did you come?”
“Who was that?”
“What? Ah… Mr. Hyeseong?”
As another man’s name left Haji’s lips, Seojin’s brow furrowed. His usual smooth forehead showed wrinkles, activating Haji’s radar.
“He’s a pharmaceutical company employee. A regular.”
“A regular?”
“Yes….”
Whatever Seojin was feeling seemed to worsen with Hyesoo’s introduction. The wrinkles on his forehead deepened.
It’s amazing he doesn’t have more wrinkles with that frown.
“I didn’t wait just for this.”
Seojin’s mumble was audible. Though it seemed like he was talking to himself, it was hard not to hear in the confined space of the car. And hard to pretend not to hear.
Was he waiting for someone? Was he angry because he was waiting for me?
“Were you waiting for me?”
“I’m hungry.”
Seojin didn’t answer her question and changed the topic. Haji was relieved that he changed the subject. She felt the awkward atmosphere might finally ease.
“Shall we go eat? I said I’d buy you dinner. How about today?”
“Sure, let’s do that today.”
“Where should we go?”
***
Ah…
So that’s what he meant.
Watching Seojin pull the cart, Haji belatedly realized the situation. Seojin had brought her to a supermarket, indicating he wanted to eat a home-cooked meal.
Might as well show off my skills, right?
“What do you want to eat?”
“Whatever you’re good at.”
It was an insincere answer, equivalent to saying “anything.” Unable to argue with him, Haji looked around. They soon arrived at the handmade tonkatsu tasting corner. The sight of the golden brown fried food reminded her she hadn’t eaten all day. Before she knew it, she had a piece in her mouth, chewing.
“How is it? Tasty, right? Just fry it up simply at home with your husband.”
“Husband?”
“Wow, your husband is handsome, like a celebrity.”
The sociable lady’s comment made Haji chew faster. All she could think of was getting out of there quickly, worrying about Seojin’s mood.
What if he gets even more upset?
“Haha, shall we try something else?”
“Please give me some.”
What…?
As Haji awkwardly laughed and tried to pull Seojin away, his expression seemed lighter, or maybe it was just her imagination.
Seeing the cart filled with too much for two people, Haji tilted her head.
“Isn’t this too much?”
“Why?”
“Isn’t it too much for just tonight’s dinner?”
“You never know.”
As Seojin’s words made her look up sharply, the cart changed direction. She was too puzzled to ask what he meant.
“What about fruit?”
“Fruit?”
“Don’t you like it?”
“I do, but…”
For just one meal, is it necessary to have dessert? Does he impulsively buy things?
Seojin, unaware of Haji’s thoughts, started adding various fruits to the cart. It seemed excessive for a single-person household.
“Isn’t this too much?”
“You can eat it slowly.”
“You must really like fruit.”
“Not really.”
Not really? Then why so much? What does he do?
Haji looked at him curiously.
***
As the elevator doors opened, Haji walked ahead of Seojin.
“Where’s the key card?”
“I’ll get it.”
Seojin’s hands were full with a large box of groceries. Everything from the cart had transferred to his hands.
As she was about to open the door, the neighbor’s door opened.
“Hello, you just got home?”
“Hello.”
It was the neighbor mom she had greeted before. Embarrassed by a previous incident, Haji smiled shyly.
“You bought a lot.”
“Yes, from the market….”
“Oh! Do you like cake?”
The neighbor mom clapped her hands and suddenly asked. Haji nodded.
The neighbor mom, who had gone inside saying to wait a moment, seemed very friendly, acting like she had forgotten the previous incident.
“I own a bakery. This is a new cake. Please try it and let me know what you think. There are exactly two pieces.”
“Thank you. I’ll let you know.”
Handing over the cake box, the neighbor mom smiled warmly, saying she had to pick up her child from the academy, and quickly left.
“Shall we eat the cake after dinner?”
“Sure.”
Seojin, seeming indifferent to the cake, had already opened the door and was waiting for Haji to enter.
“Don’t you like cake?”
“It’s okay.”
“I like it.”
“…”
“Put the groceries on the table.”
Haji had gotten used to Seojin not responding. His silence didn’t bother her anymore. Seojin put the box on the table and looked at Haji.
“It’s okay. Sit down. Oh, can I put these in the fridge?”
“Do as you like.”
“There’s nothing in the fridge?”
“I never bought anything.”
Having visited before, Haji felt comfortable preparing dinner as if it were her own home. She put the non-essential groceries in the fridge.
“Why so many tonkatsus…?”
Seojin had impulsively bought various types of tonkatsu. She realized he must have added more when she wasn’t looking. Cheese, sweet potato, pork loin, tenderloin, large tonkatsu…
“Mini tonkatsu…?”
Why so many tonkatsus…?
Feeling baffled, she put the assorted tonkatsus in the freezer. Once she finished organizing, Haji started chopping the ingredients.
“Need help?”
“It’s okay.”
Having changed into comfortable clothes, Seojin hovered around Haji. His tall figure was more of a hindrance as she moved around. Every time they bumped, Haji pouted her lips.
“Sunbae, go over there. You keep bumping into me.”
Seeing Seojin quietly head to the table she pointed to, Haji continued cooking. She felt his gaze on her back but was too busy to care.
Bang, a hot pot was placed on the table.
“That’s it. It’s done.”
The table was filled with kimchi stew, rolled omelet, tonkatsu, kimchi, and several kinds of side dishes. Having showcased her skills, Haji watched Seojin closely.
Living alone, it was rare for her to cook for someone, making her nervous. She didn’t touch her spoon, watching Seojin eat.
“How is it?”
“Delicious.”
“Really?”
“Too good to share.”
“Good. No need to share, so eat comfortably.”
Seojin’s high praise made Haji happy. Relaxing from her nerves, Haji also started eating.
“Why were you with that guy?”
“That guy? Ah, Mr. Hyeseong?”
“Are you close?”
“He’s a regular, but we’re not close. Sehee was sick today and couldn’t come. So it was tough, but he helped with the trash.”
“…”
Seojin seemed lost in thought at Haji’s words. Watching him, Haji suppressed a laugh. His childish question about being close with Hyeseong was unexpected.
Suppressing a giggle, Haji’s laugh escaped, bringing Seojin out of his thoughts.
“Why?”
“Nothing.”
Haji stopped laughing and composed herself under his gaze. She didn’t want to create another awkward moment like before, thinking he was trying to get closer to her.
“Let’s eat the cake.”
“Shall we?”
As Seojin cleaned the table and suggested it, Haji’s eyes sparkled. She had been thinking about going home, forgetting the cake because she was full. But remembering the neighbor’s kind gesture, she couldn’t leave without trying it.
“Hold on.”
Seojin took a piece of cake out of the fridge, placed it on a plate with a fork, and set it on the dining table. Seeing the pretty strawberries on top of the whipped cream made Haji’s appetite surge rather than feeling full.
Haji picked up a strawberry first and ate it. Showing through her expression that it was delicious, Haji then started to take small bites of the cake.
“Mm! It’s delicious!”
Seojin, sitting across from her, was watching her. It was more entertaining than anything to see Haji savoring each bite, with her eyes wide open as she looked at him.
Her small, chewing lips were cute, her slightly smiling eyes were beautiful, and her cheeks puffed out like a white rabbit’s when she filled her mouth.
“Sunbae, aren’t you going to eat?”
Haji glanced at Seojin’s untouched cake.
“Want more?”
“…Are you sure you don’t want it?”
Having already finished what was in front of her, Haji reached out for Seojin’s piece, staring at it intently. It was amusing how she asked as if she were hesitating.
‘Srrrk.’
Seojin’s plate moved away from Haji’s approaching fork. Her eyes widened as Seojin suddenly shifted the plate. Then Seojin speared a strawberry from the cake with his fork and extended his arm.
“Ah.”
“Huh?”
“Ah.”
Seeing the strawberry right in front of her lips, Haji finally understood Seojin’s intention. Hesitant, Haji was at a loss.
“Um….”
“Ah.”
Repeating the same word mechanically, Seojin’s action made Haji slowly open her mouth.
“Ah….”
Seojin’s fork brushed Haji’s lips and reached its destination. Her mouth filled with a sweet taste. As the fork slowly withdrew, the tangy-sweet strawberry juice spread inside her mouth.
But Haji, who was tense from Seojin’s gaze fixed on her lips, gulped nervously. She was even conscious of how her lips looked.
“You got something on you.”
It happened in an instant.
Seojin stood up and leaned closer.
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