CHAPTER 25

On Sunday morning, Minhee headed to the East Village without breakfast, dragging an empty trunk that was supposed to be filled with spring clothes. She missed Miho, her friend who stood by her side no matter what.

Once, Minhee had asked Miho why she had made a quick decision when Minhee came after seeing an advertisement.

‘Well, you just looked like someone who doesn’t do drugs or alcohol, and you seemed obedient. Plus, I thought you’d be good at cleaning.’

However, Miho didn’t forget to assert her authority.

‘If I had known you were so sloppy and specialized in breaking things, I would have kicked you out right away.’

Miho, who had all the traits of a sensitive, bitchy, manic-depressive artist, says that it is quite healing to put a straw in Minhee’s back and suck out the energy from her, who looks at the world through a pastel filter. Miho even charged her only half of the market rent

As Minhee tears up in gratitude, a cynical-looking Miho warns her.

‘Don’t get too attached yet. Of all the roommates I’ve had in the past two years, you’re number nine. It’s not easy living with me.’

Minhee found it amusing to watch Miho, who was so different from her in every way.

On days when there were dark clouds over Miho’s head, Minhee would make her favorite sweet treats and turn up the volume on the loud music she liked. Miho would then slither out of her room, sit at the small kitchen table, and ruffle Minhee’s hair like she was petting a dog. Wide-eyed and inhaling a storm of snacks, Miho would mumble to Minhee.

‘You’re more useful than you look.’

While Miho would be annoyed if she heard that, Minhee found it cute. She also liked the fact that Miho, despite her seemingly tough exterior, had a secretly affectionate side.

Minhee clung to Miho, who had become very generous since they had not seen each other in a long time. They went for brunch nearby and came back. After waking up from a sweet nap due to a food coma and taking care of the graduate school research project Minhee had neglected, it was soon dinner time.

‘Should I tell Miho about kissing Taejun?’

Minhee thought about it but resigned herself to the fact that last night’s kiss had been an accident, not something romantic between a man and a woman. In the end, they just talked about how much better Rose had gotten, rejoiced together, and went to bed early.

***

Until dawn, East Village, filled with vibrant young energy and excitement, was at its quietest on early Monday morning.

Minhee passed through the streets lined with closed restaurants and bars, and headed toward the subway station, skillfully avoiding someone’s dinner menu and half-stepped dog poop in every corner. It took her a good 40 minutes to get to Aster School on the Upper East Side.

Despite running away at the crack of dawn for fear of running into Taejun, she was worried about whether he and Rose would have gotten along without her after being apart for just a day. Unable to bear it any longer, Minhee wanted to go to school quickly to check on them.

Just before eight o’clock, Minhee pretended to organize her books while glancing out the window, around the time Rose would be arriving at school. 

Shortly before eight, she spotted a tall man in a dark gray cashmere coat walking toward her, holding Rose’s hand, which was bundled up in a fluffy yellow puffer, a hat with bells, and a scarf. Minhee breathed a sigh of relief.

At the school gate, Rose waved at Taejun. Minhee’s heart fluttered as he smiled and gently stroked Rose’s hair with his large hand.

‘They’ve been doing well without me.’

Minhee endlessly stared out the window until Taejun’s figure, walking away, disappeared at the Madison Avenue corner. In the midst of feeling proud yet conflicted, a small meteor collided with Minhee’s emotions.

[Miss Minnie! I missed you!]

[Rose! I missed you too!]

After hugging Rose tightly, without even having time to ask what she was doing with her uncle yesterday, the morning began with the round songs and dances of the six-year-old girls.

* * *

After work, when she arrived at Taejun’s apartment, Rose, who arrived home first with Mei-ling, was eating a snack. After organizing the spring clothes she brought from home into her closet, Minhee helped Rose with her reading homework. While they were at it, the doorbell rang.

Looking at the clock, it was half past four.

‘Taejun isn’t due to finish work yet. Did Luca come?’

Minhee opened the front door with a welcoming smile.

Taejun, with his head, bowed and the crisp and cool air clinging to the hem of his coat, appeared. Holding his neck with one hand, he raised his head sharply. His hand gradually dropped.

A flash of red flashed across Minhee’s smiling face, and her head dropped, revealing only the crown of her head visible.

“You’re back.”

Minhee whispered the words shyly and awkwardly, in a voice so small it was hard to hear if you weren’t paying attention, and glanced up at Taejun with wide eyes. After a moment of eye contact, she blinked her eyelashes and looked down again.

Taejun stood frozen in front of the front door of his house, gritting his teeth against the tickling sensation that began to creep up from his peripheral nerve endings.

Since Sunday morning, when Minhee had left the house, Taejun suffered from a headache for the first time in a long time. The throbbing headache that had been pounding at his temples a few minutes ago had been swept away by the overwhelming sensation of tingling in his peripheral nerves.

“You’re early.”

“My …… work ended early.”

At four o’clock, right after the New York Stock Exchange closed, Taejun left the office, wearing his coat. He could work from home, after all.

“It seems like you forgot your keys.”

“…Yes.”

He left the keys in the first drawer of his office. It was an impulsive decision. It was hard for even him to understand, but today he wanted to press the doorbell for some reason.

“I see… C-come in.”

As Minhee stepped back, holding the doorknob, she turned her head and called out to Rose.

[Rose! Uncle’s home! Come and give him a hug!]

Taejun, who had stepped inside as much as Minhee had stepped back, wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her in. The soft, warm woman gasped as he pulled her close, and the front hem of his coat wrapped around her.

Taejun breathed in deeply. The sweet scent of ripe cherries tickled his nostrils. He lowered his head and whispered in Minhee’s ear with a low voice.

“After Rose falls asleep, let’s go to the study for a moment.”

Taejun breathed in deeply. The sweet scent of ripe cherries tickled his nostrils. Her movements were distinctly felt.

When he looked down, Minhee’s gray eyes, which were a strange shade, were poorly focused, and her eyelashes fluttered.

‘Ah. She’s aware. Finally.’

Taejun basked in the small victory. Perhaps it was because of the kiss in the gym a few days ago, her gaze now, when hugging and holding her, was distinctly different from the usually pure eyes. Maybe she’d finally caught on to the shamelessly s*xual nuance.

Taejun stood up holding Rose, who had already approached him, with one arm, and suppressed the twitching corner of his mouth.

* * *

On the dining table, lemon-butter-sauce-baked chicken piccata and spinach spaghetti were appetizingly laid out. Beyond that, Taejun and Minhee’s eyes met continuously.

Meeting his gaze, like blue flames burning in a cold, black abyss, had been one of the most challenging things since their first meeting. Trying not to lower her gaze as soon as they met required all her strength, and her eyes felt like they might twitch.

[Is there something you want to tell me?]

[What? Uhhh……, yes!]

‘Something to say!! What was it? Think quickly, Seol Minhee!’

[What is it?]

Minhee dropped her gaze and steadied her voice.

[Well, Rose has been adjusting well to school these days, so I was thinking that maybe we should resume the after-school activities she used to do…When I asked Mei-ling, she said Rose did swimming, tennis, and chess before, but Rose doesn’t want to play chess anymore, so she wants to restart the rest.]

When her own story came out, Rose, with her ears perked up, interjected.

[Chess is boring. Santon, I want to join the cooking club at Aster School!]

[Cooking club?]

Taejun raised an eyebrow at Minhee as if to ask for an explanation.

[It’s an after-school program run by the school. It’s a cooking class where we learn with Chef Leroy at the school. The kids really like it.]

[Santon, please! Ayla and Sienna are doing it too. Can I join too? I’ll make you lots of delicious food, Santon.]

[Sure, Rose.]

Rose bounced in her chair with excitement at Taejun’s simple answer.

[Santon! And I want to go on a playdate with Angela!]

[Sure.]

[Yay!]

Taejun, who was looking at the excited Rose with a slightly softened gaze, shifted his attention to Minhee, who had been secretly glancing at him and froze.

[What should I do?]

[Ah……for after-school activities, you can go to the school’s website and apply online, and for tennis and swimming, Mei-ling said she knows where the academy is, I’ll ask her tomorrow and let you know].

Taejun nodded briefly.

[Play dates are usually arranged by contacting one of the child’s parents through email or phone to set a date and place. After school, they play together for about an hour and a half to two hours. In kindergarten, it’s recommended to have play dates once a week, rotating with various kids to make friends and develop social skills.]

[…Hmm.]

‘This seems like a challenging mission.’

Seeing Taejun’s expression darken slightly, Minhee added with the cheerful expression she wore when soothing children.

[I’ll help you, it’s just that the first time is hard, it’ll get easier after you do it a few times].

As Taejun silently stared at Minhee, he suddenly spoke.

[Alright then, I’ll meet you in the study after Rose falls asleep].

Minhee coughs, covering her mouth with a napkin. Taejun poured water into a cup and offered it to her.

[Are you okay?]

[Yes. Cough cough. Uh! I’m okay.]