By Zephyria 
“Sister-in-law seems to be in a great mood today.”
“Bitch.”
The younger one muttered a low curse while chewing his side dishes so aggressively it seemed he might eat the chopsticks too. Whether rich or poor, the level of swearing is the same.
“It’s as if… eldest Hyung has already been decided as the next hospital director. Honestly, nothing has been decided yet. She’s acting so arrogant, as if he’s already the director. It’ll be quite a sight if eldest Hyung actually becomes the director. …Right?”
Perhaps my words stimulated his imagination, as my second Hyung put down his spoon and stood up. I figured I’d lose my appetite too. Given his personality, he had held back a lot.
I watched my second Hyung storm out without a word and then turned my head. I pretended not to notice Father’s gaze as he stared at me, and I tilted my head.
“It’s not mine anyway, so it doesn’t matter who gets it. As long as it’s entertaining.”
“I’m glad you find it entertaining. I don’t mind you playing with fire in the middle, but don’t let it grow too large.”
I don’t know how my father can be so refined in his actions and speech. He’d probably sound cultured even while swearing.
The dining area, now devoid of my sister-in-law and second Hyung, was peaceful. In the silence, our father and son enjoyed a leisurely meal for once.
∞ ∞ ∞
“Thank you for your hard work.”
Lee Kyung-jin quickly opened the car door to greet me as I stepped out of the study cafe. It wasn’t even that cold outside the building, but he was overly concerned.
“Wouldn’t it be better if I took you home, sir? The weather is cold, and it must be cumbersome to come out like this every day, and in a place like this…”
“I don’t want to let my family know.”
“There is no reason to be scolded for studying.”
I wouldn’t be scolded, but if I told them I was relearning English from the basics despite having already mastered it, they would definitely think it was strange.
Realizing I had been idling my time away lately, I decided to pursue the studies I needed while taking art classes. If I kept making excuses like saying I was uneducated or not bright, I felt that even living as Cha Soo-kyung, my life would eventually end up like Min Jae-hee’s.
I managed to find a tutor, but there was no suitable place for lessons. When I told the teacher that having classes at home was difficult, he thought for a moment and recommended a study cafe. He said renting a study room would be a good way to study quietly.
Thus, the study cafe became my tutoring spot, and I am currently learning basic English from my teacher every day.
If you ask why English of all things, the reason was very simple. I don’t meet people to solve math problems or share scientific knowledge. If I had to pick something necessary for daily life besides the native language, English was what remained.
It’s strange. I can live my daily life without knowing Korean history, but not knowing English causes inconveniences. It’s an irony for a Korean.
“If you have no other plans, I will take you home.”
“Hmm, shall we spend some time and go home after dinner? The food at home is delicious, but the atmosphere is terrible.”
“Then where shall I take you?”
“I wonder. I don’t know where ordinary people spend their time. What do other people do when they have free time?”
The ways I knew to kill time were sitting in a free park, riding the subway in circles, or people-watching on the street. While doing so, I always honed my intuition to guess how much money was in that person’s pocket.
“Does that exclude resting at home?”
“Of course. That’s why I’m doing this—because I don’t want to eat at home.”
“The people I’ve served usually spent time at hotel lounges, department store lounges, golf courses, or shopping.”
“Not those. Isn’t there a way to spend time normally and without pressure? What do you do to kill time, Mr. Lee?”
“Usually, I go to a cafe, watch a movie, exercise, or take a walk. The first two are mainly for dates, and I do the latter two when I’m alone.”
“Oh, you must have a lover, Mr. Lee. How long have you been together? How old are they? Do you have a photo?”
“I think it would be best to start moving first.”
Lee Kyung-jin cleared his throat at my questions and started the car. The car, having set out on the road without a destination, just drove aimlessly.
“I’ve already had coffee, so that’s no good, and it’s cold, so exercise or walking is no good. It’ll be tiring for you to keep driving, so a place where we can park and just zone out would be good.”
“Then I’ll take you to the Han River, which is a convenient spot.”
“Sounds good. I can people-watch for the first time in a while.”
I thought it would be nice to zone out while watching the river flow. Leaving Lee Kyung-jin to the driving, I took out my phone. I called Kwon Yi-kang, who rarely calls first unless I do, even though I had no particular business today. It was a relief that he answers even though he knows I don’t have a special reason.
—Hello.
“It’s me. What are you doing?”
—You should check the time before asking.
“I know you’re at the company. But I don’t know if you’re working, in a meeting, drinking coffee, or slacking off, so that’s why I’m asking.”
A cheerful laugh flowed at my reprimand. I wondered if it was okay to laugh so loudly while on the phone at work.
—I am working, but I can make room to slack off while talking to you.
“That’s a relief. Since you never call first even during your breaks, I should just call randomly and disturb you.”
—It’s because I don’t really have breaks. Instead, I always pick up when you call, don’t I?
“How kind, how kind. As if that’s something to brag about.”
Perhaps there were many cars today, as the road was blocked. I looked past the stopped traffic and tapped the window with my finger.
There were exceptionally few snowy days this winter. As the years go by, the weather only gets colder, and it becomes harder to feel the romance of falling snow. Since it’s almost March, the early spring cold will soon be rampant.
—What are you doing? It’s quiet.
“I’m in the car. My class ended, but I didn’t want to go home, so I’m killing some time before I go back for dinner.”
—How are you going to kill time?
“Mr. Lee is taking me to the Han River. I’ll zone out and people-watch there, then go somewhere suitable for dinner.”
Though I didn’t know where that ‘suitable place’ was. Since it came to mind, I whispered to Lee Kyung-jin, “What should we have for dinner?” and Kwon Yi-kang asked in a puzzled voice over the phone.
—Do you eat dinner together too?
“Huh? Then what, do I eat alone? You ask such strange questions sometimes.”
—You go to the Han River together too?
“Then would I take a taxi there by myself?”
I told him he asks strange questions, and now he’s asking even stranger ones. I just told him I was on my way to the Han River, so it was odd that he asked again as if to confirm.
—Shall we have dinner together tonight?
“Suddenly?”
—I think I can leave work early. It worked out well, didn’t it?
“I guess so, but…”
I had a subtle, suspicious feeling but didn’t know why. As I scratched my cheek and trailed off, the question “Do you not want to?” flew back.
“No, it’s not that I don’t want to. How early are you leaving work?”
—Why? Are you hungry? Shall we go eat now?
“It’s only four o’clock!”
That seems like an excessively early departure. Is that possible because it’s Kwon Yi-kang’s father’s company, or is the company he works for one with flexible hours?
“I was planning to kill some time anyway. I think you can just leave work as usual. I’ll see you at six. No, since your clock-out time is six, maybe around six-thirty?”
—I just need to finish some urgent work, so it won’t take long. I think about an hour will be enough.
Does it make sense that he can leave early when there’s urgent work? It was incomprehensible in many ways, but I figured it was because I’ve never worked at a company.
“Is that so?”
—How about that traditional Korean restaurant I mentioned last time? I’m not sure about the full course meal, but the food is served quite neatly.
“I’m not picky. That’s fine.”
—Then I’ll contact you when I leave the office. Don’t stay too close to the driver. Don’t move to the passenger seat or sit side-by-side in the back.
“What is that?”
—You are too informal with your attendants. Maintaining a certain distance is courtesy for both parties.
“That’s the first time I’ve heard of such courtesy. Fine, just contact me when you’re done.”
—Alright.
When I burst into laughter after hanging up, Lee Kyung-jin glanced back.
“I have dinner plans.”
“That is a relief.”
“Why? Did you not want to eat with me, Mr. Lee?”
“No. It’s just that this is the first time I’ve met someone who treats me like a young master, so I’m not used to it. The Madam or the Hospital Director wouldn’t like it if they found out.”
“I don’t want to eat alone. Since you have to eat too, it’s good to eat together. Actually, I just got told that I’m too informal with you. They said I should keep some distance for the sake of courtesy.”
When I asked, “Is that really true?” Lee Kyung-jin’s shoulders shook slightly as if he were laughing.
“Your lover seems to worry a lot.”
“Worry about what?”
“If my name happens to come up in your conversation, please tell them that I have a girlfriend I’ve dated for seven years and that we plan to marry soon.”
I answered “Yes,” but the doubt still didn’t disappear.