W. 5pm
32
“Go wash up. There’s a towel in the bathroom.”
“Seokjin too.”
"huh"
After speaking, Yeo-ju said nothing more and watched Seok-jin walk back to his room. The door closed, and Yeo-ju, the man alone in the room, stood there for a moment before slowly exhaling. Perhaps because the day had been so long, the tension finally felt like it was leaving her body.
A moment later, Yeoju returned to her room after showering. Her hair was roughly dried, but still damp, so she kept a towel around her neck. She wore a hoodie and short-sleeved top, so the sleeves covered the backs of her hands. As she opened the door and stepped out, a light streamed in from the end of the hallway. Seokjin was about to go downstairs when he saw Yeoju, but stopped. His gaze naturally drifted to her head.
“Lady. Head.”
"yes?"
“I said less.”
“Oh, I guess the ends aren’t dry enough..”
Seokjin silently took Yeoju's hand and led her to his room.
“Come here.”
The female protagonist, standing in front of Seokjin's room, hesitated for a moment before approaching him. Seokjin brought out the hair dryer, plugged it in, and turned it on. A low noise filled the quiet building.
“Tell me if it’s hot.”
"yes."
Seokjin gently ran his hand through Yeoju's hair. His fingertips were careful. He blew air through her hair, drying it. It was neither too close nor too far. Yeoju naturally bowed her head slightly.
“Something like this.”
"huh"
“It looks so familiar.”
“I’m not used to it.”
“You’re so good at it?”
“I’ve read the manual.”
“...? Where can I find instructions like this?”
"Internet."
“Phew! What is that!-”
The heroine held back her laughter, but eventually laughed. Hearing that, Seokjin slightly reduced the airflow on the hair dryer.
“If you laugh, you won’t get any more tired.”
“Really? Haha, then I’ll be quiet.”
“...keep talking”
33
Seokjin turned off the hair dryer and unplugged it. When the wind died down, the house suddenly felt quieter. Yeoju raised her head and casually ran her hand through the ends of her hair. "Hmm, it's completely dry." Yeoju looked around. The room and the hallway were incredibly clean. Then, as if a memory suddenly occurred to her, she tilted her head.
“But”
Seokjin raised his head as he folded the towel.
"huh"
“There was a plant you took with you back then.”
"ah."
“I can’t see it. No way…”
Although he didn't finish speaking, his expression seemed to indicate the answer was already decided. Seokjin gave a short laugh.
“No way”
"sure?"
"It's downstairs"
The heroine's eyes immediately sparkled.
“Can I go see it?”
Seokjin pretended to hesitate for a moment, then nodded.
“Because he’s the original owner.”
As they descended the stairs, Yeoju stood in front of them. Her pace was a little quicker than when she'd come up earlier. She strode slightly ahead, as if she didn't want to show her excitement. Seokjin watched her from behind and said nothing.
The first-floor living room felt a little more lived-in than the second. The furniture was laid out generously, and the windows were large. A small table sat by the window, the most sunny of the rooms, with a flowerpot on top. The moment Yeoju saw it, she stopped walking.
"uh...."
A soft sound leaked out. The plant in the pot seemed much more robust than before. The leaves had darkened, and the stems stretched straight upward. It seemed to have been well-maintained. Yeoju slowly approached and stood beside the pot. She hesitated whether to reach out, but ultimately carefully touched the tip of a leaf.
"You've grown up so well. You're pretty."
“I tried hard.”
“Really...”
Seokjin stood beside Yeoju and looked down at the plants together. They weren't close, but their shoulders were almost touching.
“Honestly at first.”
The heroine spoke without raising her head.
“I was worried that it would wither in a few days.”
“Do I look that irresponsible?”
"I didn't mean it like that! I just thought you seemed busy."
Seokjin looked at the plant, thought for a moment, and then said.
“That’s why I deliberately paid more attention.”
"why?"
“I was busy too..and I bought it from you.”
The heroine's hand paused at those words. She didn't respond immediately. Instead, she stroked the leaf once more, this time a little more naturally.
“In this house.”
“.......”
“It’s nice to know something.”
Seokjin turned his head and looked at Yeoju. She was still looking at the plant.
34
The female protagonist, standing before the plant, repeated the same words several times. Thinking back on the day, Seokjin couldn't help but feel tired. From the leaky house to the process of calling the mechanic. And now, even under the lights in this house.
“Now, let’s go in and rest.”
"are you okay."
“This is the fifth time you’ve said it’s okay.”
“It’s only the fourth time.”
“Then the sixth one soon.”
“Seokjin, you should wash up and go to bed soon.”
Seokjin looked at the plant leaves one more time before raising his head. He took a step back, as if realizing he'd just now been standing so naturally next to Yeoju.
"okay."
Although his tone was reluctant, his eyes were smiling.
“Really?”
"Yeah. Really."
At those words, the female protagonist waved her hand. Seokjin turned back once more as he walked toward the stairs.
“You too, go in quickly, turn off the lights, and go to sleep.”
"yes yes."
“Don’t look at your phone.”
“The landlord is nagging~”
Seokjin laughed at Yeoju's mischievous behavior as he climbed the stairs, and Yeoju remained standing in the living room until the sound of his footsteps faded. The house fell silent again. The light remained only on the leaves of the plants. Yeoju sat down on the sofa. As she sunk deeper, it finally dawned on her that the day was over. Her mind was empty. She should have been tired, but strangely, her mind was clear.
I should go into my room now. As I was thinking that and trying to get up,
The phone rang.
It was a short, clear alarm sound. It was a personal message notification. Yeoju instinctively checked the screen. It took her a beat to see the name on the screen.
mom
The message wasn't long.
Do you have time tomorrow?
Let me see your face for a moment.
At the 00 cafe near the hospital
The heroine took a deep breath. Then she exhaled slowly. She'd anticipated this moment, but when she actually encountered it, her body reacted first.
Contact with my parents wasn't completely lost. To be precise, it was more like a break and then a reconnection. It started not long after I graduated from medical school and entered the hospital. It started when Yeo-ju told me she was quitting. When she decided to open a flower shop, even the little bit of freedom I had left vanished.A flower shop in a doctor's house?With that one word, the conversation immediately turned into a fight.
Why throw away everything you've built? Assertion that it's just a temporary wandering? Pressure asking if you can handle it alone. For the first time that day, Yeo-ju finally spoke. She'd do what she wanted. She'd live her own life, not the one others thought would be pleasing. And as soon as she finished speaking, she left home. It was a choice no different from running away.
Yeoju stared at the message for a while, then tightened her grip on her phone. "See you tomorrow" might have meant bringing up topics she'd decided not to discuss. Still, she couldn't avoid it.
The heroine sent a short reply.
all right
35
After sending the text, Yeoju climbed the stairs and stood in the second-floor hallway. Most of the lights were off, with only indirect lighting swaying low along the walls. The space, which had felt neat during the day, seemed to be quietly catching its breath at night. She walked forward and stopped in front of Seokjin's door.
I should at least say hello and say goodbye...
The thought that he might already be asleep made her cautious about knocking on the door. With her hand on the doorknob, Yeoju took a breath, a beat too late. Suddenly, his presence, just across the door, became clear. She deliberately tried to ignore it, fearing it would look strange if she were too conscious of it. She was just trying to mentally decide to call it a day.
At that moment, the door opposite opened first.
Seokjin was out. His hair was still wet, as if he'd just finished a shower, and the remaining moisture hung naturally over his forehead. He was wearing a casual T-shirt instead of a neat shirt, making him look much more relaxed than he did during the day. It seemed like a look only permitted at home.
Seokjin blinked briefly when he saw Yeoju. Rather than being surprised, his expression seemed to indicate he needed a moment to comprehend the situation.
“You’re not asleep yet?”
“I’m going to sleep now.”
Seokjin's gaze naturally lingered on where Yeoju was standing. It was right in front of his room.
“What’s wrong?”
The heroine hesitated for a moment and then shrugged.
“I told you earlier.”
"what?"
“Come if you’re scared.”
Seokjin's eyebrows rose just a little.
"so."
The heroine slightly extended her tail.
"It's quieter at home than I expected. And it's been a long day."
Seokjin looked down at Yeoju for a moment, then smiled softly. It was a genuine smile.
“So you came because you were scared?”
The heroine immediately shook her head.
“No. Um... half? Maybe that’s right..”
“Then the other half.”
The female protagonist avoided eye contact and then looked at Seokjin again.
“I wanted to say good night. And to check if you’re really scared.”
“What are the results?”
“We should sleep together.”
After he finished speaking, his eyes widened slightly as if he realized what he had said.
“No, that’s not what I meant—”
Seokjin burst out laughing first. His voice was small, but his shoulders were clearly shaking.
“Haha.. heroine”
“Uh, yeah?”
"I'm going crazy. Because of you."
“Uh… Go to sleep! Good night!! I’m going!”
Seokjin grabbed the wrist of the woman who was trying to run away in embarrassment, pulled her towards him, stroked her hair, and whispered in her ear.
“Good night. And.”
“........”
“I’ll keep it a secret that I’m scared.”