Chapter 115

Na-Yool sat on the sofa, turned on the TV, changed channels a few times, and gave a sidelong glance towards the kitchen – where he was. There was nothing in sight. This house was too big, and there were too many blind spots in one place.

Just like that, she strained her eyes looking towards a certain direction with the TV still on, when her phone rang.

“…Who would call at this hour?”

Na-Yool rummaged through the zip-up pocket of her hoodie and pulled out her phone. She casually looked at the screen, and her face slightly sulked.

She did not even remember when she had saved this number…

[Sang-Hoon Oppa’s mother]

‘Oppa’, what a joke. Na-Yool frowned and pressed the power button to stop the ringing.

The phone went on for a while without a sound then stopped. Na-Yool immediately opened the screen that had been replaced with a missed call and clicked to delete the saved name.

The source of this misfortune goes back to when Na-Yool had no choice but to send a text to Sang-Hoon’s mother. On his mother’s birthday, he had made a big deal to have Na-Yool call her or at least send her a text, like some model filial son. Na-Yool first rejected it, arguing that their relationship had not reached that point yet, but eventually caved in out of guilt upon facing his wounded expression.

Even without asking, the reason for Sang-Hoon’s mother’s call was obvious. Clearly, he had confided about the embarrassing incident to her.

“Why do you look so grave?”

“…No, it’s nothing.”

Na-Yool blankly shook her head and took the tray Si-Jin held out with a smile. The pasta was neatly plated in an expensive ceramic bowl, looking like some japchae (stir-fried glass noodles) from a high-end Korean restaurant.

“Wow, it smells really good!”

“Stop smelling and eat. Before it’s too late.”

“If we eat this now, when should we go to sleep?”

“In at least 3 hours.”

“Okay then.”

Na-Yool nodded and rolled the pasta around her fork. On the TV that no one was watching, a home shopping program was currently airing. Instead of lifting his fork, Si-Jin picked up the remote and surfed channels a few more times.

As he did so, the faint yapping of a puppy echoed. Na-Yool abruptly raised her head from her pasta.

“Puppy…”

It was a muffled, one-off cry she let out of her mouth full of food, unable to properly articulate. Si-Jin yet amazingly made out the word and turned the channel back on.

“You like dogs?”

“Yes, absolutely, so much! Aren’t they so cute?”

Several newborn puppies were dawdling on the big screen. Si-Jin knitted his eyebrows at the sight, like fearing their hair would fly through. As for Na-Yool, she was sucked into the screen right away.

“…If you say so.”

“Ah, do you maybe like cats?”

“As if.”

“It can’t be that you do not like them?”

She looked at him as if she could not even fathom the idea. And before he could answer, she asked again.

“Don’t tell me you don’t like puppies too?!”

“I just hate both.”

“Oh my god…”

“I hate everything with hair.”

“It figures.”

First puzzled, Na-Yool now nodded her head in acknowledgment as though it was expected from him. Si-Jin did not seem offended by her “You, cold-hearted person!” expression and simply shrugged his shoulders.

“I like both of them, so I want to raise both someday,” Na-Yool added.

However, this would be a bit of a problem. Si-Jin’s chewing halted and he turned toward her with a frown.

“I like big dogs like this one.”

“……”

“And also fluffy little ones like poodles or Malteses. If I get a cat, I want to raise a black one—”

“—and when would you make that happen?”

“Ah, I have not decided yet. Someday, maybe… It’s just a vague idea.”

“In your old age?”

“No, that is too far away. Though for now, it is too difficult, considering I’m working and come back home late…” Come to think of it, was not the President of the said company sitting right next to her? Na-Yool flinched as she choked a bit on her words. “It is not that I am having a hard time, but that it would be hard to raise a pet in such circumstances. I did not mean to complain to you, and neither to blame the company… Of course, it is difficult, but I did not mean it in a serious way……”

“I know.”

“…I was thinking of raising it later, once I get less busy after moving to a new company.”

In the end, Na-Yool inadvertently spurted out the words she had barely swallowed back. Si-Jin quietly slanted his eyebrows.

“Are you thinking of changing jobs?”

“No. It’s nothing serious for now, as I said, just someday.”

“So you do plan on doing it someday?”

“…Honestly, how can someone work for 10, 20 years for the same company?”

“As long as one’s wants, provided that the company does not bankrupt,” Si-Jin answered lightly. So why can’t you do so?

Na-Yool swallowed the pasta she kept chewing on and helplessly shook her head.

“I doubt it will bankrupt.”

Just last year, there was a time when she rather wished the company would go broke. It was not that she did not like the company. But just for a few seconds. Just an instant when she had reached her limit and was so exhausted, yet she did not dare think of quitting herself. She had then wished for the entity to halt indefinitely on its own.

This was all because of money. This damn capitalist society.

“Look at this obstinate face of yours, Mr. President. Clearly, the business will never go down.”

“Obviously.”

“It’s just that I will quit someday. Unless, of course, you fire me before then.” Na-Yool laughed, but Si-Jin did not. Feeling embarrassed, Na-Yool turned her gaze back to the TV. She had already blurted it all out anyway. “I thought it would be hard to keep working there because it was too challenging. Though it has been two years since thinking so… Of course the pay is attractive, but I also truly like the job and the type of requests. I don’t think I could do this kind of work anywhere else. At least, right now, my work feels meaningful. This thought keeps me going. But still, it is sometimes hard. That’s why.”

“That’s why?” Si-Jin encouraged her softly to go on.

“I am still young, so for now it’s fine, but I guess someday my strength will decline.  That’s why, before I overdo it…”

“So, eat well.”

“…Am I not?”

It was now close to 10 pm, yet Na-Yool was unimaginably having a meal. She would not have even dreamt of it before. Not under the excuse of being too late hour for a meal, or of being unhealthy. But because her first urge when coming back home, way too tired, was to lie down.

“Also, don’t be a picky eater.” Si-Jin rebuked as he watched her secretly picking out the chicory leaves from her salad.

“Even if I eat well, this won’t do.”

“Exercise, too.”

“Exercising will finish me off.”

“And so you’re going to give up and quit to raise a pet?”

“What kind of conclusion is that? It is just a wish. Someday, if I change to a job with more free time in the evening, and move to a house a little bigger than my current one. It won’t be easy because of the deposit but… since cats and dogs need space to play around—”

“This house is big too.”

“So?”

“……”

“…..?”

An awkward silence. Then, interrupted by an abrupt dog bark coming from the TV.

“Nevermind. Forget it.”

“What is it?”

“Forget it.”

“I would have right away, if only you did not stress so intensely for me to forget it.”

Si-Jin lightly snorted.

“What did you expect me to say?”

“How would I know? Else why would I ask…”

“Then you can forget about it.” Si-Jin casually brushed it over while rolling his pasta with the fork. While confused, Na-Yool mechanically put the pasta in her mouth as she mumbled.

“…But it sounds like I should have ‘expect’ something? Seeing how adamant you are for me to let it go.”

“I don’t much like dogs and cats anyway.” Si-Jin beat around the bush with seemingly straightforward words.

“I know that.”

“Just making sure you do.”

“I get it, but what’s your point?”

Na-Yool truly had no clue what that back-and-forth was about. Si-Jin muttered with a more annoyed expression than when he first saw the puppies.

“I hate them.”

“Yes, I got it, but what?…It’s not like you were going to live with me, and therefore not with them either.” [T/N: In case you’re as lost as NY, SJ is actually hinting that his house is big enough to raise cats/dogs and that, despite not liking them, he would do it for her. Sweet tsundere boy <3 But NY clearly doesn’t not picture such a far future for them>.>;]