CH 23

It seems that I fell asleep. The sun is shining brightly from the veranda. I take a glance at my phone’s clock. 2:00 p.m. It’s a record amount of sleep. There were a couple of missed calls, too. The first is from Ki-do, and the second is an unknown number.

I get up. Unknown number. The phone call was from this morning. Was it Director Lee? I’m sure it’s Director Lee. Because I told him to call. Why on earth did I tell him to call? It appears that I have made a mistake. My thoughts are complicated. My head aches. I’m not sure if it’s because I slept too much or because I immediately had useless thoughts as soon as I woke up. I’m confused.

My finger tapped redial. It’s not on purpose, but it happened anyway. I dialed it as though I had accidentally pressed it. How’s my voice now? Is it all right?

“Aa, ah.”

It’s hoarse. So I overslept and woke up with a hoarse voice and now I’m calling the guy who likes me. I’m calling Director Lee over the weekend. Calling Director Lee.

“Hello?”

– Yes?

It’s an unfamiliar voice. He sounds like an old man but also relaxed. It may be Director Ha. How did Director Ha get my phone number? Maybe he asked. Why did Director Ha, not Director Lee, call? Could it be that he found out that Director Lee likes me?

He might be trying to say something like this to make me give up on Director Lee. I’m not giving up cause I never want him.

“Hello, sir? This is Kim Joo-hyuk.”

– Who is that?

“I met you yesterday…”

– Jang-ju’s son?

“Yes?”

– Oh, Jang-ju?

“Yes? I’m calling because I have a missed call from you.”

– I didn’t call you today. Who are you?

“My name is Kim Joo-hyuk… May I know who is answering the phone?”

– Gangcheon-ri Silkworm farm, are you Ju-an? Change the speaker. Jang-ju called me this morning. The silkworm that was healthy before doesn’t want to eat the mulberry leaves. What am I supposed to feed this?

“I’m sorry. You dialed the wrong number.”

It was technically my phone call. I let out a sigh. I rubbed the back of my neck as I hung up the phone. I’m a fool. There’s no way Director Lee would call me. In the end, it was just an empty promise. I’m not sure why he’d make an empty promise about calling me. If he had called, I probably–I mean–I would have picked up. When I get a call, I should answer it.

I looked through my phone, and there were loads of messages from Ki-do.

[Hyung, are you okay? How’s it going?]

[Hyung, aren’t the panties very comfortable? How many would you like to buy? I bought it at a very discounted price.]

[Hyung, this is no joke. Hyung, how many do you need?]

The whole story after that was about panties. Just how much did he like those? It’s common for Seol Ki-do to stick to one thing. If he is obsessed with one thing, he will just dive right into it. Last year, there was a time when he only ate three hot dogs a day. It looks like it’s panties this time. I wonder how long the panties season will last.

[Buy three for me.]

I decided not to decline.

I get up to go get some instant coffee. While rubbing my eyes, I pour water into the coffee maker. Everything is at peace. The coffee pot made a loud noise. Today, I’m not going to do anything. I’m really just going to breathe. I just need to breathe.

The phone rang while I was standing there blankly. It’s an unknown number. It’s probably another Gangcheon-ri silkworm farm.

“Hello.”

– Joo-hyuk-ssi, it’s me.

It’s Director Lee. I pick up the coffee pot to stop the sound.

“Director.”

– Yeah.

Director Lee chuckled. My lips curved into a smile. It’s my first phone call with Director Lee. It is, after all, the first time. I wonder what Director Lee is doing now.

– Did you get home safely?

Director Lee asked. I’m troubled for an answer. I want to give him a slightly special answer. It’s a ridiculous idea. However, I’d like to make Director Lee laugh even more. I want to hear his laughter. I think I’m half asleep.

“Yes. How about you, Director? Did you find Won-joo-ssi?”

Director Lee laughed as if disappointed.

– I haven’t slept at all. It was really hard to find where Ha Won-joo was. I spent the entire night looking for him. My aunt scolded my uncle all morning…

“It sounds like you get along well with your family.”

– We’re all close, and I’m often responsible for everything. I’m the oldest. I’m the first Alpha, so I’m always busy. I have to look after my younger siblings as well as deal with the elders in my family… I apologize for not paying attention yesterday. Actually, I wanted to spend more time with just the two of us… I made a reservation at the bar ahead of time, and if it hadn’t been for Won-joo…

“It’s fine. I had fun yesterday.”

It was a new experience. Because I’d only seen a small number of Alphas in one place for the past ten years. I discovered yesterday that there are so many Alphas in Korea.

– I’m sorry. He is a difficult uncle to deal with. He is easily irritated. Thank you again for yesterday. But I was not even able to take you to the bar… I also found a pianist, but I forgot about it. I’m sorry. I’m a little tired, I’m tired, so…

Director Lee murmured his words as if he were complaining. Director Lee is also a human. His voice is calm as usual, but he appears to be distracted. I took a seat at the table. Instead of coffee, I poured water.

“Are you very sleepy?”

– Yes, I’m really sleepy. I thought I wouldn’t be able to call Joo-hyuk-ssi. I just found Won-joo. He was with his Omega at the time. I’m now waving my hand and looking at Doori. No, Doori, don’t come. Doori, go away.

“Doori? Who are you with?”

– I’m now at my uncle’s house, so Won-joo’s house. Doori is a shih tzu, but it loves people. Doori. Oh, lay down. Doori is better off than I am.

“If you want to lie down, lie down. Get some sleep.”

– No. I’m sitting straight now. With a humble heart. Because I’m always serious about Joo-hyuk-ssi.

Director Lee’s voice became a little serious. I shouldn’t say this, but it was cute.

“What is Doori doing now?”

– Now it’s on my lap. No, go down. I mean it, you’re heavy. You didn’t even give me a high five.

“I want to see Doori. I like dogs too.”

Director Lee is strangely quiet. A small laugh can be heard. It sounded like laughter and breathing. Director Lee seems to have squeezed out his strength just before he went to sleep.

– Ah, what should I do now that Doori seems to have a better life than me? I wish I was Doori.

“What are you saying? Our company cannot function without you.”

– I don’t know. I want to be Doori. What about me, do you not want to see me? It would be nice if you said you wanted to see me, but I’m not going to force you. I’ll never force you. I just wanted to hear it.

A burst of laughter arose. So it’s a comfortable laugh. It’s not a forced laugh. It’s not even the happy laughter I had when I first met my friend. However, it is comfortable. I thought it would be nice to see him again.

“I miss you.”

I thought of Director Lee in my mind. I recall him smiling and blinking his eyes. I’m curious to see what expression Director Lee is wearing now. Is he smiling, or is he surprised? Perhaps it’s some kind of a prank. I want to see Director Lee right now. I’m wondering if he wants to see me right now.

– Can you say it one more time? I want to record it and set it as a ringtone.

“No.”

– That’s too bad.

“Now go to sleep. Because it’s Sunday. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Can I go to the third floor tomorrow?”

“Well…”

A gasp is heard over the speaker.

“Director?”

– Hold on, hold on. I’m going to take care of Doori for a moment.

Doori shrieked and growled in frustration. The sound of Director Lee talking with the dog can be heard. There’s a lot of talk about it not carrying it in his arms and how heavy it is. Every moment is peaceful. I imagined Director Lee walking the dog. Director Lee is dressed comfortably, with his hair slightly unkempt. It’s unrealistic. It’s an unimaginable scene, but I think it would be good.

– I’m sorry. It’s ok now. I’m holding its head with my legs.

I heard Doori barking. It sounded more like a whimper than a bark.

– Now, it’s really just me and Joo-hyuk-ssi.

Oh, this is a bit exciting.

“Keep holding on to Doori. Don’t interrupt the call.”

– Tell me one more time that you miss me. I miss Joo-hyuk-ssi. I really miss you. Sometimes while working, I raise my head and think, ‘I want to see Joo-hyuk-ssi.’ But if I go down to the third floor, I’ll be in your way, so I stay quiet.

“Well done.”

– I want to go to the third floor tomorrow morning. To see Joo-hyuk-ssi. Can I go?

“You can come. But, go up to the 9th floor early.”

– Good. Really, good.

Director Lee’s voice becomes even more muffled. I should get off the phone right now. I should drink coffee as well. I’ve been boiling water since the beginning. I’ll have to start over. I shook my glass. The still water began to shake. The waves are rippling.

“I’m hanging up now. Take a rest.”

– Yeah. All right. Joo-hyuk-ssi, can I just say one more thing?

“Yeah.”

– Please don’t come wearing other people’s clothes again. How about you come buy a suit with me after work? And after, we’ll go to dinner; I’ll call the pianist again later…

“You said you’d only say one thing.”

– Oh right. That’s right. One thing.

“I’ll just say one word and hang up. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

– Yeah.

“Sleep well, Director.”

I hung up the phone. I hung up the phone and hit my head on the table. I smacked my forehead against the cold glass.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh”

I’m crazy. Yes, I’m crazy. I wanted to leave the house and knock on the house next door. I will knock and shout. Hello, I’m crazy. And after knocking on the next door, I’ll introduce myself again. Hello, I am crazy.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh”

I want to cry. I don’t have any tears, but I want to cry. It’s sad. I miss my mother. I really miss my mother. I called home while my face was pressed against the table. The ringtone itself seems to mock me. So, what did I tell Director Lee? I didn’t say much. I didn’t say much at all. The ringing finally stops.

“Mom?”

– Gone to the market.

Kim Joo-young picked up. Kim Joo-young makes a small crunching sound. It’s similar to eating a snack.

“Are you eating snacks?”

– Yeah.

“What are you eating?”

– What you like.

“What kind of snacks does your oppa like?”

– How should I know that?

“Really, how is someone like you my younger sister…”

Kim Joo-young laughed. It’s still an energetic voice.

“Joo-young-ah.”

– What?

“It’s a holiday next week, I probably will go home.”

– Oppa, you don’t have a girlfriend?

“No. I don’t think I do.”

– Okay, so what do you have? I have money, a boyfriend, and a house. With the exception of the face.

“Hey, Kim Joo-young.”

– Ugh.

Kim Joo-young made a groaning sound. There’s no answer. Joo-young’s breathing became heavy.

– A, haa…haah…

“Hey, Kim Joo-young. Kim Joo-young? Hey, hey! Kim Joo-young! Are you okay? Hey!”

– O, Oppa…

“Hey, Kim Joo-young. Are you at home?”

– Oppa… I’m so sick. What should I do? I’m sick.

“I’m coming. Hang up and call 911.”

I got up from the table right away. Over the phone, Kim Joo-young’s thin voice could be heard. My heart is racing. No, it felt like it stopped. Kim Joo-young is a weak person. That’s because her stamina is directed through her personality. I entered the room and put on my jacket. I kept shouting at Kim Joo-young.

“Joo-young-ah, Kim Joo-young. Oppa is leaving now, so hang up and call 911. Call 911 and call me again.”

– Oppa…

“Yeah, I’m here. It’s okay, Joo-young-ah, it’ll be okay. Kim Joo-young, answer me. Are you okay?”

Kim Joo-young took a deep breath and answered.

– Shave off your head.

The line was cut off. I stared blankly at the broken phone screen.

This kid was raised really badly.

I called Kim Joo-young again. A slow voice answered.

– What?

“Hey.”

– Yeah.

“What’re you doing?”

– Eating some snacks.

“You really, seriously, why did you act like that?”

– Of course, it’s because I look like you.

“Right.”

Really, I raised her wrong. I should have raised a dog instead of Kim Joo-young. A shih tzu, a shih tzu that can even high-five.