I wanted to press to see if the front door password had changed, but I rang the bell and waited instead. I took a deep breath. My chest felt fluttery as if something was blocking it.
Faint footsteps approached. I heard the sound of shoes brushing against the entrance. Click, the lock clicked open, and the door swung open.
“Come in,” he said. He held a towel in one hand, his hair damp. It was a casual attire I hardly ever saw him in. As I looked at him, Han Team Leader handed me the open door handle and turned towards the kitchen, disappearing from view. I cautiously stepped into the entrance.
As I followed him with my gaze, I almost stumbled. There was a thud, a dull sound. When I regained my composure and looked down, I saw a large icebox at my feet.
“Be careful,” he called from a distance. Bright light spilled from the kitchen. I heard the sound of cupboard doors opening and closing, the hum of the microwave. I glanced down at the icebox with numb toes. The lid was halfway open, but when I nudged it with my foot, it fell off completely. A chill crept up. As I leaned over to look inside, I saw several packs that appeared to be wrapped meat. There was also a transparent container with colorful vegetables that looked like bell peppers.
The living room was as I remembered it. Holding onto the bag tightly, standing somewhat awkwardly in the middle of the living room, I watched as Han Team Leader emerged from the kitchen carrying a large plastic container and raised an eyebrow at me.
“What’s up, there?”
“…Me.”
“Should I make some coffee? Have you eaten breakfast?”
He looked at me with his arms folded. Any hint of affection in his indifferent words was probably my imagination. I tried to say that I didn’t need coffee or anything, but my throat felt tight and words wouldn’t come out. I turned my gaze away, cleared my throat, and asked without looking at him.
“Where are you going?”
“What?”
He was putting the container into the icebox. He took out the container with the peppers, seeming to ponder the arrangement of dishes, then put the large container in first.
“After packing food… Where are you going?”
Should I feel relieved or disappointed if he tells me to go home now? I tightened my grip on the bag strap, preparing myself mentally, but when he finished arranging the icebox and stood up, he replied vaguely.
“Wherever.”
“…Then I…”
“Go get your toothbrush in the bathroom. Get a few more clothes from the dressing room, and make sure they’re warm. Thick coats, too. We’re leaving at nine-fifteen.”
And he went back into the kitchen. I stood there until he came out again, holding a couple of snack bags.
“What’s up?”
I received a jab from him as he closed the lid of the icebox.
“Haven’t you slept well? You look pale.”
“…Are you sending me back by tomorrow evening?”
“Does it sound like I’m going to kidnap Lee Seodan?”
He asked with a deadpan expression, whether it was a joke or not was unclear.
“Was the talk about locking you in the basement just a joke?”
I kept my mouth shut. He looked at my expression and chuckled lightly.
“Pack your stuff.”
Click, both sides of the icebox were locked. As he disappeared back into the kitchen, I moved towards the bathroom.
I packed two sets of clothes in the big bag I had brought when I first came to his house. I also packed underwear, a toothbrush, and even the small bag I brought from home. I put on a coat, zipped up the bag, feeling it less full than usual.
As I walked into the living room holding onto the slightly lighter bag handle than usual, he was standing in the entrance with a bag slightly smaller than mine. He was looking down at the icebox. When he turned to me, he asked,
“Have you got everything?”
“…Yes.”
“Come and help me with this.”
He put the car keys in his pocket and grabbed one handle of the icebox. With the bag slung over my shoulder, I raised the handle on the opposite side. It was much heavier than I had anticipated. I stumbled once, and he caught my shoulder to steady me.
I felt the warmth of his fingers through my thin clothes. I involuntarily leaned back as if avoiding him.
“…Take it. You’ll get cold.”
He said without changing his expression. As we both lifted, the icebox wobbled unsteadily. The entrance was too narrow to hold with both hands. He opened the door first and waited for me to grab hold. After putting on the shoes he had taken off earlier and lifting the box again, he waited for me. He pressed the elevator button and waited.
As I watched his cool profile while waiting for the blinking floors, I couldn’t bring myself to ask anything. The elevator arrived. He loaded the icebox first and I followed suit. Han Team Leader pressed the button for the parking lot.
After pulling the car forward, he opened the backseat and put the icebox in. While I got into the passenger seat, he opened and closed the bag he had brought. As the backseat door closed and he got in the front, a thick, foil-wrapped item was handed to me. I was surprised to see a small thermos and something thick wrapped in foil handed to me. I was so astonished that I even looked at the handle of the glove box.
“Since we’re going somewhere, it’s better to have breakfast.”
He said as he released the handbrake. The thermos he handed me was warm.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“We’ll probably stop by a rest area on the way. If you finish everything and still need more, just let me know.”
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“Glv sbe wjxf atlr sbegrfio?”
Out of curiosity, forgetting the cold atmosphere, I casually asked. He paused and replied.
“If you’re curious, try it, for now. If it tastes good, let’s say I made it, and if not, let’s say I didn’t.”
The car stopped at a traffic light. I peeled off a little more foil and took a bite. As the sweet taste touched my tongue, hunger surged so fiercely it felt overwhelming. I took another bite and felt my cheeks puff out. I chewed, focused on eating, and when our eyes met, I spoke with unclear pronunciation.
“It’s delicious.”
“Good to hear.”
Han Team Leader replied, looking away. I turned the thermos lid to open it. Steam rose up. The scent of honey near my nose was strong.
As if on purpose, he stopped the car at a red light again. I leaned the thermos against my lips. I ate the bread and sipped the honey water. It felt like something warm was settling in my stomach. The chill that had made my fingertips cold since the morning seemed to recede by a hand’s breadth.
The car turned onto the highway. After finishing eating, I put the thermos in the cup holder and crumpled the foil into a ball. Outside the window, dense trees passed by quickly. The sky was clear without a single cloud. While stuck in the office all week, winter had passed, and suddenly spring was in full bloom.
“Lee Seodan.”
I turned my gaze from outside the window. Han Team Leader pressed a button and took out a CD from the audio system, handing it to me.
“Put that in, pick something else to play. It’s in the front pocket.”
Inside the glove box were several albums with CDs. I randomly grabbed whatever I could reach, feeling like he was waiting for me. The thin slot greedily swallowed the CD. Han Team Leader pressed the play button next to it and turned the volume dial. The music was slow and tepid, like it would be playing in a café at the edge of town, but it was better than silence.
When it was a little past twelve, he parked the car at a rest area. There were quite a few cars in the spacious parking lot.
As the engine turned off, the inside of the car fell silent. The music also abruptly stopped. An uncomfortable silence filled the space where the noise had been removed. I awkwardly shifted my gaze that had been staring out the front window. He, who had been silently looking out the windshield, asked.
“Aren’t you hungry?”
“…A little…”
The appetite that had been dormant all week seemed to have gathered somewhere and burst out. I fumbled with the seatbelt across my chest and glanced up. Surprisingly, he was looking at me.
“Team Leader…”
“……”
His gaze, stuck to my cheek, wouldn’t drop. Something bright like a laser descended down my cheek, lingered on my lips, then withdrew. He reached out his hand and pulled my seatbelt for me.
It was cooler outside the car than inside. It wasn’t like this in the morning; the wind was blowing quite strongly. Han Team Leader, who was making a shadow with his hand and looking up, murmured.
“It won’t rain.”
I stood on the perfectly parked line as if he had measured it with a ruler. I stretched my stiff body and yawned, tilting slightly. Then I realized he had already walked quite a distance ahead. I tried to catch up but then realized I had left the bag behind. As my steps slowed down, he stopped abruptly without turning back.
“I forgot my wallet.”
“…I won’t ask you to buy me food. Why worry about it? Are you so burdened by the idea of getting me a meal at a rest area? I’ll even pay for it, why bother.”
His words were laced with thorns. Because of his quick pace, the distance between us grew. As I hastened to catch up and reach him, he opened the door to the rest area, grabbed it, and added irritably.
“If you’re just going to buy me food, when are you going to stop playing this game at the checkout? Even acquaintances I haven’t seen in years don’t fuss over a meal, but why is it that Lee Seodan alone does? Do you get a nerve spasm at the thought of receiving something from me without giving anything in return?”
“….”
From my perspective, it didn’t seem like I was fussing over a meal, but instead of adding unnecessary words, I lowered my head and remained silent. The rest area was crowded with people. I was about to be swept away by the throng of high school students when Han Team Leader grabbed my arm and pulled me firmly to the side. He let go only after we were out of the crowd.
“But Team Leader, our relationship… It’s not personal, right?”
I spoke cautiously while massaging my sore wrist. He, who had been walking ahead, stopped.
“Then what do you think it is?”
“What?”
“Why did Lee Seodan come all the way out here on a golden weekend? Did you think I would keep Lee Seodan in bed all weekend?”
“…Team Leader.”
A low voice, but there was someone at the table next to us. Understanding, he waved his hand. He bent down and pushed me into the corner. My vision was obstructed, and I couldn’t see anyone else.
He lightly touched my flushed cheek with his fingertips. I managed to lift my wandering gaze from the table.
“Team Leader.”
“You’re practically crying with your martyrdom complex.”
He sneered with a voice full of mockery.
“Did you plan to give up your weekend off for me without even a word of protest? Without any complaint?”
“Did you give me a chance to complain?”
“Why are you so bent out of shape today? If you have something to say, just say it.”
The conversation kept circling back to strange places. I swallowed a sigh and asked.
“Where are we going?”
He surprisingly answered calmly.
“Donghae.”
“…Why?”
“You said you wanted to go to the sea.”
Our faces were so close. He furrowed his brows and added.
“Not for a whole week though.”
“….”
“Let’s leave that for later. Taking that much time off right now is out of the question. It might be possible if it’s just Lee Seodan, but not me. It’s better for Lee Seodan not to take time off until you’ve settled in.”
As he stared at me, he suddenly probed, “Why the gloomy expression?”
“Weren’t you planning to not see me like this in the future, Team Leader?” I cautiously asked, choosing my words carefully. He raised his eyebrows as if completely unaware of what I was talking about.
“Me?”
“All this week at work… and even last Sunday…”
There was no mistaking my confusion. I wished I had done something wrong instead, but the line he drew wasn’t about that. There was nothing I could do with my efforts.
He narrowed his eyebrows. After a long silence, he pursed his lips and suddenly asked me, “So, were you upset?”
“…No.”
“But your expression says otherwise.”
I turned my head away, retreating further into the corner. Han Team Leader didn’t press further and instead pushed his wallet out from his pocket towards me.
“Let’s eat first and then leave. I didn’t bring you here to have a conversation at a crowded rest area. Feel free to grab whatever you want to eat.”
As I hesitated, he grabbed my hand, forcing the wallet into it. The leather was warm from his touch. Even to avoid the situation, I stood up and slipped through the gaps between the tables.
Wandering around the counter, I bought a bowl of udon and returned. He stood up, seated me, and then disappeared. When he came back, he spread out a tray full of food on the table. I kept my head down and ate, feeling his chilly and persistent gaze on my face.
Nevertheless, the atmosphere was a bit more relaxed when we returned to the car than in the morning. I pulled down the sun visor because the sunlight was dazzling. Apart from occasionally nodding off instead of listening to music, I dozed off a couple of times. Every time I startled awake, I stared stiffly out the window.
Then, he, who had been silently focusing on driving, spoke up.
“It’s okay, just go to sleep.”
“No, I’m fine.”
“I’m not. Lean back in the seat. Look for the lever under your feet.”
Under his expectant gaze, I leaned back. When I pulled the lever, the backrest of the seat tilted backward smoothly. Han Team Leader reached out and lowered the music volume.
As I leaned back comfortably, my eyelids grew heavy. I slowly blinked my eyes and watched his profile from afar. Even though I could sleep comfortably while he was driving, I couldn’t help but feel grateful. Then his arm reached out. His warm hand briefly covered my eyelids.
“It’s not difficult to drive with you by my side. So, don’t worry about anything.”
His slow, soothing voice felt surprisingly tender. It was a brief moment of feeling good. So, with my eyes closed, I fell asleep.
***
I woke up. As I sat up, his jacket slid down from my shoulders.
The noon heat that had been pounding on the window was now gone. A slightly cloudy blue sky was visible. The car was parked by the roadside, and the engine was off. The driver’s seat where he had been sitting was empty.
I unbuckled my seatbelt. As I fumbled with the lock of the door with slow fingers, I spotted Han Team Leader outside the window. He looked like a small dot walking back from afar. Behind his gradually approaching figure, I saw a thin blue line. As I breathed in through the open window, a faint salty smell mixed with the cool air.
Han Team Leader didn’t return to the driver’s seat but turned towards me and approached. He peered in through the open window, finding me awake. After our eyes met for a moment, he asked, “Did you sleep well?”
“…Yes.”
I replied hesitantly. He leaned his arm on my window sill with a cigarette almost touching his lips. He exhaled a short puff of smoke and flicked the cigarette butt away with his fingertips. His bangs, tousled by the wind, were falling over his forehead. It was no different from the man in the travel photos that crowded the living room cabinet.
“Are you hungry?” he asked. He stretched his arm out of the window and picked up his jacket, which had slipped down to my thigh. His fingers brushed against my knee. I instinctively pulled my leg back. Lowering my gaze, I asked, “How much longer until we arrive?”
He swept away the piercing gaze with an annoyed gesture. “We’re here.”
“…Here?”
The road was deserted. There was nothing on either side but wilderness. There were no buildings or anything else.
“If you like remote places.”
Han Team Leader chuckled.
“This is… where?”
“It’s the East Sea.”
There was nothing but the distant sea and no trace of people. Untrimmed grass swayed knee-high in the wind. It seemed like a place that wouldn’t even appear on a map.
“Is this somewhere you already knew about?”
“Not exactly. It’s the result of thorough research.”
He withdrew his arm from the window. Turning the car around, he returned to the driver’s seat. He reached through the open window and unlocked the door.
“The sea I want to show you is elsewhere, but it’s not a place for a weekend trip. It’s even far enough to take a plane. A one-night stay for two days is the most feasible.”
He reached out to fasten my seatbelt. Turning on the engine, he added, “The accommodation is right ahead. It’ll take about ten minutes, so if you want to sleep more, go ahead.”
“No, thank you.”
He navigated the winding rural road. The sea visible through the window gradually drew closer. Unconsciously, I rested my fingertips on the glass, then quickly wiped them away with the back of my hand to avoid leaving fingerprints. The blue water expanded until it filled the center of my vision. He, who had been focused on the narrow road, turned the steering wheel slightly and commented briefly, “The color looks good.”
He was right. The sea, seen after a long time, had a subtle shade of deep green mixed in. The sunlight broke into fine silver fragments on the surface.
As I was distracted by the view, he turned onto a barely visible side road. Gravel under the wheels was uneven. The car tilted and the roof of the car scraped against low-hanging branches. The sea disappeared momentarily behind the overgrown grass. Then, as the road curved to the right, the view suddenly opened up. Houses came into sight unexpectedly within the field of vision.
There was only one building, about the size of a slightly larger warehouse. The roof looked worn out as if the paint had peeled off.
In front of it was a lush lawn leading to a sandy beach. If one fell, the sea would be within touching distance of their nose.
“Do you like it?”
He turned off the engine and asked calmly. Seeing me without a response, he glanced at me and then handed me a bag from the backseat.
“Let’s get down. Let’s put the luggage inside first.”
The door unlocked. I unbuckled the tightly fastened seatbelt. My arms and legs felt numb, and my neck was stiff.
Despite driving for a long time, he looked perfectly fine. He and I each took one handle of the cooler box as we had when we got into the car. It felt heavier than when I first carried it. I became increasingly curious about what was inside. Judging by the weight alone, it seemed like there was enough food for a week.
He adjusted the key hanging on his finger. A key I hadn’t seen before was hanging on the ring. He inserted the rusty key into the keyhole in the center of the worn handle and turned it. There was a solid clicking sound.
“It’s probably built over a hundred years ago.”
He said as he pushed the door open.
“These kinds of buildings are rare these days. Come in without taking off your shoes.”
As soon as I stepped inside, the structure of the house caught my eye. There was only a wooden bed, a table, a simple kitchen, and a bathroom. That was all. He placed the icebox we had brought on the kitchen counter and opened the glass door at the front of the bed. Beyond it lay a yard with a barbecue grill and a lawn mower, and far away, the sea spread out fully.
There was a hint of saltiness in the cool breeze. I leaned my bag against the wall and plopped down on the bed.
“Are you tired?”
He asked as he looked down at me.
“No.”
“Then why are you absent-minded?”
“…I’m just a bit out of it…”
Instead of trying to dodge the question, I simply answered. Han Team Leader narrowed his eyebrows.
“Why are you out of it? There’s not a soul around, not even an ant.”
“You’re here, Team Leader.”
Donghae : Donghae is a city in Gangwon Province, South Korea. It is located in the central region of the east coast of Korea. One of the two largest ports is located here. There are beautiful beaches, and other leisure attractions to be found here.
Thanks for the chapter