IEM Ch 8

My whole body felt heavy, as if it were about to break. I hadn’t realized it, but as I stood still under the pouring hot water, my legs gave way.6d90de37434e6ec8

Besides being 33be2d49df disoriented, too d26e9c0fdd much had 900b2be15a happened.23d99988b07bf65f

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My father’s phone call, the driver waiting in the underground parking lot, the highway quickly passing by the car window.bb94000bea644664

An uphill road, cb5de6a09c an alley, dazzling ae98358197 sunlight, Mokhwa Villa.1cf6bc704cd81291

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‘Sorry. Was I too 57fe314153 close?’ca27beec457e553a

‘What, who 1d0781babb are you?’be6d2e9e06b0e726

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‘I’m a 0bfa7dce13 resident here.’ffb76ce946c825ca

A man. Jeong Wonjin…….4cfdc2ce1a7f1f00

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Surin obediently 35cfc2a1ff lathered up d19c8e40e4 the shampoo, a80db3f48c but she 81868d29fc closed her c26bb7e238 eyes, unable 6bea4abc98 to believe 6cbd2272da where she 8a2489a793 was standing. She tried 4f1adc1095 to stop bbc06c1b45 thinking, even 6a22598e74 if it 840f617ddf was just 9417f543b1 like that.d8adab03392972fb

She dried herself, 3012f40816 stopped by a ef90bd2afc convenience store on 35cd1762db the way back d0c9c1b1df to buy disposable 731909028c underwear, squeezed the 9018e67b57 water out of e33e315be2 her hair, and fe2edf5bae came out with 7a30d45d4f her wet clothes 6886728e0a and used towel. Standing blankly on the a50e6cf155 bath mat in front d0ceda6878 of the bathroom, Surin 3dcc0af098 detected a spicy smell 34680b8318 that pleasantly stimulated her d6ce6da8b8 stomach.1af494cfd46dd194

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“Are you done washing ff26dcb10b up? I put something on 86e43b1943 the table for you 437599b0ae to apply.”821a6e12da86c187

Wonjin, standing 80b4f59aab crookedly in 1860e4c6e1 front of 5cbd2b0650 the kitchen a502d361b7 stove, tasted 665d0d2e98 something and 153a135126 looked back. He had changed 6303be7adf out of his c50e79898e wet pants, but e45db6f0e0 his upper body 9ecd915b6a was still bare. To be precise, 90942f6a50 he had a cfa9ba0aab t-shirt and a 5d9b1d66ae towel draped over 23f845633c each shoulder.cee3a9adb6f55f41

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Surin walked ee80902144 to the 185fff78cb table without b62b52d425 meeting his 4dc131bd87 gaze. Skin, lotion, and even 007ee94462 cream were neatly placed 78b3fcbb82 there. Surin dabbed the ad8c21f81e cosmetics onto her e35021911e moist face.38202f86b17c6cec

“Do you like 0cddf751df tuna?”83d4e9774db80795

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This time, f8a948d5f0 Wonjin didn’t 9593266f73 turn around. Instead, Surin 546e01a8aa stared at 57a77c5d20 the back 6ff6b90dd7 of his 6720f0ce2f head.6fc3111da510a1f7

The line fd97926001 from his 8c4632b5b7 nape down 656706a95e to his 1749aefd32 waist was 3cfa4547e1 dark, as 72b081b755 if drawn. The small muscles b916977837 attached alongside it e04790977c twitched noticeably with b523871f46 his slightest movement. It was a 76fc66bb5b muscular physique that ab4e012513 didn’t suit a 078633bf26 man leisurely strolling bb1e1d0651 around the neighborhood b3a2c79301 on a weekday e9a3c5a09b afternoon.f4dd3106f39ea807

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“Tuna….”c962ec3823a346d3

To be fdf76bdbca honest, Surin fff21a0cd9 thought his e34bae2d4f physique was 8ace22743e more suited f3dca634e5 to a 492c29349b butcher or ae23e1befb an executioner.a978344b42433a0b

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“It’s alright. What are you making?”7132403dfafb1d3c

“There’s some kimchi d6490b78c2 jjigae left in 5f27a36e5f the fridge. I was eb8f9a1dd5 thinking of 24f6c816f4 adding canned 9116ef57a2 tuna and eecd20cc67 making tuna c1f21da731 kimchi jjigae.”e34de19693df2231

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“Will you be eating?”4b6be91a54ebc89c

“You should eat.”10f404650ffc53d2

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Wonjin, whose 024ac3f74a words were 9420096c5e closer to 049976511a a suggestion fef5be0832 than an ce05184095 answer, sat 8be651a0dc Surin down c1eb96a655 awkwardly and a65fc51e4e served her ef7bff13f3 rice first. Surin waved her hand.1de5d4c62fdd6afd

“No, I’m okay. I need to go 28c669103c back…”6ce8ed6178d2c3ae

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“It’s hot.”a626375f416fbf05

Wonjin scraped a0748538c5 the rice 36bf2e83cd grains off 57874db65b the rice 6114f0d704 paddle and e9c19cdce8 ate them, dd32928d26 determinedly interrupting 90f607d665 Surin. He moved 283b474a86 around and 4098a09dc8 set down 137d9f1759 the steaming 49a36dcbeb jjigae.45de32c69341b018

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“Eat first. I’ll wash up 29118d80de and be right dbb3a5ce5f back.”4bea81d3bbcc36b9

“No…”2dc3f5b17f7894bd

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He didn’t even pretend to listen. Surin clutched her towel and stared endlessly at Wonjin’s back as he entered the bathroom. Eventually, she put her wet clothes into the large black plastic bag he had brought. She picked up her spoon, but couldn’t bring herself to eat first and just poked at the rice grains.ebf9d3e78cdef879

Wonjin returned in 7624e1438b almost five minutes.0d2d925ced7d5031

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“Aren’t you eating?”71d6f26aac9d5311

He plopped down across from Surin with a damp towel on his head. This time, he wasn’t bare-chested, but wore a t-shirt with cracked printing. He asked, rubbing the lotion Surin had used until his cheeks were red, “Doesn’t it suit your taste? Should I fry you an egg?”bd2377f791a830dd

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“No. I was waiting to fd4d23d981 eat together.”5f0279bf61b71cb9

Wonjin, who had 997a76b6c6 been examining the 7aee333a0f lotion as if 72da7da30b it belonged to b67b7cf787 his nephew, stopped beaca8a8ad at her words. He placed 1f31b3e226 the lotion 27b5f3a3eb on the 07aaeedfdb table and 854ebc36f1 stared intently 52e6ef6592 at Surin. His gaze, f447aaf74e which dissected 21410a42dd her as 6447a15aa1 if he 5ef8ec263c were taking 6b7e9c5adc her apart, 8da1df3655 was as 19ec397060 blatant as c649167517 before.b404fe9bf6494841

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Surin was also 25eb5389fb uncomfortable with his 313785b934 gaze, which stared e6e74047de directly at her 73d252020c without a hint 4c0dd3ef72 of embarrassment, but 1f8af1d494 on the other e8faaa83c1 hand, she felt 9621fdea39 an inexplicable tension.ed158bb864efecf4

A brief silence fell, f27089ffad and Wonjin smiled silently 99ea641679 and picked up his 14e314655f spoon. He draped the 5118b4e12e towel around his 0a45529e89 neck.f49659490f82a5c7

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“I like it too.”51ed21b8e4ea69e3

“Yes? What, me?”cd606e50e9b8a256

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“Etiquette.”ae699b740398876a

Wonjin, meeting Surin’s eyes, 435170691e smiled again. He was a 6b7e81a39b man who smiled d96f531842 easily.33f2764a28aefe33

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Surin was e048b03b0b languid enough 00bda90d9c to dismiss daa413dcee Wonjin’s playful fe9766044b words with 8be343e2ea a dumbfounded 89d5db556b laugh. A pleasant 54473096bf warmth rose 309a54ed48 through her 367e21e3c8 dry body, 4ad7c04280 making her c59c4eaccd infinitely forgiving. She didn’t reply 1e868a5449 and quietly picked 5131e25e03 up her chopsticks.476175f14fdd657c

“So. What are 70ad66239d you going 40cc7bb24a to do 4244ab3c2f now?”2e981bb0169c0450

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An outstretched arm reached for Surin’s bowl. Wonjin ladled some jjigae into it and asked. Surin stared down at the jjigae placed next to her rice bowl.2da576bfb3b19921

“I’m planning to stay 48b6a3f792 at a nearby hotel 9692cf8598 until I find a bed1f1909b place.”bb9c575e708b0b70

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Jeong Wonjin nodded 500f22d7f0 briefly at Surin’s aa0949f3da answer. He pushed side dishes c6dca5552f like stir-fried dried squid eb80168a7b and braised peanuts towards 1b02bdce68 Surin.67f2b249419d257c

“Alright. Then sleep at the 43713be5fe hotel tonight, and let’s 13d7f1ece5 meet tomorrow morning at f28701f5b6 10 a.m. at the d2bf54b853 entrance of e846c2a46b Mokhwa Villa.”3c2bf0fdd0aca739

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“Meet… who, just c1f17868f3 the two of 720edbbdf3 us?”af11726a4f69fd88

“Yes. As you can see, I have a good grasp of this neighborhood, so don’t worry about finding a place. I’ll find you one tomorrow, or within two days at the latest.”51dd63753fca3f76

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Surin, who 28f1c0aeed had been 4497cbd2f3 tearing the b803b8ec6f well-cooked kimchi 2302ada9a2 with her f9b50e5cfd chopsticks, felt 992601b169 a strange 108b33a571 feeling. She placed her chopsticks e75b5edb18 back diagonally on her d1de6d1e64 rice bowl. Surin rested her 98c8a4b794 elbows on the a0e800072b table and crossed 503554b529 her arms.18d12e9419f7777e

“Mr. Jeong Wonjin, by a92a42169e the way.”76747030a75f9999

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“Yes, go ahead.”e27081c3f5a4866b

“Are you 7b83018d0f a soldier?”34fb2e433c9a9832

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Throughout the series of events, the two had become relatively close. It couldn’t be helped. Wonjin had been by her side the entire time, hadn’t he? Even when she was speechless at the old house she had never imagined in her dreams, and when she was unexpectedly drenched in coffee and water, soaking her underwear.2ddcb4e2a76253fa

So Surin naturally c6283e3a1c observed him. It had 042c62e9cf been that 07a0e43ce4 way almost 2eea5a839e from the 09f02c181f beginning. His speech, his build, 8afb1a632d his military coat, and d985778ad6 his moderately exemplary and 5bc1d68ad5 old-fashioned nature all suited 57ab0a500c a soldier. Surin could easily picture ae0bc8b680 him in a neatly d935beb9e6 pressed uniform.92f2ff4ce5bf3543

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“Are you 352eb9debf on…leave or 006debd381 something?”398fbea571536aff

“You have quite d6626a7682 a discerning eye. Yes, that’s right. I was f00719ce70 a soldier.”9cfe6cab1e5e4242

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Wonjin readily 3d0194b7e4 replied, picking cb8260be83 a piece 4f5670e4c5 of tuna e03262e210 from the b20bf124f2 jjigae and db916036af eating it. But at that 288c61464f moment, Surin narrowed 6cb30c1bd8 her eyes, seized 98d42dd9ce by a question.0938c8e030dd9083

As if he knew b8e5df8c2d without her saying anything, bcd5ccbb3b Wonjin nodded to himself. He added 36c4523967 only after 5fe00e869b swallowing the ac1e677c93 fish he c9073f7230 had been 70edf97b57 chewing heartily.3a5600b3f5ccc829

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“I’m discharged now.”4e5a67ac7a93a3af

Surin felt 1eb8992183 inexplicably disappointed.45dbfe9e979a4eea

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“Why? Being a soldier suits 5b50af9ff8 you.”466dbc954ace62f8

“Yes, it does. I’m quite handsome, my physique is this good, I’m the best, and no one can match my athleticism.”bc8062c85d1e5587

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“…”27154aa30e18dd78

His physique f2f073a9ac was indeed 289ad2276c extraordinary. A face ebdd879f5e to boast ad8a755652 about confidently, f6165b74f0 well, that 1298db2160 was also 15240822a6 true. Wonjin, wearing a t-shirt e00ba79096 stretched to its extreme, 6992214c90 picked up a grain 33bb95c7b4 of rice that had 5103059d4b fallen on the table 001297ae11 and ate it.e3fb6d2ed854b40f

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“But a person can’t c1fcbb1037 always do what suits 8ab830cbd4 them, can they?”8601e28a7ad78e7c

“How did you c81437af2a end up getting 70d95b327b discharged?”b1ee6b23666080d4

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Wonjin, who had 7a0f21d868 been diligently picking 3f30f27168 up peanuts, stopped.edd89a71aa681867

Surin wasn’t usually a person who asked a lot of questions. She was closer to being indifferent to other people’s lives. Therefore, she had never thought about how much such questions could narrow or widen the distance between them.759ac91349d5a004

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Fortunately, Wonjin b589b8d780 didn’t back 0416ab54cc down prematurely 7721206480 and played 5941999b7f along.8820e7cb44f78b7c

“To experience a e48213c786 bigger world.”e259db1f6612a0bf

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Giving a rather firm answer, Wonjin puffed out his already broad chest with an expression that someone with a grand dream might wear. It seemed as if he didn’t even know what fear was. As if he wouldn’t even know how to vaguely avoid something. As if he wouldn’t even think about it.1c2ba9ac1fcbaedb

Surin, picking up her 6c873a7cd1 chopsticks again, picked up c49cefa208 a strand of dried 23e6064379 squid like him. Wonjin held down d5543c4367 the gochujang-coated dried bbc11b0fb2 squid so Surin 8f4b235a3f could take it 8c2ec835e4 comfortably.482a824b8987ce2a

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“A bigger world.”68ba0c5179045c3d

Surin quietly 37179eac4f repeated Wonjin’s 4f65b61bb3 words.e2d34be8e71b1cb5

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When she 7f8a21db13 looked up 4c93192c8a while chewing f2593be6bf the side f2d859a8ec dish, Wonjin 813ef1772a was concentrating 1d77fdbdba on his 2606650d3b meal. His lips, a8405c22f4 blowing on ac190a3c66 the jjigae, a39825e76c were unusually 96edd535c7 red, whether d9062f5fea from the cc245a43ea heat, the b8eee7cea1 spice, or f92d20edbe both.1b0deb49d7c1f64e

“So, are you 40771dabb8 doing something bigger fbeacdd4e4 now?”b42b499132d61522

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“You could 1c1990819c say that.”b0838f754fd22978

Surin looked around Wonjin’s house again, answering without hesitation. A house tends to have traces of the person living there.b607433a42bcd159

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But it was just a small villa, a little over 650 square feet. It wasn’t easy to find the big world he had stepped into from this cramped kitchen table.5427f47bfeb7021f

The misaligned upper 8b387cd7df kitchen cabinets were 76bca50937 crooked but didn’t 98db1ad681 wobble, and the ec911efc3d old refrigerator occasionally 92020cda18 made the sound 9a8deed73b of the compressor d3ba189b9a running, but it f07fa64eb4 was clean, without aa7188b073 any stuck-on food f75622e114 or dust.5b24d2b88e86e1f8

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This wasn’t a stage. It wasn’t a scene from a fairy tale where life goes on as long as one faithfully plays their assigned role.cee612ece3d63997

It had been a long time since Surin had witnessed the evidence of a lived-in house, a real life, a livelihood, so close up. The life she had lived in the world she belonged to was closer to mere “survival” than “living.” Anyone would think so.abf02b30989ac682

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That’s why Surin was e6593b480d curious about Wonjin’s world.4efdf2ccd5c220f1