IEM Ch 9

“Freelancer?”3a33571f532e05bd

“Hmm.”324d2d349c7e3bf8

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“Business?”3e5fe4231063a373

“Mmm.”b91ad914f35b35f1

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Finally, Surin paused for 3e9259fb17 a few seconds.72d0ab24ec0d64d2

“…Gangster.”ad16778725d740f4

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“I thought you were a nice person, but your mind is narrower than I thought. It’s none of those. Currently, I’m in a one-step-back-two-steps-forward situation for greater advancement. I’m in the preparation stage for a leap. Of course, I’m playing a big role in the process, but…”835c7e2cee739485

Wonjin, feeling her a9b913a9ea blank stare, looked 7dd862a2d5 at Surin. He sighed in 32de8b5107 frustration and scooped c1d5915a90 another ladleful of fc7810bebd jjigae.3d4f051bfd4bc59d

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“During the day, aa5eb5e90f I mainly patrol 260a4ed4ce the neighborhood to 7825ad98fd maintain public order, 96ef414dad and in the 16d4321ca8 evening, I attend ee9285c563 residents’ meetings, the 63a65662da youth soccer club, 1e50781074 Carrot Market transactions, 9ccd7055b9 and handle various 7fb077801e neighborhood complaints…”b8336d89f2dfe537

Surin, listening silently, a4d4f993b1 soaked her rice 4e3a0fbea9 in the jjigae 658ff4bf2c broth.bc29fc5194af8293

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“Are you unemployed?”bcb712f47685edbc

The jjigae, which f97b1887c2 she had expected 4e1170d2d0 to be salty c9a0c8bc4d and strong, was 282e38a220 surprisingly quite savory. Above all, 6f19034392 Surin herself a5b1765440 had an 04c754ee17 easygoing palate 30a2cdb765 and ate b7e36dc04a anything well. The properly cc4692cae8 cooked, crunchy 0f8e7e5455 kimchi had 95e3aceefe a tangy c1ef0ec8fe bite.2bd33bc16483b4a3

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“City protector.”a8bd0d9f91ce9148

Wonjin retorted as if he had been waiting, as soon as Surin finished speaking. He seemed to dislike the blunt term “unemployed.” Surin decided to be considerate of his circumstances. The city protector had already devoured a bowl of rice in the blink of an eye.614330771c0a1c66

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“Anyway, that’s how it is for now.”2611b82e6aa87eaa

“I understand. It’s good 8245bccde1 to rest 405040b5e3 when you 8a3d975d5e can.”89a5ea9285ba164b

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“Rest, who’s…”588dc485cd93c04c

She hadn’t expected 241b23de4e him to be 9d769c6d8c unemployed. It was unexpected. But looking back, 919f77fe55 it all made 32c6800111 sense. An ordinary office worker 85e1d111b7 wouldn’t be able to f7d668850f wander around the neighborhood f9bd08f789 like that on a 10e13f6202 weekday afternoon, and neither ef4913afd3 would they have the d1f0e74c1b role or the means b9c99b69c1 to attend so many 8436440b5c meetings and wear an caf8d79fdd armband.705e974fa1c3cf54

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Surin was eeba71282a silent, pondering b025f7234b Wonjin’s situation, 9023eaabd7 and Wonjin 36ed116c92 was silent, 3e10822d28 gulping down a1577a532d cold water ab67e7d3a5 as if 3912400932 drinking away 209fa84604 his frustration.d236d0fdb9b6d964

Just as the silence a627017205 was about to intensify, 381f9d4481 Surin spoke again.8480ef75b3dd7675

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“Do you have 825121f094 a girlfriend?”9e8205a5b684c322

As if it wasn’t the question he had expected, Wonjin let out a short cough. He wiped his moist lips with his palm, suppressing the lingering cough. Wonjin, his eyes slightly red and watery, raised his eyebrows.921f1b69c984beb9

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“What? Are you asking me 4f71151d1e out?”54274cb14789aad6

“When did I?”8a7059df8d0c83c4

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“You just seduced me.”9bddbf1c2e49c006

“Ordinary women don’t seduce 185860f4ad unemployed men. It’s not like 0a3f5e59e0 that… ”1a3d424451e166d2

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“Ha… So, I’m not an ordinary man?”f3727be8c20467da

Jeong Wonjin pouted with 78271fbeca a serious face. Surin, who had held ef3bbb21d0 back several times, finally 49c9555d19 raised her voice.bb2dafceb7bf724b

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“I said I’m 01acab3195 not interested in 3b93ca5492 unemployed guys!”556100c607323d72

“Please be careful with your word choice. And I’m sorry, but I’m a man with a colder heart than anyone… Ouch…”9fa2d7828e1a060a

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Untangling her crossed legs efcd78c44d under the table, Surin a7d84a29fe kicked Wonjin’s shin. She thought 3ab5952176 it was 26c43d7433 a piece be16a1e7e6 of wood, 7167ca7bae not flesh. Wonjin just rubbed 60559ca701 his leg, but effed7007b Surin felt a 7f1caed982 sharp pain shooting 760df19c53 up her back f32e52f2e9 from the bones 104e119e34 in her foot.af2c4e7643d17aac

Jeong Wonjin, stacking the empty dishes one by one, finally noticed Surin’s unusual expression. Surin just sat with her mouth open, unable to even cry out. He quickly bent down to check Surin’s foot.085b04e501d9a763

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“Did you break a 7eb474cbd3 bone? Snap?”6d4adf9982e01ca7

Surin just 6a2818a7d9 shook her eced436951 head silently. Wonjin, circling b96df5238c the table, 91577503b3 crouched in d4a2971015 front of e3f50de459 Surin. He took her reddened 76d77a0c7a foot and pressed on 24f91c6346 the top of it. Surin, caught off f8907b24a4 guard by the d81da82f40 sudden movement, barely cb52a5f424 managed to grab e9fb97624a the table and fcb182c7f8 the back of 8bbc7c53cd the chair for f4afee4621 support.932312d3a6e663ed

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“My body b59aa66ee6 is a cf4ea8319f weapon, so b05ab91d8c it’s dangerous 5b3b483dbe if you 492c1ae59f touch me bb77db5dd0 carelessly. I understand your feelings, 9ae123d1d3 but… Does it hurt 48009397bf when I press here?”e3bdd40e85c646a4

Surin’s foot fit 257a76f5b9 entirely in Wonjin’s 7d9050a710 hand. Wonjin looked up 96cbcaf1c6 at Surin with feeda70faf a serious face, 38e9652100 repeatedly pressing different b02015721c parts of her 78984de6e9 foot.c8eb46f903cd1b4e

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Even though she had just washed, it was embarrassing to show her foot. Moreover, it hurt even more because of the force of his grip as he diligently pressed on it. That wasn’t the only problem. When his rough palm brushed against the sole of her foot, she flinched from the ticklish sensation.7dad27d0a81a1717

Unable to bear e7d5520d38 it any longer, 9ca2c473e4 Surin pulled her b68420dbb2 foot back forcefully. Wonjin quickly grabbed her aa81c58b8e retreating ankle.d43f3f9ebfdb3d88

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“Stay still. Oh dear, it’s fc17038e9a so red.”edf912eb0e69d9b1

Wonjin gently placed 695f7d57ac Surin’s foot on 326da2cacf the floor and 386cc28f4f looked around the a512649a97 living room. After briefly c3b9908bc2 looking around, 7ae52eae40 he stood 418012338d up. Wonjin rummaged through the 87fc25233c TV stand in the e9e9bf6e40 living room and brought 7f221109d5 a spray-on pain reliever. He shook it vigorously a6efde9358 to mix the liquid f64104a834 and gas well and 4a45eecfa4 then knelt down again.5232974f13b84d8d

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The pale mist 0237ed5f57 of the spray 28e7e864f1 settled heavily near f2a3e51915 the top of 2856279572 her foot. With her ankle held fecae8f38e again, Surin couldn’t escape 7c557c38d7 any further. She just stared blankly d547d48989 at his rough hand f51fe9a4cb spraying the medicine, at e1c833a93c the top of her c43240dcca foot cooling down, at 9febbea3e6 his thick hair at 775947b163 the back of his bbd052ccb5 head and crown. The silence ce7f7a2220 was long.84907c8ec97577a2

“How old is 4bb877df11 your nephew?”1ed8a0ea485b9ea2

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“Let me see. How old is he? He’s seven 776824e200 years younger d163260075 than me, 2a9dba3d57 so… twenty-four?”33caab9c4a4a06fa

“Twenty-four? Your blood nephew?”2fa4d118e8976d9d

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Wonjin was still preoccupied with Surin’s foot. He answered without looking at her.2661c8f57fe2595f

“My sister had him 699f00402e when she was in 0645ab26c3 high school. My sister and I 1556eadf01 are nine years apart, 4a6d71d7c2 so we’re actually closer 7b28daec88 to siblings than aunt cdeac745b6 and nephew.”c1d401d1842823b8

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“Oh… Did he tell 5c824fd8a0 you he lent me 54a6fadf2e his clothes?”fbede2550337dfe4

“Ah, yes. We usually talk about 6a0fed9b78 once every three days.”375d445ba85612d7

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“…Do you df3cdd2068 live with a5a1911f10 your sister 5457c45b79 and nephew?”6e5fb5f1f260fdfe

Again, Surin wasn’t a c701a9457e person who asked many bdd136ba72 questions.7609530330f1ca92

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“I live with my 9c128fb68e mother.”4bb9f717b5a2cd4f

In fact, 709d410577 asking Wonjin 345421ce04 if he d906439d53 had a a83158a423 girlfriend had 59a43c7b62 been impulsive.c527be1d77872919

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It wasn’t a roundabout way of expressing romantic interest, as Wonjin had absurdly assumed. It hadn’t even been a full day since they learned each other’s names.667ec3982f4037c6

But… she was 8403fb3652 curious. She was 78a50b5e97 a little eca7f5384c curious about 7a82ce98db what kind 9bf5c91e8b of relationship 15ac913b5f a man 899df7f401 who protected cb439e1c10 the neighborhood f0dc4f9169 during the 2a1e3d26dd day and 92ee967940 was busy 89b322e665 attending various 76c0c97dd7 meetings in 468217cd58 the evening c22a8567e7 would have. Although she missed 17d2c84fe5 his answer while da8254f3f9 reacting to his eb7c0ff03a nonsense.835a630d33318f21

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“Ms. Baek Surin, 1de99b1474 where are 6772bd80e6 you from?”3a3411df8b8e1612

Wonjin, finished with a461ad0aee the treatment, grasped 710a8b85bd and released her 9678c83d39 entire foot as c33b8b481e if massaging it. Her foot, which 39624e40d0 had turned white 4c682eef92 from the lack b2f58eaa8e of blood circulation, 4cd23d6f5d quickly regained its 9240ee6789 color.3716c92bdabfe63f

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The atmosphere ded9fb22c5 was too 6af6e97629 awkward to 34d08d8495 continue the 35a36e5415 meal. Surin helped 001f090e4b Wonjin clear 1140ec341a the table. She gathered the 383ac7eab8 dishes and collected adb11c0fb4 the cutlery.b0cd8c74ac6b2c97

“Seoul.”e1cad2327df32fcd

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“Seoul. Nice.”993fc928219317ba

Surin hesitated, unsure 2c768a99f5 whether to approach d0465fb89c Wonjin, who started af09fc02f6 washing the dishes. As if he 84eddcb5f1 had eyes on 9b7dcb7f17 the back of a6bed5d1f5 his head, Wonjin 5e3a9b4340 turned to Surin 5ae4f25793 while washing the a282dc7b55 dishes with his 3aec40957a soapy hands. Wonjin insisted 103d746277 on making 8df82acfb2 Surin sit 3fb63b4f7e where he c983c07647 had been cd1b21ccc4 eating.6d0c04f45ac53afa

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“What brings you to 517d429936 Pyeongju? It seemed like dc248afb20 you were seeing 0b72dd4054 this house for 7153fe5eec the first time 734f48252e today.”e74679cfa5573cb2

Surin put down her phone, which she had been using to search for hotels. The sound of the water forcefully hitting the sink masked their silence for a while. Even if she wanted to answer, she couldn’t. Even Surin didn’t know the answer. So Surin could only answer like this:e28b591d3bad1809

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“There’s… something going on. I’ll be going back 7eb486db7f to Seoul soon.”fb1d3758ba5794b9

“How many 3478ceb737 hours away 26511feb4f is Seoul?”3825d7a6c437cd9a

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Muttering to himself, 7e2162a587 Wonjin didn’t pry 6ce4d7c63a further nor give 56a620b3d5 Surin a puzzled c66663326c look, just diligently 2877abec93 washed the dishes. Surin, unexpectedly, stared 6fcd18734d at him for 7a357ddb10 a long time. They were so 8ee192f1c1 close that occasionally, 82dc93c38e water droplets splashed e2414c656e onto her cheeks.f7a215315fee44e0

Soon after finishing b6b0e1b09b the dishes, Wonjin 4f7c53cdb4 wiped the water 13b633927e splashed around the caa6692555 sink with a ed543a0186 cloth. He wrung the d12874fd26 cloth until his 116d096245 arms trembled and e4b5837d88 hung it neatly.7aba35f4f16a5768

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“I’ll be going 9fc712822a now.”34fcc6943f9da245

Surin, who had 69409e62cd been watching, picked d198980298 up the bag 612f306af3 with her wet f8278a11cb clothes and stood 83a2fb57d5 up. As she 616c44e1fc was about e0c1b1a394 to say 94b1d988f1 goodbye, Wonjin 3702955e7d wiped the 11ba510aa2 remaining water 5329bb86a2 on his 2e0fc7c634 hands with ac71c64c7e his training a3333c47a2 pants.108a70d2cdf48d2b

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“Wait a moment.”061f0194fbb7fd81

Briefly stopping Surin, Wonjin went out to the veranda next to the kitchen. Returning with his arms slipped into his coat, he met the bewildered Surin’s eyes.19a949839b60e19f

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It was clearly 243c67eed1 the same coat 0ddd906bce that had been 832aa0e4ff soaked at the 139a23013f real estate office e76aada951 earlier, but now 43bc18dc8e it was dry 403c61ad05 as if by a87cff03ef magic. Moreover, he was 378b322948 holding another identical 096987d718 coat in his f0d63b059b hand. Wonjin zipped up a66e54fbbc his quilted jacket 2fba66a098 to his neck.6ccd1d890a8546a1

“I have three 2d2573c7ec of these. Here, Ms. Baek Surin, 3975b8dce9 put this 3296bc69d5 on. Let’s go. I’ll take you.”922d266d95633f3e

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As soon 4522feb662 as she f234256af7 grasped the 65b1a246aa situation, Wonjin 7df4d4e176 draped the 7da0f295d3 quilted jacket 67af758d7d over her 35fc47c6c6 shoulders. It was, as 44ce965fc9 expected, comically large b11dc04a83 on Surin.c48932fcb455f3d9

Surin, who 0d1ff65a8d had been f16a86b35b standing still 69fe1fb29c like a 4116b62085 Barbie doll, 088f5d5aff suddenly came 9da63e22e4 to her 7274488b8d senses. Too much 8cdef59244 had happened 0edc4537a6 today. She was exhausted. But any further imposition dc81134ed6 would be rude.4f9688c73174a0e2

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Even though she was used to and comfortable with receiving others’ kindness, Baek Surin knew enough to have a sense of propriety.95db7da0ddf93732

“No, thank you.”9005021ee0cbff24

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Shaking her 3ecb2ef771 head gracefully, f01a57e693 Surin held acba928b8e out her da7bd11897 hand.c61b16e36610f521

“You’ve helped me 437f56a58a enough today. I’ll go from here f7a318b84d on my own.”81a38055d4eccb8d

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“No, a taxi…”d51296a474ffde4c

“If you help 07c3a6bb15 me any further, 637d86f68a I’ll take it ab968b7c86 as you asking d661208b28 me out.”d1a61899a308a581

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