The After 7 Years

Back to Namhae

Three days have passed since the tent stall. There's no communication between me and Hae Soo. Maybe he is busy trying to fix his problems. His career has been on the edge ever since. I doubt Young Bum will let this matter go. Especially the fact that Hae Soo is someone I know. He could have used this to magnify the problem.

I took the rest of the cold coffee on the table. Drink it in one sitting and then lower your legs from the chair. I stared at the empty screen for an hour. There is not a single word I wrote. Just a word “Au” who has been perched there since. Idea's stuck. I plan to finish the novel in a month. But if this continues, when will it finish?

While continuing to stare at the monitor screen, my mind suddenly turned to Young Bum. To the boy I met at the supermarket. Yesterday, after the supermarket I saw her coming in with a middle-aged woman, maybe forty-three years old. His hands carried ice cream and his feet were bleeding right at the knees. He didn't cry but I'm sure the pain gnawed at his leg.

Young Bum and her son live in unit 221's apartment. Not far from my apartment. Several times I accidentally ran into him around the apartment. When you want to throw garbage, exercise, when going to the minimarket. I also saw him from the balcony walking with his son. And every time I see him, I've never seen his wife.

Of course it's none of my business. But they are a family. At least I should be able to see them together even if only once? And that middle-aged woman, was it Young Bum's mother who took care of her child while she was away at work?

The sound of a bell being held aloud to the point of making me surprised and aware of the daydream. I open the door and Hae Soo appears. A smile curled up on his lips. His hand carried a plastic bag containing a box of pizzas, a few cans of soda and my favorite snack gathered together with cans of soda.

He'll be long in my apartment. Sure.

“You don't have any weekend activities to the point of spending time here?” I'm still blocking the door, haven't let him in.

Hae Soo pushes the door then barges in and sits on the sofa.

“I brought food. At least, you appreciate it.” He put food wrappers on the table.

“You disappeared these three days after making a mess. I thought you didn't need me anymore,” I said.

“Three days I'm always overtime. A lot of work that I have to take care of,” he replied while opening a pizza box. Wow...my favorite topping. He always pleases me with food.

“You still work there?” I took a slice of pizza –his cheese melted when pulled—then put it in his mouth.

“Sure,” the answer is relaxed.

“Your problem with Young Bum?”

“He didn't bring up the issue at the office. Strange indeed, but most importantly I still work there,” he said then opened the soda can. Throwing towards me then opened another one for himself.

“Any once,” my comment. “If I were him .. I fired you. Brash subordinate who dared to invite his boss fight.”

“On that, I'm really sorry. I do not know and .. I think it will be a valuable lesson to no longer drink soju more than two glasses.”

“Of course,” sahutku.

Young Bum forgot about that? It doesn't look like him. I'm sure she was really angry that night. His eyes also shone with a huge hatred towards me and Hae Soo. Then, why would he let this matter pass like it had never happened? What's he planning?

“By the way, you haven't told me your problem.” Hae Soo pulls out a slice of pizza. Eat it with a big mouthful then wipe the remaining cheese left at the tip of the lips.

“Noh Jun Go's. He's making trouble. The Fire Man was not renewed and he also signed with LeafToon. You remember my bet with Mr Lee?” Hae Soo nodded. “Because of failing to keep Jun Go at BlueToon, I was forced to submit a resignation letter.”

“You didn't try to persuade him to stick around?” ask with a full mouth.

“Everything happened suddenly. He didn't tell me. And when I just persuaded him he said he already signed a contract with LeafToon.” To this day, I am still angry with that man.

“Bigger! Give me his home address! And I'll give him a lesson on how to appreciate others.” Hae Soo's face stiffened.

I know very well what Hae Soo is when he's angry. He could have gotten people into the hospital just to give a calculation. A complaint yesterday. The drunkenness made him much weaker than he was in normal conditions.

“She doesn't know return, Kyung Hee!” He even snapped at me. “You spend most of your precious time taking care of it. And after already having it all, he instead made your life difficult.”

 “I know. I almost punched him that day, too. But I realized that everything I do is part of my job and .. I can't deny that he also has the right to choose, to stay with BlueToon or to leave. What is clear, he has fulfilled the responsibility by completing his work,” I explained at length.

“Arghhh ..” Hae Soo tries to hold back her mounting emotions. “But at least he should have told you first about signing a contract with LeafToon. So you never made that stupid bet.”

He was right, but everything happened. What else do you want now? I can't replay time.

“Already. It's been a few days anyway. It would be strange if you gave him the calculation after three days have passed.”

He drank his soda a few gulps to calm himself down. “Then, what will you do after this?”

“Writing. I want to be a novelist.”

“You've talked about this before. But isn't the process long until your book comes out? Are you just going to write without working to make money?”

My phone is shaking on the table. “I'm not stupid Hae Soo ...” I reached for the phone and found Jung Hee's name on the screen. Tumben once he called. “Shortly!” I said tell Hae Soo.

“Halo?” my answer was to pick up the call in front of Hae Soo.

“Nunna, mom is now in hospital.”

“Huh?” I was quite surprised to hear Jung Hee say.

“She fainted. When I came home from work out, I saw him lying in the kitchen. Maybe tired after last night work.”

“How is the current condition?”

“Still unconscious. I'm also still waiting for more information from doctor.”

“I'll be home. Please take care of mom first.” Jung Hee agreed to my request.

I hung up the phone and for a moment, I was stunned.

“Your mother fainted?” I'm nodding.

“I have to go home right now,” I said then shuffled up my jacket and bag.

“Let me drive,” said Hae Soo suddenly.

“No need. You still have to work tomorrow. And I guess I'll be a few days there,” obviously I'm reluctant to bother with it.

“I can go home first after. Most importantly, you can get there as soon as possible. It's still morning.” He insisted on explaining.

I thought for a moment, then I agreed.