288 – EP.11 Seed of Friction-2
From Noble mtl dot com
***
Sunday night.
After dinner, seeing Kim Seong-ah return to her room in her fresh state, he was sitting at her table and spending time drinking orange juice.
“…Still not talking.”
Friday’s drinking party ended awkwardly. The following Saturday and Sunday passed without much incident.
Seongah Kim did her studies by staying in her room except when she was eating. Of course, it would be up to her conscience whether she really studied.
Kang In-ho spent her holiday cleaning up her yard, pulling out overgrown weeds and pruning away tangled tree branches.
When he was pulling grass in the yard, wearing an old hat that was rolling around, he felt eyes on him from time to time, but he didn’t pay any attention to it.
Just as Seodanggae recited good luck every three years, he was gradually becoming accustomed to understanding people’s moods.
He was oblivious enough to not notice that Kim Seong-ah’s attitude had subtly changed in her reaction to her ex-girlfriend.
“I should have just pretended nothing happened.”
She should have hidden her true feelings and acted calm. It was a fact she knew well.
Like an awl in her pocket, wrapped in a nasty wrapper of painful memories, that awl pierced her heart, so she couldn’t manage her expression.
“Wow, it’s sour.”
As the sour taste, beyond the sweetness, filled his mouth, he frowned and looked at the outside of the orange juice.
You can see the phrase ‘100% juice’.
He was thinking about having another drink, but put the juice in the refrigerator.
Then, he casts his gaze towards the location where she is likely to be. What you see is the ceiling.
“It will come when the time comes.”
You must be confused. He thought.
There was nothing more dangerous than going over and talking to her for no reason, only to have her mind become aware of it.
He decided to just stay quiet. Hoping she would realize it a little later.
“The weekend goes by so quickly. I need to go practice.”
Even for unemployed people, the weekend goes by quickly and is a sad day.
He walked into the living room to observe his inner strength.
While he was putting her in the lotus position and doing her meditation, Seongah Kim on the second floor was lying on her bed watching her YouTube channel.
I look through the algorithmic comedy channel with a dry face.
The one-minute video containing the essence of comedians who were freed from the limitations of broadcast deliberation was objectively fun and novel.
But laughter does not come out readily.
“I’m annoyed.”
I’ve been feeling uncomfortable lately. My mood changes rapidly, and the extent of the change is unpredictable.
“It’s not even when I’m on my period.”
She mutters while looking at her calendar.
“Why do I get involved with you…?”
I think I know the cause. But I don’t know why.
What is the relationship between me and you?
“Enemy?”
Spit out a single syllable. And then she shakes her head.
It was like that at first. Since the Persona was transformed into human form, she was brought in for surveillance.
“Do you live with me?”
After living together for a few days, he became a housemate in this house.
“Guardian?”
When asked to become his guardian, he nodded. Although he did put some strange conditions on it….
“Uncle…”
I trace my dry lips with his fingers and think of him.
His heart is pounding slightly. It’s a different feeling from when I was drinking, when my heart was tightening.
“Ha….”
With frustration, I let out her breath.
I put the cell phone I was holding in front of my face on the nightstand and looked at the ceiling of the dark room.
And then I think about tomorrow.
“I have to go to school.”
Get up from bed, eat breakfast, wash, put on school uniform and go to school.
Go into the classroom, sit down, solve the never-ending workbook, and listen to the class.
During break time, I talk to the kids around me.
When I think about that, I suddenly feel frustrated.
“…I don’t want to go.”
These were words that were different from her usual complaining and expressed her deep true feelings.
Those were words that only she could hear.
***
On Monday, Seongah Kim went to school. Like an office worker, she had a dark expression on her face the whole time she left, perhaps because she was sick from Monday.
On Tuesday, Seongah Kim went to school. She left her house looking brighter than she had on Monday.
On Wednesday, Seongah Kim went to school. She must have had a hard time at school that day, and when she returned home, she had a tired look on her face.
On Thursday, Seongah Kim went to school.
After seeing her off, he decided to prepare a special meal for her to cheer her on for her hard work.
Kang In-ho went to her supermarket and bought ingredients for her bulgogi (it was her money, of course).
As he was returning home carrying a big envelope, his cell phone rang.
“Yes, hello.”
Seeing the caller’s name, he quickly answered the phone.
A familiar voice came from the other side, and as the conversation progressed, her face gradually hardened.
“Ah… I see. I understand. I’ll talk to you.”
The phone hung up, and he lowered the phone to his ear.
The traffic light turned green and blinked, urging him on, but he did not move.
“Ha….”
He let out a sigh filled with anger and regret.
The day before yesterday, Kim Seong-ah did not go to school.
The day before yesterday, Kim Seong-ah did not go to school.
Yesterday, Kim Seong-ah did not go to school.
Today, Seongah Kim did not go to school.
“It was said to be somewhat easy.”
Clicking her tongue, he scratched his head.