Na-Yool sat on the couch, turned on the TV, modified channels a couple of occasions, and gave a sidelong look in direction of the kitchen – the place he was. There was nothing in sight. This home was too massive, and there have been too many blind spots in a single place.

Identical to that, she strained her eyes trying in direction of a sure route with the TV nonetheless on, when her cellphone rang.

“…Who would name at this hour?”

Na-Yool rummaged by way of the zip-up pocket of her hoodie and pulled out her cellphone. She casually regarded on the display screen, and her face barely sulked.

She didn’t even bear in mind when she had saved this quantity…

[Sang-Hoon Oppa’s mother]

‘Oppa’, what a joke. Na-Yool frowned and pressed the ability button to cease the ringing.

The cellphone went on for some time and not using a sound then stopped. Na-Yool instantly opened the display screen that had been changed with a missed name and clicked to delete the saved identify.

The supply of this misfortune goes again to when Na-Yool had no alternative however to ship a textual content to Sang-Hoon’s mom. On his mom’s birthday, he had made an enormous deal to have Na-Yool name her or at the least ship her a textual content, like some mannequin filial son. Na-Yool first rejected it, arguing that their relationship had not reached that time but, however ultimately caved in out of guilt upon going through his wounded expression.

Even with out asking, the rationale for Sang-Hoon’s mom’s name was apparent. Clearly, he had confided concerning the embarrassing incident to her.

“Why do you look so grave?”

“…No, it’s nothing.”

Na-Yool blankly shook her head and took the tray Si-Jin held out with a smile. The pasta was neatly plated in an costly ceramic bowl, trying like some japchae (stir-fried glass noodles) from a high-end Korean restaurant.

“Wow, it smells actually good!”

“Cease smelling and eat. Earlier than it’s too late.”

“If we eat this now, when ought to we fall asleep?”

“In at the least 3 hours.”

“Okay then.”

Na-Yool nodded and rolled the pasta round her fork. On the TV that nobody was watching, a house purchasing program was at the moment airing. As an alternative of lifting his fork, Si-Jin picked up the distant and surfed channels a couple of extra occasions.

As he did so, the faint yapping of a pet echoed. Na-Yool abruptly raised her head from her pasta.

“Pet…”

It was a muffled, one-off cry she let loose of her mouth filled with meals, unable to correctly articulate. Si-Jin but amazingly made out the phrase and turned the channel again on.

“You want canine?”

“Sure, completely, a lot! Aren’t they so cute?”

A number of new child puppies had been dawdling on the massive display screen. Si-Jin knitted his eyebrows on the sight, like fearing their hair would fly by way of. As for Na-Yool, she was sucked into the display screen instantly.

“…For those who say so.”

“Ah, do you perhaps like cats?”

“As if.”

“It could actually’t be that you don’t like them?”

She checked out him as if she couldn’t even fathom the thought. And earlier than he might reply, she requested once more.

“Don’t inform me you don’t like puppies too?!”

“I simply hate each.”

“Oh my god…”

“I hate every part with hair.”

“It figures.”

First puzzled, Na-Yool now nodded her head in acknowledgment as if it was anticipated from him. Si-Jin didn’t appear offended by her “You, cold-hearted individual!” expression and easily shrugged his shoulders.

“I like each of them, so I need to elevate each sometime,” Na-Yool added.

Nonetheless, this is able to be a little bit of an issue. Si-Jin’s chewing halted and he turned towards her with a frown.

“I like massive canine like this one.”

“……”

“And in addition fluffy little ones like poodles or Malteses. If I get a cat, I need to elevate a black one—”

“—and when would you make that occur?”

“Ah, I’ve not determined but. Sometime, perhaps… It’s only a imprecise thought.”

“In your previous age?”

“No, that’s too distant. Although for now, it’s too tough, contemplating I’m working and are available again dwelling late…” Come to consider it, was not the President of the mentioned firm sitting proper subsequent to her? Na-Yool flinched as she choked a bit on her phrases. “It’s not that I’m having a tough time, however that it could be laborious to lift a pet in such circumstances. I didn’t imply to complain to you, and neither in charge the corporate… After all, it’s tough, however I didn’t imply it in a critical means……”

“I do know.”

“…I used to be pondering of elevating it later, as soon as I get much less busy after shifting to a brand new firm.”

In the long run, Na-Yool inadvertently spurted out the phrases she had barely swallowed again. Si-Jin quietly slanted his eyebrows.

“Are you pondering of adjusting jobs?”

“No. It’s nothing critical for now, as I mentioned, simply sometime.”

“So that you do plan on doing it sometime?”

“…Truthfully, how can somebody work for 10, 20 years for a similar firm?”

“So long as one’s needs, supplied that the corporate doesn’t bankrupt,” Si-Jin answered evenly. So why can’t you achieve this?

Na-Yool swallowed the pasta she saved chewing on and helplessly shook her head.

“I doubt it is going to bankrupt.”

Simply final 12 months, there was a time when she reasonably wished the corporate would go broke. It was not that she didn’t like the corporate. However only for a couple of seconds. Simply an on the spot when she had reached her restrict and was so exhausted, but she didn’t dare consider quitting herself. She had then wished for the entity to halt indefinitely by itself.

This was all due to cash. This rattling capitalist society.

“Have a look at this obstinate face of yours, Mr. President. Clearly, the enterprise won’t ever go down.”

“Clearly.”

“It’s simply that I’ll stop sometime. Except, in fact, you hearth me earlier than then.” Na-Yool laughed, however Si-Jin didn’t. Feeling embarrassed, Na-Yool turned her gaze again to the TV. She had already blurted all of it out anyway. “I believed it could be laborious to maintain working there as a result of it was too difficult. Although it has been two years since pondering so… After all the pay is engaging, however I additionally actually just like the job and the kind of requests. I don’t suppose I might do this sort of work wherever else. At the least, proper now, my work feels significant. This thought retains me going. However nonetheless, it’s typically laborious. That’s why.”

“That’s why?” Si-Jin inspired her softly to go on.

“I’m nonetheless younger, so for now it’s nice, however I suppose sometime my power will decline.  That’s why, earlier than I overdo it…”

“So, eat nicely.”

“…Am I not?”

It was now near 10 pm, but Na-Yool was unimaginably having a meal. She wouldn’t have even dreamt of it earlier than. Not below the excuse of being too late hour for a meal, or of being unhealthy. However as a result of her first urge when coming again dwelling, means too drained, was to lie down.

“Additionally, don’t be a choosy eater.” Si-Jin rebuked as he watched her secretly choosing out the chicory leaves from her salad.

“Even when I eat nicely, this received’t do.”

“Train, too.”

“Exercising will end me off.”

“And so that you’re going to surrender and stop to lift a pet?”

“What sort of conclusion is that? It’s only a want. Sometime, if I modify to a job with extra free time within the night, and transfer to a home a little bit larger than my present one. It received’t be straightforward due to the deposit however… since cats and canine want area to mess around—”

“This home is massive too.”

“So?”

“……”

“…..?”

A clumsy silence. Then, interrupted by an abrupt canine bark coming from the TV.

“Nevermind. Neglect it.”

“What’s it?”

“Neglect it.”

“I’d have instantly, if solely you didn’t stress so intensely for me to overlook it.”

Si-Jin evenly snorted.

“What did you count on me to say?”

“How would I do know? Else why would I ask…”

“Then you may overlook about it.” Si-Jin casually brushed it over whereas rolling his pasta with the fork. Whereas confused, Na-Yool mechanically put the pasta in her mouth as she mumbled.

“…But it surely feels like I ought to have ‘count on’ one thing? Seeing how adamant you’re for me to let it go.”

“I don’t very similar to canine and cats anyway.” Si-Jin beat across the bush with seemingly simple phrases.

“I do know that.”

“Simply ensuring you do.”

“I get it, however what’s your level?”

Na-Yool actually had no clue what that back-and-forth was about. Si-Jin muttered with a extra irritated expression than when he first noticed the puppies.

“I hate them.”

“Sure, I received it, however what?…It’s not such as you had been going to stay with me, and subsequently not with them both.” [T/N: In case you’re as lost as NY, SJ is actually hinting that his house is big enough to raise cats/dogs and that, despite not liking them, he would do it for her. Sweet tsundere boy <3 But NY clearly doesn’t not picture such a far future for them>.>;]