WWBU - 85

Ah. Hyun-soo didn’t respond directly and instead laughed lightly, bowing her head slightly before turning to leave.

“Hey, you’ve got a ring, miss.”

“Huh? A ring?”

“It looked like a diamond to me. Am I right?”

At the woman’s words, Hyun-soo’s gaze instinctively dropped to her fourth finger. The wedding ring was indeed a diamond.

“A diamond? When did you even notice that?”

“Look at you, acting all clueless. All I saw when you were sitting there was your hand. What else was I supposed to look at?”

“Well, you’ve got sharp eyes.”

Hyun-soo paused in her steps, fiddling with her fingers, then turned back toward the counter.

“So… why are you asking about the ring?”

“Well, you said you’re broke, right? That thing could fetch a decent price.”

“…”

“Why don’t you sell it to me?”

“To you?”

Hyun-soo’s face clouded with suspicion, prompting the two women to burst into laughter.

“Oh, look at that expression! Don’t worry, this lady isn’t some weirdo! She’s my close friend—she runs a big jewelry shop in the market downtown.”

“Ah, I see.”

“So, what do you say? Will you sell it to me?”

“But… it’s my wedding ring.”

“Oh, come on now. What’s the point of wearing a diamond ring when you’re struggling to find a room to sleep in? My family doesn’t even have wedding rings anymore—not even a baby ring! We sold everything when my husband’s business went belly-up. Jewelry is meant to be used during tough times, miss.”

Her words struck a chord. Hyun-soo felt a flicker of doubt. What good was a diamond ring when she didn’t even have a roof over her head? And once the baby was born, she’d barely be able to scrape by as it was.

When she thought only of herself, it didn’t bother her much. But considering the baby, her resolve wavered.

Hyun-soo continued to fidget with her ring, licking her lips nervously. It was a symbol of marriage—but if she sold it, did it really matter anymore?

Did this marriage even hold any meaning for her now? Truly?

Suddenly, Han’s face flashed in her mind. His words from yesterday echoed too. Her nails dug into her skin as she absently rubbed her hand.

Hyun-soo lifted her bowed head. Her voice emerged flat and deliberate, as though squeezed out between clenched teeth.

“What do I need to do to sell this?”

________________________________________

A year and three months passed.

In Seodong-myeon, Idduk, the season had grown warm enough to border on hot. On a day when people were beginning to shed their long sleeves for short ones, Hyun-soo stepped into a café called “Won-Ang Café,” formerly known as “Won-Ang Dabang” (teahouse).

Jingle jangle. The cheerful sound of the doorbell accompanied her entrance. Hyun-soo paused briefly at the doorway, surveying the narrow interior. Spotting her from the back of the café, her meeting partner—a fellow teacher named Hoseok—leapt up and waved enthusiastically.

“He-hey, Ms. Hyun-soo! Over here!”

Fanning himself and wiping his flushed cheeks, Hoseok grinned sheepishly at her smile.

“Hello. Where are the others?”

“Oh, they said they’d be coming a bit later…”

“I see.”

“Please, take a seat.”

“Thank you.”

Seeing Hyun-soo still standing by the table, Hoseok gestured to the opposite side. Nodding, she settled into the seat across from him.

“It’s hot, isn’t it? Would you like something to drink?”

“I’ll have orange juice, please. And you?”

“I’ll take an iced coffee.”

For some reason, Hoseok seemed unusually tense. Watching him curiously, Hyun-soo raised her hand toward the entrance. The café owner, seated behind the counter, approached briskly.

“One iced coffee and one orange juice?”

“Yes.”

“Got it. I’ll bring them right away. By the way, Mr. Hoseok.”

“Yes?”

“How awkward can you be! Try to act natural, will you?”

Interrupting mid-order, the owner teased him with a playful grin, slapping his shoulder lightly. Flustered, Hoseok glanced back and forth between her and Hyun-soo, his face reddening.

“Wh-what are you talking about?! Who’s being awkward?! Why would I be nervous?”

“As if anyone wouldn’t notice. Everyone here knows except for you. If you want to impress the teacher, try looking cool, alright?”

“Ugh, stop saying strange things! Just go, please!”

Finally unable to bear it, Hoseok stood up abruptly and pushed the chuckling owner gently away. She laughed heartily, her loud cackles echoing through the small café.

“Are you okay? You’re sweating…”

“Huh? Oh, y-yeah, I’m fine.”

“Here, use this.”

Watching the scene quietly, Hyun-soo handed him a tissue. Hoseok, now drenched in sweat, accepted it gratefully and wiped his forehead and chin. The tissue quickly became soaked.

“That owner sometimes says odd things like that.”

“Yes.”

“Even just ordering drinks turns into such a fuss…”

“It’s a small town. People make a big deal out of anything—like seeing a man and woman sitting together.”

Fortunately, Hyun-soo seemed unfazed. Relieved, Hoseok exhaled and wiped his face again. Another tissue quickly turned damp.

“It’s rare to have a weekend gathering turn into a work dinner, isn’t it? The principal sure is something.”

Changing the subject, Hoseok sighed theatrically, prompting a quiet laugh from Hyun-soo.

“What did you do with the baby?”

“I asked the babysitter to watch him for an extra day.”

“That’s fortunate.”

“I’m very grateful for that.”

With nothing more to say, they sat silently facing each other—Hoseok sweating profusely, and Hyun-soo checking the time.

“You two look great together. Perfect as a couple, perfect!”

The owner’s boisterous commentary followed her arrival, making Hoseok jump to his feet again.

“It’s not like that, ma’am! Stop teasing!”

“Oh, nonsense—you’re beet-red! Go on, make a move, alright?”

Placing their drinks on the table with a thud, the owner added one last remark, emphasizing her words when setting down Hyun-soo’s glass. Though Hyun-soo smiled politely, Hoseok’s discomfort only deepened.

“Go already!”

After finally shooing the owner away, Hoseok sank back into his seat, his clothes slightly disheveled and his demeanor exhausted.

Another long stretch of time passed. Nearly twenty minutes had gone by, yet none of the other colleagues showed up.

“Shall I give them a call?”

“No, Ms. Hyun-soo. Let me handle it. Just a moment.”

Stopping Hyun-soo as she reached for her phone, Hoseok sprang up and moved toward the entrance to make the call. Once connected, he began speaking animatedly, his expression shifting rapidly.

“Wh-what do you mean…? I never asked for this… Hello? Principal! Principal!”

Hyun-soo glanced at Hoseok, who had just hung up, scratching the back of his head in frustration.

“What happened?”

Returning to his seat, Hoseok was drenched in sweat again. Accepting another tissue from Hyun-soo, he wiped his face while explaining.

“It seems… the principal may have caused some trouble.”

“Trouble?”

“None of the teachers are coming.”

“What do you mean…? Ah.”

It finally clicked. What else could it mean when only a man and woman showed up to a group outing, and no one else appeared?

“I’m so sorry, Ms. Hyun-soo.”

During the lull in conversation, a visibly nervous Hoseok gulped down his iced coffee repeatedly.

“It’s not your fault, Hoseok. You didn’t plan this.”

“Still, it must be awkward for you.”

Hyun-soo gave an awkward smile, exhaling deeply. Even if it meant risking their good working relationship, she felt it was time to speak her mind.

“Hoseok… I’ve mentioned this several times before, but I’m not in a position to meet anyone right now.”

“Huh? Oh, yes…”

“And you know I have a child.”

“As far as that goes, I’m fine with it. It doesn’t bother me.”

“No, it should bother you. It has to.”

Hoseok couldn’t hide his disappointment at Hyun-soo’s firm tone.

In truth, when Hyun-soo first settled in Seodong-myeon, she had been upfront about her situation: she was married and had a child. But since her husband hadn’t shown his face in over a year, everyone assumed she was a single mother.

“Shall we leave?”

Nodding at Hyun-soo’s suggestion, Hoseok rose slowly. Then, as if realizing something, he dashed to the counter to pay the bill before she could. Hyun-soo couldn’t help but notice how considerate he was in moments like this—he wasn’t a bad person at all.

Jingle jangle. As they stepped out of the café, the cheerful bell rang again.

“If you’d like, I can drive you home.”

“No, thank you. The bus is fine.”

“Oh, alright. At least let me walk you to the stop…”

The bus stop was just across a narrow two-lane road. Unable to refuse without seeming rude, Hyun-soo nodded.

They walked side by side toward the bus stop.

“Thanks to you, I enjoyed the juice.”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

“Staying home alone on weekends can get boring, so I’ll think of this as getting some fresh air.”

“Ms. Hyun-soo, your positivity is always refreshing… Kyaaah!”

Squeeeal.

Before either of them realized it, a sleek black car screeched to a halt right beside Hoseok, nearly hitting him.

“What kind of driving is that?! Watch where you’re going!”

Hoseok, clutching his racing heart, shouted indignantly to mask his embarrassment.

“Are you okay?”

Concerned, Hyun-soo squinted and stepped forward, trying to catch a glimpse of the driver. But the car’s tinted windows were too dark to see inside.

Ugh, unbelievable. Hyun-soo furrowed her brow in irritation. Not only had the reckless driver failed to apologize, but they hadn’t even stepped out of the car. What a messed-up world.