Hyun Woo

Just when I was tightly hugging him my stomach growled, and he laughed. “Someone’s hungry. What do you say we have dinner? Let’s see what you’ve prepared.” He got up and turned on the lights.

“This is nice. You’re even better than me,” he said while eating the pasta I had made. I was never much into doing things for others, but for him… I didn’t dislike it. In fact, I might have liked it.

“I’ll cook for you when we go abroad,” I said. There was no reply.

After a pause, he asked, “So, did you find out whether only one person goes, or everyone who stands first gets to go on the trip?”

“Yeah…” I lowered my head, focusing on my food. “Everyone who stands first gets to go.”

“Is that so?” His tone carried doubt. Did he catch my lie? I never want to lie to him, but if a lie allows us to be happy, what’s wrong with it? I never understand why he insists on truth at all costs.

Just as I was lost in thought, he continued, “That’s great then.” He looked straight into my eyes. I couldn’t meet his gaze.

The days went by as usual.

“Hyun Woo, why have you left your socks in the bathroom again? They stink. If I find them here next time, I’ll burn them.” He was angry for sure.

“To burn them, you’d have to enter the bathroom first and touch them. Would you dare?” I asked, flipping through TV channels.

Before I could finish, he was running toward me, twisting my ear and dragging me by it.

“I wouldn’t dare, exactly,” he said through gritted teeth. “But you will. I won’t be washing your socks anymore. If you leave them next time, you’ll have to wear shoes without socks for the rest of your life. Understood?”

“Ow, ow, it hurts, please!” I pleaded as he pulled me into the bathroom. The smell was potent. He locked me in until I washed them and the air cleared.

“My hands are wrinkly, and I’m sweating like hell,” I muttered when he finally opened the door.

“Oh, you survived the nuclear weapon,” he smirked, going back to his chores. “Take a bath. We have to prepare notes. Exams are just two weeks away.”

“We also have to apply for the university we selected,” I reminded him. “Keep the details ready while I’m gone. I’ve written everything in that book on the table, got it?”

He didn’t answer, as if he hadn’t heard. “Did you hear me?”

“Yes, I heard you. Now go,” he said, shooing me away.

In the evening, we sat down to fill in the forms online.

“You saw how I filled everything, right? Do the same for yours. I’ll be back — need to go to the loo,” I hurried.

“You better flush properly, or I’ll dunk your head into the pot. Understood?” He glared.

By the time I returned, he was already done. I had taken too long — my stomach was upset; the pasta had betrayed me.

“Why did you add so much spice when it doesn’t suit you?” he asked while preparing something.

“You’re already done? You filled it properly, right?” I asked.

“Yes. I saved the acknowledgment in the same folder as yours. Keep it safely, understood?” He handed me a cup of some liquid. “Drink this, it’ll relieve your stomach. And eat something light today, okay?”

“Fine” I replied. He stepped outside to make a call.

“Who was it?” I asked when he came back. We never hid things from each other — no matter how personal.

“It was Si Won” he said.

I never liked that name. His childhood friend. They were close — not as close as us, but still. I always felt Si Won knew things about Hyun Woo that I didn’t. A fact I disliked. But as long as he was abroad in the UK, I was fine.

“So, what was it about?” I pressed.

“Nothing much. He’ll be visiting during the holidays.” He shrugged. “It’s been four years. Can you believe it? It’ll be cool. You’ll like him once you meet him.” He smiled when he said like.

I wasn’t so sure. “But you won’t be able to spend many days with him, right? Because we’ll be in the US after few days of his visit.” I said it happily, he smiled too but why that smile didn’t reach his eyes.