Ch.318318. Can’t Find My House

After Han Siwoo left the company dinner in Hwa Nabi’s car, the two men remaining at the table sighed for different reasons. The deputy manager sighed with relief, while the employee sighed with envy.

“Phew, I almost said something that would’ve gotten me in big trouble.”

“I know, we almost said something terrible. Wow, I thought it had to be photo editing, but how can someone actually look like that…?”

“What? Where did that come from?”

“What do you mean? Deputy Manager, you just saw her too. Siwoo’s wife.”

“Ah.”

The deputy manager nodded, letting out an involuntary sound of admiration. Indeed, our new employee’s wife was incredibly beautiful. Without any exaggeration, when she stepped out of the car, I thought she was a celebrity.

“Deputy Manager, on social media there are so many scammers who completely transform themselves with filters. That’s why I never trust Instagram goddesses.”

“Yeah, and?”

“But Siwoo’s wife… wow, she’s no joke. She looks exactly like her photos. No, maybe even better in person? I guess there’s something about a person’s real-life aura that can’t be captured in photos.”

“Watch your informal speech.”

“Ah, sorry. Anyway, I think I’ll start believing in Instagram goddesses from now on. Who knows? I might run into them somewhere on the street, or through an acquaintance, like today.”

“What would you do if you ran into one? If they’re already taken like Siwoo’s wife, it wouldn’t do you any good.”

“Not all of them have boyfriends. What if I meet someone who’s single and whose ideal type happens to be someone like me?”

“You’re crazy…”

Dreams should stay reasonable. This is delusion. Did he lose his mind after seeing an Instagram goddess in person? Or has all the overtime affected his brain? The deputy manager clicked his tongue and put a cigarette in his mouth.

“What, are these women blind? How could someone like you be anyone’s ideal type?”

“Why not? Siwoo has an Instagram goddess for a wife. Doesn’t that mean I have a chance too?”

“Hey, do you look anything like our new employee? Don’t you ever look in the mirror? I know a good eye surgery clinic, want me to recommend it?”

“Come on, you could at least say something nice. Why do you always take Siwoo’s side? Did he secretly give you something?”

“…What are you talking about? I didn’t get anything. I’m just speaking objectively here.”

This guy has sharp instincts. I’ll have to keep it a lifetime secret that I begged the new employee to set me up on a blind date.

“Really? If you say so. By the way, Deputy Manager, didn’t you say Siwoo is twenty-four this year?”

“Yeah, he graduated college last year. Seoul National University’s College of Education, early graduation, wasn’t it?”

“He said he has two children… So Siwoo raised kids while graduating early from college, then prepared for employment and joined our company within a year after graduation?”

“Well, I guess that’s right when you put it that way.”

“Wow, then he must have lived an incredibly busy life since he was twenty. He probably didn’t have much time to enjoy himself. That’s really impressive.”

“Hmm, yes. It is impressive.”

The deputy manager exhaled, his cigarette smoke billowing out.

“Deputy Manager, about Siwoo and his wife. Where do you think they’re going now?”

“They’ve been drinking and they have kids, so they’re probably heading straight home.”

“Hmm… I guess so.”

“I’m sure that’s it. But why are you suddenly asking?”

“No reason. Just thinking about it again, Siwoo must have his own struggles.”

“Huh? What struggles?”

“He’s only twenty-four, still young, right? Normally, that’s when you’d be out having fun everywhere, but instead of enjoying himself like everyone else, he has to go home to take care of his kids. It’s kind of sad when you think about it.”

“So you’re saying your childless situation is better?”

“Hey, I never went that far. I’m just saying everyone has their pros and cons.”

Pros and cons, huh? The deputy manager took another drag of his cigarette.

“What I’m saying is this: living diligently like Siwoo might be rewarding, but there’s so little time to enjoy life.”

“How do you know whether Siwoo enjoys his life or not?”

“I’m not stupid, it’s obvious. He must have lived such a busy life until now, how could he have had proper time to enjoy himself? Of course not.”

“Hmm, you think so?”

“Yes, I’m certain. Just look at now. Like you said, while we’re going for a second round, Siwoo has to go home because of his kids. So he can’t enjoy himself, okay?”

“…But looking at you, why do you keep speaking informally…”

***

“Nabi.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“This isn’t the way to our house. We’re going in the opposite direction.”

“Yes, I know.”

“…”

So it wasn’t that she didn’t know the way, but she was deliberately going in the opposite direction? Did I mishear something because of the alcohol? I turned my head sharply to stare at Hwa Nabi.

Screech—the traffic light turned red just then. Hwa Nabi stopped precisely at the line and turned to face me with a smile.

“Um, Nabi. Just in case you don’t know, I’m telling you again, at the intersection we just passed…”

“We needed to make a U-turn at that intersection to go home. I know that, I told you.”

“…If you know, why are we going the opposite way?”

I unconsciously switched to formal speech. If she didn’t know, I could at least tell her, but deliberately going the opposite way when she knows—what intention could she possibly have?

I asked out of bewilderment, but Hwa Nabi didn’t answer right away. Even though she knew I was staring at her, she deliberately took her time, humming a random tune.

“Excuse me, husband.”

“Oh, yes?”

“Why don’t we go for a drive together, just the two of us? It’s been a while.”

“A drive…?”

“Yes. We can get some fresh air too. What do you think?”

Setting aside the drive, she wants to get fresh air while wearing that long padded jacket that covers her entire body?

It seems like something doesn’t add up, but honestly, her outfit doesn’t really matter. You can still feel the breeze even in a long padded jacket, and more importantly, suggesting we get some fresh air is practically the same as suggesting a date. She probably means let’s spend some time together, just the two of us.

I’m all for driving and having fun. But we have a more pressing issue. Our children, Wuhee and Wucheon, waiting at home. Since Hwa Nabi didn’t bring them along, it means those young children are home alone, and I feel uneasy about leaving them behind while we go out by ourselves.

So I mentioned this concern, but her response was unexpected.

“Oh, don’t worry about Wuhee and Wucheon. They’re playing well with Narin at your mother’s house right now.”

“…Really?”

“Yes, if you don’t believe me, want to call and check?”

It’s not that I don’t trust Hwa Nabi, but I should confirm. I immediately called my mother-in-law. The call connected after just a few rings.

“Hello, Mother?”

[Oh? That’s Daddy’s voice. Daddy!]

What’s this? I definitely called my mother-in-law, so why is Wuhee answering? Momentarily surprised by the unexpected voice, I collected myself and asked calmly.

“Um… Wuhee? It’s Daddy. Where are you right now?”

[Yes, Daddy! I’m at Grandma’s house. (Wuhee, who is it? Is it Siwoo oppa?)]

Along with Wuhee’s still nasally voice, I hear commotion in the background. A familiar high-pitched voice keeps asking for “oppa”—it seems Hwa Nabi’s younger sister Narin recognized my voice.

“At Grandma’s house, who are you with?”

[Um, with Wucheon, with Narin unnie… and with Grandma! (Wuhee, let me talk to oppa too!) Okay, here.]

Ah, so that’s why Wuhee answered my mother-in-law’s phone. As I was about to ask more questions, I heard rustling over the phone, followed by a cheerful voice.

[Oppa! Siwoo oppa, right?]

“Oh, yes, it’s Siwoo oppa. Narin, have you been well?”

[Yes. I’ve been good. Have you been well too, Siwoo oppa? (Oh, Daddy! Mom said to tell you that Wucheon and I are playing well, so don’t worry!)]

Kids these days really do grow up so fast. It seems like just yesterday that Narin was speaking with a nasally voice like Wuhee, but now she can answer so maturely. Feeling a sense of how quickly times change, I asked what I was curious about.

“Yes, I’m always doing well thanks to your sister. But Narin, are Wuhee and Wucheon behaving themselves?”

[Misbehaving? No, not at all. Wucheon takes after you, Siwoo oppa, so he’s very well-behaved. As for Wuhee…]

“Yes, what about Wuhee?”

[A little, just a tiny bit… she asks some strange questions, but nothing to worry about.]

“I’m just asking out of curiosity, but what kind of strange questions…?”

[…I’m hanging up now, brother-in-law. Have a good time with unnie.]

“Huh? What? Hello? Hello? Narin?”

The call suddenly disconnected without warning. Bewildered, I shouted at the disconnected phone, but of course, there was no response.

“Husband, what did Narin say?”

“I don’t know, just that we should have a good time together…?”

After hanging up, I’m even more confused. What kind of strange questions is Wuhee asking, and why did she suddenly hang up?

I feel uneasy. I fidgeted with my phone. Just as I was about to call back and ask, the navigation system’s voice came on.

—Continue straight until the next intersection.

“…”

Ah, forget it. It doesn’t seem that important anyway, I’ll ask later. Wuhee and Wucheon seem to be getting along well with Narin, so I relaxed and leaned back comfortably against the seat.

“But, Nabi. I understand we’re going for a drive, but where’s our destination? The Han River? Or a nearby park?”

“Hmm… destination?”

“Yes, looking at the navigation guidance, we’re not just driving aimlessly. Where did you set it to?”

“…Heh.”

I asked out of curiosity, but for some reason, Hwa Nabi hesitated for a long time.

…What’s going on? Where could she possibly have set it that she can’t answer? Sensing something suspicious, I leaned my upper body forward.

This navigation system shows the current destination if you tap the screen twice quickly, and you can also reset the destination. I tapped the navigation screen.

[Current destination: L’Escape Hotel]

“…A hotel?”

“Ah, it was supposed to be a surprise until we arrived.”

“I thought we were getting some fresh air? This isn’t a place for that.”

“Isn’t it? I think it’s exactly the right place for fresh air.”

“What kind of fresh air are you planning to get, and where?”

“In bed, your breath…”

“…No.”