Chapter 23: Empty House

Facing the fire, one must never lose focus.

Not only could a fire break out, but even short of that, failing to control the heat could ruin the dish countless times.

You could end up burning the contents, or even the pot itself, and if that happened, I’d probably get a merciless smack on the back from my parents, even at this age.

“….Heh…”

But even knowing that, the gift Se-young gave me was so perfect for my taste that I absentmindedly lost focus.

A wristwatch, and an analog one at that. For someone whose taste is even more old-fashioned than Grandfather’s, a wristwatch was a kind of dream.

But the reasons I hadn’t bought one were, first, in today’s digital world, there’s rarely a need for a wristwatch.

In a world where you can see the time just by turning on your phone, a wristwatch is just a luxury.

Second, they’re expensive.

Of course, if you really wanted one, it wouldn’t be strange to spend money on a luxury… but for me, wristwatches are generally too expensive. High-end wristwatches are often overwhelmingly more expensive than the latest phones.

The types and brands of wristwatches are very diverse, and the prices vary widely, but the wristwatch I want is one with a classic design that also suits an office worker.

It’s not like I’d like even a Pororo wristwatch just because I like wristwatches. How could I wear that outside, it’s embarrassing.

The cool ones are expensive, and the cheap ones aren’t cool. So I gave up. I wanted one, but I didn’t have enough affection to spend a large sum of money, at least over a million won.

“Hehe…”

But you know how it is. You don’t want to buy it with your own money, but you want to have it.

For me, a wristwatch was that kind of thing. I had a dream, but I couldn’t easily reach for it because of practical difficulties.

I received such a thing as a gift. From a coworker, not a parent, relative, or friend.

It’s even a gift from a junior who is younger and lower in rank than me. She saved her precious allowance from her parents and gave a gift to her senior at work.

“Cartier…”

I don’t know the exact price or brand, but it doesn’t look cheap at first glance. It certainly wouldn’t be something you could buy with a month’s allowance.

Giving away a mountain made of collected dust is not something ordinary people do.

“…Hmm…”

I was happy, but also a little sorry. For accepting such a gift without refusing.

Instead of setting an example as a senior, I’m just gobbling up expensive gifts, my inner conscience is telling me. At least know you should be ashamed.

“…”

I’ll have to treat her better from now on. My conscience can’t handle just taking the gift and ignoring her.

“…Oops.”

Because I was distracted by the wristwatch, I was late in responding to the bubbling pot.

I hurriedly turned down the heat and opened the lid, but the broth ended up overflowing. I’ll have to wipe it up later.

“Is it…done?”

The time is right. The chicken also looks completely white on the outside.

I wonder if Team Leader likes Chicken Soup? Judging from her usual eating habits, Team Leader isn’t exactly a vegetarian, but she basically prefers bland food.

Chicken Soup is a bland dish in its own way, but I carelessly didn’t remove the chicken skin as usual and boiled it as is, so there’s a lot of oil in the broth. Should I skim it off?

I originally prefer the oily part and like the skin, but there are surprisingly many people in the world who dislike chicken skin.

“…Ugh…”

But what can I do. I can’t remake something that’s already made from scratch.

“Team Leader, dinner’s ready~.”

Anyway, I spent the money on the ingredients and I suffered to boil it, so why should I be so concerned?

“Team Leader~, Team Leader~?”

She’s not answering. Is she still sleeping?

“Team Leader~.”

I opened the door and entered the bedroom, and saw Team Leader’s face, sound asleep, unaware of the time.

“Team Leader…never mind.”

I thought about waking her up for a moment, but then I stopped. Knowing how hard this person has worked, I couldn’t bring myself to wake her up.

Workaholic. The most addicted to work, coming to work the earliest and leaving the latest. She’s been grinding her body without knowing it throughout her time at the company, so she must be tired.

“Good night. Team Leader.”

Let’s not disturb her sleep for no reason and stay quiet. The homeowner wants to sleep, so let her sleep.

“…Huh?”

But…did I see wrong?

There’s something on her face, like tear marks…

Bee-ring―

Ah, Jin-woo’s calling.

“Hello~.”

―Hey, Seo Hanbyeol. What are you doing right now? Are you free?

“Right now? Why?”

―If you haven’t eaten yet, let’s have dinner together. I’ll pay.

A sudden dinner invitation.

I was suspicious at first because it came from a guy who’s not that generous, but his voice sounded excited, so I figured he must be in a good mood and dropped my suspicion.

Looks like things are going well with the girlfriend he broke up with. Probably.

“What are we eating?”

―Tuna.

Looks like things are going really well.

“Okay, I’ll be right out…hmm…”

I was about to run out at the word “free tuna,” but then I suddenly remembered Team Leader’s words.

Just for today…will you stay here?

Her request, looking very desperate and earnest.

But…

“…What’s the big deal.”

I’m just going out for dinner, it won’t take that long, will it?

No, it’ll probably take a long time, but anyway, I can come back, right?

But just in case, I’ll leave a note…

“…Okay.”

Now, I’m going to eat tuna…

…Before that.

――

“…..”

The sound of the door lock opening and closing woke me up.

Not a figurative expression, but literally only my eyelids opened. Because I was awake from the beginning.

I heard the whole process of him going out to buy groceries, coming back, struggling with something in the kitchen, coming into the room, and then going out again.

I just kept my eyes closed and didn’t open my mouth. I didn’t react at all to make him think I was asleep.

He received a call from someone and went out, and I reflexively opened my eyes at the sound of the door lock.

And staggering, I got out of bed, opened the door that was now completely closed, and came out of the bedroom.

“…..”

The noisy fan spinning, and the large pot underneath it.

And the plate covered in plastic wrap on the table, and the sticky note next to it.

[I cut off half the chicken. If you need more, there’s more in the pot.

I cut up various things in the fridge and sealed them in plastic wrap, so after you eat the chicken, make porridge. It’ll be delicious :)]

“…”

When I removed the plastic wrap, the steaming chicken was half-submerged in broth.

Is it Chicken Soup…? Isn’t Chicken Soup originally a dish where you boil the whole chicken? Judging from the traces, it doesn’t seem like it was cut from the beginning. Did he cut it into pieces by part to make it easier to eat?

It was quite a thoughtful consideration. A consideration that clearly shows his personality of always thinking of others.

I don’t know why it had to be chicken, or Chicken Soup, but it was probably a judgment that came from thinking of me as well. Chicken has always had the image of a health food, and Chicken Soup is a fairly bland dish among chicken dishes.

“…..”

As if to prevent me from burning my hands, a pair of work gloves, I don’t know where he got them, were placed next to the plastic gloves.

Did we have work gloves in our house? I probably didn’t.

Without refusing his thoughtful consideration, I sat down and scooped up the broth with a spoon.

I added a little salt to the bland broth, tasted it to see if it was right, and then drank it again.

I grabbed a chicken leg, dipped it lightly in salt, and ate it bit by bit.

“….”

Unlike my father, I don’t really like Chicken Soup.

It’s a hassle to make it myself, and more than anything, it’s my father’s favorite food, so that’s probably why.

Before I became independent, I often ate Chicken Soup with my father, but I haven’t had the chance to do so since I became independent.

I didn’t have any particular memories because I didn’t have a good relationship with my father, but is it the affection of resentment?

“….”

It’s not bad after a long time. No, it’s delicious.

Is it because it’s a dish that he put his heart into, not my father?

“…..”

But…something’s missing.

Not that the taste is missing, but just something…my mood feels empty.

Why is that?

Why does this house, which I didn’t usually feel was that big, feel so desolate and empty today?

Why is that?

Why does Maru, who doesn’t usually like to move around, seem so sluggish today?

Why is that, where did it come from?

This loneliness, this pain.

“…Ah.”

After seeing the crooked handwriting on the sticky note and the trivial smile next to it, I think I know the reason.

“He’s not here.”

The loneliness is because he’s not here.

Because the energy of that person, who always had a smile on his face, has left this house.

“He’s not here.”

The pain is because I know I can’t bring him back here.

Because I now realize that I don’t deserve to turn his heart back to me.

“…He’s not here.”

This place is an empty house.

An empty house without him. An empty house with only the shell left.

An empty house that I can’t fill with content because I can’t hold onto him.

Probably now, and in the future.

Always, it will be like that―

Beep, beep beep―Ttiriring―

“…?”

Then, the sound of the door lock opening was heard.

“I know I can just go somewhere else…I know. I’ll let you know when I have time later.”

A person came into the empty house.

“It’s not like there’s only one tuna place in Korea, what’s the big deal…Team Leader?”

He came back.