episode_0004
by fnovelpia“It’s 4000 won.”
“Sure. Here you go~”
Today marks the 6th day.
Certainly, when I first started working here, I didn’t notice him, but now it’s exactly the 6th consecutive day. I’m looking at this man.
“Goodbye.”
“Yes~”
The man smiled and went out the door.
Truly a kind person.
Even though my part-time job feels dry and routine, he always receives it with a smile. Surely, no matter where you go, there will be someone like him.
If only such a person were my brother-in-law… that would be nice for me.
But wouldn’t it be tough for him? Being my sister’s husband.
It’s hell.
-Ddallang
“Welcome.”
If it’s fate, we’ll surely meet.
Especially in South Korea, it’s really easy to meet.
*
“Oh.”
“Oh. By any chance, at the convenience store…”
And that’s how we met.
Now it’s not just a coincidence; it has truly become fate.
This guy brought something again. This time, it’s an expensive rice cake wrapped in luxurious fabric.
I should have told him beforehand. I should have asked him to come on a Sunday.
Why does he only choose to come when I’m alone? It’s awkward.
Anyone can see that I’m kind. Nice. He awkwardly smiled, as if he were advertising himself.
“I should have at least put on some makeup then.”
“That’s true. It’s funny.”
“Come in. It must be cold. Come in.”
Last time, I was a bit hesitant to accept, but now I’ve decided to just go with it.
“Um… What would you like to drink? Coffee or something?”
“Okay.”
I don’t have much to offer. But isn’t it the duty of the kitchen staff, which is me, to find something?
“Uh… Tea.”
After a long time, I took out the coffee grinder from the tea room.
At that time, I was immersed in romance, having to manually grind the beans.
I used to buy a bag of beans from a nearby coffee shop and make coffee…
…but it became too bothersome. Really.
No. The aroma of coffee is nice, but the taste is just average.
I didn’t buy it because I had a special preference for coffee and would exclaim like a sommelier, ‘Oh, it harmonizes deep flavors within me…!’ No, that wasn’t the case, so I let it gather dust.
“Do you actually make coffee yourself?”
“Haha, well… yes.”
This is when you’re supposed to use it.
Of course, I just pulled it out of the drawer.
…But I still cleaned it well and stored it in a bag to prevent dust from accumulating.
“Oh…”
I put the beans in and started turning the handle.
As the beans began to grind with a clunking sound, I bought a manual one for this flavor. Electric ones are convenient, but it’s better to use them only where necessary. Like a whisk or a mixer.
Once all the beans were ground, I placed a cup called a server underneath and a dripper on top.
I put a filter paper in the dripper and poured the ground coffee.
Now, I pour hot water over it.
Not too slowly, not too fast.
You aim for a balance between bitterness and blandness.
Just right.
Having experienced numerous failures, I learned by heart rather than by mind, so I focused on my senses and poured it immediately.
“Here’s your coffee. Sorry it took a bit long.”
“Oh… Such a deep flavor…”
…There it is. The person who can feel that deep flavor.
My brother-in-law savored the coffee, using all his senses to taste it as much as possible.
“Ahh… Wow. It’s good. How did you make this!? It’s really delicious.”
“Haha. Well…”
The original purpose of this blind date without my father and sister has long been lost.
My father didn’t show up, my sister didn’t come, and I don’t even know why this person came.
However, we bloomed the flower of conversation without even realizing how time passed. I forgot at times, and this hyung also forgot.
Just like playing tennis, we volleyed back and forth in our conversation until the evening sunset arrived to bring it to a close.
“Oh. It’s already late.”
“Ah. Is that so?”
Hyung adjusted his clothes and put on a coat.
I wore a thick padded jacket and joined him outside.
“Should I call you ‘Hyung’?”
“Kim Suhan. Call me Hyung~”
“Okay. Suhan Hyung.”
“Yeah. Jiwoo. Haha… I wanted this.”
Hyung seemed moved as he lightly tapped his head with his hand.
“Kkum… Kkum. I had fun today, let’s meet again later.”
“I had fun too. Oh! And shall we meet at the convenience store?”
“…Oh, right. Yeah. At the convenience store… Sure…”
Hyung made a somewhat bitter face but then smiled again before saying goodbye.
Though there was a sense of closeness, it quickly turned awkward as the meeting with Suhan Hyung came to an end.
Did I say something strange?
“No… Really?”
“Of course!”
Hygiene and cleanliness are highly valued in hospitals.
“Yes. That’s good.”
“At least… Isn’t it better to postpone until you can walk around?”
“No. You must. You should wash your body at least once a week.”
Suhyun answered seriously but didn’t forget to smile.
Everyone gets washed by someone else. Wouldn’t it be embarrassing to death?
“…Yes.”
But feeling a bit uncomfortable about refusing, I could only agree reluctantly.
Do nurses really do this kind of thing?
I salute the nurses of South Korea.
…One week.
“By any chance… Does that mean…?”
When I heard that a month had passed, I honestly couldn’t grasp it properly.
My suddenly grown hair hadn’t fallen out, and there wasn’t any major itchiness.
“I took care of everything while you were lying down!”
“Aha…”
My body had already experienced it.
Every nook and cranny thoroughly cleaned…
Doctors and chefs have something in common.
Hygiene.
“Please take care of it.”
“Yes, leave it to me!”
And cleanliness.
I’m not a chef, but I still enjoy cooking, right?
Actually, I’m preparing food and all. Plus, I don’t like feeling uncomfortable.
Well… I have to do something about it. Shame is solely my burden.
“So… Let’s start with your hair. Normally, I use a shampoo that doesn’t require water and wipe it with a towel, but this time we need to use water. It’s better that way.”
“Aha…”
Suhyun pulled my hair forward and pretended to wipe it with her hands.
Maybe because my hair is long, this was possible.
“Then lie down~”
“Okay.”
The posture, the room—it all feels like a salon.
A beautician cosplaying as a nurse and styling my hair…
“Why?”
“Um… No reason.”
Did I stare too much?
“Now that Jiwoo is a woman, you should take care of your hair. I’ll explain everything, so make sure to remember for next time!”
“Uh… Okay.”
Isn’t it just easier to cut my hair? There’s no need to maintain long hair, but others seem to like it, so they keep growing it.
I’m a man… Not a woman.
“Even if you ask me later, I won’t tell you?”
“Uh… Okay.”
My response seemed indifferent, so she emphasized it once more.
The world is the world, so a shortcut… seems a bit much, but I thought it would be okay to just go with a short haircut.
“Is the water temperature okay?”
“Yes. It’s warm.”
The hand movements are not ordinary.
Sprinkle water on the hair. Squeeze out shampoo, apply it to the hair, and massage the scalp.
It felt cool, but I wondered if my head had shrunk because even though Suhyun’s hands were small, they completely enveloped my head.
Carefully apply foam to the tips of my long hair, and finally rinse off the shampoo with water again.
Rinse the hair section.
It feels like pulling slightly as if rinsing the ends.
And then rinse the hair again… When will this end?
“Don’t move~ It’s almost done~”
I think cutting it might be better after all.
“Phew….”
Gather the hair in my hands like a towel and gently pat away the remaining moisture with a towel.
“I’ll use the hairdryer now. Just a moment~”
Suhyun picks up the hairdryer and turns it on.
-Vroom!
The high-pitched motor sound rings out, and warm air blows out. As I run my fingers through like combing, ensuring the air reaches between the strands, my hair quickly dries.
It’s not taking too long to dry.
And 5 minutes…10 minutes…15 minutes…
“By any chance…”
“It’s almost done!”
Her voice naturally gets louder over the sound of the motor.
For something that’s supposed to be quick, it’s taking too long.
Another 10 minutes pass like that.
“Phew. It’s done.”
“Ugh….”
After about 30 minutes of exposing my head to heat, I feel dizzy.
This must be how hair dries…
“You feel a bit dizzy, right?”
“Yes….”
“If we lower the temperature, it will take another 10 minutes. I’ve already lowered it slightly. Hot temperatures can damage the hair.”
How much effort should be put into hair care?
And the problem is that the first hurdle is over now.
There’s still a long way to go.
“…I’ll take care of the body.”
“Haha… What about your back?”
“Well… just—”
“No way~”
Suhyun interrupts and playfully takes the towel as if snatching it away.
She seems to enjoy this.
“Shall I undress myself or would you like me to help you undress?”
“…I’ll do it myself.”
Now, succumbing to Suhyun’s somewhat threatening tone, I obediently undress.
For some reason, it seems like I should cover at least my chest.
“If you gain a little weight, you’ll look really pretty.”
“I’m embarrassed. Stop looking.”
“Cough… Please turn your hair forward.”
As if it were a joke, she starts wiping my back seriously.
Even though it may seem like a joke, she swiftly wipes my back skillfully.
“Here. I’ll turn around. I was going to leave, but since you might not be familiar with a woman’s body, I’ll stay.”
“Okay.”
Leaving the gown aside that I was covering myself with, she wipes me with the towel.
Starting from the thin neck, moving through the narrower-looking shoulders, and wiping the collarbones.
Looking at my chest, a strange feeling of self-reproach or guilt suddenly surged.
“Ugh….”
As a pinkish spot on the towel grazes me, a tingling sensation makes me involuntarily moan.
“I’m not sure what you’re doing, but it’s probably the chest, right? You have to handle breasts and nipples gently~”
“Oh. Yes….”
Gently pressing without rubbing with the towel, she slowly wipes, ensuring there’s no irritation.
“Sigh….”
The arms are adequately wiped. The stomach area is smaller, so it finishes quickly.
But… this is embarrassing to watch.
“Is it time for the important part now?”
“…Yes.”
How does she know so well?
I’m sure I was watching while wiping.
Continuing to turn around, I saw a flower vase standing there.
“Hmm… Would you know if it’s the major or minor scale?”
“Uh… I don’t know.”
“Then please handle it gently like earlier, not too deep.”
It’s a difficult place to see.
Feeling somewhat guilty, he tried to figure out how to deal with it while pointing at it.
His fingers are thin. Why can I see everything?
“Hmm… It’s going to take a long time. Can I help?”
“Oh! No, I’ll do it!”
Thinking that this might be a creature he would see for a lifetime, his mind remained impatient but calmed down.
Although it was a completely different feeling and method from the one he had been chasing, he managed to polish it somehow.
“Phew….”
“I’ll take care of your feet at least.”
The legs and feet were quickly finished.
They are thin. And small.
As if regretful, Suhyun lightly tapped my foot with her finger.
I hid my foot under the blanket due to the ticklish feeling.
“That too….”
It’s strange to receive help when you can move on your own.
“They say feet are really cute~ Can’t you let me touch them once?”
“…No.”
As she made a motion to grab my foot, I hugged my leg.
“Just kidding~”
Suhyun tidied up the bed and left, saying she had something to do.
“Phew….”
Is my mind being gnawed at continuously?
Even though I hadn’t done any hard work, drowsiness made my eyes heavy and body sluggish, causing me to close my eyes as is.
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