[Sim Daegwang]

Himchan's call is the last thing I need right now. Not especially after a disastrous night with Durlene. Don't get me wrong, she isn't fully to blame if things went down this way. I can't give her the pleasure she deserves, and this hurts both of us.

She's still here as she overhears the conversation with my brother. "Really? What do you mean? Are you coming over? It's that-"

He cuts me off. "Daegwang, trust me. It's something you'd never expect to find. But, you have to come here when you can, okay? "

"But I-"

"No buts. Please... Look, I'll make it up to you for disturbing... I assume, your little moment with Durlene." He has caught us. She has just sneezed twice. I don't think things will look good now. Durlene is still awkward around Himchan, and I'm under the impression he can't stand her.

"Okay, I guess I have no other choice. See you later." As I hang up, I eye Durlene, expecting her to return me a deadly glare or anything close to that. Instead, she starts singing.

Okay, I've gone a little overboard. She isn't singing, she's yelling something pretending to follow the rhythm. The problem is, she's way off key, not following the tempo and, most importantly doesn't realize that. She thinks she sounds good. Come on! I'm no expert, but I know my limits.

"Durlene... I think you're-"

She ignores me and keeps yapping at the rhythm of music with that shrill voice of hers. Let's be honest: she's a sweet girl, but she's definitely the last person I'd take to karaoke. She'd make a shitty figure and I might take the fall with her.

"Never mind. Listen, Himchan is coming in a few minutes." Durlene stops singing immediately as soon as I mention my brother's name. "So, get dressed."

"What? He stil can't handle this..." She flaunts her body, especially her boobs, as she slurs this sentence. "He's such a wuss."

"He'd grill you in a few seconds if he were here listening to your bullshit. Now, put fucking something on, for God's sake!" The moment she realizes my patience is running out, she complies and disappears in the bathroom with her underwear and a black dress.

Finally.

***

Himchan is here with a box that doesn't seem to be heavy, considering how he carries it so easily. He lays it on the couch despite my protests and says, "Look. This is what I found in my backyard just a few hours ago."

"Okay. A box. Then what?"

"Look at what's inside. Come on." He extracts a perfectly folded paper and a heavy coin from the box. He hands me the paper and invites me to read it aloud.

I do as he says. The letter recites, “I never meant for you to see this. But you’ll understand soon enough.” I don't know the meaning of these two sentences or the context behind them. Since Himchan doesn't know either, we're both stuck in a rut. To get out of it, we only have one chance: to figure out who could've wrote it.

"Before you ask, I have no clue of whose handwriting it is. The only thing I'm certain, it's not Dad's, and it's not yours either." Himchan is right. The words are written so neatly. There are no signs of erasure, as well as no creases on the paper. It looks recent, but not brand new. I don't know if I can tell at first glance.

I suggest we find a calligraphy expert, someone who can give us a hint at what the author of the note aimed. But not now. It's the dead of the night. We should focus on something lighter.

Still, Himchan insists on the paper. "Look, we'll deal with it more properly tomorrow. Let's have some sleep and then we can discuss a strategy, okay?"

We both shake hands. "Fine. I can't wait to see where it leads." As we let go of one another, I wave goodbye to my brother, who returns home, this time empty handed. The box with the letter and the coin stays with me. I have to keep it away from Durlene's prying eyes. Knowing her, she'll post it on social media and bring a shit ton of trouble upon us.

Too late. She's back from the bathroom, this time dressed, and has already noticed the box. What am I supposed to tell her? "Oh, what a pretty box, Daegwang," she says indeed. "Is it yours?"

I lie on the spot. "No, it's Himchan's. He'll pass by to take it back tomorrow." Despite this, Durlene is still tempted to take a glimpse into it. I'm forced to insist. "Don't touch it, please. I don't want trouble."

"Are you sure?" She turns to a more flirtatious attitude, annoying me. Among her persuasion tactics, this is my least favorite.

"Durlene, for God's sake, listen carefully. You can't come close or touch this box, okay? If you do, we'll be in trouble. You don't want Himchan to find out you go through his mail, do you?"

She scowls. "So, why does he leave it here? Make it make fucking sense!"

I grab her right wrist to calm her down. "Keep it down! It's almost midnight!"

She bursts in tears out of a sudden. I don't know why so. It's not like I've said anything triggering. Himchan is not wrong when he says she's a living ticking bomb that's almost impossible to detonate.

I smell her. To no surprise, she reeks of cheap alcohol. She has drunk way too much when we were having our moment together. I reprimand her, but in a soft tone. "Go and wash up, you smell of discount vodka. It's disgusting."

"I know. I'll brush my teeth, too, while at it, and get in my pyjamas."

"Good. I'll get changed, too, then I'm waiting for you in bed, okay?"

She nods. I kiss her cheeks and let her go to the bathroom. Meanwhile, I take another look at the letter Himchan brought here along with the box. Those words, now that they echo in my mind, sound dangerous. This can't be a prank by some idiotic punk who loves to pull this stunts on innocent people. I think someone is out to there to wreak havoc in my brother's life. But, how?

Not wanting to ruin my sleep, I fold the paper as it was before, put it back in the box, and go to my room to get ready for bedtime.

***

By the time I wake up, it's already noon. I can't believe Durlene and I have slept so much. She's clung to me all night long, but I only realize now. I try to get out of her grasp, but end up waking her in turn. "What's up?" she asks, her voice still groggy because of oversleeping. "I think we're late, Daegwang. We have the reservation at 1pm sharp. I can't believe I only remember now-"

I cut her off. "Reservation? At 1pm? I actually moved it at 1:30. We have a little more time, actually. Let's take advantage of it by getting ready in a proper manner, okay?"

"Thank God you postponed it, even if by just thirty minutes. You know I hate rushing things."

"Come on, let's go, or we'll actually run late."

Getting out of bed has never been so difficult in my life. If only I could directly cancel that reservation instead of just pushing it back. At this point, all I have to is endure that painful lunch and hope everything goes smoothly.