Chapter 9: Day Off
Chapter Theme: Fly - Jessica Jung

Yoon Harin

The sun's rays are slowly creeping into the sky and the darkness started to wane. I shivered every time I collided with the cold breeze. Grasses are still moist and the trees swiftly move to the moderate wind.

Jogging in an atmosphere like today isn't tiring and sweating. For working people like me, this will help to lessen the stress and pressure. Rejuvenating is essential to look young and glowing to have a pleasing appeal.

A one-hour jog here in the spring park will help me calm my mind and exfoliate all the worries I have. Families and peer groups are doing their morning exercises too. Today's Sunday and everyone has their day off.

I opened the cap of the one-liter bottled water I brought and drink directly from it. I've been jogging for thirty minutes and I need to quench my thirst. Using my towel, I wiped the little amount of sweat from my face and neck. I still need to jog for another thirty minutes to complete my morning exercise.

"Ha!" I let out a breath then I jogged moderately to not exhaust myself.

Circling the spring park several times now for almost my life doesn't seem tiresome and boring. Different people come here often for the same agenda as mine. There were foreigners too who were enjoying the tranquility of the place. For sure tonight, people will flock here because this is one of the best spots for busking.

Unlike the others, I'm not using a headphone. I listen to music but when I jog, listening to the natural sound of the environment makes me in awe because I can hear everything.

"Harin-ssi, joheun achim!"

(Good morning, Harin)

"Oraenmanida, ahjumma!" I greeted back. I stopped on my trail to formally greet her. She was once our neighbor but a few years ago she moved.

(Long time no see, ahjumma)

"Jal jinetsseoyo? You grow beautifully!" I smiled at her statement.

(How are you)

"Look at you too ahjumma... you did not age! You look the same since I last saw you," I complimented her. What I said was true. She knew how to handle her beauty.

"Why are you alone? Where's your boyfriend? You're inseparable as what my recollection is concerned."

I cleared my thought about the sudden topic. If I'll tell her what happened, ten minutes is not enough when this ahjumma likes to gossip.

"I'm still halfway through my jogging ahjumma. I'd better get going! See you next time."

The sun has totally risen. Birds flocking together made a circus above. I looked up and used my hand as protection from the beaming light.

"How I wish I could be that free.. dancing every sunrise must be good." I'm not envying the birds, I envy the way they fly with their freedom.

I smiled in delight after I completed the one-hour jog. I comforted myself underneath a tree, leaning on its stout and rough trunk. I'm enjoying watching the enveloping light of the sun.

"Yoon Harin," I looked up to the familiar voice. My lips twitched in dismay when I met his face. He dares to ruin my day! I thought I'll be having a good whole day.

"Nu-nuguseyo?" I'm acting like I can't see him clearly and my forehead furrowed.

He thought that he was shaded by the sunlight so he moved to the other side. As if!

"Don't make fun Yoon Harin," his voice slightly turned sour. I bet I hurt his ego.

"Oh, it's you sunbae!" I said faking a surprised tone.

I heard him tsked in disappointment. He handed me an energy drink and a sandwich.

"What's this?"

"That's food Harin. Are you playing dumb? I thought you're intelligent."

I rolled my eyes not minding the food in his hands. Whatever, Kim Wooseok.

At this point, I want to have a peaceful day so I stood up and ran away from him. Serves you right sunbaenim!

"Yoon Harin!" He shouted my name but I did not look back. Taste my wrath!

I dived onto my bed after taking a bath. My bed is so comforting that I wanted to sleep back.

"Apayo!" I touched my butt that my mother slapped.

(It hurts!)

"Yoon Harin neo michyeoseo? It's 10 am and you have more things to do!"

She slapped my butt again and it hurts. My mother has a big hand that you don't want to cause trouble.

"You'll be doing it today so you better stand up before I drag you out."

Thinking about the mountainous laundry is making me puke. I need to wash the curtains, tapestries, bed sheets, comforters, rags, pillowcases, mats, and my clothes. This will be a tiring day!

I spent six hours washing the laundry. My body has been trembling and it felt like I had a boxing match with Manny Pacquiao. All of my body parts were aching and my hands were swollen because I handwash most of them.

"Eomma can you put salonpas on my back?"

"Come here.. you need to have a massage."

She massaged me and it felt so therapeutic. The pain has lessened and my energy is renewing. After her therapeutic massage, she put salonpas all over my body.

"I'll cook something good for our dinner." She stood up, heading outside my bedroom.

Twice a week is my schedule to wash all the laundry. Well, I wash my clothes every time I went home but sometimes, I don't have enough time. I can't let my mother wash the curtains and all because she had undergone surgery. It was an eye-opener for me that I should be independent in some ways.

"Eomma, why don't we have a car?"

We were eating our dinner. She cooked seaweed soup and bibimbap, sundubu-jjigae, kimchi, and bulgogi.

Her movements suddenly halted and she faced me with a serious gaze.

"All this time, I thought you knew." She calmly said and resumed eating.

The atmosphere became uncomfortable. Why can't she spill it?

"Yoon Harin," she called my attention. I was lost in my reverie for a few moments thinking about the answer to what she said. "You don't know?" She added and laughed.

My mother is so weird!

"Ne, eomma. I really don't understand when in fact you can afford it. I'm so tired of commuting and having a car is very helpful. Just like what happened the last time, I was in the middle of nowhere. What if you don't have contact with Han Seungwoo? What will happen to your beautiful daughter? You might hear the news that your daughter has been slain by a serial killer. Do you want that eomma?" I ranted. She's just so frustrating sometimes.

"Then hire Han Seungwoo as your service. That will be way better than you driving."

"Yah! Are you serious?!" I yelled and I blinked a few times. This is just so unbelievable! How can I act straight if I will be with that taxi driver every time?

"Wae?! I'll be paying him so you can spend your money on something else. Don't you like my proposal?"

"Just buy a car eomma!"

"Why would I buy you a car? Yes I can afford to buy but I don't want to drive, so why should I buy? For your own good? Hell no. "

"Because I'm your daughter! You need to buy me a car! I don't want to be in someone else's car in my whole life!"

"Then buy your own car!"

"I can't afford it," I said in defeat. "In terms of emergency, having a car is an advantage because you will no longer wait for an ambulance. You can just drive on the way to the hospital," I reasoned. I hope this work.

"I have many contacts Harin. They can help me." She said with a smile and continued to eat.

"Eomma.. what is really the reason why you don't want a car?" I was very curious about what she said earlier. What could be the possible reason aside from that she doesn't want to drive?

"It's because your father died inside our car when you were young. He had a massive heart attack while driving and we almost had an accident. A painful memory should be remembered so I refuse to buy a car."

I fell silent after hearing her reason. I feel bad for my mother because she was having a phobia and I suddenly missed my father.

"I can't accept your reason eomma because you ride a taxi or your friends' cars."

"I just don't have to have my own. It's not my own car so I'm okay with it though I feel nervous sometimes. If you want to have a car then you have to save up."

"Okay if you say you... now I conclude that you don't love me," I said pouting my lips. Hoping this will work!

She slammed the table. Uh-oh, table manners eomma.

"If you think that it will work for me, dream on Harin. You tell that to Chan!" I made a face hearing Chan's name. Why would she even utter that son of a bitch's name while eating? My mother has lost all her table manners. Gosh!

"Aigoo.. that look on your face Harin is telling me that you're over him."

I was surprised by her statement. How could she even tell that just by looking at my reaction?

It was a long time ago since I saw him and after our breakup, I did not even regret not fighting for him. Did I really love him?

"Eomma.. do I look heartbroken?"

I am very curious about how I look. I did not even cut my hair or apply more makeup than my usual. After our breakup, I remained the same.

"You look like you don't have an ex. Even before, you don't look like you have a boyfriend."

"Maybe it's because Chan was studying in America and I'm all alone."

She stood up upon finishing her meal. "Wash the dishes after you're done eating."

I rolled my eyes. How could she do this to her daughter? After washing the laundry, I'll be washing the dishes!

I went straight to my room after washing the dishes. As a habit, I checked my phone. There was a message from Kim Wooseok. It was so odd that he texted me.

He sent me a photo of Chan with his new girlfriend. I can't help but envy the girl's body proportion. I think I need to befriend his girl so I can ask how to get a figure like her.

Kim Wooseok

What is this for?

This is your boyfriend, right?

No, he's not

Did I already tell you
t

hat you're dumb?

Where is your brain?

Yes you told me several times

And can you please find my brain? I think I lost it. Please seek help from the police too and contact me as soon as you find my brain

I turned off my phone. He's such a pest!

Today is raining and I'm still at the bus stop waiting. 10 minutes to go and I'll be late. How I hate to be late. Gwajangnim will be seriously mad at me. I don't want a demotion! I want to buy a car!

As I'm wishing for my own car, a car stopped in front of me. The window is not tinted so I saw Kim Wooseok in his driver's seat.

"Yoon Harin what are you waiting for? Do I need to drag you?" He said in frustration. Like what the hell? If he doesn't want me there so why did he stop?

"Where is your brain?" I asked him and he was like embarrassed. "I did not ask you to let me ride with you so why are you so angry early in the morning?"

"Just.. just get inside the car. You don't want gwajangnim to be annoyed with you again." His voice was calm. I guess he doesn't want an early fight.

As much as I want to not be with him. I have no other choice. I let myself be comfortable in the back seat. He turned to me, glaring. It's your choice that you let me ride with you Wooseokie, not mine.